A longtime fan attending Seattle’s Emerald City Comic Con says actor Michael Rooker shoved her while exiting a photo session.
In a video posted to TikTok Saturday, March 7, the woman claimed the incident happened during a “Guardians of the Galaxy” group photo opportunity that included actors Michael Rooker and Sean Gunn.
The fan, who said she’s been attending Comic Con for 15 years, said the photo session was running late and attendees were being quickly ushered through the line. She had turned to briefly speak with Gunn after the photo was taken when the alleged incident occurred.
“Michael Rooker shoves me so hard that it hurt me and was like, ‘goodbye!’ — like shoved me out of the room,” the woman said in the video. “That is not okay.”
The woman said she suffers from a prior back injury and had an ADA sticker on her badge that allows her to “get in there” so she doesn’t have to stand up for very long. “And then this guy thinks it’s okay to shove a fan out of the room?” she said.
The woman said she did not confront anyone at the event because she was attending with her child and did not want to disrupt the experience. “I didn’t want to ruin his experience,” she said.
The attendee said the encounter was especially upsetting because she had previously met Rooker and described that interaction as positive. “He was the sweetest man the last time I met him.”
She added that regardless of how hectic the event may have been, celebrities should not make physical contact with fans while moving people through photo lines.
“I don’t care how bad your day is. Our day was just as bad,” she said. “You do not lay hands on your fans. That is not how you do it. Do better, dude.”
Puget Press has reached out to Emerald City Comic Con organizers and Rooker’s representative for comment. Check back for updates.
Emerald City Comic Con 2026 is being held Thursday, March 5 through Sunday, March 8 at the Seattle Convention Center. The annual pop-culture convention draws tens of thousands of fans each year for celebrity panels, autograph sessions, photo opportunities, and exhibitions.
Rooker is best known for playing Yondu Udonta in Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” films. His career spans several decades and includes notable roles in The Walking Dead, Cliffhanger, and Days of Thunder.
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