Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo experienced a rather uncomfortable moment during a recent interaction with a fan.
During his appearance on the Inside of You podcast, the actor stated the moment was both uncomfortable and not very funny.
“This woman in her 40s said straight up, ‘I’ve had a crush on you since you were 13,’” he recalled. “And I was like, ‘That’s upsetting.’ I’m sure she just meant, ‘Aw, this kid’s cute.’”
However, Gaten Matarazzo said the woman continued to double down on her awkward remark. “She was like, ‘I’m aware of the age difference,’” he noted. “And I then I was like, ‘Alright.’ And her daughter was with her, and her daughter goes, ‘Mom, what the f—?’ I swear to God.”
After being asked by the podcast’s host Michael Rosenbaum if he laughed at the exchange, Matarazzo admitted that he “couldn’t.” He just looked over at his mother. “That was rough,” he said.
Despite the questionable interaction, Gaten Matarzzo said he is grateful for his hit Netflix series.
“Those careers are always about peaks and valleys. With this show, it is quite clear and I am very well aware — and would like my professional team — to understand that I am very OK with Stranger Things being very likely the biggest thing I will ever do,” he said.
“And it will most likely be the thing I am remembered for even if I consistently work after this.”
The actor went on to add, “And I am so cool with that as long as it facilitates happiness going forward, security and more work going forward.”
“What more could I ask for? I don’t want to maintain a sense of relevance at this point when it isn’t even something I particularly enjoy that much.”
Gaten Matarazzo Reflects on the Financial Aspect of Starring in ‘Strange Things’
Meanwhile, Gaten Matarazzo continued to share how Stranger Things has been a huge and amazing experience for him, especially the financial aspect.
“Of course I understand all the wonderful things it has done for me and my family,” he explained. “When it comes to financial security, that is just something that — growing up, it was a real struggle and then suddenly it is not.”
He also said the experience did open his eyes to the financial benefits that the show has. “When you are that young, you can’t really reflect or understand how incredible that is for your family and you.”
“But then there is a part of it where you are that young and you are suddenly the breadwinner for your family when you are 12. That is not something that is normal.”
Matarazzo then said that the cast members’ parents all united to renegotiate their salaries because the cast was all underage.
“We are pretty grateful,” he added. “What is also interesting is that all of our parents were talking about what would be best for all of us collectively going forward. Because they were the ones who were negotiating before we turned 18.”