For decades, it's been an unspoken rule that celebrities are expected to be friendly and approachable in public - but lately, we've seen a shift in stars' facades when their boundaries are crossed.

take it Jason Kells. The usually amiable former NFL player shocked his loyal followers in November 2024 when He used the F-slur during a heated confrontation With a heckler following him and using the same slur to insult his brother, Travis Kelce.

The 37-year-old father of three isn't the only star who's lost his cool when excited. In June 2024, the footage aired Lana Del Rey Clashes with a group of people following him and his family in Paris. (She later claimed on social media that they were "stalkers" who told her they would "try to make me look bad.")

There is no argument that - borrow From Jason's later apology - "Meeting hate with hate" is totally unacceptable. Still, these incidents have inspired an important conversation about people's expectations of response when their personal space is violated.

With fan culture (and criticism) reaching new heights in today's social media-driven society, it's no wonder stars are getting tired of keeping up appearances.

"(A fan) may see a public figure as not human in the way they are — they may rather see them as larger than life, not 'real', and not empathize with the violation," Dr. Gail Saltzsays associate professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell School of Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital our. Alternatively, "jealousy of celebrities who seem to have it all can lead to them being aggressive and feeling entitled to whatever way they choose."

Feeling entitled to a star's attention is not only misguided but can lead to negative interactions. "Sometimes a celebrity is pressured to assert boundaries because others are threatening, disrespectful, hurtful, invasive or dangerous," Saltz shares. This is probably what the person doing the provoking is hoping for: "Negative attention is considered better than no attention at all to someone who wants attention."

It's easy to dismiss a celebrity who comes off as selfish or difficult in public, but sometimes, they've just reached their limit. Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor "It occurs when a combination of emotional, psychological, and situational factors occur." Anne M. Appel to say ourPoints to stress, burnout and fatigue as causes. "Ideally, they would react in a calm and composed way - but, like all people, they can be pushed to a 'breaking point' and react less than universally to the norm."

This could explain the April 2024 video Alec Baldwin A cell phone was allegedly taken from a stranger. In fact, the man had been scolding him for several moments - until asking such an outrageous question Victims of Fatal 2021 the rust shootingg - before giving his response.

Setting limits is "absolutely reasonable," says Appel, who encourages celebrities to communicate their expectations "clearly and directly."

But is it bad business for a family name to show their less shiny side, as when Chapel Ron received mixed response Face the photographers in public On two separate occasions? According to Robbie VoorhausPR/media company Vorhaus Communications, Inc. Its founder, it depends on the context.

"Celebrities crossing their borders is complicated because public visibility is an inherent part of their profession," he said. our. "However, it does not condone harassment or invasion of personal space."

Paparazzi are known to invade the personal space of celebrities. For example, Tom Holland Filmed for allegedly pushing away a photographer who got a little too close to her now-fiancé, Zendayain October 2024 — but the incident is unlikely to tarnish his impeccable reputation.

"If a celebrity's response seems justified, it rarely causes lasting career damage," Vorhaus explained. Still, "we advise clients to establish clear boundaries while remaining professional, as recorded outbursts can overshadow initial provocation."

Chris VlastoThe co-founder of crisis communications firm Haven Strategies, agrees that these incidents have no long-term impact, noting that for those who have publicly sparred with the paparazzi, “all the examples are replayed for decades but in the end, their audience doesn't care. The fights are pointless and The fans are sympathetic."

The takeaway? The Golden Rule — do unto others as you would have them do unto you — applies even when you're dealing with them in the spotlight. A little empathy goes a long way, so remember there's always more to the story, and stars really are our: They also have good days and bad days.