Chrissy Metz Says She Has ‘a Hard Time’ Saying No to Photos to With Fans
Chrissy Metz has said on multiple occasions she’s cried in bathrooms with fans over This Is Us. It’s not surprising why: Her character, Kate, goes through so many relatable issues on the show—from dealing with weight and body image to grappling with her father’s sudden death. Metz loves having these conversations, but in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she admits she’s had to pull back a bit for the sake of preserving boundaries.
“I’ve had to learn how to draw really healthy boundaries, meaning I want to take pictures with everybody, I want to talk to everybody, I want to sign autographs and pictures. But sometimes I just can’t,” Metz told the publication at the Banff World Media Festival this week.
But don’t think saying “no” is easy for Metz. The Emmy and Golden Globe nominee admits it’s just the opposite. “I really have a hard time telling people no, because the disappointment on their face, literally, I reel for three hours. I tell myself, ‘I should have taken that picture, I should have taken that picture.’ So drawing healthy boundaries for me is really a challenge, because I’m so grateful,”she said.
Metz isn’t the first celebrity to open up about setting limits with fan encounters. Last November, Jennifer Lawrence said she now sometimes just has to act “rude” to get fans to leave her alone.
“I’m still one person and I am a human being, and I’m not perfect, believe it or not, and that’s really challenging — so I’ve learned to say no to pictures at restaurants and airports,” Metz continued. “And that’s a big deal, guys. I still give people my time, and say, sorry, I’m not taking pictures. I ask them their name and engage them, but I don’t want to disturb the vibe of the restaurant or have a receiving line at the airport. That seems ridiculous and ostentatious.”
It’s admirable that Metz still chats up fans even with her new boundaries; however, it’s important to remember she doesn’t have to do that. No one—not even the biggest This Is Us fan—is entitled to her time.
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