After years out of the spotlight, The Vampire Diaries star Steven R. McQueen made a rare public appearance that drew online attention for changes in his appearance and weight.
McQueen, known for his role as Jeremy Gilbert on the hit supernatural series, attended the Forever Mystic Falls Fan Meet 7 in Paris on 3 and 4 October. Fans compared his current appearance to the lean, athletic physique he had during the show's run, which began nearly two decades ago in 2009.
While some users focused on these changes, others argued McQueen's appearance should not overshadow his return to the Vampire Diaries community.
What happened to Steven R. Mcqueen?? I haven’t seen him since the vampire diaries pic.twitter.com/kSYxd3QRyB
— 🖤✨ (@thetopshelfmen) October 2, 2026
Fans Defend McQueen
An X user criticised the volume of comments about McQueen after a video from the event appeared on their feed.
'A video of Steven McQueen (Jeremy from TVD) just popped up for me, and the sheer number of comments about his appearance is repulsive,' the user wrote.
acabou de aparecer para mim um vídeo do steven mcqueen (jeremy de tvd) e a quantidade de comentários acerca de sua aparência é repugnante. é notório que steven não está bem, ninguém ganha tanto peso a toa, além de que seu olhar está triste e distante. pic.twitter.com/nDX1vFKFvk
— ‘ (@itsybibi) October 3, 2026
Another fan highlighted the importance of McQueen attending a public event after several years away from the spotlight.
'I also don't think people realise how much courage it took for him to bite the bullet and do this meet-and-greet, after not being in the public-eye for a good few years.'
'He gained some weight, and people act like he's going to die. This says more about people being assholes than about him,' another commenter wrote.
He gained some weight and people act like he’s going to die. This says more about people being assholes than about him
— Mystic Falls Archive || fan acc (@Darkseid241) October 3, 2026
McQueen is now 38. The Vampire Diaries premiered in 2009, when he was 21, and concluded in 2017. Nearly two decades have passed since audiences first saw him as Jeremy Gilbert.
Remembering His Father
Recent discussion has renewed focus on the loss of McQueen's father, Chad McQueen, who died in September 2024 at age 63.
Chad was an actor and professional racing driver, best known for playing Dutch in The Karate Kid and The Karate Kid Part II.
He was the only son of Hollywood star Steve McQueen. The Los Angeles Times identified Steven R. McQueen as one of his surviving children.
Some fans have linked McQueen's absence and changed appearance to his father's death. Others have speculated about possible depression.
There is no reliable evidence that Chad's death affected McQueen's weight, and McQueen has not publicly linked his appearance to depression.
Chad's death is well documented. His family announced his passing in September 2024, at 63. His sister, Terry McQueen, also died young, passing away from respiratory failure in 1998 at the age of 38.
Nevertheless, this loss provides important context for discussions about McQueen's recent years.
His Work Beyond Acting
Some fans believe McQueen's charitable work deserves more recognition than the focus on his appearance.
'Steven is such a lovely and good person, has done a lot of volunteering work over the years, yet instead of focusing on that, people focus on his appearance the second he's seen in public again...'
McQueen has supported humanitarian organisations, including the Thirst Project, taking part in projects such as building water installations to improve access to safe drinking water.
He has also supported TECHO, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to housing and community development in Latin America.
When Stars Disappear
McQueen is among several actors whose return to the spotlight has drawn attention after time away.
Brendan Fraser is another example. After gaining fame in films such as The Mummy and George of the Jungle, Fraser took fewer roles and spent years outside mainstream Hollywood.
During this period, he underwent several surgeries for work-related injuries and later discussed his experience with depression.
Fraser returned to prominence with The Whale, earning widespread acclaim and openly discussing changes in his weight around the time of the film.
Zac Efron faced similar scrutiny in 2021 when fans speculated about changes in his appearance and alleged he had cosmetic surgery.
Zac Effron looks like someone who’s paid millions in surgery bills to look like Zac Effron pic.twitter.com/fn5yjyHl7e
— paukl (@PauklSchmaukl) April 23, 2021
Efron later explained that a 2013 jaw injury caused his masseter muscles to enlarge as they compensated for the damage.
Such cases demonstrate how quickly changes in a celebrity's appearance can spark speculation about their personal lives.
