‘Stranger Things’ Star Gaten Matarazzo Says a Mother in Her 40s Once Told Him She’d Had a Crush on Him Since He Was 13

Gaten Matarazzo once shared a story about a fan interaction that left him feeling shocked and uncomfortable. The Stranger Things actor talked about the experience while appearing on Michael Rosenbaum’s comedy podcast Inside of You, which is where the details of the moment come from.

During the conversation, Matarazzo was asked about some of the most awkward or uncomfortable situations he has faced with fans over the years.

While he said many encounters are harmless, one recent moment stood out because of how unexpected it was. According to him, the incident happened during a public appearance where fans were meeting him in person.

Matarazzo explained that a woman in her 40s approached him and made a comment that immediately caught him off guard. “I did one very recently — and this is not very funny, but the reactions around it were quite funny — where this woman in her 40s said straight up, ‘I’ve had a crush on you since you were 13,’” he said on the podcast. He added that he felt uneasy as soon as she said it and didn’t know how to respond in the moment.

He went on to explain that he tried to process what she meant and hoped it wasn’t meant in a serious or inappropriate way. “And I was like, ‘That’s upsetting.’ I’m sure she just meant, ‘Aw, this kid’s cute,’” Matarazzo said. Even so, the comment stuck with him and made the interaction hard to forget.

The situation became more uncomfortable when the woman continued the conversation instead of backing away from what she had said. Matarazzo recalled that she openly acknowledged the age difference between them. “She was like, ‘I’m aware of the age difference.’ And then I was like, ‘Alright,’” he told Rosenbaum.

What made the moment even more awkward was the fact that the woman was not alone. She was there with her young teenage daughter, who immediately reacted to what her mother had said. “And her daughter was with her, and her daughter goes, ‘Mom, what the f***?’ I swear to God,” Matarazzo said, making it clear that the reaction only added to how uncomfortable the moment felt.

Rosenbaum asked whether Matarazzo laughed it off to get through the situation, but the actor said that wasn’t possible. “I couldn’t,” he replied. He explained that he tried to stay polite and professional despite how strange the moment was.

The situation became even more intense when Matarazzo realized his own mother was present during the exchange. “Like, ‘Thank you guys for coming. I appreciate it.’ And then I look over at my mother, and my mother was right there! My mother was sitting next to me,” he said. “That was insane … Yeah, that was rough.”

Matarazzo made it clear during the podcast that he did not find the exchange funny in any way. While he understands that fans may feel attached to characters they grew up watching, he said moments like that can cross a line. The actor has been in the public eye since he was very young, which has shaped how he views fan interactions today.

Matarazzo first rose to fame in 2016 when Stranger Things premiered on Netflix. He plays Dustin Henderson, one of the core characters on the show, and quickly became a fan favorite. The series also stars Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Caleb McLaughlin, and Sadie Sink.

Over the years, Stranger Things has become one of Netflix’s most successful shows. The cast has grown up in front of the audience, and many of the actors have spoken openly about the challenges that come with fame at a young age. The show recently ended to critical acclaim and record viewership.

Outside of Stranger Things, Matarazzo has continued to build his career in both live-action and voice acting roles. In recent years, he has taken on more animated projects, expanding his work beyond television drama. His voice roles have allowed him to explore different types of characters without being on screen.

Between 2024 and 2025, Matarazzo voices Sig Greebling in Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy, where he has a main voice role. He also appeared in the animated series Haunted Hotel in 2025, voicing a character named Randy in an episode titled Randy Slasher. These projects show how he has been branching out into new genres and audiences.

As he continues to move forward in his career, Matarazzo has been more open about discussing the realities of growing up famous. Stories like the one he shared on Inside of You highlight the complicated side of fan culture and how certain comments can have a lasting impact.

What do you think about Gaten Matarazzo’s experience and how celebrities who grow up in the spotlight handle interactions like this? Share your thoughts in the comments.