Harrison Ford looked back on one of the most memorable and inappropriate fan encounters of his career. The “Star Wars” star recently sat down for a roundtable conversation alongside Glen Powell, Riz Ahmed, Owen Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Zach Braff, where the topic of fan interactions came up naturally.
Given the star power brought together at the table, it was perhaps inevitable that the stories shared would be both frank and entertaining.In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Ford was asked what the craziest thing a fan has ever said to him, and he didn’t hesitate with his answer. “My mother wants to sleep with you, announce it loudly at the airport,” he recalled what one fan told him.
Roundtable reaction to Harrison Ford story
This comment immediately sparked laughter from the group, and Powell quickly jumped in with a joke, pretending to take the blame for the comment himself.
“I didn’t mean that, by the way. It was the first time I met you,” He said. Playing without missing a beat, Ford replied: “I know. And your mother didn’t mean it either” This exchange set the tone for a conversation that was as much about the absurdity of fame as it was about the professional lives of actors.
How Harrison Ford views his fans
Later in the conversation, Ford revealed that he can’t really tell the difference between “Shrinking,” “Indiana Jones” and “Star Wars” fans when they approach him on the street.
Curious about this, Ahmed wondered whether Star Wars fans in particular tended to stand out, often carrying large posters in the hope of getting an autograph. Ford was unequivocal in his response. “These are not fans. These are autograph sellers 100% of the time;” He said.The 83-year-old actor went on to explain his broader philosophy when it comes to interacting with audience members. “When people come to me, I don’t try to figure out why they come.
All I know is that they are likely customers, and I work in a service profession. We sell stories” He said. This observation reflects an almost down-to-earth, hands-on approach that Ford has held for years, one that somewhat separates him from the more emotional ways in which many celebrities tend to talk about their audiences.
Why Harrison Ford prefers to call fans “customers”
This isn’t the first time Ford has used the term “clients” to describe the people who follow his work.
During an appearance at a “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” panel at San Diego Comic Con in July 2015, Ford explained his reasoning behind the word choice, according to BuzzFeed.“In my mind, I convert fans, and let’s be careful about how we convert that word into customers, because I know very well that these are the people who support my life and support the film industry and the kind of films I love to make.” He said at the time.
He added that “Very grateful to have them as clients.”
Ford also drew on his own background in service industries to make the point further. “I grew up working in stores, working in the stationery shop, working in the flower shop, working as a waiter, working various jobs, and having respect for my customers. So maybe this is a distinction that’s not immediately apparent to people,” He said.Through both interviews, a consistent portrait emerges of an actor who, despite decades in the spotlight, has chosen to frame his relationship with the public in markedly, almost everyday terms, treating his fame not as something mysterious, but as a function with its own form of mutual respect.