"I just don't want to be part of it," Stephan Jenkins told Insider in a statement. "We see the real fans face to face at the fence after the shows."
Michael Loccisano
An interaction at the airport between Stephan Jenkins – the lead singer of the 90s rock band Third Eye Blind – and a man seeking an autograph has gone viral. It's sparked a debate both about Jenkins' decorum and the ethics of the resale market for signed celebrity items.
In a video captured at Dulles airport by Mark Wilkins, a DC-based celebrity photographer, Jenkins is seen standing at the baggage claim fielding an autograph request.
Wilkins, who filmed the interaction but is not the autograph-seeker in the video, told Insider there were ten people waiting for Jenkins at the airport — some fans and some professional autograph dealers. When they realized Jenkins wasn't going to sign autographs, the group proceeded to follow him to baggage claim.
"He could've signed for everyone in 3 minutes instead of the 10-minute lecture," Wilkins told Insider via email.
At the beginning of Wilkins' clip shared on Wednesday, which has nearly half a million views, Jenkins quizzes the man requesting an autograph. "Tell me a song that's on 'Out of the Vein,'" Jenkins says, referring to the group's 2003 album. He then explains his reluctance: "There's a business of signing stuff; it goes up on eBay, and I don't want to participate in it."
After a beat, Jenkins relents and says he'll sign "one record" as the man, who identifies himself as Nick, holds up a stack of vinyl records as well as a sharpie. "To Nick," Jenkins says as he goes to sign the item.
In a statement to Insider, Jenkins said he does not mind signing merchandise for fans — in fact, he calls it a "delight." But it's also weary of those who exploit him and fan culture.
"I go out most nights after shows on tour and sign records and T-shirts and such for fans. I get to hear their stories about how our music has impacted them and share the energy," he said. "It's a delight."
"Because I do this so often, it makes it easy to spot a hussle [or] some[one] looking to make a buck off 3eb," he added. "I just don't want to be part of it. We see the real fans face to face at the fence after the shows."
Jenkins continued that while he "kind of" admires the hustle of autograph dealers, he's "mystified" by how he's always tracked down at airports and hotels. "I just learned that these guys have a mole inside the government who let them know when we are flying – freaky," he said.
Wilkins, for his part, sees things differently. While he acknowledged he bought a vinyl to resell, he sees his work as ultimately doing a service for the artist by enabling fans far and wide to get their hands on authentic memorabilia.
"Third Eye Blind peaked in the 90s so one would think they would be flattered that anyone asked for their autograph," Wilkins said over email. "We aren't getting rich from 3EB...after eBay fees, cost of the record, gas prices, and parking at the airport...we make pennies on the dollar."
Commenters on Wilkins' video took both sides, with some wondering if Jenkins overreacted and inflated his own importance.
"Honestly how lucrative could the market be for signed third eye blind vinyls?" a top commenter posed.
But many came to defend the singer — and that he was in his right to be on guard.
"I was about to be on the side of the fan then bro pulled out 30 vinyls," one wrote.
"I totally understand and respect where he's coming from," another added. "And he was chill about it."
