Gaten Matarazzo, famous for his role in the popular series Stranger Things, recently shared a memorable and somewhat uncomfortable encounter he had with a devoted fan.
Recalling the incident during a podcast, Matarazzo opened up about a 40-year-old woman confessing her long-standing crush on him since he was just 13 years old.
As one of the young stars of Stranger Things, Matarazzo and his co-stars gained immense popularity when the show first aired in 2016.
At the time of the woman's confession, Matarazzo was 21, but he vividly remembered the incident.
He described the encounter as "uncomfortable" and shared the details of the interaction.
According to Matarazzo, the woman approached him and straightforwardly admitted, "I've had a crush on you since you were 13."
The actor expressed his discomfort with the statement, acknowledging their significant age difference.
Although he believed the woman intended to express harmless admiration for his younger self, the situation became even more awkward when the woman's daughter, who accompanied her, reacted with surprise and profanity.
While reflecting on his success in Stranger Things, Matarazzo acknowledged the show's significant impact on his life and the financial stability it provided for his family.
As a young actor, becoming the breadwinner for his family at the age of 12 was an unusual and overwhelming responsibility.
He expressed gratitude for the opportunities the show had brought him and the collective efforts of the parents of the young cast members in negotiating fair salaries.
Alongside his role in Stranger Things, Matarazzo has also ventured into the world of film, appearing in movies such as The Angry Birds Movie 2 and My Father's Dragon.
Despite the challenges and occasional uncomfortable encounters, he remains appreciative of the show's success and the doors it has opened for him in the entertainment industry.
The woman is an actor and filmmaker from Kentucky, encountered someone online whom she believed to be a member of the "Stranger Things" cast.
Despite initial doubts, they quickly developed a close relationship. The imposter convinced her that he was Dacre Montgomery, a 28-year-old actor known for his role in the series.
The person went to great lengths to maintain the deception. They even sent her poems similar to those from Montgomery's 2020 poetry collection.
To further convince her, they shared insider information about the show, claiming that Montgomery's character would make a return in Season 4.
After a year of texting, they admitted their feelings for each other. The imposter manipulated her into choosing between him and her husband, claiming they needed money to end their supposedly troubled relationship.
Believing in the relationship, the woman sent a staggering $10,000 to the imposter.
However, suspicions arose after the money was sent, leading her to seek help from a show called Catfished to uncover the truth.
