So, I do Lighting for Special Events. Concerts, parties, award shows. One of the big gigs I did recently was the arrivals for the Emmys, the Red Carpet. Part of my job is to make sure that everything power and lighting wise is perfect during the gig. So I have to be on the carpet. When the boys showed up they came as a pack. You can tell they’re all friends IRL and ran up and down playing around and saying “let’s go over here! Let’s talk to them!” And having a good time. They were the bell of the ball this year, everyone wanted to talk to the Stranger Things kids. Then Millie showed up, I think with her mom, but when she hit the carpet her mom (maybe agent?) stepped aside and let her start the interviews alone. Now, this is really how it always goes with celebrities that bring their fam/friends that aren’t famous - no one wants them in the shot. But the look on her face when she was left alone to these screaming TV hosts broke my heart. I realized looking at her that this was just some 12 year old girl that was completely anonymous 2 years ago. Just 2 years ago. Let THAT sink in. Now she’s having to go on live TV by herself on the carpet. I’m sure she did just fine, but myself having a 14 year old sister it really made me sad for what kid celebrities have to go through. Especially since the boys seem to have each other to lean on and she did the whole thing alone.

Edit: So I know this will look like I’m part of the problem (sharing this here) and to an extent I guess I am. But when you’re on the carpet you’re only thinking “oh cool it’s Eleven!” It wasn’t until I put my phone down and really looked that I saw a 12 year old girl that seemed shocked, alone, and kinda scared. But I actually have a picture of what fame can look like for a young person. I think this kind of thing is important: to remember that they’re just people like us and for some they’re very young people. At 12 I was worried about my art class grade and when to kiss my girlfriend for the first time not what to say on National TV.