To hug or not to hug fans

To hug or not to hug fans

Familiar or fun.

That is when local celebrities say they will put their arms over fans' shoulders or give them a hug while taking photos with them.

Popular TV actor Elvin Ng says there is a difference between supporters, who have been following his career for a long time, and the random person who comes up to take a photo with him.

For the latter, he would just stand next to them and smile.

"I put my arm on their shoulders only if they are familiar and I have seen them a few times before, or if they are children or the elderly," says Ng, who is in You Can Be An Angel Too, the 9pm serial on Channel 8.

Former 987FM DJ Divian Nair says he usually does the "index finger point" to the person standing next to him.

"It puts the focus of the photo on the other person, which is what I am assuming they want," says Nair, who was last seen in Channel 5 serial Mata Mata: A New Era.

But on occasions, when people are friendlier and lean in close or put an arm around him, he returns the favour.

"I try to do it in as brotherly a way as possible, so nobody gets any wrong ideas," he says.

A group of Muslim girls in Malaysia were threatened with arrest after a video, showing them hugging members of K-pop boy band B1A4 earlier this month, went viral.

In the video, the band members bring the girls, who are wearing headscarves, on stage. They sing to, and cuddle them. One band member kisses one of the fans on the forehead.

Italian-American actor and DJ Bobby Tonelli says he is aware of the conservative mores of the region: "I am also aware, for example, not to put my arm on the shoulders if they are persons of faith or are very reserved."

For female celebrities, photo sessions with fans are a "totally different ball game".

Many say they simply stand next to fans and smile, especially when they are of the opposite sex.

Actress Ann Kok says she will put her hand on their shoulders if "it is a group of guys and they seem fun".

But she draws the line at doing the same with individual male fans.

WRONG IDEA

"I don't want to give them the wrong impression," Kok says.

Echoing her sentiments is Class 95FM DJ Jean Danker.

She puts her arm around the shoulder or waist, but if "the feeling isn't right, then I just stand beside them".

"A lot of female supporters come up and ask for hugs and I give them freely," Danker says.

Sometimes, fans cross the line and touch the stars inappropriately.

Tonelli says he would just "politely make space between us".

Nair would, on the other hand, tell them off.

"But if they are unaware of how uncomfortable they are making me (feel), then I'll try to tolerate it for the duration of the shot and make a funny face to show how strange I think the photo will turn out," he says.

juditht@sph.com.sg


This article was first published on Jan 25, 2015.
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