Sometimes fans just couldn’t help it. Sure, the adrenaline rush you get when you see your idol in the flesh is hard to overcome, but may this be a reminder that celebrities are people too.
Take it from Lea Salonga, who recently schooled fans on backstage etiquette, after a group of Filipino tourists tried to get into her dressing room in a New York theater, where she performed for the Broadway musical Here Lies Love.
In the now-viral video, one fan eagerly approaches Lea, asking, "Hi, Miss Lea! Can we take pictures with you?" to which Lea, seemingly caught off guard, responds, "Who are you? I'm sorry, I don't know who you are."
While the fans pleaded for a photo opportunity, Lea calmly explained that only individuals on the guest list are allowed access to her dressing room. This measure was not only for her security but also to maintain order and prevent unauthorized entry.
Firm but composed, Lea told the fans: "If you're not on the guest list, we cannot have you back here. So, you'll have to get to the door because if I allow this now, then other people are gonna take advantage."
In a separate tweet, Lea reiterated that she has boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed. She also cited that even her co-stars are not allowed in her dressing room.
“Okay, real-life demonstration: none of the actors in HLL have been to my dressing room. Not Arielle, Jose, Conrad, Melody, or anyone else. These are already friends and co-workers, and yet they respect my boundaries! So who is anyone else to want to invade my space? Make it make sense,” the Tony Award winner said.
Just a reminder… I have boundaries. Do not cross them. Thank you. https://t.co/LVziX55lDf
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) July 17, 2023
As seen in the video, the fans eventually followed Lea's instructions.
Earlier this year, the Broadway star also said fans should not give food to their idols, because “even if the giver’s meaning is well-intentioned, there are those out there whose intentions are to harm or even to kill.”
We say, that’s the way to set boundaries. Clear and calm, and straight to the point!
