Celebrities who have gained a huge following from popular TV shows and movies are used to being asked to take photos and sign autographs when they’re seen out in public.
While it’s okay to ask celebrities for a photo or an autograph, it’s never okay to touch them without their permission. Celebrities are people, outside of their jobs. While they are characters in TVs and movies to us, to them, we are complete strangers. How would you feel if a complete stranger came up and touched you? Not good, I assume. Probably pretty disrespected.
Justin Hartley felt the same exact way when he was assaulted by a fan while out to dinner in Chicago. While speaking to “Good Housekeeping,” Hartley, who plays Kevin Pearson on the NBC show, said he was shocked when a fan ran over and began kissing him.
“This woman — who I don’t know, a stranger to me — recognized me and started screaming, going crazy. She ran over and started kissing me.”
“You do not walk up to people that you do not know and put your mouth on their face. If I did that to you, I would be in prison. Please do not do that. And not that I’m trying to teach you life lessons, but I feel like this is a really good one for you. Don’t do that to anybody ever again.”
And, the actor has a point. It’s an invasion of personal space and it is an assault to touch or kiss someone without their consent. People on Twitter were in full agreement with the actor and said it’s inappropriate for fans to do this.
Remember–celebrities are people too, treat them how you would want to be treated and don’t cross the line like this woman did.