Penn Badgley has "literally been molested" because of his fame.
The former ‘Gossip Girl’ actor has been the object of "pretty full-on obsession" because of life in the spotlight and admitted some fans have taken things too far when they have been face-to-face with their idol.
He said: "I think as an actor you can become an object of desire, which is something women are already accustomed to more or less around the world – I’ve definitely been, I mean I don’t want to sound sensationalist, but I’ve literally been molested – just in the literal sense of the word – by many people in the moment. Because that’s what they do."
The 31-year-old actor – who can next be seen playing stalker Joe in ‘You’ – admitted the #MeToo movement and men who have been affected by it, such as Terry Crews, has caused him to reconsider those experiences.
He added in an interview with The Daily Beast: "And it’s interesting to even hear you have that reaction, like ‘I’m sorry,’ because I didn’t even think of it that way then.
"You’re led as a man, particularly, that when it happens you should feel great about it. Particularly when it comes from someone who’s feasibly an object of your desire as well.
"And I think that’s the interesting thing about this show, is that Joe looks like me, he acts and talks like me to a degree, so I think the audience is supposed to be like, ‘Aw that might be nice if someone was that infatuated with me.’ "
After ‘Gossip Girl’ came to an end in 2012, Penn took a two-year break from acting and admitted he has "questioned" his career choice.
He said: "I definitely had to question if I wanted to keep doing what I’ve been doing. But I’m excited–I think."
Penn Badgley was ‘molested’ by fans
