Willem Dafoe's smile fades as Pedro Pascal touches his wife in resurfaced Hollywood Walk of Fame video

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Pedro Pascal, has come under renewed scrutiny after a resurfaced video from January 2024 shows him sharing what some have called an overly familiar interaction with Giada Colagrande, filmmaker and wife of veteran actor Willem Dafoe.

The brief moment, captured during Dafoe’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, has reignited debate over Pascal’s physical behavior in public, with reactions online ranging from outrage to staunch defense.

Pedro Pascal touching Willem Dafoe’s wife on chin criticized

A short clip from January 2024 has resurfaced and gone viral, thrusting Pedro Pascal into the spotlight for an interaction that has divided the internet.

The video, taken during Willem Dafoe’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, shows Pascal engaging in what some consider an overly intimate moment with Dafoe’s wife, Giada Colagrande.

In the clip, Pascal, 50, is seen grinning warmly as he stands alongside Dafoe and Colagrande. As the trio appears to be mid-conversation, Pascal unexpectedly reaches out and cups Colagrande’s chin, gently stroking her face with a smile. The gesture appears to be playful, possibly affectionate or teasing in tone, but the response it drew from Dafoe has prompted deeper analysis.

Dafoe, 70, initially maintains a pleasant demeanor, but as soon as Pascal touches his wife’s face, his expression hardens noticeably. He quickly raises his hand and points toward Pascal, a subtle but sharp change that viewers interpreted as discomfort, annoyance, or even silent disapproval.

The moment occurred during a celebratory event meant to honor Dafoe’s long career in Hollywood, with Pascal appearing as a guest in support of his 'The Great Wall' co-star. While the touch lasted only seconds, it left a lasting impression, sparking thousands of comments and millions of views across social media platforms.

Pedro Pascal's gesture sparks divided reactions

Viewers were quick to comment on the moment, with some calling the gesture “creepy” and disrespectful.

“Touch my wife like that and we are throwing hands. wtf is going on with this creep??” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

One wrote, “Bro was gonna morph into green goblin.”

"Willem was about to turn into Norman Osborne right there," another user wrote. "William Dafoe turned into Green Goblin for a moment."

User slammed Pascal for touching someone's wife, one critized, "Doing that to another man’s wife is crazy"

"That hand move at the end confirmed it," mentioned another.

"Okay thats fucking weird," an X user critized.

But not everyone saw the moment as inappropriate. Defenders argued that Pascal’s behavior reflects his affectionate personality.

“But he Also Touched Willem Dafoe or are we gonna ignore that?” one said.

Fans also noted Pascal’s past comments about mental health, suggesting his behavior could be linked to social anxiety.

"Pedro pascal has anxiety it isn’t new. Only those close to him understands,"  a fan supported.

"Pedro pascal got a social anxiety its an help for him," one user wrote.

Another added, "The Pedro Pascal social anxiety memes are not funny and some of you are starting to use it as an excuse to post some kinda NSFW stuff."

A fan observed on Daily Mail's comment section, "He touched her chin fgs..was just a nice gesture."

Some wrote, "No one was angry and there was nothing wrong with touching someone he knows affectionately. Its so weird that people are pretending to know he is a secret creep or gay. That's weird as F." and "Really? That was a quick sign of affection, no disrespect meant."

"Stop trying villainize Pedro Pascal. He widely known as one of the nicest, most professional, and most human actors in Hollywood. Just because he supports his Trans sister, has anxiety, and people like him, isn’t a reason to try and smear him for no reason," one added.

Pedro Pascal behaved similarly with co-star Vanessa Kirby

The scrutiny isn’t new for Pascal. His relationship with 'Fantastic Four' co-star Vanessa Kirby has drawn attention for its unusually tactile nature during public appearances.

During interviews and premieres, Pascal has been seen touching Kirby’s arm, beard-stroking, and even placing a hand on her baby bump. Their behavior, while praised by some as “sweet” or “comforting,” has been labeled “weird” by others.

Fans and colleagues have pointed to Pascal’s well-documented struggles with anxiety as an explanation. Some have suggested that his need for physical contact helps soothe his nerves in high-pressure situations.

Vanessa Kirby herself spoke to Vanity Fair about their emotional support for each other during San Diego Comic-Con, noting, “He wanted me to know that we were in this together… I found it a lovely gesture.”

Pascal previously told Men’s Health that his emotional sensitivity intensified during the pandemic, revealing, “I had started to make an effort to engage more... I was always one to reach out when I’m facing something that is challenging or making me anxious.”

While the debate continues online, Pascal has not issued any public comment on the video.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online