"I'd Have Smashed The Cameras": The Internet Is Outraged Over This Viral Footage Of Actor Hudson Williams' Distressing Encounter With Alleged Autograph Sellers In Paris

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In the video, which you can view here, a visibly flustered Williams appears to be swarmed by a group of alleged autograph hunters — paparazzi who deliberately seek out celebrity signatures on photos and merch to presumably resell for profit.

Person in embroidered jacket with bold eye makeup at a formal event

"Guys, you just followed me to my residence," Williams can be heard saying, which suggests the men had been trailing him long before the recording began. "You can't do this. This is really fucking weird," he continues.

When his attempts to verbally defuse the situation fail, Williams appears to yank the stack of unsigned headshots from one of the men's hands before tossing his black Sharpie over his shoulder.

Person in a sleeveless vest signing autographs for fans over a red carpet barrier

"You guys aren't fans — you're being really creepy, and you just followed me," he says.

Person in a white suit with gold accessories on a red carpet, looking to the side. Hairstyle is swept back. Audience blurred in the background

Then, the encounter escalates, with Williams seemingly trying to set one of the headshots aflame. However, when his lighter doesn't catch, he walks away with the photo, saying, "I'm gonna burn this at home. You don't do this. Thank you. Now, please fucking leave. You're demented."

Close-up of a hand holding a lit lighter, with a bright flame against a dark background

The clip continues for another minute or so, with Williams repeatedly begging to be left alone while the men continue trailing him with the camera. The women he is with — reportedly his girlfriend, Katelyn Rose Larson, and two female team members — also try to intervene at certain points, to no avail.

Social media comment expressing discomfort with paparazzi behavior in Paris and sympathy for Hudson's team and Katelyn

Needless to say, the distressing clip has people talking. Many say it offers a heartbreaking glimpse into the darker side of celebrity, with some arguing it captures Williams at a "breaking point."

Criticism of people wanting hate toward someone reaching a breaking point due to being stalked. Emphasizes famous people need boundaries

While a handful of people criticized Williams for what they called an "aggressive" response, the overwhelming majority felt that his frustration was "completely justified."

Tweet discussing Hudson's justified reaction to being followed and harassed, highlighting his politeness and the audacity of those laughing at him

Many supporters even pushed back at descriptions of the altercation as a "fight," arguing Williams was well within his rights to respond the way he did after such an invasion of privacy.

Social media posts discussing a celebrity's polite interaction with paparazzi in Paris

"This is nowhere near 'fighting.' He was completely calm," someone else reiterated.

Tweet by @ROPI203040 with a Scooby-Doo profile picture, commenting on someone being calm, not fighting

@ROPI203040 / Via x.com

Interestingly, people were quick to point out that critics had allegedly labeled Williams as "aggressive" before the full video even circulated.

Tweet questioning the attention on an aggressive video, praising Hudson Williams for standing up to stalkers

Not only did the full footage tell a very different story, supporters argued, but the rush to judgment also reflected the heightened scrutiny many believe Williams has faced since rising to fame as a person of color starring in an LGBTQ+ series.

The speaker comments on a video, saying Hudson's gentle approach to stalkers was misrepresented as aggressive, and criticizes racial motivations

Putting themself in Williams' shoes, one person wrote, "Hudson underreacted tbh, i'd have smashed the cameras."

Tweet about the audacity and entitlement some show toward celebrities, expressing that Hudson reacted calmly compared to what the user might have done

Wherever you stand on Williams' response, the clip raises a bigger question about the dark side of fame: If repeatedly begging aggressive paparazzi to leave you alone fails, how should celebrities be expected to protect their boundaries? Let us know where you stand in the comments.

Photographers take pictures on a bustling red carpet at an event, with people in formal attire in the background

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