Walking Dead's Norman Reedus attacked at a con

[Skanky Vamp]

It's surprising that this sort of thing has not happened before, or is not more common. Do you think it will change anything going forward as the article suggests?

We’ve known for a while that fan encounters can be strange and awkward. This weekend, Norman Reedus, who plays Daryl on The Walking Dead, was involved in an encounter that can best be described as strange, awkward ... and painful.

Undead Walking reports that Reedus was bitten by a female fan at New York/New Jersey Walker Stalker Con. The woman had had her photo taken with both Reedus and Michael Rooker, Reedus' on-screen brother Merle; after that, she lashed out. She was removed by security and permanently banned from Walker Stalker Con.

According to TV Guide, Reedus will not be pressing charges.

This is an unfortunate incident, and not just because human bites are more dangerous than animal bites. It’s because this may keep Reedus and other professionals from interacting with the fans at conventions (especially for photo ops). And the chance of being able to personally meet our geek heroes is one of the more important reasons we attend.

Stars who spend time in the public eye are at risk for stalking. Actress Rebecca Schaeffer was killed by a fan. A fan of Jodie Foster’s shot then-president Ronald Reagan to get her attention. Many other celebrities have been threatened and have their homes broken into. Reedus escaped this unfortunate situation only slightly scathed.

At least Reedus has a sense of humor about it. This is what he posted to his Instagram page:
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[Buffy Summers]

This kind of thing will ruin cons for everyone else 🙁

 

[brinkster130]

What on earth did this woman think she was going to accomplish by biting him? That he'd laugh about her biting him like a zombie and they'd ride off into the sunset? A guess role as a walker? A slap?

 

[Blaze]

Some people have gone completely bonkers! I feel bad for those poor celebrities, kinda surprised he's not pressing charges. Human bites are nasty.

 

[thetopher]

Okay Miss, you get to bite me? Then I get to shoot you with my crossbow. Sound fair?' 🙂

 

[Taake]

That's sad. I mean I can see how it would make some celebs wary about attending cons and stuff, because you never know who the nut in the crowd is until their teeth are in your neck, so to speak.

 

[Faith]

He was very safe when we had him at our show!

I had heard that the woman concerned had mental issues. I'm not saying that excuses it, but that she perhaps was not of sound mind.
 
He was very safe when we had him at our show!

I had heard that the woman concerned had mental issues. I'm not saying that excuses it, but that she perhaps was not of sound mind.

 

[FellDownAlone]

Reedus didn't press any charges since she didn't break any skin. She said she was caught up in the moment and it happened spontaneously. She had been taking the picture with him and Michael Rooker who was also bewildered by the event. She was escorted off and of course not welcomed back.

 

[GwenRaiden]

He's not pouty enough for me to want to bite him.

 

[sk]

It's scary when you don't know who's crazy and who's not...

Claudia Christian, who played Susan Ivanova in Babylon 5 (she's in my current banner), was shot at a convention.
Think it was blanks, but at a very close distance. She hurt a rib pretty badly or something like that.
So yeah, you gotta look out for the crazy ones... 🙁

/SK

 

[FellDownAlone]

I went to Walker Stalker Orlando a few months ago and I went to get an autograph from Lawrence Gilliard Jr. His son was there, and I think his son is in his early teens. His son wanted to walk around (I don't blame him) and Lawrence said he could, but he needed an escort with one of the volunteers. Of course, his son responded, "I'm old enough to walk around by myself." Instantly, my brain wanted to tell him, "No, you are, but you're dad is doing the right thing. Someone could try to hurt you and/or use you to get to him. He's being a good dad." I could see how uneasy Lawrence looked when he paused before telling him that it was "your mother's rule." It's hard on everyone in the family, and I can't imagine how hard it is to try to do something you love while also looking over your shoulder.