Younger generations not recognizing older celebrities is not exactly a new phenomenon, especially with the rapid shifts to new entertainment platforms. With that said, Hollywood actress Laura Benanti from New York was still shocked and appeared bothered that an airplane full of young passengers ignored her and her contribution to entertainment. Benanti has since taken her complaint online, sparking a discussion about popularity.
The humbling moment happened to Benanti during a recent flight when an airplane packed with theater-loving teenagers failed to recognize her despite her long career on Broadway and television. Benanti, who was born in New York City, shared the awkward but hilarious story in a TikTok video that quickly spread online.
According to the actress, she looked around the cabin and realized that most of the passengers appeared to be members of a youth theater group. “So I would say about 83% of the people on this airplane are teenagers in a theater group,” Benanti said in the video. “And not a single one of them recognizes me. And I could not tolerate that, obviously.”
Rather than quietly accepting the situation, Benanti decided to take matters into her own hands. The actress walked over to the group and asked whether they were part of a theater program. When the teens confirmed they were, Benanti casually responded, “I do theater.” Unfortunately for the Broadway veteran, the line did not have the dramatic effect she may have hoped for, as the teenagers simply replied with a nonchalant, “cool.”
Benanti’s Experience Has Sparked a Debate
For the record, Benanti has been a major presence in theater for years, winning a Tony Award in 2008 for her role in Gypsy and appearing in productions such as Into the Woods and She Loves Me. She has also appeared on television and Hollywood productions such as Supergirl, Gossip Girl, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where she is known for portraying Melania Trump.
Hence, commenters on Benanti’s viral TikTok clip have resonated with her, with one of them echoing her complaint, “Not knowing who Laura Benanti is as a theatre person is CRAZY.” However, even people who claimed to be older, such as Millennials and Gen X, rallied behind the teenagers Benanti complained about, saying, “To be fair I’m a mid-30s millennial that grew up in theater and I have no clue who you are” or “I’m 45 and don’t recognize you.”
Benanti’s experience and her opinion regarding the teenagers on the airplane even invited mockery from certain commenters. Some have joked, “oh to be on a plane with thee laura benanti.” An alleged high school teacher, however, has chimed in, stating that “this is so on brand for today’s students 😅.” But now that Benanti’s video has gone viral, perhaps her next flight full of teenagers might turn out differently or more favorable.
