Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo has opened about a recent "uncomfortable" fan interaction.

The actor appears in the smash hit Netflix series as Dustin Henderson alongside Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, and Caleb McLaughlin.

The popularity of the show has seen the young actors catapulted to superstardom, alongside their well-established co-stars Winona Ryder and David Harbour.

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Their celebrity status has led to some uncomfortable moments with fans, with Matarazzo sharing one such incident in which he alleged a woman "in her 40s" admitted to being attracted to the actor when he was 13 years old.

gaten matarazzo, joe keery, stranger things, season 4
Netflix

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Speaking about meeting fans, Matarazzo told the Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast: "Funny is a way to say it, there are some that are a little uncomfortable, like I remember I did one recently where, this is not funny, but the reactions around it were quite funny, where this woman in her 40s said straight up, she goes, 'I’ve had a crush on you since you were 13,' and I was like, 'That's upsetting.'

The Prank Encounters star went on to say he thought she must have meant something different, but she instead doubled down on her claim.

"I'm sure she just meant, like, 'Aw this kid's cute', but then she doubled down, 'I'm aware of the age difference.' Then I was like, 'Alright,'" he continued.

gaten matarazzo as dustin henderson, stranger things season 4
Courtesy of Netflix

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Matarazzo claimed that the woman's daughter was with her during the interaction, and was suitably shocked by what she said.

"Her daughter was with her," he said. "And her daughter goes: 'Mom, what the f**k.' I swear to god, this girl must have been about 13."

He said that he had to hold back laughter in the moment, saying: "I was like: 'Thank you guys for coming!' My mom was right there, my mother was sitting next to me. That was insane."

A fifth and final series of Stranger Things is currently in production and expected to be released in 2025.

Stranger Things seasons 1-4 are streaming on Netflix. A fifth and final season is in production.

Lettermark
Freelance Reporter, Digital Spy Rebecca is a freelance journalist who specializes in TV and film. After beginning her career as a digital entertainment journalist for the Express & Star and Shropshire Star, she embarked on a freelance career in 2021 contributing to the likes of Metro UK, The Sun, WhatCulture, Screen Rant, FilmHounds Magazine and more. Her particular field of interest is horror cinema and she has written for genre publications such as Ghouls Magazine and Moving Pictures Film Club. LinkedIn