Man casually interviews actor Willem Dafoe on the street. Only one problem — he had no idea who Dafoe was

Sometimes, unexpected coincidences lead to unforgettable moments that leave us speechless. This rings especially true in the age of social media, where you never know if the person you meet might be famous. That’s exactly what happened to a man named Khan—known as @hikhann_ on TikTok—when he unknowingly bumped into Willem Dafoe, famously known for his role as the Green Goblin or Norman Osborn from “Spider-Man.” The New York-based content creator had no idea the stranger he was interviewing for his video was a Hollywood icon. The amusing encounter sparked widespread reactions, with the internet questioning how the influencer failed to recognize the iconic actor.

It all started when Khan stopped a man casually walking down a New York City sidewalk. The stranger, Willem Dafoe, was dressed in all-black attire, complete with a sleek leather jacket and a matching cap. The 69-year-old Hollywood icon appeared to be taking a moment to catch his breath in the brisk weather. “Excuse me, I love your outfit,” Khan said, striking up a conversation. Dafoe, ever gracious, paused to engage in the interaction without rushing it. When Khan asked, “What do you do for a living?” Dafoe simply replied, “I’m an actor.” Curious and surprised by the chance encounter, Khan pressed further, asking the stranger for his name.

“Do you mind sharing your name?” asked the content creator. “Yeah, Willem,” the “Spider-Man” star replied in the nearly one-and-a-half-minute video. “What do you love about your job?” was the next question that came his way. Instead of offering a stereotypical answer, the artist chose a rather raw and unfiltered approach. Dafoe shared that he loves his work always varying depending on the role offered to him. When the actor reiterated that nothing is ever the same, Khan followed up with another question. “No days the same?” the content creator remarked, prompting Dafoe to nod in agreement. Afterward, Khan transitioned to asking professional development-related questions aimed at guiding younger generations aspiring to break into films. “What advice can you tell them?” he asked. “I don’t give advice. Everybody’s got to find their own way,” said Dafoe.

When Khan asked Dafoe about his legacy and how he wished his fans to remember him, he excused himself and said he never thought about it. Then, the final question that came his way was: “Where do you see yourself five years from now?” “I don’t know. I mean, I have a hard time thinking beyond tomorrow,” Dafoe said with a smile. All this while, the video creator was unaware that he was speaking to the veteran Hollywood actor. A fan shouted for Dafoe off-screen, and he pumped his hand up and down in excitement before walking away from Khan. Meanwhile, the video of the duo’s interaction garnered over 12 million views. Among the people who remained flabbergasted about the fact that the content creator failed to recognize the artist, @shaisilva26 wrote, “Not knowing Willem Dafoe is a crime.” “This is embarrassing for you that you don’t know the incredible Willem Dafoe,” @jojosbeautifuluniverse commented, echoing a similar sentiment.

You can follow Khan (@hikhann_) on TikTok for more wholesome content.