Gillian Anderson has become the latest Hollywood star to call out theatergoers’ behavior, after a video posted on social media showed her asking superfans not to distract her by repeatedly sitting in the front row of her London West End show.
While signing memorabilia for fans outside the Soho Place theater, where she is appearing alongside Billy Crudup in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” Anderson can be heard telling a group of women, “You guys cannot sit in the front row.”
The fans, who are off-camera, can be heard apologizing to the “X-Files” star, saying “I’m sorry” and “I know.”
Gillian Anderson confronts ‘distracting’ superfans
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One woman then told Anderson her turn as Martha — a 1960s wife frustrated with her marriage — made her and the other fans “cry so much.”
But Anderson responded firmly: “I do not care; you cannot sit in the front row. It’s so distracting.”
The actor turned author and activist then appeared to laugh a little as she told the women: “You can’t come 20 times and sit in the front row; it’ll drive me mad.”
The video sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some backing Anderson’s request as reasonable for a performer and others branding her ungrateful for her fans’ support.
On Sunday, Anderson responded by sharing a statement across social media clarifying her position.
“The video doing the rounds is me talking with women I go back over 20 years with — so please don’t say anything negative to or about them,” the 58-year-old began.
“We’re thrilled to be doing this show but for people in the front row, please be aware that in such an intimate venue we can all see you and sometimes, it can be a tad distracting!” Anderson added, referring to the 602-seat auditorium.
