The veteran television star’s candid take on why she avoids selfies drew sharp online backlash from fans who saw her explanation as outdated.

During a new appearance on “The Howard Stern Show” on June 9, 2025, Sarah Jessica Parker discussed her discomfort with selfie culture, pointing to a recent encounter with a fan as an example. The YouTube clip, which was uploaded on June 10, quickly circulated, prompting strong reactions from supporters and critics alike.

During the interview, the actress and Howard Stern were discussing being admired by fans, and Parker took a moment to reflect on how fan interactions have changed over time. Her issue was that people no longer asked for autographs, only selfies.

The talk show host asked, “Don’t you hate that?” to which Parker explained her interesting take based on a meeting with an admirer.

“So here’s what I’ve been trying to do,” she said. “Because I was just at the airport on Friday. A woman came up to me and she didn’t say hello. She just said, ‘Can I take your picture?’ And I said, ‘We didn’t even meet. You didn’t even introduce yourself. What’s your name?'”

The fan eventually introduced herself as Julie, and Parker declined the photo but offered to return for a conversation after getting food for her family. True to her word, the actress came back and spoke with Julie’s group. “I guarantee you it’s gonna be so much more meaningful,” Parker asserted.

“It’s like you’re a schoolteacher teaching everyone how to behave,” Stern commented. “I mean, it’s like [expletive] annoying.”

However, Parker explained that the airport situation was better than someone going up to her with their phone already in place and taking pictures without asking.

“I always am, like, startled by it, and I tell you, I much prefer to have a conversation—for someone to come up to me and say, ‘Maybe this isn’t your best time. My name is Veronica, and I’m just here, and I’m excited to see you,'” she said.

Stern also took a moment to share his personal frustrations with selfies: “I say to people point blank, I go, ‘Listen, genius, I’d love to take a picture with you if I was George Clooney. I look like [expletive], and I don’t need another bad picture of me running around because I see these pictures everywhere, and I look like a monster.'”

Unfortunately, the actress’s remarks struck a nerve across social media. One fan wrote, “It’s really silly to act like taking a photo means you aren’t living in the moment. It takes 4 seconds to document a moment you are living in. It hardly strips the moment of validity. It’s such an old, tired rhetoric. Take photos. You will want to look back on these moments someday.”

Another commented, “Wait. But I’m a fan. I’d be sad. Hey I made you famous for supporting your show SJP!! Take a selfie. Here I have makeup in my bag, and MUA, I’ll touch you up before. ❤️”

A different fan added, “Yea, the fan is living in the moment, let them have one !! [sic]” One netizen wrote, “If her fans weren’t watching she wouldn’t have a show. It’s the least she could do. She is obviously full of herself.”

Some were more biting in their commentary. One person wrote, “No selfies but here is a heavily touched up headshot. [sic]” Another said, “Lol thats okay Sjp im not rushing to get a selfie with ya😂. [sic]”

One direct critique read, “You’re allowed to say no but without your fans you would had no hit show. [sic]” And a netizen on Facebook wrote, “Neither are important. You are not important.”

In answer to why fans want selfies, one person on Facebook said, “Because we want proof that we meet our favorite celebrities or just a celebrity.” Someone echoed, “Because picture or it didn’t happen. [sic]”

Another netizen added, “I want to take a photo of the moment because no one would believe me! I met the late Gordon Lightfoot and many don’t believe me. I couldn’t take a picture because I met him in his doctor’s office.”

One fan sarcastically said, “Don’t worry, Sarah Jessica Parker, I won’t be expecting either from you. Sorry, not sorry.” Another person quipped, “Especially when the fans are better looking than her. Lol.”

However, some people came to Parker’s defense. One person noted, “What if u don’t feel or look your best and here comes someone wanting to document that in a photo that’s gonna be shared all over? These are real people as well.”

Another argued, “It’s weird that fans feel entitled to a pic. Leave celebrities alone! They don’t owe you anything.” A similar sentiment was echoed by someone who wrote, “Folks, celebrities don’t owe you pictures or autographs.”

And one fan gave a broader take: “To be fair, fans ask celebrities for autographs and pictures at inappropriate times. They don’t have to agree, to take pictures or sign stuff just because you buy stuff with their faces on them. They’re not your friends, these are just people you pay to see entertain you. Nothing more.”

One netizen added, “Hoping a celeb will take 3 seconds of their time for a photo is much more likely to occur, than hoping they’ll spend a minute to have a conversation with you. While this example Sarah gives sounds great for that moment in time, I doubt from my own experiences with her that she normally takes such time. That being said, she has always been pleasant.”

More defenses came, as one fan wrote, “It’s amazing how people think celebrities ‘owe’ them a selfie or whatever because you watch their show. […] Celebrities already provide you with their professional work–THAT is their job. They don’t ‘owe’ you more just because you want more. If you want a selfie or an autograph, go to a fan convention or some other official event.”

One netizen was pleased by Parker’s take, adding, “[…] I like that she prefers a conversation bc I would also prefer a conversation than just a pic. It is more meaningful by far.”

One fan said, “No the moment is what captures the photo always the moment and sometimes the moment is way more better to not take a picture. [sic]”

Despite Sarah Jessica Parker’s remarks about declining photos, she has taken selfies with fans before, but they seem to be at official events. She was smiling with fans outside the “Sex and the City” 25th Anniversary Exhibit in Manhattan on June 8, 2023.

She also regularly documents her own life on social media. On May 30, she posted a behind-the-scenes video from the “And Just Like That…” press tour in Paris, featuring her co-stars Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis for a few seconds.

The video included scenes of her dining at the hotel, standing in front of the Eiffel Tower, and preparing for interviews.

Her caption read: “That’s a wrap on our Paris @justlikethatmax press tour. Season 3 is officially here. Watch now on @streamonmax. Grateful for and humbled by the enthusiasm worldwide. X, SJ.”

Season 3 of “And Just Like That…” premiered on May 29, 2025, with new episodes dropping weekly on Max.