Not all stars and public figures are created equal. While there are plenty of genuinely great people out there in the entertainment industry, not everyone quite measures up. And though everyone is human and we all make mistakes, some celebrities can, unfortunately, be quite toxic and nasty.
#1
I was headed in a bagel shop in Marin Ca. To do some work (at the time I did refrigeration work walk in coolers etc…) I had a lot of tools slung over me cause I didn’t want to walk to my truck) I dropped my gauges this man behind me picked them up and carried them into the bagel place. I turned to thank him. Mr robin williams. Such a nice guy.
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120points
#2
Just to inject a little good karma into this thread, I went up to Muhammed Ali in an airport when I was a little kid. This was late '70s, so he may have been the most famous person in the world at the time. He not only gave me an autograph, but invited me to sit down with him and his entourage for 10 minutes and bought me a Coke.
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78points
#3
Donald Trump. In the late 80s/early 90s I had a job in NYC where I interacted with him regularly. Just a total jerk. I have stories.
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73points
Being rude, toxic, entitled, and generally an unpleasant human being is awful for your career. The entertainment industry, like any other community, runs on social connections, not just skills.
So, if you’re a complete nightmare to work with, treat your colleagues and fans like dirt, and make it unbearable to be around, your career is in a lot of trouble. Very few people are going to want to work with you, unless you have an extremely unique skill set that nobody else can match.
That, of course, is on top of the fact that you’re supposed to treat others with respect. But alas, things like basic politeness, decency, and empathy are rarer than they should be.
Unfortunately, some stars let fame go to their heads. But being kind and caring isn't just the right thing to do, it's also the smart thing to do if you care at all about your career.
#4
I worked in a business for 35 years that dealt with celebrities, mainly music and movie, but authors, as well. Many of them were in our offices multiple times. Like any human being, one may have been a little off on a particular day, but all except one were generally friendly, down-to-earth and accommodating.
Only one was consistently rude, even to the point of being a complete jerk. Every time. Any time. That would be Robert James Ritchie (Kid Rock). Total waste of space.
Only one was consistently rude, even to the point of being a complete jerk. Every time. Any time. That would be Robert James Ritchie (Kid Rock). Total waste of space.
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60points
#6
Dame Judi Dench once headbutted me at the stage door for asking for an autograph. She then lifted me over her head and threw me into an alleyway dumpster and told me nobody would ever love me.
Wonderful actress though. National treasure.
Wonderful actress though. National treasure.
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45points
As well-known pop star, producer, designer, and reality TV judge Pharrell Williams explained to the New York Times Magazine, empathy should be everyone’s priority.
“I think empathy is the most important thing. It’s not a natural thing to just literally think of others all the time. It’s just not,” he said.
“You constantly have to challenge yourself to be a little bit more open to what other people are going through,” the star shared his personal philosophy on life.
#7
Johnny Cash was one of the nicest people around. Also: I met Lisa Marie Presley years ago and she was very nice and down to earth.
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45points
#8
Once ran into Bryan Cranston who was an absolute delight but since he's the only celebrity I've ever met he wins by default.
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45points
#9
James Corden. We don’t need to go in to details as it was a friend’s party. Needless to say.. utter jerk.
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43points
Once you’ve read through these nightmare celeb encounters, we’d like to hear from you, too, Pandas.
Have you personally ever met any stars? Who are the rudest celebrities that you had the bad luck of talking to? On the other hand, who were the most wholesome celebs you spoke to? How do you think you’d handle fame? Let us know!
#10
Willy Mays - He was my dad’s boyhood hero. So he was appearing at a card show. I paid for a couple of items to be signed and a short meet and greet before the general public. My dad was so funny, he was nervous and excited to meet him. Long story short, we got into the room. My dad handed over the ball he wanted to sign. My father then told him about how much he loved him as a kid, etc etc. Mays never looked up, never made eye contact, nothing. Just “next”. My dad didn’t seem to be bothered and as we walked away I said to the top of this jerk offs head “you don’t have to be such a rude jerk about it.” My dad passed last year and he always talked about how he met his hero, we buried him with the ball.
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39points
#11
I worked production for some televised awards shows & other live events for a time.
Terrence Howard. Had to listen to him berate his own assistants and our staff at an awards show (the DAY before the show) because he couldn’t have extra tickets for his friends. Not like the seats are assigned & charted well in advance because they’re on live camera.
Henry Winkler takes the cake for the most engaging and animated person I immediately could tell was so authentic and lovely. He used to bring his mom back stage every year before one of the shows, and after my FIRST year being there and hanging out with them, he remembered my name the next year.
I also once had to help Jonathan Banks from breaking bad out of the staff door to just get a water bottle & a breath of fresh air, and he spent 20 minutes asking really interesting and thoughtful questions me about my life.
Terrence Howard. Had to listen to him berate his own assistants and our staff at an awards show (the DAY before the show) because he couldn’t have extra tickets for his friends. Not like the seats are assigned & charted well in advance because they’re on live camera.
Henry Winkler takes the cake for the most engaging and animated person I immediately could tell was so authentic and lovely. He used to bring his mom back stage every year before one of the shows, and after my FIRST year being there and hanging out with them, he remembered my name the next year.
I also once had to help Jonathan Banks from breaking bad out of the staff door to just get a water bottle & a breath of fresh air, and he spent 20 minutes asking really interesting and thoughtful questions me about my life.
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39points
#12
Bill and Hillary Clinton (when he was candidate Clinton, I think the year was 1992). He was creepy and pompous. She was really warm and friendly. It was the opposite of what I would have expected with them.
We owned a small hotel in a weekend vacation town in California. John Travolta was a huge jerk also Sharon Stone was an jerk. (They were there at different times). They were both demanding and very, very entitled. Woody Harrelson was really nice, kind to staff and paid his own way the entire stay.
We owned a small hotel in a weekend vacation town in California. John Travolta was a huge jerk also Sharon Stone was an jerk. (They were there at different times). They were both demanding and very, very entitled. Woody Harrelson was really nice, kind to staff and paid his own way the entire stay.
38points
#13
J Lo. Worked in the industry. We were doing a commercial for her perfume or something. Her and Mark Anthony were pains in the a*s. He got a PA taken off set. because he didn’t like the way he looked. It was racial I suspect as he was the only one that was a different color than the rest of us. But that’s just my assumption. Maybe our best PA for that shoot too. She was just a general PIA.
At the end when we were wrapping, her entourage (a bunch of her weird cousins and s**t) pulled an Escalade up to her trailer and threw on one of her songs really loud. Then they lined up to sort of form this gauntlet like a red carpet for dignitaries. Mind you, this is on the back lot at Universal or WB. I don’t remember. So there’s nobody around. A few grips and PAs picking up some gear. A janitor maybe. Then these weird girls in like prom dresses lined up with one of her bad songs playing. Waiting for her to come out of the trailer and then walk 15 feet to the car. She doesn’t come out and one of them breaks rank, runs to the car and restarts the song. Then runs back to wait. I was sitting on the back for a cube truck smoking a cigarette with my production manager just blown away.
I worked with many, many celebrities in Hollywood but never saw that level of weird self involvement. I know it’s out there but that was the worst I witnessed that comes to mind right now. This was like 20 years ago btw.
At the end when we were wrapping, her entourage (a bunch of her weird cousins and s**t) pulled an Escalade up to her trailer and threw on one of her songs really loud. Then they lined up to sort of form this gauntlet like a red carpet for dignitaries. Mind you, this is on the back lot at Universal or WB. I don’t remember. So there’s nobody around. A few grips and PAs picking up some gear. A janitor maybe. Then these weird girls in like prom dresses lined up with one of her bad songs playing. Waiting for her to come out of the trailer and then walk 15 feet to the car. She doesn’t come out and one of them breaks rank, runs to the car and restarts the song. Then runs back to wait. I was sitting on the back for a cube truck smoking a cigarette with my production manager just blown away.
I worked with many, many celebrities in Hollywood but never saw that level of weird self involvement. I know it’s out there but that was the worst I witnessed that comes to mind right now. This was like 20 years ago btw.
37points
#14
Jenna Coleman came to a local convention and as you'd expect, people were bringing her fanart and other Doctor Who memorabilia. Stuff they'd put their souls into, that kind of thing.
Almost the minute the con closed, she shoved it all in the bin, almost literally shoving it off her table with one sweeping movement in front of everyone.
I'm not saying she should have kept and treasured every last piece but at least have the tact and to throw it in the bin backstage or when nobody is looking.
Almost the minute the con closed, she shoved it all in the bin, almost literally shoving it off her table with one sweeping movement in front of everyone.
I'm not saying she should have kept and treasured every last piece but at least have the tact and to throw it in the bin backstage or when nobody is looking.
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36points
#15
Jeremy Clarkson (Top Gear UK), he shoo shoo'd my daughter away like a dirty fly. She was around 5-6 years old at the time and plucked up so much courage to ask for a photograph.
We were guests at a car show event, so everyone was sitting around in the lounge. His co-host Richard Hammond watched the whole thing, was mortified, scooped my daughter up with hugs, made her laugh, and took lovely photos! Richard is a gem. I had a good chance to observe Jeremy Clarkson's general behavior to servers and staff, etc, and can say he is rubbish. Also, his face in real life looks like a rotten piece of gammon ham, ugly inside and out.
We were guests at a car show event, so everyone was sitting around in the lounge. His co-host Richard Hammond watched the whole thing, was mortified, scooped my daughter up with hugs, made her laugh, and took lovely photos! Richard is a gem. I had a good chance to observe Jeremy Clarkson's general behavior to servers and staff, etc, and can say he is rubbish. Also, his face in real life looks like a rotten piece of gammon ham, ugly inside and out.
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35points
#16
Eminem. I write him all the time and he never wrote me back. I even waited in the blistering cold for 4 hours with my little brother to get his autograph and he just said “no” .
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34points
#17
When I was a kid I meet Bill Cosby way before the allegations came out. I loved the Cosby show. He was such a jerk to an 8 year old me I never watched the show again. Was not surprised when they all came out later.
32points
#18
Carly Rae Jepsen came into a cafe I worked in in Vancouver at the height of her Call Me Maybe fame. She paid in American cash, which most places accept in touristy places near the border. She then became pissed off at me because I couldn't *give her change* in American cash. We don't have American cash in the cash register because...it's not America?
Carly Rae Jepsen is from Canada btw
(EDIT: I just looked up her Wikipedia page and apparently she used to work as a barista in Vancouver, which makes this whole situation even more maddening!).
Carly Rae Jepsen is from Canada btw
(EDIT: I just looked up her Wikipedia page and apparently she used to work as a barista in Vancouver, which makes this whole situation even more maddening!).
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31points
#19
J-Lo
I'd heard she was bad, but doing security for 3 days I saw her treat everyone around her like dirt. 2 years later, I declined the detail, but everyone who worked it said she was consistent.
I'd heard she was bad, but doing security for 3 days I saw her treat everyone around her like dirt. 2 years later, I declined the detail, but everyone who worked it said she was consistent.
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30points
#20
Ok, not the rudest one but the best one!! (I know this is the wrong post to reply to, but my fav celeb story). One time I met Ray liotta at a nice bar in Spokane WA where him and Cuba gooding Jr? I think were shooting a movie. He walks up to the bar and tries to sit in an empty seat. Some uptight guy immediately tells him no and that he's saving it for his girlfriend. Ray then goes into, 'is this your seat? Is your name on this seat' etc etc just like in Goodfellas! I was dying. After this ray goes to sit by himself in a booth near the bar and sulks for like 20 min. I'm there with my friends and go outside for a smoke. I see a cluster of little pink flowers and pick them. WHen I come back in, I put in down on ray's table and go back to the bar. After 10 min or so, I look over and see that he's still upset. So I walk over and say, 'do you not like your flower?' He takes a big sigh and says, 'yes I do.' After this he perks up and joins me and my friends at the bar! It was so exciting.
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27points