Gaten Matarazzo’s Childhood Fame Sparks Renewed Debate on the Perils of Child Stardom
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Gaten Matarazzo, known for his breakout role in Netflix’s Stranger Things, has once again brought attention to the complex and often troubling experiences faced by child actors. A 2024 interview clip resurfaced this weekend, revealing Matarazzo’s candid reflections on an uncomfortable encounter with a fan when he was just 13 years old. The incident has reignited conversations about the vulnerabilities child stars endure in the public eye.
Matarazzo, now in his early twenties, described a moment during a fan meeting where a woman in her 40s confessed to having had a crush on him since he was 13. “I was like: ‘That’s upsetting,’” Matarazzo recalled on the podcast Inside You with Michael Rosenbaum. The woman’s admission, followed by her acknowledgment of the significant age difference, left the young actor visibly uncomfortable. Adding to the awkwardness, the woman’s daughter, who appeared to be about the same age as Matarazzo at the time, reacted with shock, exclaiming, “Mom, what the fuck?!”
This unsettling revelation is part of a broader pattern of challenges faced by the cast of Stranger Things, who have grown up under intense public scrutiny since the show’s debut in 2016. Alongside Matarazzo, co-stars like Millie Bobby Brown and Finn Wolfhard have spoken out about the pressures and inappropriate attention they encountered as minors. Brown, for example, has openly discussed the sexualization she endured, especially around the time she turned 18, when explicit online commentary surged following her birthday posts on social media. Her experience was highlighted in a 2022 interview on The Guilty Feminist podcast, where she lamented how young girls in the entertainment industry are often objectified.
Similarly, Wolfhard’s discomfort was documented in a 2025 incident at a comic convention, where he was subjected to an inappropriate comment about his name being a “great porn name” when he was only 14 years old. These anecdotes underscore the persistent challenges child actors face in maintaining personal boundaries while in the spotlight.
Matarazzo also revealed that fans sometimes cross physical boundaries during photo ops, noting that it is not uncommon for people to grab his buttocks. Such invasions of privacy contribute to the complex emotional toll on young performers who must navigate fame alongside their personal development.
The resurfacing of Matarazzo’s story has drawn widespread reaction on social media, with many expressing empathy and concern. Comments ranged from calls for better protections for child actors to discussions about reparations for the emotional harm they endure. The American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups have long highlighted the need for stronger safeguards against exploitation and harassment of minors in the entertainment industry.
Experts emphasize that the entertainment sector must implement comprehensive measures to protect child performers, including education on consent, mental health support, and strict enforcement of boundaries during public appearances. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration also provides guidelines relevant to workplace safety, which can be adapted to the unique environment of film and television production.
As the final season of Stranger Things recently aired, marking the end of the cast’s childhood journey on screen, these revelations serve as a sobering reminder of the hidden costs behind the glamour of early fame. Matarazzo’s statement, “I wouldn’t wish being a child actor on my worst enemy,” encapsulates the emotional complexity behind a career that often begins before children can fully understand the consequences.
The ongoing conversation aims to foster a safer, more respectful environment for young talents, ensuring that their well-being is prioritized as they grow both on and off the screen.
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