Ebon Moss-Bachrach Says He Has to ‘Protect’ Jeremy Allen White When Fans ‘Get Really Excited’

A big reason FX’s “The Bear” has blown up in the way that it has is for how the show connects us to each character and even the actors and actresses who play them, many of whom have been working for a long time, but are only getting their due now. One such presence on the show is Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who plays Richie, but has also been seen in films like “The Royal Tenenbaums” and television shows like “Girls.” In a recent interview with The Guardian, Moss-Bachrach shared his feelings on the overnight success of the series and how his newfound fame has started to affect him in daily life.

“I was on top of a little mountain outside Kyoto and a Korean couple came up to me and were saying how much they love the show,” he said. “I get a lot of comments. People yell ‘Cousin!’ at me all day.”

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Though this may be slightly annoying for Moss-Bachrach, he understands the attention pales in comparison to what co-star Jeremy Allen White receives.

“I mean, I’m not even sure I can say I’m happy for him,” said Moss-Bachrach. “Because he thinks it’s all quite ridiculous. So, no, I try to support him. And I basically try to protect him when the fans get really excited.”

Another big reason “The Bear” hits with audiences is for how it capitalizes on the moment food culture is having right now. You can’t possibly scroll through Instagram or TikTok without landing on some new recipe or restaurant review and shows like “Top Chef” and “Chopped” continuing season after season. Moss-Bachrach can see where “The Bear” fits into all this, but doesn’t view it as the same kind of oversaturation we’re seeing elsewhere.

“I think ‘The Bear’ is a small part of it,” he said. “I don’t find ‘The Bear’ to be like food porn or anything. I thought a lot of the food looked pretty nasty the first season, to be honest. I put more of that stuff on TikTok and ‘Chef’s Table.’ I point my fingers at them.”

With last season sweeping the Emmys and Season 3 dropping on June 27, Moss-Bachrach is definitely feeling the pressure to keep delivering.

“I just want people to not feel let down by the thing,” he said to the Guardian. “I’ve had so many beautiful interactions with people that have been really moved in a way that it sort of inspired me about the power of telling a story or the power of making a show or making a piece of art. It’s really invigorated me and renewed my faith in my job.”

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