Popular streamer Darren Watkins Jr., known as IShowSpeed, has opened up about the emotional toll of fame, admitting the pressures of celebrity make forming genuine connections difficult.
“I can’t help nobody, I can’t talk to nobody without them thinking something else,” he said, reflecting on how fame has complicated even simple interactions.
The comment followed a viral clip from his recent Morocco tour, in which Speed jokingly asked a blonde tourist for her number after she complimented his Moroccan robe.
She declined immediately, assuming he was flirting.
? BREAKING: iShowSpeed addresses a viral clip from Morocco, where a woman asked him where he got his Moroccan-style robe.
Speed explains that when he jokingly asked for her number and was immediately refused, it wasn’t about flirting — it was a test to see if he’d be viewed as… pic.twitter.com/ag6oSUCsPx
— richo (@richo) January 20, 2026
Speed later explained the moment wasn’t about romance; it was a small test to see if he could be treated like an ordinary person rather than a celebrity with hidden motives.
He described the challenge of fame: some people approach him seeking clout or attention, while genuinely good people often keep their distance, fearing misrepresentation.
The dynamic has taken a serious mental toll on the 21-year-old internet personality.
Despite the vulnerability, Speed’s Morocco streams were full of his trademark energy and curiosity.
He haggled over “real fake” Birkin bags, reacted dramatically to so-called cursed masks, and gifted an iPhone to a blind fan, earning praise for generosity.
Speed’s experience echoes that of many stars.
Michael Jackson longed for normal childhood experiences, Justin Bieber has described depression from constant scrutiny, and Billie Eilish has said fame can make ordinary interactions feel transactional.
Psychologists call this the “paradox of fame” arguing that success brings admiration but also loneliness.
One fan online quipped, “The people you want to meet avoid you because of your status, and the people who seek you out usually just want the status.”