“Bizarre Al” Yankovic: Grammy-winning parody-song grasp, multi-platinum singer-accordionist, genuinely good dude. For many years, devoted followers have marveled at his heat and approachability—uncommon qualities for an artist and superstar of his stature. And now lots of of them have gathered to swap tales in a very heartwarming Instagram remark part.
Their assembly spot is a submit by Katelyn Sue, who runs the social media account Nineteen Eighties.nostalgia. Beginning in September 2025, the influencer posted a collection of pictures and movies exhibiting an emotional pre-concert meet-and-greet with certainly one of her lifelong inspirations. The clips are stunning, exhibiting the pair chatting casually, sharing a young hug, and Yankovic signing some merch. “‘By no means meet your heroes’ doesn’t apply to this man,” she wrote.
“I began listening to Bizarre Al after I was 8,” Katelyn Sue tells Upworthy. “There’s a joke with my technology that we’ve to undergo the compulsory Michael Jackson part in second grade as a result of so many people did. Within the midst of my Michael Jackson part, I’d watch his movies again and again on my mother and pa’s laptop of their room. Someday whereas I used to be watching Michael Jackson movies, my dad confirmed me [Yankovic’s] ‘Eat It’ video…after which ‘Fats.’ I believe being within the wheelchair and likewise simply being a extremely quirky child, I used to be hyper conscious that I used to be completely different from different children my age. Not many eight-year-olds then shared the identical quirky pursuits that I did, and I believe I felt like form of a loner. Not solely did I believe the movies and songs have been hilarious, it was comforting because the bizarre child to observe his movies and really feel like I wasn’t alone in being completely different and that it was okay. He positively was one of many first individuals to make me really feel like being bizarre isn’t unhealthy.”
How “Bizarre Al” helped one diehard fan persevere by way of a darkish time
Katelyn Sue began her public social-media accounts at age 14, ceaselessly posting about her love of the ’80s and childhood heroes Yankovic and Paul “Pee-wee Herman” Reubens. However at first, she wound up getting “severely bullied” for it. “I used to be known as ‘a freak,’ ‘mentally unwell,’ every kind of issues,” she says. “I shut that a part of myself fully out.”
At age 20, her psychological well being reached a breaking level, and in an try to flee her “darkish ideas,” she clicked on her YouTube app and randomly discovered Yankovic’s video for childhood favourite “Like a Surgeon.” “Lengthy story brief,” she says, “that video is the explanation I got here again to myself. I wished to fulfill him in 2022 when he was in my space, however it was too contemporary. I made a decision to purchase the tickets this tour and inform him what he had gotten me by way of.”
Katelyn Sue was so “starstruck” in the course of the meet-and-greet that she may barely bear in mind every part she wished to say. However she did handle to comment “You’re my childhood hero” and “Can I provide you with a hug?” She additionally requested that he doodle his personal picture so she may get it tattooed. “I virtually chickened out, however I lastly determined to inform him that he’s the explanation I used to be in a position to begin being my genuine self once more and the way a lot his music had gotten me by way of,” she provides. “It was really essentially the most magical factor I’ve ever skilled.”
The video of their assembly went viral—Katelyn Sue says it’s been “seen by” John Mayer, David and Patricia Arquette, and Cheri Oteri—and that response has been overwhelming in a great way.
“There are an insane variety of feedback speaking about their interactions with him and the way it made their day, even when it was a brief interplay,” she says.
Certainly, you’ll be able to’t scroll for greater than two seconds with out recognizing one other candy reply—from unusual followers, celebrities, even former Yankovic collaborators. “He’s actually this man,” wrote actor Steven Weber. “Genuinely respectable. All the things you’d need him to be.” Slapstick comedian Matt Braunger chimed in, “I met him backstage after I opened for Aziz Ansari in like 2007(?) and he sends me a bday card yearly (amongst different cool issues he’s achieved as a buddy). An absolute prince of a performer and individual ❤️”
Listed here are another great feedback:
“I’ve met Al a number of occasions and even have his autograph tattooed the place he signed my arm. He’s precisely what you’d hope he’d be like!”
“Awww 💕 I started working with @alfredyankovic when he carried out within the Nightmare Earlier than Xmas dwell with Danny Elfman and Paul Reubens and may verify that he was completely form, heat and gracious the entire time. He even made a video greeting for the son of my boyfriend (on the time) who was an enormous fan. He was gushing about it for ages! He’s a beautiful human being ☺️”
“I’ve met bizarre Al a number of occasions. He’s the kindest most giving individual I’ve ever met. If you’re speaking to him he really pays consideration to you and does not simply scribble his title after which have you ever stroll away”
“Bizarre Al was a semi common for a bit at a espresso store i labored at. That is genuinely how he’s. He at all times took photos, at all times regarded individuals within the eye and took time to truly converse with them.”
“He’s a pleasant man!”
“Waited 3 hours to *presumably* meet him and he wished to fulfill EVERYONE in line. He was so good.”
“My child bought to interview him in 2016 (he was 9 on the time.) Then, on the live performance he (son, not Bizarre Al,) had a diabetic episode and bought sick. We have been leaving and safety insisted we meet him earlier than going. He allow us to go forward of all people else ready to fulfill, and handled my son with whole respect and heat. 10/10 superstar assembly. May have hoped for extra.”
I really met him for an interview after we filmed his dwell efficiency. So exceptionally candy. He checked out me with a smile and mentioned: ‘Oh yeah, I noticed you with the digital camera!'”
“I met Al again in 2011 and of the 100’s and 100’s of celebs I met or interacted with dwelling out in California, he was by far one of the crucial real and memorable. Really an individual who appears so grateful to be appreciated by his followers. He made a really private second out of our assembly and it solidified why I’ve been a life lengthy fan”
For Katelyn Sue, the story didn’t even finish with that emotional meet-and-greet—she was in a position to meet Yankovic once more in October on the GalaxyCon occasion. “[H]e instructed me he had seen the submit, and that positively made me extraordinarily emotional,” she says. “I had hoped he noticed it for no different motive than I wished him to see the feedback speaking about how a lot he has helped individuals by way of and the way many individuals he really evokes to simply be their bizarre selves.”
