Tracee Ellis Ross recently revealed that Andy Warhol was the celebrity who frightened her as a child. Speaking on Baby, This is Keke Palmer, Ross explained that Warhol’s distinct look was intimidating to her as a young girl, despite being photographed by him at his studio, The Factory.
It is a glimpse into the experience of growing up around famous people. While most kids are terrified of monsters under the bed, Ross was navigating the world of New York’s art elite.
The Bottom Line
- The Fear: Tracee Ellis Ross found Andy Warhol’s “distinct look” frightening as a child.
- The Legacy: Warhol’s 1981 photographs of Tracee and her sisters provided the cover art for Dianna Ross’s 1982 album, Silk Electric.
- The Contrast: While Warhol was intimidating, Ross recalls being starstruck by Lucille Ball.
The Factory Encounter and the ‘Silk Electric’ Connection
The encounter happened in 1981 at The Factory, Warhol’s New York City studio. For a young Tracee, this environment—and the man at the center of it—was overwhelming.
“I met him. I was not star-struck. I was actually frightened,” Ross told Keke Palmer. She attributed the fear to Warhol’s “distinct look.” It is a poignant observation of a child sensing the “satirical, reflective” nature of Warhol’s work.
But here is the kicker: that fear resulted in some imagery of the era. Warhol’s Polaroids from that session weren’t just personal mementos. Dianna Ross selected one of these portraits to serve as the cover for her 1982 album, Silk Electric.
| Detail | The Warhol Session | The Lucille Ball Encounter |
|---|---|---|
| Year/Era | 1981 (The Factory) | Childhood/Hotel Stay |
| Emotional Response | Fear/Intimidation | Starstruck |
| Tangible Outcome | Silk Electric Album Cover | A one-sided shouting match |
From Avant-Garde Anxiety to Sitcom Super-Fandom
The contrast in Ross’s childhood experiences highlights the different ways celebrity personas land. While Warhol’s ambiguity was scary, the comedic brilliance of Lucille Ball was an invitation to play. Ross recounted a hotel stay where her family shared a floor with the I Love Lucy star.
In a moment of fandom, Ross began screaming, “Lucy, I’m home!”—a direct homage to the sitcom’s classic. Despite her sisters’ pleas for her to be quiet, Ross persisted in the hope that Ball would hear her. “Lucy. Lucy, it’s Tracy,” she recalled. While she admits Ball likely didn’t hear the shouts, she did meet the comedy legend, rounding out a childhood spent in the presence of the 20th century’s archetypes.
The Business of the ‘Legacy Child’ in the Modern Era
Do you think the “mystique” of celebrities has vanished in the age of social media, or are we just seeing a different kind of intimidation? Let us know in the comments.
