Chase Stokes is taking a stand on being treated like a ‘zoo animal’.
Stokes rose to fame with his role as John B. Routledge in Netflix Outdoor benches.
Speaking about fame, he noted that with time he has learned to set boundaries and prioritize mental health.
He thinks the show premiered at the “right place, the right time and at a very unfortunate time in the world [during the COVID-19 lockdown]. And so many people have taken it into their homes and watched it countless times.”
However, he believes people should remember that “there is a human being behind the character.”
He noted that he prefers to have a real connection with people and have a conversation rather than a photo.
“People come up to me and say, ‘Can I have a photo?’ he said People. “That means they’re invested in my work, they know the character, they know the show. I’m so proud of that. But one thing I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older and more on my own two feet is that I’m not just a zoo animal. I don’t just exist for a photo.”
“I’m hyper-aware and not deaf to the fact that I’m fortunate enough to have had a show in the early chapters of my career that has been a global hit,” the Marked Men star added, but “just because people feel so connected to it doesn’t mean I’m still just the face on their phone or the face on the iPad. I’m human.”
With the show coming to an end with season 6 in 2026, the actor knows the journey from there could be “tough” and plans to continue his “lifelong journey” journey, working on his mental well-being.
“At 33, I’m actively working on that. I’m in therapy every week. I ask the right questions, challenge myself to be better and just understand that every day is going to be a different journey,” Chase Stokes said.
