When “Modern Family” actor Ed O’Neill posed with a fan in the airport, he didn’t realize that the photo would soon create headlines and go viral on social media.
It wasn’t until his daughter brought the photograph to his attention that he realized that he didn’t know exactly who he was posing with. But, the rest of the world did and they were eager to let the actor know about his gaffe!
He’s a Hit on “Modern Family”
Ed O’Neill has appeared on some of the most iconic sitcoms of all time, one of which is the long-running “Modern Family,” which ended its series in April of 2020 after an incredible run of 250 episodes. O’Neill was even nominated for three Emmy Awards for his role on the show.
She Knew Him by Name
Nowadays, O’Neill is best known for his role of Jay Pritchett on the successful sitcom “Modern Family,” but this fan knew him for more than just that role. In fact, the two went way back to the ‘90s.
His Daughter Couldn’t Believe the Photo
As soon as O’Neill’s daughter Sophia saw the photo on social media, she called her dad right away. She recognized the woman in the photo and couldn’t believe that her father had no idea who it was.
He Couldn’t Think of Her Name
Even with his daughter’s hints, he had no idea who the kind, blonde woman he met at the airport was. But, she was noteworthy enough for the picture to gain over 50,000 likes on Twitter after it was posted!
His Career Started in the ‘70s
Ed O’Neill has met a lot of celebrities and noteworthy people during his career as an actor. His first acting role was in the Broadway play “Knockout” in 1979 and he has had a slew of film and television roles since then.
“Married… with Children” Made Him a Household Name
In the ‘90s, Ed O’Neill was famous for playing a father on a different kind of sitcom, “Married… with Children.” The series caused a lot of controversy for its risqué humor, but it was also praised for its comedy. And the woman he met at the airport was a fan of it!
The Show Caused Controversy
“Married… with Children” was the longest running live-action sitcom on Fox and was a favorite among fans, but some groups found the show to be offensive, so they lead boycotts against it.
His New Show Just Spreads Laughter
“Modern Family” hasn’t had the same controversy as O’Neill’s previous sitcom. Its long run is due to the fact that it is a hilarious and heartwarming portrayal of an American family. Which is exactly why the woman at the airport is such a big fan.
She Loved His Work
Even though O’Neill didn’t recognize the woman, she recognized him! And she had a great experience meeting one of her favorite actors. She captioned her photo of Twitter, “Fancy running into this guy! Such a sweetheart!!”
She Knew All of His Roles
O’Neill later recounted that “a really nice lady” came up to him at the airport because she was a fan of his work, but he didn’t really think much of the encounter because similar experiences have happened to him since he started appearing on TV in the ’90s.
His Manager Agreed with His Daughter
His daughter wasn’t even the only person in O’Neill’s life to notice the photo before he did. The next day he got a call from his manager asking what he was doing posing with this familiar face. The picture was quickly going viral and O’Neill had no idea why.
He Felt Silly For Asking
In the moment at the airport, O’Neill didn’t ask the woman for her name because he meets many fans all of the time. The woman wasn’t traveling with her usual entourage, so he had no idea that she was actually a star herself!
His Daughter Was a Fan of Hers
O’Neill’s daughter was mortified at her father because she was a big fan of the woman that he met. And who isn’t a fan of hers? The woman has been a fixture of the music industry since the ’90s!
He Didn’t Even Recognize the Name
Even when his daughter told him who the celebrity was, O’Neill didn’t recognize much of her work, so it’s obvious why he didn’t recognize her face at the airport either. But, he does know some of her hit songs.
It Was Britney Spears, of Course!
Another ‘90s icon in her own right, Britney Spears would obviously recognize a television fixture of her childhood. And, she is also a big of “Modern Family,” and wanted a photo with her favorite actor on the show.
They Crossed Paths in LAX
At the time of the photo, Britney Spears was working in Las Vegas for her residency at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. The two crossed paths just before O’Neill boarded his flight, which might explain why he looked a bit disheveled.
She Didn’t Mind His Confusion
O’Neill looks a little bored in the photo while Spears looks absolutely elated, which caused many laughs when O’Neill talked about it on the “Ellen Show” later on. Odds are, Spears was probably happy to stay anonymous and not be recognized while she was out in public.
“Modern Family” Has a Lot of Celebrity Guests
Just because O’Neill has met a lot of celebrities while working on one of the biggest shows on television, it doesn’t mean that he can always remember their names. This isn’t even the first time that he didn’t realize that he was photographed with a young music icon!
Sarah Hyland Introduced Him to Another Starlet
While he attended the birthday party of his young co-star Sarah Hyland, who plays his granddaughter on “Modern Family,” he ran into another iconic star, who he didn’t recognize at all either.
Any Guesses?
While Ed O’Neill thought that this young woman was just a friend of his on-screen granddaughter, she has a successful career of her own. Taylor Swift is one of the best-selling music artists of all time and has a hard time not being recognized.
He Didn’t Know Her Name, Either
O’Neill once again asked his daughter why the photo was causing a stir. She could do nothing but roll her eyes and inform her father that he had taken a selfie with one of the most successful musicians in history.
The Two Go Way Back
Sarah Hyland and Taylor Swift have been close friends for years and frequently take fun photos together on Instagram, so it’s hilarious that O’Neill couldn’t remember the name of someone that he had met a few times already!
An Inseparable Duo
But one thing is for sure, and that’s that Hyland and Swift are closer than ever, with the two frequently attending parties together and even having intimate get-togethers that are only attended by the best of friends.
His Daughter is Used to it by Now
O’Neill’s daughter is no longer surprised when she gets texts from her dad asking about the names of celebrities he has met, but there’s nothing that can make it any less funny! And it isn’t the only way the dad embarrasses his daughter.
He Embarrassed His Daughter Again By Kissing Her Crush
More embarrassing than not knowing a celebrity’s name is definitely your dad kissing your celebrity crush! Ed O’Neill worked with actor Dylan O’Brien and the story required that they kiss, and needless to say, his daughter was very upset that she couldn’t be in her father’s place that day.