The Lowdown on 'Outlander' Star Sam Heughan's Buttgate

By Dustin Rowles | Celebrity | January 6, 2020 |

Sometimes, there are huge, niche outbreaks in the world of pop culture but it’s all so siloed into the fan communities that the general public often isn’t as privy to it, and we miss out on a lot of controversies, some worth discussion and some not so much. Like this whole Romance Authors insanity — I’m a huge reader, but I had no idea any of that was happening, and in a particular world, it’s a big deal within a particular community.

Likewise, over the weekend, the Outlander fan community was rocked by this video from an annual Wizard World event in New Orleans. A female fan appears to grab Sam Heughan’s ass.

I’m sorry but did what did I just witness here because I’m in total shock right now and might I add he handled it with class and grace. My heart is actually racing THIS IS NOT OK#SamHeughan #WizardWorld pic.twitter.com/W1tZrZl2bh
— 𝓈𝒽𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝑜𝒻 𝓇𝒾𝓋𝒾𝒶 ♥️⚔️🐺 (@queenandadream) January 5, 2020

Outlander fans were outraged.

I am _so glad!_ we are talking about this, and angered by it! Too often this sort of thing happens to men and is passed off as funny, when really that is blatant sexual harassment! The whole internet would be ablaze with indignation if it was Cat! Sams face said it all really 🤦‍♀️
— NZLanderLass (@CumingDeborah) January 5, 2020

Exactly I’m so shook by this right now and especially so publicly it’s humiliating to watch I can’t even imagine how he must feel about it.
— 𝓈𝒽𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝑜𝒻 𝓇𝒾𝓋𝒾𝒶 ♥️⚔️🐺 (@queenandadream) January 5, 2020

i’m watching the trivia sam vs fans,,, and tell me why that woman who was invited on stage felt it was okay to grab sams ass??? that is literally sexual harassment and if a guy did it to a girl people would FREAK out.
— ☆ (@bossbalfe) January 4, 2020

There are scores of these tweets, and ☆ is absolutely right! It’s not OK to grab a dude’s ass, even if you really want to. Thankfully, as seen from another angle, the fan did not actually grab Heughan’s butt. Even still, within a fan community apparently very protective of Heughan, this was still not OK.

Still completely unacceptable. She was way out of line.
— T (@realsassiness) January 5, 2020

The lady didn’t grab his butt. Even if it was a joke, it was offensive and inappropriate. If a man did that to her, even as a joke, would it be ok?
— Ella Robertson (@EllaRob72073287) January 5, 2020

Still not okay. The intent was there.
— Wenders (@wenders_au) January 5, 2020

Thankfully, before things got out of hand, Sam Heughan himself stepped in to clarify before the fans began ripping each other’s limbs apart about whether it was appropriate to not touch Sam Heughan’s butt.

Here is the angle. It was a joke. We were having fun and she made a gesture, in jest. Nothing more. X pic.twitter.com/ufrZbeb32z
— Sam Heughan (@SamHeughan) January 5, 2020

He also called out EW for the misleading report.

“Appears” But didn’t. This is misleading and dangerous. Please don’t report unverified content again. You have a responsibility. Thank you @EW x https://t.co/8Nx5bCV215
— Sam Heughan (@SamHeughan) January 5, 2020

Phew. We can put this one to rest now.

Thank you for the explanation Sam. However, I saw your face when it happened and you didn't look happy at all. I'm glad you're happy now. Still, not a correct joke. Have a wonderful day
— La Casa Grande del Cerro/ Grace de Rivia (@GElingold) January 5, 2020