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Gillian Anderson is speaking out after a video of her interaction with longtime fans went viral.

The 58-year-old actress was filmed outside the stage door of London’s Soho Place theater following a performance of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, where she told a group of fans not to keep sitting in the front row because they were distracting her during the show.

After the clip sparked discussion online, Gillian issued a statement clarifying her relationship with the women and asking people not to criticize them.

What Did Gillian Anderson Say to the Fans?

In the viral video, Gillian recognizes several women while signing autographs outside the theater.

“You guys cannot sit in the front row, you cannot,” she tells them while smiling.

After one fan responds that the performance made them cry, Gillian jokes, “I don’t care, you cannot sit in the front row, it’s so distracting.”

“You can’t come 20 times and sit in the front row, it’s driving me mad,” she adds.

The exchange was shared widely on social media, where some users criticized the fans and characterized their repeated attendance as excessive.

Gillian Anderson Clarifies the Viral Interaction

Gillian later addressed the conversation directly in a post on X.

“The video doing the rounds is me talking with women I go back over 20 years with – so please don’t say anything negative to or about them,” she wrote.

“We’re thrilled to be doing this show but for people in the front row, please be aware that in such an intimate venue we can all see you and sometimes, it can be a tad distracting!” she continued.

“That’s all. All good. On with the show and love to everyone and thank you to all of those coming.”

The production is staged in the round, placing audience members especially close to the actors.

Gillian stars as Martha opposite Billy Crudup as George in the latest production of Edward Albee‘s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.

Find out which other production she’s set to star in this month.

Posted To:Billy Crudup Gillian Anderson Theater