In today’s hyper-connected world, Simu Liu revealed a confession that had everyone laughing — and nodding in recognition: he’s genuinely afraid of his smartphone. The Marvel star shared his surprising anxiety during a February 2, 2026 appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, where a routine promo for his new Peacock thriller The Copenhagen Test turned into an unexpectedly hilarious and relatable conversation about digital stress.
Liu, known for playing Shang-Chi, explained that his fear isn’t just a joke. A particular high-pitched system notification now triggers instant anxiety — cold sweats, racing heart, and the kind of dread that used to belong in a horror film. “I’m terrified of my own phone,” he admitted, sending the audience into laughter and recognition.
Clarkson jumped in with playful “diagnoses,” joking that phones have become “tiny, glowing bosses that never clock out.” Liu also revealed he frequently experiences phantom vibrations, forcing him to leave his phone face-down across the room just to feel normal.
The timing of Liu’s confession was uncanny: The Copenhagen Test explores digital surveillance, hacking, and the psychological toll of constant online connectivity. He admitted that the role blurred his own boundaries, pushing him into a near-constant state of alert. His 2026 solution? “Airplane mode,” he quipped.
Yet even amid this tech-induced anxiety, Liu showed his softer side. Later, he delivered a moving performance of Benson Boone’s “In the Stars” during the show’s “Cameo-oke” segment, blending vulnerability and humor in a way that made him deeply relatable.
In an era obsessed with being constantly reachable, Liu’s fear of his phone resonated. Sometimes, even superheroes just need a little peace and quiet from their screens.