Millie Bobby Brown breaks down over disrespectful fan encounter

Millie Bobby Brown broke down in tears while recounting how she was shopping with her mum when a disrespectful fan approached and began filming her despite the actress declining her initial request.

The Stranger Things star took to Instagram to share the story, asking her fans to respect her privacy.

Millie Bobby Brown has shared a tearful message with fans, asking for some privacy. Photo: Getty

"[The fan] said, 'Can I take a video of you?' And I said, 'Um, no,' but why would anyone want be taken a video of? Of [just] me. Like, it's not of the both of us. Of me," she said.

The 16-year-old continued, “At the end of the day, I don't need to justify it to anyone. If I don’t want to be taken a video of, I don't have to be.”

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As Milly went to pay for her items the fan began to film her again.

"And I said, 'I’m a human being. Like, what more can I ask from you?' ... She said, 'So I can't take a video of a human being? And I said, 'No, not when I said no!'

UPDATE: Millie Bobby Brown shares emotional account of being harassed by someone while Christmas shopping with her mom. Asks people to respect her privacy. pic.twitter.com/Q5EogkVCBW

— Def Noodles (@defnoodles) November 30, 2020

The star then began to cry, telling her followers: "It just makes me upset when people try to push the boundary. I just wish people were more respectful. I’m still trying to navigate this all and it’s still overwhelming."

She added, "I will take a picture with you, but when you push the boundary and you try to fight me on it. Where are my rights to say no?"

Milly later added in another Instagram Story, "I am totally fine now. But was emotional in the moment because I felt uncomfortable and disrespected."

"It’s important to set your boundaries and to speak up. I love you guys. Be kind to one another."

Millie has previously spoken about being bullied, saying she was "lucky" to have family and friends to turn to, but added some children might not be so lucky. Photo: Getty

The star recently deleted her TikTok account as well with fans guessing the fan encounter led her to delete the app.

In a UNICEF speech the actress gave last year, she shared how she was the target of bullying and online trolling.

"I want to talk about an issue that is very personal to me, something that so often goes unnoticed but causes real suffering: bullying," she said. "I've been very lucky in my life. I take nothing for granted but I also know what it feels like to be vulnerable. At school, I was bullied by a group of students. I remember feeling helpless. You know, school used to be a safe place and now I was scared to go. I didn't know who I could trust or who I could turn to."

"Like millions of other girls around the world, I've also been bullied and harassed online. It's a terrifying feeling to look at your phone and see that messages people are sending you are filled with anger, hate and even threats. So many of these are strangers and anonymous trolls on the internet. Like all bullies, they gain their power by taking power away from others, by making them feel as scared and helpless as I did."

Millie continued: "I was lucky. With the help of my friends, family and people around me, I was able to overcome these negative things and take my power back. But millions of children aren't so lucky. They're still struggling in the darkness. Bullying and online threats are never harmless, never just words. It puts children's mental health at risk. It causes stress and, in the most extreme cases, it can lead to self-harm, sickness and even suicide."

She finished by saying: "I'm convinced that social media doesn't have to be a place of fear, bullying and harassment. It can bring people together. It can be a place of love and support."

If you are concerned about the mental health of yourself or a loved one, seek support and information by calling Lifeline on 13 11 14, Mensline on 1300 789 978, or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.

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