Source: Tim Mosenfelder / Getty
It can’t be easy for singer Summer Walker to be a rising public figure and be an introvert, but it sounds like that struggle is even more difficult for her fans to navigate.
The 23-year-old was recently criticized by a supporter who accused her of coming off as cold when they met, allegedly not offering autographs, not talking much and not allowing fans to get too close to her for pictures. This fan, who got to do a meet and greet with the singer, took to Instagram recently to share her disappointment with how it turned out.
“Such an anticlimactic and disappointing experience meeting Summer Walker yesterday,” they wrote. “Not only did she move the meet and greet last minute to after the show, the meet and greet itself was literally 5 seconds. We were informed to have our phones out, ready with flash, and not to sit too close or touch her. She barely spoke to anyone, every couple of people she’d say ‘Hi.’ It was a big hurt piece for me because I really idolised [sic] her and her work. I knew she was an introvert and kind of closed off but there was no effort in this at all, whatsoever.”
The young lady would go on to say in her rant that she was hoping for sincerity from Walker, and that the star had “lost a big fan.”
The message got a lot of attention, and actually caught the eye of the “Playing Games” singer. She took to Instagram on Sunday and shared that she doesn’t seek to offend her fans, but touchy-feely moments people are hoping for she is not going to be able to give them. Walker said she is not going to hug people at meet and greets because of her weariness to transfer energy with them. Her response was posted with no comments allowed.
“I just want to say to all the fans who purchase meet & greets I really APPRECIATE y’all taking the extra time to meet me and share your stories. I tell everyone individually ‘thank you’, I spread love, we laugh & I give genuine compliments,” she wrote. “now for those who’re upset b/c I don’t give hugs idk what to tell you…I’m an empath, and that transference of energy from that many people each day would literally KILL me.. y’all may not understand what I’m talking about but for example… there’s a lot of people out here faking the funk with a smile on their face like they got it together but inside your [sic] actually suffering from some sort of traumatic experience, a loss, depressed, fearful, envious or whatever the case may be BUT I CAN FEEL IT. So I ask you please respect my space in those moments.”
She also shared a list of some traits of an empathetic person for those who may have trouble understanding where she’s coming from. One of the traits was that an empath feels “the illnesses, aching, pains or physical symptoms of others when you are near them.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4tsotZAHEc/
Reactions to her spiel were mixed:
https://twitter.com/ReadingVixen/status/1193966453998923776
As overdramatic as she may sound, I get it. It is incredibly important to protect your energy from people who might not have the best intentions, and strangers? How would you ever know whether they do or don’t in a minutes-long interaction? I know plenty of people who are of the mindset that physical touch is a no-no, even from individuals they somewhat know, because you don’t know how energies are being impacted or what could be passed on to you. My husband was raised to not allow people to touch his head because of energy. One of my co-workers doesn’t believe in allowing hairdressers with odd energy and questionable practices to touch her hair. A friend of mine wouldn’t let anyone other than her daughter touch her stomach when she was pregnant with her second child in order to protect the baby. The first time she delivered, she gave birth very early and wasn’t playing around with anybody or anything the second time around.
While all of this was interesting and weird in some ways to me initially, I’ve learned very quickly whether through physical touch or just presence alone, there are some people who can drain you and give off extremely negative vibes that can impact you even when they have left the room or left a phone conversation with you. You can continue to allow yourself to be exposed to them, or you can protect your energy, your spirit, your vibe — whatever you identify that “thing” as. With that being said, hugs likely won’t actually kill Walker, but it’s believable that enough of them from enough of the wrong people can leave her feeling pretty worn out and affected. It’s an experience we can’t relate to, and many certainly don’t get (being approached by so many people wanting to physically reach out and touch her and needing to reject that), but it’s her way of looking out for herself. I, at least, can respect that. And if nothing else, where does it say celebrities owe you the chance to touch them because you streamed an album and bought a concert ticket? Keep your hands to yourself.
