12 Wholesome Celebrity Encounters That People Would Never Forget

Someone once remarked, "Never meet your heroes," and I agree with that sentiment. It's possible that the experience of actually meeting a role model will leave you feeling extremely let down. There are a lot of stories about famous individuals being rude to their fans, but there are also a lot of stories about them being incredibly nice to those who respect them.
Users of Reddit were encouraged to share stories of the most positive interactions they've had with well-known figures in their lives. It's possible that your fantasies about Keanu Reeves comforting you when you're feeling down or Dolly Parton sharing fries with you aren't as far-fetched as you think they are.

1. Bruce Willis

Source: Getty Images

“My fiancé and I were out at lunch with family and we were talking about our recent engagement, and a man behind us overheard and offered us Bazooka gum. The stranger danger alert went off within me because you are literally not supposed to accept candy from strangers, but we timidly took it anyway and thanked him.
He came back a while later as he was leaving and showed us the huge bag of Bazooka gum he had and said something along of the lines of how he had a big family, so he had to get them a bunch. He was very sweet — he told us to have a great day. The whole table processed the interaction and came to the realization that it was Bruce Willis, who was there for lunch with his brother!”

2. Adam Sandler

Source: Getty Images

“I went to Hawaii for my first major vacation in 2004 and ran into Adam Sandler on vacation with his wife. We couldn’t decide if it was him or not (we wanted to give him his space and privacy), but he walked over and introduced himself to us. His wife complimented my James Bond-inspired bathing suit, and they talked with us for a solid 15 minutes or so (this was right after 50 First Dates came out, and he was so humble when I told him how much I loved the movie)."

3. Britney Spears

Source: Getty Images

“I went to a Britney Spears concert in Las Vegas and my friend happened to know someone who worked with Britney, so we got the chance to meet her before the show! When I finally got to see her she was incredibly shy and quiet, and just before I left, Britney said, ‘You’re really pretty!’ I could have just DIED right then and there.”

4. Samuel L. Jackson

Source: Getty Images

"“Samuel L. Jackson was hands down one of the kindest and sweetest people I have ever encountered. In the ’90s, he ran a celebrity golf tournament a few times — when I was 12, I remember asking him if I could I bother him for an autograph. His response — word for word — has stayed with me every day since:
‘Sweetie, don’t ever apologize for wanting to talk to me or ask for my autograph — I wouldn’t have a job if it wasn’t for you!’ He gave me a sweet smile and hug (with an autograph, of course). I’m 36 now, and still feel like he’s one of the most gentle and true spirits I have ever come across.”

5. Tyra Banks

Source: Getty Images

“I met Tyra Banks in line at an amusement park (everyone kept coming up to her asking her if she was Tyra Banks). I kept quiet and pretended I didn’t notice who she was. In line, Tyra and I talked about the other rides and she even said she liked my glitter makeup and that I was pretty — as an overweight teen, that always stuck with me.”

6. Zendaya

Source: Getty Images

“I met Zendaya at Disneyland when she was first starting out. I was 21 years old at the time, but I still knew who she was because Disney was always on in my house, and I thought it’d be cool to get a picture with her. Understandably, her security was pushing her through and trying to keep the fans away —
Zendaya stopped her security and said, ‘Look, nobody standing here would have a job right now if it wasn’t for people like them watching the show and supporting me. I’d really like it if you’d let me have a few minutes with my fans to thank them. It’s the least I can do.’

7. Angelina Jolie

Source: Getty Images

“I met Angelina Jolie when she was filming Girl, Interrupted (they were filming across the street from the daycare/after-school program I went to). One day, she came over during a break and brought us tons of new toys, games, clothes, and snacks. I will never forget how genuinely kind and warm and lovely she was to all of us.
I was a little bit older than most of the other kids (I was 12), and Angelina took the time to talk to me. She asked what I was interested in, and I said I loved reading classic experimental fiction — she came back the next day before she left town to give me a copy of The Sheltering Sky. She wasn’t super famous at the time, and she was just the sweetest and funniest person — I still have the book.”

8. Miley Cyrus

Source: Getty Images

“I was working on The Last Song with Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth where I had many kind interactions with both of them, but this particular one stands out the most. We were filming in a community college (staged as a hospital) and during a break, I went into the restroom — it was totally empty except for Miley, who was sitting up on the wall of sinks with her makeup artist, just chatting.
I really had to go, so I sheepishly apologized and said I’d be quick, in case I was interrupting. As I was heading into the stall, Miley said, ‘Do you want me to turn the water on for you?! I get SO pee-shy. Here, I’ll just turn it on for you.’ I chuckled and said, ‘It’s okay, I lived in a sorority house with 30 other women, so you learn to get over it quickly — but thanks!’

9. Jason Momoa

Source: Getty Images

“I met Jason Momoa at a convention. I was in a wheelchair, and he was in the elevator. So I wheeled in and looked up in shock, and he grinned at me and said, ‘I’m not that guy, I’m just a good cosplayer.’ He got quiet for a moment and then laughed really hard. When my floor came up, even though it wasn’t his floor, he insisted on helping me out. I squeaked out a request for a picture and aimed the camera at him — he said, ‘Hell no, sweetie, you’re getting in this one,’ and tossed my camera to his friend. He was so sweet — also huge. H-U-G-E.”

10. Jennifer Hudson

Source: Getty Images

“I had the pleasure of meeting Jennifer Hudson (well, I was actually hired to do a home inspection for her). Even though I’d just started learning how to play the ukulele, I asked her if she wouldn’t mind singing if I played her a song, and I was floored when she agreed to it.
She was so sweet and humble, and was gracious enough to do a duet with me — it still gives me goosebumps thinking about how extremely talented she was. I was completely gobsmacked at how amazing her voice really was, which paled in comparison to how incredibly nice she was.”

11. Beyoncé

Source: Getty Images

“My friend was super nervous and panicked when she met Beyoncé, so Bey held her hand until she felt OK.”

12. Dolly Parton

Source: Getty Images

“I met Dolly Parton twice while working at Dollywood. The first time we were in the park before the season started, and she was shooting commercials. When we got there that day, they had turned our shop into her dressing room, so we weren’t allowed in at first. But when she found out, she let us in. There were buffet tables set up and she told us to help ourselves, and that she didn’t need all of that food anyway! In-between takes, she talked to us about what we were doing, where we were going to college, what we were studying, and so on."