Harrison Ford looks back at one of the most memorable and inappropriate fan encounters of his career. The ‘Star Wars’ star recently sat down for a panel discussion with Glen Powell, Riz Ahmed, Owen Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Zach Braff, where the topic of fan interactions naturally came up. Given the combined star power on the table, it was perhaps inevitable that the stories shared would be honest and entertaining.In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Ford was asked about the wildest thing a fan has said to him, and he didn’t hesitate with his answer. “My mom wants to sleep with you, announced loudly in an airport,” one fan recalled telling him.
Roundtable reaction to Harrison Ford’s story
The comment immediately drew laughter from the group, and Powell quickly jumped in with a joke, pretending to take the blame for the remark. “I didn’t mean to, by the way. It was my first time meeting you,” he said. Ford chimed in without missing a beat, “I know. And your mother didn’t want to tell either.” The exchange set the tone for a conversation that was as much about acting careers as it was about the absurdity of fame.
How Harrison Ford sees his fans
Later in the interview, Ford revealed that he can’t tell the difference between ‘Shrinking’, ‘Indiana Jones’ and ‘Star Wars’ fans when they approach each other on the street. Curious about this, Ahmed asked if Star Wars fans in particular stand out, often holding up large signs hoping for autographs. Ford was unequivocal in his answer. “These are not fans. These are autograph sellers 100 percent of the time,” he said.The 83-year-old actor explained his broader philosophy when it comes to interactions with the public. “When people come to me, I don’t try to figure out what they’re coming for. I know it’s likely to be a customer, and I’m in a service profession. We sell stories,” he said. The statement reflects the pragmatic, almost business-like approach Ford has maintained over the years, somewhat different from the more sentimental tendencies of many celebrities to talk about their audiences.
Why Harrison Ford prefers to call fans “customers”.
This is far from the first time Ford has used the term “customer” to describe the people who follow its work. Appearing at the ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ panel at San Diego Comic Con in July 2015, Ford explained his reasoning behind his choice of words, according to BuzzFeed.“I think I make fans, and let’s be careful how we take this word in customers, because I know very well that these are people who are helping my life and the film industry and the kind of films that I like to make,” he said at the time. He added that he is “very happy” to have them as customers. Ford also drew on his background in service industries to further explain the vision. “I grew up working in stores, working in the stationery store, working in the flower shop, working as a waiter, working in various jobs, and I have respect for my customers. So that’s a distinction that maybe people don’t immediately notice,” he said.In both interviews, a consistent image emerges of an actor who, despite being in the spotlight for decades, has chosen to frame his relationship with the public in almost everyday terms, treating his celebrity not as something mystical, but as a work of mutual respect.
