"I guess because of my act, people think that I say things they want to say, and that they can just come up and say anything to me"

In this quote, comic Wanda Sykes assesses the perceived boundaries-- or lack thereof-- that might develop in between performers and their audiences. The expression "because of my act" recommends that her comedy regimen is honest and resonates with audiences in a way that might encourage them to see her as friendly or relatable. Comedians often speak truth to power, articulate social reviews, and express ideas that many may consider taboo or hesitant to voice themselves. Sykes suggests that her audience may feel an implicit authorization to express themselves more freely around her, presuming she is open to any sort of discourse due to her public personality.

The declaration "people think that I say things they wish to state" implies that audiences forecast their own ideas and sensations onto Sykes, viewing her as a mouth piece for their own unexpressed opinions. It's a testament to her skill as a comic that her material resonates on such an individual level; it recommends that she records and validates typical human experiences, thoughts, and disappointments that others might reduce.

The latter part of the quote, "that they can simply turn up and say anything to me", highlights a prospective obstacle for public figures whose individual and professional personas may mix in the eyes of the general public. Sykes may face instances where audience members exceed limits, assuming an unwarranted level of intimacy or entitlement to engage her in discussions that match the no-holds-barred tone of her performances. This phenomenon can cause uncomfortable circumstances where the border in between entertainer and audience becomes blurred.

Eventually, this quote sheds light on the nuanced relationship in between public figures and their audiences. It underscores the duality of being an entertainer who is both a revered figure for articulating concealed realities and a recipient of presumptuous social interactions due to the extremely same openness that wins her honor.