One of the running jokes about being a celebrity is the outrageous demands they supposedly tend to make. Strict temperature requirements in dressing rooms, having a full-on gym in the trailer, brown M&Ms only – these are all the stuff of legends.
Well, as it turns out, some of the most renowned figures in entertainment do make absurd, weird, and ludicrous requests, some of which they want written in their contract. And for today’s list, we are attaching names to the alleged craziness.
Scroll through the list to see if your favorite actor or musician made the cut. Some of the names on here may even surprise you.
#1 Lindsay Lohan
To film The Canyons, Lindsay Lohan accepted a shockingly low paycheck of just a hundred bucks a day and committed to participating in an explicit four-person intimacy sequence.
The famous actress had zero issues agreeing to the vulnerable requirements initially. Once it was finally time to shoot the sequence, however, she threw a massive curveball at everyone in the room. To level the playing field, she insisted that every single crew member and co-star present completely remove their own clothes to match her state of undress.
The famous actress had zero issues agreeing to the vulnerable requirements initially. Once it was finally time to shoot the sequence, however, she threw a massive curveball at everyone in the room. To level the playing field, she insisted that every single crew member and co-star present completely remove their own clothes to match her state of undress.
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29points
#2 Van Halen
Everyone assumes Van Halen banned brown M&Ms on their 1982 world tour just to act like spoiled rockstars. The truth is actually a brilliant piece of safety engineering. The band buried that highly specific candy rule deep inside a massive 53-page typewritten contract, wedged right next to oddball requests for sour cream herring and Schlitz Malt Liquor.
David Lee Roth and his crew used the chocolate bowls as a quick visual test when they walked into a venue. Finding a brown candy meant the local workers had skimmed the paperwork, which immediately raised red flags about much bigger issues like dangerous pyrotechnic rigging or faulty audio equipment.
David Lee Roth and his crew used the chocolate bowls as a quick visual test when they walked into a venue. Finding a brown candy meant the local workers had skimmed the paperwork, which immediately raised red flags about much bigger issues like dangerous pyrotechnic rigging or faulty audio equipment.
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26points
#3 Britney Spears
When the Princess of Pop touched down in London for her 2011 gig at The O2 Arena, her backstage rider was a chaotic mix of fast food and royal reverence. Rather than sticking to a strict performance diet, Britney requested a highly specific smorgasbord that included bunless McDonald's cheeseburgers paired with exactly one hundred figs and prunes.
To make sure she soaked up the local culture, she also asked for a classic serving of fish and chips. The most bizarre item on the list had nothing to do with catering. She insisted on having a framed picture of Princess Diana prominently displayed right in her dressing room. According to the Daily Mirror, the singer holds a deep adoration for the British monarchy and views the late royal as a major personal inspiration.
To make sure she soaked up the local culture, she also asked for a classic serving of fish and chips. The most bizarre item on the list had nothing to do with catering. She insisted on having a framed picture of Princess Diana prominently displayed right in her dressing room. According to the Daily Mirror, the singer holds a deep adoration for the British monarchy and views the late royal as a major personal inspiration.
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19points
Perhaps one of the biggest questions to ask here is what the psychology behind fame is. Is it that powerful to actually change a person or bring out their entitled tendencies?
According to Dr. Donna L. Roberts, Associate Dean and psychology professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the sudden, massive recognition the person is receiving often leads to a personality conflict.
#4 Cardi B
When Cardi B took over Coachella in 2018, she made sure her backstage setup was fully stocked for both a massive party and some basic self-care. The rapper requested a floral arrangement of exactly seventy-two white roses to set the mood for her dressing room.
Alongside a solid spread of chicken and salads to keep everyone fed, she prioritized keeping her crew energized with a heavy-hitting liquor lineup featuring premium tequila and cognac paired with plenty of caffeine. To balance out the booze and the desert heat, she also threw in some super practical personal hygiene items, ensuring she had fresh razors and spray deodorant on hand before stepping out to face the festival crowd.
Alongside a solid spread of chicken and salads to keep everyone fed, she prioritized keeping her crew energized with a heavy-hitting liquor lineup featuring premium tequila and cognac paired with plenty of caffeine. To balance out the booze and the desert heat, she also threw in some super practical personal hygiene items, ensuring she had fresh razors and spray deodorant on hand before stepping out to face the festival crowd.
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16points
#5 Will Smith
Will Smith took set life to a ridiculous extreme with a custom $2.5 million mobile mansion rolling on twenty-two wheels. The hydraulic-powered, double-decker rig features fourteen screens, $30,000 in premium leather seating, and a kitchen decked out with up to $200,000 in granite countertops. Sci-fi style sliding doors open into a massive wardrobe, and the $25,000 bathroom boasts high-tech shower glass that frosts over at the push of a button.
Despite lounging in this marble-floored palace during the Manhattan shoot for Men in Black 3, the actor still demanded a completely separate vehicle strictly for his gym equipment. Outraged Soho locals eventually forced him to relocate the towering compound to a nearby parking lot because it completely blocked their neighborhood views.
Despite lounging in this marble-floored palace during the Manhattan shoot for Men in Black 3, the actor still demanded a completely separate vehicle strictly for his gym equipment. Outraged Soho locals eventually forced him to relocate the towering compound to a nearby parking lot because it completely blocked their neighborhood views.
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15points
#6 Cher
This pop icon's love for elaborate hairpieces is the stuff of legend. When Cher hit the road for her "Do You Believe?" tour in 1999, she reportedly required an entirely separate room backstage solely dedicated to housing her massive collection of wigs.
While this sounds like prime diva behavior, it honestly makes practical sense; given the sheer size of her legendary, gravity-defying hairpieces, a standard dressing room probably couldn't contain both her and her wardrobe anyway.
While this sounds like prime diva behavior, it honestly makes practical sense; given the sheer size of her legendary, gravity-defying hairpieces, a standard dressing room probably couldn't contain both her and her wardrobe anyway.
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15points
In an article for Medium, Dr. Roberts noted that fame “necessitates a public persona” that is often vastly different from the person’s private life. This leads to a “role strain” that may cause “considerable mental stress.”
“Struggling to balance these two identities, many celebrities experience identity crises, feeling lost and disconnected from their authentic selves,” Dr. Roberts wrote.
#7 Mariah Carey
Kicking off the holiday season usually involves a simple flip of a switch, but Mariah Carey envisioned a full-blown fairytale moment for a 2009 appearance at a British shopping mall.
To make the Christmas light ceremony truly spectacular, the legendary vocalist requested a live animal entourage consisting of twenty kittens and a flock of one hundred doves. Unsurprisingly, local organizers had to politely decline the magical menagerie, citing some very practical health and safety concerns.
To make the Christmas light ceremony truly spectacular, the legendary vocalist requested a live animal entourage consisting of twenty kittens and a flock of one hundred doves. Unsurprisingly, local organizers had to politely decline the magical menagerie, citing some very practical health and safety concerns.
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15points
#8 Gwen Stefani
The former lead singer of No Doubt and veteran television coach insists on an immaculate, colorless environment to get ready in. Event organizers are tasked with securing blindingly pale dressing quarters, which must be fully stocked with exactly ten snowy bath linens and a quartet of matching, identically fragranced candles.
Beyond the visual blackout, keeping her diet and hydration perfectly clean is a massive priority for the mother of three. Her hospitality team expects thirty individual waters to be waiting for her, flanked by a massive catering spread that is strictly guaranteed to be completely organic and entirely free of any agricultural chemicals.
Beyond the visual blackout, keeping her diet and hydration perfectly clean is a massive priority for the mother of three. Her hospitality team expects thirty individual waters to be waiting for her, flanked by a massive catering spread that is strictly guaranteed to be completely organic and entirely free of any agricultural chemicals.
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15points
#9 Jennifer Lopez
Doing charity work usually means checking your ego at the door, but nobody gave Jennifer Lopez that memo when she signed up for the "What's Going On" remake. Despite the philanthropic nature of the project, the pop icon sent over a rider requesting a massive trailer measuring at least 40 to 45 feet long with dual entrances. Inside, she demanded an aggressively monochromatic aesthetic.
Everything had to be blindingly white, from the couches and drapes to the candles and flowers. She did offer a slight compromise on the furniture, allowing non-white tables as long as they were completely hidden under white cloths. To top off this diva-level list for a good cause, she simply requested some fruit punch to sip on.
Everything had to be blindingly white, from the couches and drapes to the candles and flowers. She did offer a slight compromise on the furniture, allowing non-white tables as long as they were completely hidden under white cloths. To top off this diva-level list for a good cause, she simply requested some fruit punch to sip on.
14points
Despite having thousands, even millions, of adoring fans and followers, famous people may experience social isolation. As Dr. Roberts explained, these feelings stem from an “inherent imbalance” in relationships brought about by massive popularity.
“Celebrities often grapple with trust issues, unable to discern who genuinely cares for them versus who is attracted to their fame,” she noted.
#10 Kanye West
Kanye West tackles massive cultural themes in his discography, diving deep into issues of class, faith, and romance. You will never hear a verse dedicated to fabric choices, yet textiles happen to be a major priority for him off the stage.
The artist enforces a wildly specific uniform policy for anyone hired to chauffeur him around town. He strictly forbids his drivers from wearing polyester or any other synthetic blends on the clock. Every single garment they put on must be woven from pure, unadulterated cotton.
The artist enforces a wildly specific uniform policy for anyone hired to chauffeur him around town. He strictly forbids his drivers from wearing polyester or any other synthetic blends on the clock. Every single garment they put on must be woven from pure, unadulterated cotton.
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13points
#11 Arnold Schwarzenegger
Stepping into the boots of his iconic cyborg character for a third time simply wasn't enough control for the former bodybuilder. Arnold demanded absolute authority over the entire roster of personnel for the project. Instead of just learning his lines and hitting his marks, he personally vetted the hiring of almost every single person involved in the movie.
The director, the wardrobe team, the makeup artists, and even the drivers had to get his direct stamp of approval before collecting a paycheck. He even extended this iron-fisted oversight to the catering department, ensuring he hand-picked the exact chef responsible for feeding the cast and crew throughout the shoot.
The director, the wardrobe team, the makeup artists, and even the drivers had to get his direct stamp of approval before collecting a paycheck. He even extended this iron-fisted oversight to the catering department, ensuring he hand-picked the exact chef responsible for feeding the cast and crew throughout the shoot.
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13points
#12 Steven Tyler
The legendary frontman of Aerosmith might sing about not wanting to miss a thing, but he definitely wanted to skip out on his audience's grime. In his memoir, Steven Tyler casually admitted to a highly specific and bizarre post-show ritual during his years of packing out massive arenas.
The rock star would spot women in the crowd who caught his eye and send his crew to fetch them. Before any actual introductions took place, he required these complete strangers to immediately scrub themselves clean in his personal backstage bathroom. He was apparently terrified of whatever sweat and bacteria they had picked up during the concert, so his team had to ensure the fans were freshly bathed and ready the moment he finished his set.
The rock star would spot women in the crowd who caught his eye and send his crew to fetch them. Before any actual introductions took place, he required these complete strangers to immediately scrub themselves clean in his personal backstage bathroom. He was apparently terrified of whatever sweat and bacteria they had picked up during the concert, so his team had to ensure the fans were freshly bathed and ready the moment he finished his set.
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12points
On the flip side, famous people likely won’t exist without celebrity worship. Media psychology expert Dr. Cynthia Vinney described it in a nutshell as the parasocial relationship between a viewer and a media persona that involves an “extreme feeling of attachment.”
Dr. Vinney noted that the concept was first introduced in the late 50s and gained more recognition in the early 2000s. She also pointed out that celebrity worship became more prevalent in the social media era, when people gained greater access to information about famous people than ever before.
#13 Prince
During his tours in the nineties, the legendary Purple One had a very specific routine for keeping his energy up. Instead of just grabbing a typical sports drink, he insisted on having an actual physician waiting in the wings at every single gig to prepare a custom vitamin B-12 beverage for him right before he hit the microphone.
His rider wasn't just about his own health, though. He also thought ahead about his extremely devoted followers and their generosity. The artist required venue workers to place completely bare tables at every single doorway into the arena, providing a designated drop-off zone for any concertgoers who showed up bearing presents for the superstar.
His rider wasn't just about his own health, though. He also thought ahead about his extremely devoted followers and their generosity. The artist required venue workers to place completely bare tables at every single doorway into the arena, providing a designated drop-off zone for any concertgoers who showed up bearing presents for the superstar.
12points
#14 Eddie Murphy
Dodging laundry duty is the ultimate flex for an Academy Award-nominated superstar. Whenever Eddie Murphy steps onto a movie production, he absolutely refuses to slip into anything that has been previously washed.
His daily routine dictates that untouched undergarments and a fresh set of socks must be waiting for him at the start of every single workday. To ensure nobody is cutting corners by recycling fabrics, the comedy legend insists that the original store labels remain firmly attached to the clothing right up until the moment he gets dressed.
His daily routine dictates that untouched undergarments and a fresh set of socks must be waiting for him at the start of every single workday. To ensure nobody is cutting corners by recycling fabrics, the comedy legend insists that the original store labels remain firmly attached to the clothing right up until the moment he gets dressed.
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12points
#15 Justin Timberlake
Dodging germs is apparently a full-time job in Justin Timberlake's entourage. The pop superstar takes personal hygiene to extreme lengths whenever he hits the road, ensuring his backstage environment remains absolutely spotless.
To pull this off, he actually assigns a specific crew member the tedious task of trailing his movements and wiping down any handles he might grab. This intense sanitation routine runs on a strict 120-minute timer, guaranteeing that no rogue bacteria ever stands a chance of ruining his performance.
To pull this off, he actually assigns a specific crew member the tedious task of trailing his movements and wiping down any handles he might grab. This intense sanitation routine runs on a strict 120-minute timer, guaranteeing that no rogue bacteria ever stands a chance of ruining his performance.
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12points
As glamorous as fame may be, being a renowned celebrity can also take a toll on a person’s mental health. This is why Dr. Roberts emphasizes the importance of seeking support and calls on people to view celebrities with more empathy.
“Understanding these can help us view celebrities in a more empathetic light, realizing that they, too, grapple with mental health challenges, often amplified by their public status,” she wrote.
#16 Lea Michele
Signing up for a show with the word "scream" right in the title usually implies a certain level of vocal strain. Lea Michele didn't quite see it that way when she joined the cast of Scream Queens as Hester. Coming off the massive cultural wave of Glee, the actress was fiercely protective of her singing chops and refused to risk damaging them for a horror-comedy.
She gave the production team a strict quota, officially committing to letting out a genuine shriek exactly two times on set. Audio engineers had to rely on pre-recorded tracks for any other moments of fear so the star could keep her golden pipes in pristine condition.
She gave the production team a strict quota, officially committing to letting out a genuine shriek exactly two times on set. Audio engineers had to rely on pre-recorded tracks for any other moments of fear so the star could keep her golden pipes in pristine condition.
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12points
#17 Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell might be famous for playing unhinged man-children, but nobody really pegs the comedian as a high-maintenance celebrity. That assumption completely went out the window during the press circuit for his basketball comedy Semi-Pro. He managed to outpace Hollywood's biggest prima donnas by submitting a backstage rider filled with absolute nonsense.
Rather than demanding fancy water or specific room temperatures, his team requested a rolling painted rainbow, an electric scooter, and a towering 15-foot artificial tree. There was zero practical use for any of this bizarre gear. He simply added the absurd props to his contract because he had the star power to make the venue staff hunt them down.
Rather than demanding fancy water or specific room temperatures, his team requested a rolling painted rainbow, an electric scooter, and a towering 15-foot artificial tree. There was zero practical use for any of this bizarre gear. He simply added the absurd props to his contract because he had the star power to make the venue staff hunt them down.
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11points
#18 Tom Cruise
Instead of playing by the studio's rules, the seasoned action star reportedly hijacked the entire production of his doomed monster movie reboot. Trade publications claimed he completely bypassed newcomer Alex Kurtzman in the director's chair and hired his own scribes to revamp the screenplay. Those hand-picked writers scrambled the narrative to meet his exact tastes, ultimately saddling the blockbuster with a notoriously confusing plot.
His behind-the-scenes demands extend way beyond script control, though. Set insiders allege that he also requires a wardrobe stockpile of fifty bespoke G-strings for every single shoot. These incredibly soft and flexible undergarments are supposedly an absolute necessity for keeping him comfortable while pulling off his signature high-octane acrobatics.
His behind-the-scenes demands extend way beyond script control, though. Set insiders allege that he also requires a wardrobe stockpile of fifty bespoke G-strings for every single shoot. These incredibly soft and flexible undergarments are supposedly an absolute necessity for keeping him comfortable while pulling off his signature high-octane acrobatics.
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11points
#19 Paris Hilton
Showing up to work on a movie set for just twenty-four hours usually means keeping your dressing room needs fairly simple. Paris Hilton completely ignored that when she filmed her quick cameo for The Other Guys. The famous socialite submitted an absolutely unhinged catering list for her brief appearance, demanding an endless supply of living lobsters be kept on hand.
To pair with that bizarre, bottomless seafood buffet, she also insisted the crew supply her with a full bottle of Grey Goose, ensuring her incredibly short time on the clock was spent in total luxury.
To pair with that bizarre, bottomless seafood buffet, she also insisted the crew supply her with a full bottle of Grey Goose, ensuring her incredibly short time on the clock was spent in total luxury.
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11points
#20 Madonna
The Queen of Pop takes her backstage hygiene to an entirely different level whenever she heads out on tour. Before Madonna will even consider stepping into a dressing room, the local crew has to make a very specific hardware run.
She absolutely refuses to share a porcelain throne with anyone who performed there before her, demanding that a factory-fresh, completely untouched toilet seat be installed at every single venue she visits.
She absolutely refuses to share a porcelain throne with anyone who performed there before her, demanding that a factory-fresh, completely untouched toilet seat be installed at every single venue she visits.
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11points