On Fame and Chappell Roan

In which John discusses a four-letter word and what it means to worship at its altar.
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[maisondelabriques]

Our favorite writer’s favorite writer!!! 🙌🙌🙌

[karas]

I know you said you don't remember the nice things people say to you, but here's my nice thing: I became a librarian because of you! Thank you so much for continuing to uplift libraries and library workers, you are making a difference in the library world!

[defiantparsnip]

John, my brother in pizza, we must reframe. Your fame photo may look to the uncultured like a panic attack, but you were actually in your Moo Deng era: moisturized, ready to scream down any minor inconvenience, hungry for the flesh of the hand that feeds, resplendent in your cloak of glory.

I'm happy you have arrived at a joyous moment in your fame and I'm glad we share a planet.

[greeplurch]

I really hope that the pendulum of parasocial relationships swings to people acknowledging that celebs and artists are just people doing a job and deserve boundaries.

[DonJuanDecepticon]

I seen Stephen king walking his dog once, I really wanted to talk to him. BUT I thought about how i would feel if a person i had no connection to came up to me and bothered me while I was just trying to enjoy an afternoon, I also thought about if the interaction was bad how crushed i would be. So i just let him be, and to be honest i think that was a better experience.

[lindsaykat]

I often think about the Fairly Odd Parents episode where Timmy wished to be wanted. He was suddenly famous and his crush was paying attention to him for the first time. But he was also wanted by the police...
For some reason, that stuck with me that there were both good and bad sides of being wanted.

[DanMcManus]

Glen Hansard told this story at the time that the film 'Once" that he starred in and his duet with Marketa Irglova "Falling Slowly" was simultaneously blowing up. He said that he and his band The Frames struggled for success and recognition for 20 years at that point but it always eluded them. He said it was like being in his backyard trying to kick a soccer ball over the fence. Each time he kicked it, it got close to going over but never did. The ball always hit the fence and plopped back into the yard. Then, one day, he kicked the ball again. It sailed over the fence, across the town, into the sky, and into space. He explained how amazed and proud he was that his kicking finally succeeded. Then he said, "Some days, I'm amazed at what had happened to the ball. Other days, I just want my fucking ball back."

This immediately came to my mind as you spoke, John.

[altheaosborn]

Hi John, I hope you read this comment and it brings you some comfort or joy in the moment, even if you don't remember it later on. I wanted to tell you that you have made a positive difference in so many people's lives, and I know this because I'm one of them. I grew up in an abusive home with a broken family, and your books were one of the things that I really clung on to during my late teens-early twenties. I'm 31 now, and engaged to a wonderful person, and I'm about to finally graduate college, and I don't know if that would've happened if I hadn't had the books of a soulful writer named John to make me feel less alone. You've brought me joy and hope and an outlet during the lowest lows and also the highest highs of my life, and you did it without ever even meeting me. How many people can say that? It's a crazy concept if you really think about it. This is all to say: thank you for all that you do, I believe in you and even though we've never met, I feel like you believe in me, and that has made all the difference. ❤️

[iamthatgaby]

When Chappel first came out asking her fans to give her space in public, I thought about you John. I remember one of your videos after or during a vidcon where you were asking people to give you space. I respect that so much.

[NavyHamster]

I met john a few years ago at a Pizzamas’s event in Indianapolis and when I told him I had ocd he said I’m sorry. When I asked why he responded ocd dosent get better over time but always remember that no matter what you are worthly of love. He then signed my book and gave me a hug. That moment will stick with me forever. It is because of your words I’m getting married next month. Thank you John ❤️.

[stofgray]

tbh I would say Chappell is actually handling fame in a perfectly normal way. She is speaking out and standing up for herself, setting boundaries early in her career and it is quite refreshing to see. I think she will be better off in the long run for her bravery and will cultivate a fanbase that respects her in the way she wants to be respected (for her art, first and foremost!). I really respect any public figure that is vocal about not feeling okay with certain aspects of fame, and reminding the general public and media that just because we have 'normalised' treating celebrities like a different type of human, it doesn't mean it is right or appropriate.
The world would be so dull without these creators who allow us to consume their work, even when it is deeply personal, and I think it shouldn't be controversial to say that we should treat them better, regardless of how much money they have or awards they've won and regardless if their particular content doesn't resonate with you. None of that changes the fact that they're still people.

[kimmykimmie]

Postive things for John to read when he’s down: thanks for helping me stay alive John and for being part of how I found my favorite community.

[elaineshiffer]

What a lovely video! I'm a therapist and I'm going to show this to all the kids who want to be YouTube famous (which is all of them!). People don't talk about the consequences of fame enough

[josher]

Can’t wait for the Anthropocene reviewed movie to come out.
Its gonna be the best young adult romance of 2025

[GreenFox]

@2:40 Also: if you drive a Cybertruck. If you drive a Cybertruck, everyone is absolutely watching you and judging you.

[MisterJDagger]

The thing you have to remember about being on top of a mountain is 1) it can be quite lonely, and 2) there's not much oxygen up there. - John Green, Professional Writer

My God! If there's anything that deserves being on a motivational poster!

[SylviaRustyFae]

The more i see famous ppl examine the impacts fame has on them, the more i come to even better understand the choices of ppl like Daft Punk & Chuck Tingle; famous ppl who have deliberately chosen to wear a literal mask — bcuz they need to keep that small part of themself separate from the part that is famous

No one ever is eatin at a restaurant and sees Chuck Tingle eatin there and formulates more of their understandin of the guy off of his eatin habits — bcuz Chuck Tingle doesnt go to restaurants as Chuck Tingle; allowin himself to be both a product for the public consumption, but remain still a private person for personal consumption alone

[neutral_]

Hi john, here's my positive thing. You and hank practically raised me. My parents were never emotionally available to me, every bit of conscience, morality and hope i have in life is because of you two. You two taught me how to see the world in a way that is beautiful and hopeful but not delusional. You two taught me how to pay attention to myself and take care of myself, both emotionally and physically. Your books john, motivated me to write. Your existence and what you do has had the biggest impact on me. Forever grateful that i ran into your youtube channel and nerdfighteria. So Thankyou John and Hank.

[AmeliaBell]

I know that the positive things stick far less than the negative and that nothing can rewrite the way you were feeling on that Paper Towns red carpet. But, if it is any comfort or salve at all, I was one of the fans alongside the red carpet and even though our interaction was brief and surrounded by chaos, that was the first time I "met" you and I was so overcome with emotion that after you signed my book and my giant cardboard pushpin that I made, I stepped back and burst into tears. I've now been able to meet you on much less frenzied occasions and have more meaningful exchanges with you, but that first moment at the Paper Towns premiere will always be a significant point on the timeline of my life as a Nerdfighter. And because of that, I'll always be grateful to you for how kind and generous you were despite how you were feeling internally.

Also, I hope Chappell sees this video, so that she knows that there is life on the other side of fame mountain and, even for a person who struggles with mental illness, it is a life full of meaning and, dare I say, sometimes even joy.

[TheKingReto]

It is so wild to me that John was at one point one of the most famous people out there (or at least that's what it seems like after watching this video) and now he's still famous but also he's just like... a guy. An amazing guy, a guy who keeps this community together, a guy who does extremely valuable things to make the world a better place and all, but in a way... he's still just a guy.