An 18-year-old who calls herself a “socialist socialite” found herself the target of harsh online ridicule after she failed to recognize Wallace Shawn, a legendary actor, during a campaign event for Zoran Mandani.
Ella Devi’s comments drew immediate backlash when she shared a selfie taken with the 81-year-old actor in Manhattan this past Sunday. In her post, she referred to him merely as “the actor who plays Dr. Sturgis” on CBS’s “Young Sheldon.”
She wrote, “Today I’m campaigning for @ZohranKMamdani in the East Village. The actor who plays Dr. Strugis in Young Sheldon is in my campaign group!!” alongside the photo.
The image quickly gained traction on social media, with many accusing her of overlooking Shawn’s extensive acting career, especially his iconic performance as Vizzini in “The Princess Bride.”
Responses on X included disbelief, with one user declaring, “Unthinkable!”
Another person commented on the “Wallace Shawn erasure” as being outrageous.
Someone else emphasized, “He’s a legend far greater than his role.” They went on to suggest that Shawn’s work in “The Princess Bride” was far superior and advised Devi to expand her understanding of significant storytelling.
Shawn, well-known for his involvement in socialist politics, has lent his voice to characters like Rex in “Toy Story” and appeared in films such as “Clueless” and various Woody Allen movies, including “Manhattan.”
In response to the backlash, Devi defended herself, suggesting that her age might be the reason for her unfamiliarity.
“Salutes to Wallace Shawn. I’m only 18 and have only seen him in Young Sheldon, sorry!!!” she posted on X.
Following that, she quipped, “Old people! If you have time to yell at me to go see The Princess Bride, you have time to talk to Canvas or call your bank.”
She concluded her day of campaigning by noting that she had knocked on about 100 doors, surprising many who were unaware of Shawn’s presence.
Devi, who has over 20,000 followers on Instagram and X, continues to share her experiences volunteering for Mamdani’s campaign across her social media platforms.
