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Michelle Williams Shares She Quit Broadway Show After 2 Weeks to Check Into Mental Health Facility
Michelle Williams was once again mistaken for Michelle Williams.
The Destiny’s Child alum recently shared a sweet letter she received from a fan in Germany and had some fun revealing that the writer had, in fact, mixed her up with the Dawson’s Creek alum.
“I received this letter, and I can't wait to dig in and tell you guys what it says,” Michelle said in a March 11 Instagram video. “Alright, it says, ‘Dear Michelle Williams, I hope this letter finds you in great spirits. My name is Philip, and I have been an avid fan of your incredible performances in both film and theater.’”
And though at that point the letter could have been intended for the singer—who is currently starring in Broadway’s Death Becomes Her and appeared in the 2021 TV movie Christmas in Harmony—she continued reading to solidify Philip’s mistake, sharing that he had listed several of the other Michelle’s movies.
“‘Your work in movies like Blue Valentine, Manchester by the Sea or The Greatest Showman has deeply moved me and many others, showcasing your exceptional talent,’” Michelle read. “‘I am writing to kindly ask if you would consider signing the enclosed photos I have of you. Having your autograph would mean so much for me and my daughter, as we admire your artistry.’”
After reading the letter in full, Michelle made a deadpanned face as she held up the pictures of the blonde actress that were sent by Philip, saying, “Her hair is fabulous.”
She also confirmed she is working to correct the fan’s mistake.
Gregory Pace/Shutterstock; Gregory Pace/Shutterstock
“This is absolutely brilliant,” Michelle shared. “Yes, Michelle knows what's going on as well, and I cannot wait to see her. Hopefully sooner than later. It's being worked out.”
While the “Survivor” singer certainly had some fun with this most recent mix-up, laughter hasn’t always been associated with fans mistaking the homonymous pair. In 2019, the former girl group member had to respond to disgruntled viewers who disagreed with the five-time Oscar nominee’s acceptance speech at the Emmys, where she addressed the gender wage gap.
“I am trying to figure out, ‘Why in the world am I getting cursed out in my comments for Michelle Williams’ speech?’ which I thought was her truth,” Michelle wrote in a since deleted post to X (formerly Twitter) at the time. “I thought it was awesome. I just told this woman a few minutes ago on my Instagram, ‘I’m so sorry that my namesake upset you, but can’t you see that I’m black?’”
Read on to see other common mistakes people make when it comes to stars’ names.
Jamie Squire / Getty Images
Travis Kelce (Pronounced: Kels)
Travis and brother Jason Kelce debated on their New Heights podcast whether to go by "Kel-see" or "Kels," with Travis deciding to do the latter.
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images
Taylor Lautner (Pronounced: Lout-Ner)
Speaking with E! News in February 2022, Taylor revealed the first syllable of his last name rhymes with "out" instead of being pronounced as "lot."
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows
Emily Ratajkowski (Pronounced: Rat-Ah-Kof-Sky or Rat-Ah-Cow-Skee)
After much speculation surrounding her moniker, the model set the record straight in a TikTok shared by Tory Burch, where she provided "the Polish way" to say it. She has also introduced herself by pronouncing her last name "Rat-Ah-Cow-Skee."
TikTok
Raven-Symoné (Pronounced: See-mon-ye)
While Raven-Symoné's character could see the future on That's So Raven, fans likely didn't see this coming. The actress revealed in a January 2023 TikTok that her name has been mispronounced for years and is actually pronounced See-mon-ye.
Taylor Hill/WireImage
Brendan Fraser (Pronounced: Fray-zer)
After Adam Sandler accidentally mispronounced the Oscar winner's last name during a December 2022 interview for Variety's Actors on Actors series, the George of the Jungle star swung in with a trick that can help fans remember how to say the moniker correctly: Fraser rhymes with razor.
Cliff Lipson/CBS via Getty Images
Adele (Pronounced: Uh-Dale)
During a Q&A in October 2022, the powerhouse singer praised a fan for "perfectly"
pronouncing her name as "uh-dale" when asking a question.
Lindsay Lohan (Pronounced: Lo-Wen)
For her introductory video shared to TikTok in February 2022, Lindsay Lohan inadvertently set the record straight on how to correctly pronounce her last name, which is "Lo-wen."
Jon Kopaloff/WireImage
Alicia Silverstone (Pronounced: Uh-Lee-See-Uh)
The Clueless actress set the record straight on how to pronounce her name on TikTok. Alicia said she's not bothered if fans don't get it right, noting, "But my sweet mama didn't like it... so for her... get it right! Ali-SEE-yuh."
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Kesha (Pronounced: Keh-Sha)
"My name is Kesha. Keh-sha," the singer said on TikTok. "Not Keisha. Not Ketchup. Kesha."
Peter Kramer/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Justin Theroux (Pronounced: Tha-Roo)
The Leftovers actor's uncle revealed in an interview with Apple TV+ that we've all been pronouncing "Theroux" incorrectly, including Justin himself!
"The main character is played by Justin Theroux, my nephew," Paul Theroux explained of the actor starring in his novel's television adaptation. The novelist later poked fun at his nephew, saying, "Sometimes he calls himself Justin tha-row [laughs]. It's a French name, it's Theroux."
Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Ariana Grande (Pronounced: Gran-Dee)
The pop star dropped jaws in 2018 after she explained the correct way to say her last name. When speaking about her engagement to Pete Davidson at the time, Ariana discussed whether or not she'd take his last name in an interview with Beats 1's Ebro Darden. That's when she blurted out the "gran-dee" pronunciation when describing her own last name.
MediaPunch/Shutterstock
Chrissy Teigen (Pronounced: Tie-Ghen)
The Cravings cookbook author blew everyone's mind when she shared the real way to say her last name. During an appearance on Live With Kelly and Ryan in 2018, the model admitted it was her "fault" for the mispronunciation. "It's been 25 years, I'm tired of correcting people," she expressed.
Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for Gucci Fragrance
Gal Gadot (Pronounced: Guh-Dote)
The lasso of truth! The Wonder Woman actress chatted with Jimmy Kimmel about the pronunciation (guh-dote) and the meaning of her last name, which is "Riverbank" in Hebrew. "The Gadot used to be Greenstein," she confessed of her original last name, but her parents "felt" it had more oomph.
Andrew Lipovsky/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank
Jake Gyllenhaal (Pronounced: Yee-Len-Hey-Lo)
Prepare to be mind blown. During an appearance on Conan in 2012, the actor shared the "only two places that that is pronounced correctly, my last name, is in Sweden and in Ikea."
Kurt Krieger/Corbis via Getty Images
Ralph Fiennes (Pronounced: Ray-F Fines)
The star has openly discussed just how frequently people screw up his name. However, in 2011, he told The Hollywood Reporter he'd never change it because he was named after his step-grandfather, who pronounced it in the same way.
Brill/ullstein bild via Getty Images
Sade Adu (Pronounced Shar-Day)
According to the legendary singer's IMDb page, her stage name is pronounced shar-day.
Andrew Lipovsky/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Steve Buscemi (Pronounced: Boo-Sem-Ee)
In 2014, the Fargo alum confirmed his last name is pronounced boo-sem-ee during a panel for Running Late with Scott Rogowsky. However, he said he doesn't "correct people" if they say boo-shh-em-me because "it's not wrong."
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Charlize Theron (Pronounced: There-In)
In 2014, the Oscar winner told Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show that her last name is always botched. "They screw it up," she quipped. "I almost want to make an audiotape on how to pronounce my name."
Julien De Rosa/AFP via Getty Images
Anya Taylor Joy (Pronounced: Anne-Ya)
Check(mate) your pronounciation of the Queen's Gambit star, who says her name like anne-ya—and not awn-ya.
Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images
Amanda Seyfried (Pronounced: Sigh-Frid)
The Mean Girls alum has us all feeling like Karen because she revealed in 2012 during an interview with Hollywood Streams that the correct pronunciation of her last name is sigh-frid. Although, she admitted that her "sister says it differently" than she does.
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