If you could invite three famous people to a dinner party at your house, who would they be? Your favorite musician? A social justice warrior? The author of your favorite book or the actor who you remember as your first celebrity crush as a kid? In this fantasy scenario, you likely imagine that these celebrities would be thrilled to attend an evening in your home, and the four of you would bond over shared interests and enjoy glasses of wine late into the night over deep and meaningful conversations. If they only knew you personally, these stars would love you!
Unfortunately, organically encountering a celebrity in real-life is often much less magical and much more awkward and uncomfortable than we would imagine. One curious person asked on Reddit, “Anyone ever have a confrontation with a celebrity?” And hundreds of people shared their most disappointing and embarrassing experiences with stars. Below, you will find many of these cringe-worthy stories that might remind you never to put people on a pedestal. Be sure to upvote the stories you find most hilarious and painful, and let us know in the comments if you have ever had a strange run-in with a celebrity. Then if you’d like to check out another Bored Panda article featuring less than ideal experiences with famous people, you can find that right here.
#21
I ran into Tom DeLonge from Blink 182 a couple years ago at a starbucks. I recognized who he was and said, "I used to love you guys!" he looked at me and said, "What do you mean, used too?" Then walked off. I really meant to say a compliment. Oh well.
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54points
When I lived in Los Angeles, a mother I babysat for told me the story of how she ran into Harry Styles while walking in the neighborhood and ended up chatting with him for at least half an hour. She only realized who he was later when she connected the dots of what he had told her and looked up a photo of him. But because she treated him like a regular person and just enjoyed having a conversation with him, he seemed to cherish that interaction. It must be extremely rare for someone with that caliber of fame to run into people who have no reaction to them. If you don’t realize who a celebrity is, or if you at least play it cool, they will probably treat you just the same as if you both were people with regular jobs.
#22
My granddad once beat up Andy Rooney to take Judy Garland out on a date.
No, really. He beat the s**t out of him.
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54points
#23
My father almost hit John Cena with his car at an event when I was younger. In that instance, you really couldn't see him ...
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53points
#24
I ran into William Daniels (Mr. Feeny from Boy Meets World) on a flight from San Francisco to Chicago. I only realized it was him after my sister hit him on the side of the head with her carry-on as she was stowing up in the over head compartment whilst he was attempting to take a seat. He wasn't mad at all, laughed it off and shook our hands when we told him we loved him as Mr. Feeny. Really nice guy, polite and friendly when other passengers recognized him as well. He sat in front of us and we didnt bother him for the remainder of the flight. he waved bye to us while me and my sister were still stuck in baggage claim.
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53points
Now, there are certainly some celebrities out there whose egos have inflated their heads so large I’m not sure how they even fit through a doorway. They are likely surrounded by “yes men” all the time and they have enough money to get whatever they want whenever they want it. These people are probably the last stars you would ever want to encounter. And while I imagine that most of the rich and famous people of the world are not like that, the portion of people that are makes for excellent stories on this list. Whether they knock over little kids without batting an eye or demand to cut in line everywhere they go, I’ll allow for a bit of celebrity shaming in the comments when it comes to these folks.
#25
So about four years ago (I was sixteen, my sister the same age) my family was at O'hare. And we were waiting for a delayed flight and then this jackass with a suit and slick backed hair walks up and starts acting tough and talking loud, yelling about random b******t with his friends. He quiets down and then tries looking down my sister's shirt. I see this and shout "Hey!" he then looks at me, shrugs and then walks away.
Found out on the plane it was Shia Labeouf. What an a*****e.
TL;DR Shia Labeouf stared at my underaged sister's chest.
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53points
#26
I was at a local grill in my home town 3 years ago. all the sudden we see shaq come out of a bentley. I was with a large group of friends age range between 15-18, so we were just like oh F**K! He comes over and sits kinda close to us and one of my idiot friends turns to him and tells him "I loved you in space jam".
His sole response was "that wasn't me, that was mike". We gave him so much s**t.
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53points
#27
I was 10 years old and waiting in line to get some cream cheese for my bagel from a little food stand in Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. A man approached me and began talking to me of course my STRANGER DANGER alarm went off. He asked if he should get a bagel too and i warily replied "If you like bagels..." Luckily my mom was right behind me and the man began to talk to her as well. When he walked away my mom told me who he was. Henry Winkler.
TL:DR Got creeped out by The Fonz when i was 10.
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50points
We hope you’re enjoying this list of amusing, awkward and uncomfortable encounters with celebrities. Keep upvoting your favorite anecdotes, and then let us know in the comments if you have ever run into one of your favorite stars. Did they live up to your expectations, or did you immediately remove their name from your “celebrity dinner party” invitation list? I hope these stories are reminders that famous people are no more special than you or I, and in fact, they might even be less kind and considerate. I’ll take politeness and courtesy from a regular Joe over an attitude and ridiculous demands from a celebrity any day.
#28
I was waiting tables at a nice restaurant when Pauley Shore came in and sat in my section with his entourage. I waited on him and at one point I had spilled some mustard on the table and Pauley said, "Duuude. You spilled the muuuuustard!" And yes, he was stoned off his gourd.
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49points
#29
I worked at a concert venue. Not a direct confrontation per se, but Dave Matthews is an **a*****e**. Sorry for anyone who likes him, but his concerts are the worst f*****g thing ever.
First, he's so conceited that when he's walking around back stage, he tells staff supervisors that any staff members he walks by should turn their back and stare at the ground until he passes.
Second, the concert venue had big screens on the sides of the seats so people way in the back still had a semblance of a view. Dave Mathews required us to construct elaborate tarps hanging from the ceiling to block these, because he didn't want to look at himself while he was singing.
TLDR: Dave Mathews is an egotistical d**k.
(Don't even get me started about his fans.)
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49points
#30
I was about 8 years old and was at my first New Jersey Nets game. After the game you could meet some of the players and take pictures and stuff like that and I was basically in the back of a huge crowd of people surrounding the players. The meet and greet ended and players started leaving and then I saw Kerry Kittles walking my way. I was kinda upset I didn't get to meet anyone so I stepped in his path and stuck my hand up to him and said HI KERRY.....and he just plowed right through me. I mean he literally f*****g stepped on me and knocked me down and never looked back.
Ever since that day whenever I played a video game with him in it I would immediately put him on the bench for the whole game.
F**** you Kerry Kittles.
48points
#31
One of the most embarrassing moments of my life.
I met Emeril Lagasse. I saw him at a shopping mall for some kind of promotional thing he was doing there. I passed by and was looking at him and I ran straight into this big camera. It fell over and everybody just stared at me. Emeril came over and was really pissed, he was all red in the face and asked me why I ran into the camera. Nobody around seemed to notice he was being a huge douche. I told him it was an accident but he just told me to get out of there before I caused anymore trouble. Easily the weirdest thing that's ever happened to me. When I see him on TV it makes me cringe and I have to change the channel.
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47points
#32
I had a friend from out of state swinging through town and we met in NYC for lunch and a couple of drinks.
We are eating at the bar and I see further down that Mike Myers (Snl, Austin Powers, etc) is at the other end of the bar watching a soccer game on the television and drinking a beer.
I had never encountered a celebrity before, and didn't want to be some obtrusive a*****e. But prior to paying our tab I walked over and said "hey Mike, I'm a big fan, can I buy you a beer?" And without even turning to look at me he says " I can afford my own drinks a*****e, save your money for my next movie".
I stood there speechless for a second and embarassedly turned back to my spot at the bar, we paid our tab and split without saying a word. I really felt like a d**k head, haha.
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46points
#33
I was a bike courier in Philadelphia during the filming of "Law Abiding Citizen".
Part of the job was to deliver/pickup documents from city hall, where most of the filming was going on.
So one day I got out of the elevator in a huge rush only to walk into a crowd of people. I realized it was because Jamie Foxx and his henchmen were waiting for a ride up, trying to block fans away. So I ended up, in my rushed state, ramming into him and yelling "Outta my way, Jamie Foxx!" Only to get awkward glances from most people that saw...guess I took my job pretty seriously..
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43points
#34
Kiefer Sutherland. That guy is an a*s hole. I used to work at a casino that would get different kinds of celebrities coming in. From Daman Waynes to Tito Ortiz. From Paul Rodriguez to Jenna Jameson. I remember we had Kiefer Sutherland come in and do a little gambling in the high limit room. He was there because he was shooting for the 7th season of 24. He came by the cashier window where I worked at and the only time I said anything to him was "How is your day so far Mr. Suthlerland" and "How would you like your money". The whole time he kept quiet. Did not say a word. Until he grabbed his money and I told him "Have a good day Mr. Sutherland". That's when he looked at me and literally said "You need to learn how to shut the f**k up".
I don't think I've ever had the most shocked look on my face before. I mean, I've had some f****d up customers, but I think this one took the cake.
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43points
#35
Shane MacGowan pissed on my shoes once.
**Edit for backstory:** Well, back from work now, so I might as well fill in the details.
Years ago, I worked as a barman in West London, and after closing time would generally make my way over to a great little pub -- now sadly a chocolatier's, apparently -- in Belgravia. Mr. MacGowan was a semi-regular there, so I'd seen him several times over the course of a few months before the night in question. Though I'd been a Pogues fan for years prior, I'd never approached him or said anything beyond polite chitchat if he happened to lean on the bar next to me while getting a pint.
On The Night of the Shoe-Pissing By a Drunken Musical Legend, I was upstairs at the urinal (I use the singular, as this was a proper old pub with a trough rather than individual porcelain bits as we're used to in North America), when lo and behold, the aforementioned Drunken Musical Legend wobbles over next to me, unzips, and begins to unleash. At first, he made solid contact on target, but gradually began to pivot.
All this time, I'm staring straight at the wall, as I *do not*, under any circumstances, wish to see Shane MacGowan's penis. Seriously, look at the man's teeth. I can't imagine what his junk looks like. The first inkling I have that anything's amiss is the sound and then feeling of p**s splattering over my Chuck Taylors.
No sooner had the downpour begun than it ended, I hear him zip up and wobble back out the door (and no, he didn't wash up. Did you really think he would?)
I wipe off the shoes as best I could, washed my hands rather thoroughly, and went back to my seat at the bar.
"Shane MacGowan just pissed on my shoes," I tell the manageress, who was tending bar.
"Happens to every man around here eventually, mate," she replies.
**TLDR:** Shane MacGowan pissed on my shoes once.
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41points
#36
Not only was this an awkward confrontation, but one of the most traumatizing moments of my life.
I was running late for work one morning in Boston, but obviously still had to get my Dunkin Donuts. I was standing in line debating breakfast sandwiches next to a guy who had come in from a door on the other side of the store. A register opened up and I offered to let him go first. He replied "No, after you!" I was still unsure so I was like "Really, please go ahead, I don't know what I..." "I TOLD YOU TO F*****G GO!" And then I realized it was Gary Busey. It was terrifying for anyone to yell at me like that, but if you know anything about him you can only imagine the nightmares that followed.
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41points
#37
Oh s**t - I forgot about my best "run-in". I was working in a mall kiosk selling cellphones. One night, some lady came in and wanted a handsfree headset. She asked if it would work with an out of country phone (I was in Vancouver then). I said of course. She came back later that night and said it didn't work. We had just set up the kiosk and I was unable to do refunds so I sent her (in the rain, mind you) to the main store down the street. The next day, she comes storming up to the kiosk. My work buddy goes - holy s**t, it's that woman...and she brought Arnie with her! The lady starts screaming at me for making her go out in the rain when the other store was closed (oops), all the while Arnold Schwarzenegger is standing behind her, looking confused and talking German to his friend. Turns out she was his personal shopper. Very surreal. This was in the 90s.
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37points
#38
Ahh no one's gonna see this, but here goes...
I was in NYC once with a friend. We were walking north on Broadway from 46th to 47th street in Times Square. We were minding our own business not thinking anything about life, much less celebrities.
The walking light turned white and a group of like 50 people started walking. My friend and I were in the front of the group with our heads down.
Then we heard a little tire screeching and a car horn. As soon as I looked up there was a Land Rover's bumper on my right knee and my friend was bent over on the left fender. We both looked up at the driver and it was Usher. He had some hot girl in the passenger seat and he looked pissed that we were even walking in the middle of a GREEN crosswalk. I went to give him the finger, but the other 47+ people surrounded his car in adoration.
My friend and I kept on walking.
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35points
#39
I was once at an outdoor cafe in Los Angeles and I see Beyonce Knowles walking toward me. She walks right up to me and says, "I lost my phone around here, have you seen it? It's one of those cute little flip phones with gold sparkles all over it." I told her sorry, I hadn't seen it and asked if she wanted me to try calling it so she might hear it? She sighs and says, "no, that aint gonna work, it's on silent mode". I told her, "If you liked it, then you shoulda put a ring on it."
*ducks*
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31points
#40
I was working at a coffee shop in New York and Jesse Camp walked in and asked if he could use the bathroom. I said, "yeah if you buy a coffee," and he was like, "Don't you know who I am?" and I said buy a coffee or get the f**k out. He got the f**k out and the owner slapped me on the back.
I hated that guy.
I hated that guy.
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30points