Chris Witaske says ‘The Bear’ is 'too much' to handle for fans, cast alike

Chris Witaske shed light on the profound impact, The Bear series has had on not only the fans but also its actors.

In a conversation with People Magazine during the premiere of season three of the comedy-drama in Los Angeles, the actor who plays Pete in the Hulu series recalled a fan encounter.

"I was at a concert in Chicago, and the guy came up to me and talked about the scene that I have in the final episode of season two with Jamie Lee Curtis," he recounted.

"And as he was talking, he started getting emotional," Witaske continued, "He broke down crying because it really affected him."

"And so there I was, bear hugging this stranger at a concert. It was a cool moment," he described.

Moreover, he reflected on the emotional toll the show has had on him, recalling that the episode Fishes sometimes caused him to feel overwhelmed.

"That was crazy, man. Even in between takes, I was like, 'This is too much,'" the 41-year-old American actor recounted.

"It was too much, man. It was. And some of these people are more method actors than me," he continued, "I am, like, a Chicago comedy dude, and so when people stay in character in between takes and intense."

"It’s a lot. That night, I had to decompress and meditate," Witaske added.

The Bear season three premiered on Wednesday, June 26.