Alysa Liu went from a niche figure skating phenom to an international superstar at the Olympics, which led to an uncomfortable fan encounter at the airport. Do not chase her to her car!
Unfortunately, this kind of behavior is to be expected with this kind of fame.
That does not excuse it. Liu would like to be treated the same way she was before the Olympics as after!
Alysa Liu is on the move!
There was no bigger breakout star in Italy than Liu. Those who know the sport already knew who she was but a whole new group of casual four-year watchers were introduced to her greatness.
The Olympics are the biggest platform for figure skating. Liu won gold for the United States. That is an instant boost to recognizability. She will never be forgotten.
Of course, her signature look also does not allow her to fly under the radar. You can spot Alysa Liu from more than a few feet away!
Even with her impressive run at the Milano-Cortina Games now behind her, the 20-year-old American has not had a chance to slow down. She skated at the sold-out in the longest-running ice show in the world, Ice Chips: A World Journey, at the Skating Club of Boston last weekend.
And then it was off to New York for television. Liu appeared on the TODAY Show earlier this week. She appeared on the Tonight Show just one day later. The grind does not stop.
Do not chase her to her car!
Alysa Liu finally got a chance to fly home (I assume) on Wednesday evening. Although she did not clarify exactly where she landed, she returned to “her car” after more than a month on the road.
As you could imagine, Liu received a hero’s welcome upon her arrival. A massive crowd gathered at the airport to get a glimpse at the gold medalist. They mobbed her with cameras and requests for signature.
That is kind of to be expected for such a high-profile athlete at the peak of his or her fame but that doesn’t make it appropriate.
Liu would like her fans to take a step back, respectfully.
That is especially true after her most recent encounter. She was chased all of the way to her car!
Not cool.
To wait politely at the airport is one thing. It happens. Be respectful. To chase Alysa Liu to her car is crossing a line.
Of course, we see this kind of thing with big-name celebrities. This might be a wakeup call for Liu. She likely needs to increase the amount of security for which she travels. At least temporarily.
Don’t chase her to her car…