Glen Powell details awkward run-in with 'toxic' canceled star at party; fans speculate on identity

Glen Powell has revealed an awkward run-in with a recently canceled Hollywood star, recounting the moment on Jake Shane's Therapuss podcast. Powell, 36, said he walked into a party where a high-profile actor who had been the subject of cancellation chatter approached him as cameras rolled and press gathered.

Powell described being initially excited to meet the star, noting that the actor had made some of his favorite movies and that he was a fan. He recalled a photographer asking for a pose and said, "I showed up to the party and there was somebody that had been on the ropes in terms of getting canceled." "This person had made some of my favorite movies and I was like, 'Oh, this is great.' He came up and he said, 'Nice to meet you.' I was like, 'Oh, dude. Such a big fan.'" But when the moment arrived for the photo, Powell said he quickly realized, "Ooh, I don't know if this is a good idea."

Powell explained that the star's cancellation and the surrounding reaction prompted him to keep his distance. "This person was recently canceled and it was not good. I was a fan of their work but not a fan of their choices," he said. "So, I was kind of just being nice. But then, when they wanted to take a picture with you, I realized very quickly — I was like, 'Ooh, I don't know if this is a good idea.'"

"I realized, this guy, his face is toxic," Powell added, describing the moment he sensed a visceral reaction from bystanders in the party environment. He drew a comparison to Russ Holliday, his fictional character in Chad Powers, who gets canceled and disguises himself to join another team. "Russ Holliday is just a guy that made a mistake. He's not a bad guy. Some of these other people that get canceled, they should lie where they're shot," he asserted.

Though Powell kept the celebrity's name under wraps, fans quickly began a guessing game online. Among the names being tossed around are Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, Chris Pratt, Ezra Miller, Will Smith and Russell Brand. The Top Gun: Maverick star has not yet commented on the speculation. The Daily Mail has reached out to Powell's representatives, but there was no immediate response.

Powell’s appearance on Therapuss comes as he continues to promote Chad Powers, a Hulu series set to debut Sept. 30. In the show, Powell plays Russ Holliday, a talented but unconventional football player who walks onto a struggling team in South Georgia, intent on reviving his career after a major setback. The project underscores Powell’s broad range, from blockbuster action fare to character-driven television.

The exchange adds to a broader narrative about the public’s ongoing fascination with canceled or controversial figures in Hollywood, a topic fans frequently debate online. Powell has not named the star involved, but his account has reignited conversations about how fans reconcile admiration for an artist’s work with disapproval of their conduct. As discussions unfold across social platforms, observers are watching to see whether the identity will emerge or remain a carefully guarded mystery.