Paul Mescal has decided to step away from social media entirely, explaining that the pressures and constant scrutiny that come with online presence became too overwhelming after his rise to fame. The 30-year-old actor, known for his role in 2020’s Normal People, revealed his reasons for quitting social media in a candid conversation about the impact of public attention on personal well-being.
The Challenges of Living Under Constant Observation
Mescal admitted that as his popularity surged with the success of Normal People, he realized maintaining social media would eventually become a burden. Reflecting on when he first started receiving attention, he shared his worries about the permanence of social media accounts.
“I had it when Normal People was starting, and I remember being like, ‘Oh, if I keep it past this point, I’m f–ked. Then it’s with me forever and I’ll be posting trailers and stuff,’”
he told British GQ.
“It’s so hard to avoid being watched and commented about.”
Mescal highlighted the negative side of instant public critique, remarking on how social media users often focus on superficial things unrelated to his craft.
“They might not even know your f–king work,”
he said.
“And they’ll be like, ‘Your f–king nose is too big.’”
The Privilege and Choices Behind Avoiding Social Media
Despite steering clear of social platforms, Mescal recognizes that his ability to succeed without a strong online presence is unusual and not something every actor can afford. Using his career as an example, he discussed the distinction between being hired by filmmakers versus studios, suggesting that the latter may prioritize social media reach.
“It is a privileged position because I am aware that I’ve been very lucky,”
he explained.
“But I’ve never been hired by a studio – I’ve been hired by filmmakers, and I think that is the key thing for actors to remember. I’m also acutely aware that I wouldn’t necessarily follow the model that I’ve chosen, because it might limit work accessibility.”
Critique of Hollywood’s Dependence on Social Media Stars
Mescal expressed frustration with how the entertainment industry increasingly relies on social media influence to determine success. He criticized the trend where studios favor personalities who maintain constant online engagement over those focused primarily on their craft.
“That’s a f–king shame,” the Aftersun actor said.
“It’s boring for studios to be reliant on that. We call out this absence of movie stars, and it’s like, Yeah, of course there’s an absence: we see everybody the whole f–king time!”
The Celebrity Model Mescal Aspires To
Looking to an earlier era of stardom, Mescal admires a more discreet approach to fame, citing actor Paul Newman as a role model for maintaining privacy despite public admiration. Newman was known for his effortless style and ability to retreat from the public eye as he pleased.
“The whole point of Paul Newman being so great is that he’d rock up to the Venice Festival looking unbelievably chic and cool,”
Mescal said of the late star. “And then he would disappear.”
Maintaining Privacy in Personal Life
Beyond his stance on social media, Mescal is also protective of his private life, particularly his relationship with singer Gracie Abrams. He has made it clear that he values keeping their romance out of the media spotlight, aiming to preserve intimacy away from public inspection.
“Everything to do with that is deeply precious to me,”
he told Rolling Stone in September regarding their relationship.
“I want to protect those things fundamentally.”
Famous Figures Open Up with Candid Revelations
Mescal’s frank confessions about the cost of social media are part of a broader trend of celebrities sharing unusual or unexpected personal stories. From athletes to actors and influencers, many have revealed quirks, mistakes, and moments of vulnerability, often generating mixed reactions from the public.
Jason Kelce on Personal Hygiene Preferences
Retired Philadelphia Eagles player Jason Kelce recently stirred conversation about his unconventional hygiene habits after admitting he rarely washes his feet. Responding to a fan’s comment about his appearance, Kelce humorously questioned the necessity of foot washing.
“What kind of weirdo washes their feet….”
Kelce tweeted in June 2024.
“Looks like he doesn’t wash his legs or feet.”
He later reinforced his stance on his podcast, jokingly calling those who regularly wash their feet “psychopaths” and explaining he only cleans his feet if there is visible dirt.
Robert Pattinson Corrects Circus Death Story
Robert Pattinson addressed a long-standing rumor that he witnessed a clown die during his childhood visit to the circus, admitting the story was fabricated. The Twilight star recounted his earlier claim and expressed disbelief at how convincing he sounded.
“There was absolutely no hesitation at all [in my voice],”
Pattinson told The New York Times Style Magazine.
“I’m like, ‘What on earth? Are you possessed?’”
He originally described the clown’s car exploding on him, terrifying the audience, but later acknowledged it was a fabrication for dramatic effect during a 2011 interview.
Kim Kardashian’s Unique Tribute to Her Grandmother
Kim Kardashian shared a touching story about honoring her grandmother Mary Jo Campbell during an intimate moment with then-boyfriend Pete Davidson. The SKIMS founder revealed how her grandmother’s advice inspired a meaningful connection at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
“Pete and I were staying at the Beverly Hills Hotel last weekend, and we were sitting in front of the fireplace, just talking for hours,”
Kardashian recounted.
“And I was like, ‘My grandma told me that you really live life when you have sex in front of the fireplace. And so, we had sex in front of the fireplace in honor of you.”
The family shared a lighthearted exchange regarding this, with her grandmother expressing approval despite the unusual context.
Mila Kunis Explains Family Bathroom Policy
Actress Mila Kunis revealed that she and her husband Ashton Kutcher maintain an open-door policy in their home, even in the bathroom, as part of fostering a natural, unguarded environment for their children. She credited this decision to their kids’ frequent interruptions and their ease with bodily functions.
“It’s just one of those where, for better or for worse, as a family and the kids have all kind of embodied bodily function as a very standard norm,”
Kunis told E! News.
“I was like, ‘Oh, forget it. Just keep the door open.’”
She admitted that before having kids, she never imagined she would be comfortable with such an arrangement.
Jennifer Garner’s Accident During a Fight Scene
Jennifer Garner shared a behind-the-scenes story about accidentally biting off part of an actor’s ear during a fight scene in the 2007 film The Kingdom. Describing the intense direction from Pete Berg, the film’s director, she spoke of how the unchoreographed scene led to an unexpected injury.
“Pete Berg, who was the director, told him to try to kill me,”
Garner said.
“We did not have a lot of choreography, and he told me to do anything I could to survive.”
“He did, and I did, and I ended up scrambling onto his back,”
she recalled.
“I bit his ear, and we have a picture of him missing a chunk of ear, because we were not kidding.”
Joy Behar’s Ghostly Encounters
During a discussion on The View, Joy Behar revealed she has had “sex with a few ghosts,” in response to a question about whether such encounters could result in pregnancy. The remark brought a humorous reaction from co-host Whoopi Goldberg, who acknowledged the surprising nature of Behar’s statement.
“I’ve had sex with a few ghosts and never got pregnant.”
Behar shared.
“I’m just gonna let that ride,”
Goldberg said.
“I don’t know how many of you just heard what Joy just said, but I’m going to let it ride.”
Jenna Bush Hager’s Reason for Not Wearing Underwear
Jenna Bush Hager explained her choice to forgo underwear, a detail that surprised co-host Hoda Kotb during preparations for their show. Jenna described how avoiding underwear contributes to a smoother silhouette and packing convenience, highlighting practical benefits to her preference.
“We both had to change before the show and we were like, ‘Oh we have to go back into the changing room,’”
Kotb said.
“But then I noticed, Jenna never wears underwear.”
“I think it makes a more pretty silhouette,”
Jenna said.
“I also think you don’t have to pack as much. There are a lot of pros to it!”
Britney Spears Admits Unfamiliarity with Pete Davidson and Scott Disick
Pop star Britney Spears posted a humorous reaction to a viral video featuring Pete Davidson and Scott Disick, admitting she had no clue who the two were despite their public profiles. Sharing the clip on Instagram, she expressed amusement over the duo’s antics, even though she was unaware of their identities.
“No idea who these people in the video are but it made me laugh so hard !!!!”
Britney wrote in a now-deleted post.
Jana Kramer Reflects on a Dating Mishap with Chris Evans
Jana Kramer shared a memorable dating story involving Chris Evans before he became widely famous. She recounted how an awkward moment, caused by the smell of asparagus in her urine, coincided with the end of their brief relationship after a night when Evans was entertaining friends.
“The last interaction that I remember is him going into the bathroom after I just went with asparagus pee,”
Kramer said.
“We didn’t hook up that night. He stayed up late with his friends and then [in] the morning I did the asparagus walk of shame out of his house.”
“I never heard from him again.”
Elisabeth Finch Confesses to Fabricating Cancer Diagnosis
In a serious revelation, former Grey’s Anatomy writer Elisabeth Finch admitted she lied about having bone cancer, a falsehood that impacted both her life and work on the show. She described the confession as a grave error and expressed deep remorse for the consequences it caused.
“I told a lie when I was 34 years old and it was the biggest mistake of my life. It just got bigger and bigger and bigger and got buried deeper and deeper inside me,”
Finch told The Ankler.
“I’ve never had any form of cancer.”
“What I did was wrong. Not okay. F–ked up. All the words.”
Kim Kardashian’s Bold Statement on Youthful Appearance
Kim Kardashian discussed her willingness to go to extreme lengths for youthful looks, jokingly claiming she might eat feces daily if it guaranteed a younger appearance. The comment, initially framed in jest, sparked conversation about the pressures of beauty standards.
“If you told me that I literally had to eat poop every single day and I would look younger, I might,”
Kardashian said. “I just might.”
She later clarified her statement, admitting she probably wouldn’t consume a full bowl of such an unpleasant item but recognized how far she might go.
“But now that I think about it,”
she added.
“I would probably eat s–t if someone told me, ‘If you eat this bowl of poop every single day, you’ll look younger.’”
“I don’t think I can do a whole bowl.”
Jelly Roll’s Embarrassing Onstage Incident
Country rapper Jelly Roll revealed a particularly humiliating moment when he accidentally defecated onstage during a performance. Sharing this story on a talk show, he described his misplaced confidence that the sensation was only gas before realizing the embarrassing situation.
“I pooped myself one time,”
he admitted. “I did, I’m sorry.”
“I was confident it was all air,”
Jelly Roll explained.
“I’m so sorry. I watched this crowd go from loving me to just being completely out.”
TEXAS HOUSE HAUNTED BY “SEXUAL” SPIRITS? #TheView panel reacts to a Texas woman who is claiming her house is being haunted by ghosts who aren't shy about their intentions. 👻 https://t.co/cVclFZyKV0 pic.twitter.com/ZnQ6PQFied
— The View (@TheView) October 20, 2022
