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Celebrities you once thought were nice and genuine, but really aren't

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I saw <celebrity> at the supermarket last month. I told him how cool it was to meet him in person, but I didn’t want to be a douche and bother him and ask him for photos or anything.

He said, “Oh, like you’re doing now?”

I was taken aback, and all I could say was “Huh?” but he kept cutting me off and going “huh? huh? huh?” and closing his hand shut in front of my face. I walked away and continued with my shopping, and I heard him chuckle as I walked off. When I came to pay for my stuff up front I saw him trying to walk out the doors with like fifteen Milky Ways in his hands without paying.

The girl at the counter was very nice about it and professional, and was like “Sir, you need to pay for those first.” At first he kept pretending to be tired and not hear her, but eventually turned back around and brought them to the counter.

When she took one of the bars and started scanning it multiple times, he stopped her and told her to scan them each individually “to prevent any electrical infetterence,” and then turned around and winked at me. I don’t even think that’s a word. After she scanned each bar and put them in a bag and started to say the price, he kept interrupting her by yawning really loudly.
 
Celebs I've interacted with off the top of my mind:

Chris Hardwick - Met him outside the W Hotel in NYC. Talked comedy and standup for about 15 minutes. Really awesome, genuine guy.

Levarr Burton - Saw him in LAX when I was a kid with my parents. Was nice enough to chat and say hi. I was a big fan of him in Reading Rainbow at the time.

Zach Woods - Really nice guy. Chatted with him a couple of times.

Clay Aiken - I was very drunk at a party. Shook his hand, said "Nice to meet you, Clay" then left. He was nice enough. I made it weird.

Abby Elliott - Hung out with her one evening. Really cool chick though she was kind of self important.

John McCain - Met him at a party. Said hi to me. Nice enough I guess.

Ben Stein - Had lunch with him 1-on-1 in college where he was to speak that evening. Seemed like a cool enough fellow.

Michael Ian Black - Chatted with him for 15 mins at a party. He thinks he's the funniest person in the room and isn't afraid to say so. Constantly tried to one up the rest of us. Came off as kind of desperate actually.

Charles Grodin - Was my little league coach. He's a nice guy but his son was a huge dick to me. Bullied me through high school.
 
Celebs I've interacted with off the top of my mind:

Chris Hardwick - Met him outside the W Hotel in NYC. Talked comedy and standup for about 15 minutes. Really awesome, genuine guy.

Levarr Burton - Saw him in LAX when I was a kid with my parents. Was nice enough to chat and say hi. I was a big fan of him in Reading Rainbow at the time.

Zach Woods - Really nice guy. Chatted with him a couple of times.

Clay Aiken - I was very drunk at a party. Shook his hand, said "Nice to meet you, Clay" then left. He was nice enough. I made it weird.

Abby Elliott - Hung out with her one evening. Really cool chick though she was kind of self important.

John McCain - Met him at a party. Said hi to me. Nice enough I guess.

Ben Stein - Had lunch with him 1-on-1 in college where he was to speak that evening. Seemed like a cool enough fellow.

Michael Ian Black - Chatted with him for 15 mins at a party. He thinks he's the funniest person in the room and isn't afraid to say so. Constantly tried to one up the rest of us. Came off as kind of desperate actually.

Charles Grodin - Was my little league coach. He's a nice guy but his son was a huge dick to me. Bullied me through high school.

Your list made me panic. If Hardwick wasn't nice I would have been crushed.
 
I saw <celebrity> at the supermarket last month. I told him how cool it was to meet him in person, but I didn’t want to be a douche and bother him and ask him for photos or anything.

He said, “Oh, like you’re doing now?”

I was taken aback, and all I could say was “Huh?” but he kept cutting me off and going “huh? huh? huh?” and closing his hand shut in front of my face. I walked away and continued with my shopping, and I heard him chuckle as I walked off. When I came to pay for my stuff up front I saw him trying to walk out the doors with like fifteen Milky Ways in his hands without paying.

The girl at the counter was very nice about it and professional, and was like “Sir, you need to pay for those first.” At first he kept pretending to be tired and not hear her, but eventually turned back around and brought them to the counter.

When she took one of the bars and started scanning it multiple times, he stopped her and told her to scan them each individually “to prevent any electrical infetterence,” and then turned around and winked at me. I don’t even think that’s a word. After she scanned each bar and put them in a bag and started to say the price, he kept interrupting her by yawning really loudly.


There's no way this isn't Man vs. Food guy. I can just picture him doing it.
 
I've really only met musicians, but Johnny Marr (The Smiths) was the nicest dude. Talked to everyone who was waiting for him, did funny pics with some dude and his kid and was all around a really nice guy. Julian Casablancas (The Strokes) gets a bad rep from some, but my friend who is a massive Strokes fan met him and said he was incredibly nice and well spoken. The pics they took together look like best friends and not some famous musician and some random dude.

I saw <celebrity> at the supermarket last month. I told him how cool it was to meet him in person, but I didn’t want to be a douche and bother him and ask him for photos or anything.

He said, “Oh, like you’re doing now?”

I was taken aback, and all I could say was “Huh?” but he kept cutting me off and going “huh? huh? huh?” and closing his hand shut in front of my face. I walked away and continued with my shopping, and I heard him chuckle as I walked off. When I came to pay for my stuff up front I saw him trying to walk out the doors with like fifteen Milky Ways in his hands without paying.

The girl at the counter was very nice about it and professional, and was like “Sir, you need to pay for those first.” At first he kept pretending to be tired and not hear her, but eventually turned back around and brought them to the counter.

When she took one of the bars and started scanning it multiple times, he stopped her and told her to scan them each individually “to prevent any electrical infetterence,” and then turned around and winked at me. I don’t even think that’s a word. After she scanned each bar and put them in a bag and started to say the price, he kept interrupting her by yawning really loudly.

Why take the name out? I remember this story from a similar thread.
 
It's a joke meme post.

Awesome story of Marr though.

lol damn, I really wanted to believe it when it was Bill Cosby.

But yeah, Marr was such a cool guy. Even signed Modest Mouse albums he had nothing to do with. That was a year ago and I still can't get over how cool he was, guy has been my hero for the longest time so to meet him was a dream come true. Probably gonna try and bother him again when he comes to town in november haha.
 
I saw <celebrity> at the supermarket last month. I told him how cool it was to meet him in person, but I didn’t want to be a douche and bother him and ask him for photos or anything.

He said, “Oh, like you’re doing now?”

I was taken aback, and all I could say was “Huh?” but he kept cutting me off and going “huh? huh? huh?” and closing his hand shut in front of my face. I walked away and continued with my shopping, and I heard him chuckle as I walked off. When I came to pay for my stuff up front I saw him trying to walk out the doors with like fifteen Milky Ways in his hands without paying.

The girl at the counter was very nice about it and professional, and was like “Sir, you need to pay for those first.” At first he kept pretending to be tired and not hear her, but eventually turned back around and brought them to the counter.

When she took one of the bars and started scanning it multiple times, he stopped her and told her to scan them each individually “to prevent any electrical infetterence,” and then turned around and winked at me. I don’t even think that’s a word. After she scanned each bar and put them in a bag and started to say the price, he kept interrupting her by yawning really loudly.
Man, I wante to post that meme.... :(
And IIRC it started with Ryan Gosling.
 
I think the problem with Bruce is that he hasn't been able to adapt to a post movie star world. He's used to his fraternity of 80s and 90s mega-stars and now they're not a big draw. Pretty much the only time he seems to have fun is when he's on Letterman because Letterman is from that same era.

As for celebrities I've encountered.

Karl Urban- Was at a convention and went to his autograph signing. You could tell he was really tired and had already dealt with hundreds of fans. Still managed to work up a smile and say "Dredd fan, huh? Good man." I asked if I could grab a picture really fast, but he said "Sorry, they won't let me," gesturing to his handler. You can't really get an actual impression of someone in such a manufactured environment, but still I feel like Urban is a pretty cool guy.

Can totally hear him saying that in my mind.
 
I'd be offended if MJ wasn't an asshole to me.

Ryan-giggs-censored.jpg

First fan club I ever signed up for and wrote a letter to was Ryan Giggs'. No regrets.
 
I would love to know if Kaley Cuoco is a nice person...one of the very few celebrity crushes I've ever had. She SEEMS like she's a very down to earth, nice woman in any interview I've seen her conduct.
 
Celebs I've interacted with off the top of my mind:

Chris Hardwick - Met him outside the W Hotel in NYC. Talked comedy and standup for about 15 minutes. Really awesome, genuine guy.

Levarr Burton - Saw him in LAX when I was a kid with my parents. Was nice enough to chat and say hi. I was a big fan of him in Reading Rainbow at the time.

Zach Woods - Really nice guy. Chatted with him a couple of times.

Clay Aiken - I was very drunk at a party. Shook his hand, said "Nice to meet you, Clay" then left. He was nice enough. I made it weird.

Abby Elliott - Hung out with her one evening. Really cool chick though she was kind of self important.

John McCain - Met him at a party. Said hi to me. Nice enough I guess.

Ben Stein - Had lunch with him 1-on-1 in college where he was to speak that evening. Seemed like a cool enough fellow.

Michael Ian Black - Chatted with him for 15 mins at a party. He thinks he's the funniest person in the room and isn't afraid to say so. Constantly tried to one up the rest of us. Came off as kind of desperate actually.

Charles Grodin - Was my little league coach. He's a nice guy but his son was a huge dick to me. Bullied me through high school.
I am very jealous.
 
Had the displeasure of working near Bill Nye when he was small time (1996) filming some bit at EPCOT.

Colossal asshole. I can't imagine getting bigger has made him any better.

My girlfriend says the same thing about him. She waited on him when she worked at, I think - would have to have to ask, Hot Dog on a Stick in Seattle.

Others she met are Charles Barkley who she said was nice even though she spilled a drink on him and Chris Cornell who she adores.
 
I've heard amazing things about Johnny Depp. I was talking with a guy who's a professional background actor (he played the masked samurai on Heroes, among other things), and he said that once they were doing a shoot, and somehow it leaked that Depp was there, so like a thousand fans gathered out front to see him. After working for some 12 hours, Depp said he wanted to go outside and sign a few autographs, and he ended up doing that for everyone there.

The background guy also said Meryl Streep was a bitch. No real elaboration, other than that she's a prima donna on set.

Brad Garrett is chill. I sat next to him for dinner once, and he talked with me about dessert. Looked like he was on a date, and I was already leaving, so that was it.

Wil Wheaton seems cool, too. I ended up walking next to him for a while during a dog walk (I didn't even know for most of that time, since I brought three dogs and hardly got to look up at all), and he was chatting and joking around with people as he passed by them. I had no personal interaction with him, though. He has a cute dog, as well, and he's usually one of the top donors for that event.
 
I've met Norm Macdonald - really funny and laid back, Insane Clown Posse - super nice and down to earth, Tim & Eric - Eric was cool as shit and Tim was kind of cold.

I got to see Norm a few months ago at Cobbs. I was slightly bummed that he was too tired to meet people after the show, but he was great anyway.

Didn't Michael Jackson throw water balloons at homeless people?

lololol

On the topic of Bale, that DP30 interview was great, but I think this is probably my favorite interview I've seen him do. You can tell he's just super relaxed and stoked not to be in front of the press.
 
I went to college in Miami and frequented the Delano quite a bit in those days, as that's where the beautiful and famous would hang out to get the night started. Met a ton of celebs but the biggest dick of all was Jaime Foxx. To this day I can't enjoy his work because of that experience with him (and yes, I know he's a human being and entitled to a bad day. I admit this is irrational).

The guy I thought would be an absolute douche was Kevin Federline, but he was actually cool as shit. This was right after he got his Brittany divorce money so I guess anybody would've been as happy and chill as he was.
 
I watched that video from the other thread, in which Chamillionaire describes his encounter with Michael Jordan and how rude MJ was. Now, it's pretty common knowledge that Michael Jordan is a prick, but now I'm curious: what other celebrities are gigantic assholes who we usually take to be charismatic and sincere? Post some videos if possible!

OP, read Bill Simmons' first basketball book for about 50 pages of "what drives MJ"...incredible read...
 
Ooh, I remember another one. Not really about being a dick, but kinda funny. When I used to do tech support for Toshiba some years ago, Warren Beatty would call in once in a while for help getting his DVD player or whatever to work. The funny part was that he'd preface the call with, "Hi, this is Hollywood actor Warren Beatty..."

I guess it's possible that it was just somebody using the name for a laugh, but I like to think it was really him.
 
Not to drag this way off topic, but since you have already I'll go. Speaking out about the small things is the only way people will realise that those small things actually hurt people. They're not being thin skinned they are just pointing out that there are a lot of homophobic, transphobic etc. things that a lot people do and don't realise it. Keeping quiet about small things that you and others don't think matters does not help, in fact it does the exact opposite. "thin skinned" bullshit, they're just pointing out smaller forms of oppression that you don't want to recognise.

I have no problem with the ones that are pointing it out, but there's a big difference between them and the ones that take great offense for each thing. I don't say further than that, because you're right it's off topic for this thread.

Mike Krahulik? Does he count? I heard he's quite a dick.

He's been pretty unapologetic about it in the past, but supposedly he's "working on it."

And Wil Wheaton is awesome, but he puts a lot of pressure on himself to try to be funny for his fans, and I can see how that can come off as ascerbic when he makes an off color joke.
 
I don't think Evans is an asshole, but he definitely comes across as not embracing stardom, which is usually mistaken for being an asshole.

I've been on set with the guy. He's nice, just keeps to himself. Honestly I think the guy is an introvert. Wouldn't be surprised if after all this crazy MCU shit is over he slinks away directing his own indie films or something.

Evans has huge social anxiety issues, which is why he wanted to be a director. You can see how awkward he is on one on one interview. He needs someone a bit more extroverted like Hemsworth or Johanssen to bounce off conversation with otherwise his interview gets really awkward fast. But he's a nice guy like Keanu. Hugh Jackman is another nice actor working in Hollywood.

Disappointed with Harrison Ford. I used to look up to him but he becomes such a grumpy old man these days.
Yeah, I thought Evans has said before that he has extreme social anxiety, and he took up acting to help deal with it. That's why he is always awkward in interviews.
 
I'm not surprised about Bill Nigh, honestly. I never really watched his show as a kid but over the past year or two I've seen him in the occasional interview and he's guest hosted on Neil Degrasse Tyson's podcast Startalk, and I've always picked up an unfriendly jerk-vibe from him.

NDT though....I'd be heartbroken if he turned out to be an asshole. He seems like a genuinely super nice dude.

If NDT was a dick we would've heard it by now.
 
Ever since the video of him going berserk surface I kind of understand how he works since he throws himself into his craft. Hugh Jackman did the same thing on stage when someone got on their cell phone. Sure their assholes but you understand why they are assholes.

Alyssa Milano apparently is a fucking nightmare.

What? Those 2 incidents aren't in the same stratosphere.
 
Met Bill Bailey & Derren Brown after their respective stage shows. Bailey is lovely and I swear, Derren Brown is one of the nicest guys in the world. Even after autographing a ton of shit and getting photos he took a picture with my very socially anxious sister. She wanted a photo with him but felt very shy, Derren saw her trying to get through the people and went over to her, made her feel very comfortable, it was really heartwarming for me.

Jedward are also very nice guys, even if you find them annoying. Not a bad thing to say about them, honestly.

Waited outside a They Might Be Giants concert for 2 hours or so with some other people and they never came out. Can't fault them for it, but still, sucked to not get to meet them.
 
I waited at the stage entrance for Patrick Stewart after a benefit he did for a library in Los Angeles. He came down the stairs and I asked him if my friend and I could get an autograph and he bellowed in a soul crushing voice, "NO!!!!!"

He then just laughed and said "Of course, I would be delighted." He then proceeded to be the charming and witty gentleman that one would expect. He laughed and talked with the fans for about 10 minutes before taking off in his Jaguar convertible. It was perfect.
 
I waited at the stage entrance for Patrick Stewart after a benefit he did for a library in Los Angeles. He came down the stairs and I asked him if my friend and I could get an autograph and he bellowed in a soul crushing voice, "NO!!!!!"

He then just laughed and said "Of course, I would be delighted." He then proceeded to be the charming and witty gentleman that one would expect. He laughed and talked with the fans for about 10 minutes before taking off in his Jaguar convertible. It was perfect.

You offered to have his babies, right?
 
Physically I am taller than he is, but I still felt like I was looking up to him. Patrick Stewart is the definition of gravitas.

Now back on topic, I have met Brent Spiner a few times and he is not an ass exactly, but he always seems to be fucking with the fans. For example, in a line for fans to get autographs, after each person would come up, he would sign, but then he would pocket their pens. One after the other and no one would say anything. It was weird but my friend called him on that and Spiner laughed and said "Yes, no one ever asks, they just walk away."

Another time at Comic-con, I saw him outside a hotel waiting for his limo and a fan asked if they could get his photo. He said "Sorry but if I do that I have to do that for everyone. Then I'll be late because of you, making everyone upset. You don't want to be that guy do you?" All with a smile and fake nice about it, but putting the guy in an awkward place.

Now I seek him out at Comic-con, just to see what he'll do next.
 
Waited outside a They Might Be Giants concert for 2 hours or so with some other people and they never came out. Can't fault them for it, but still, sucked to not get to meet them.

John Flansburgh came out after a show me and my girlfriend went to one time. *Totally* chill guy. Signed our setlist, and was calming people down who were waiting. "Don't worry, guys. I'll sign all your stuff. I'm not leaving." I have never seen John Linnell do this after a show, and I've heard he actually has some social phobias regarding this.

I also got a setlist after a New Pornographers show, and got *every member* of the band to sign it, except Dan Bejar. I was looking for him, but people said he had already left. Some fans around me were saying some things about him not being very personable, but I don't know the man.
 
I've met a few celebrities in my 16 years of living in Los Angeles, and haven't actually met any douchey ones.

Off the top of my head:

Thomas Ian Nicholas (from American Pie) - I used to go to Bible study with him. Super cool dude, but I lost his number and didn't get to hang out with him much.

Jessica Simpson and Ashley Simpson - Also used to go to Bible study with her every week. Incredibly sweet, and gorgeous in person. Gives the best hugs. Ashley was very quiet, and always treated like the red headed step child by her mom and dad. I felt bad for her. This was before Jessica's album released and she blew up, but her mom acted like a diva and knew that her daughter would be big, and Ashley was just treated like she didn't exist. She was very sweet at the time, though (and only 14 or so, so it was especially mean to me; Jessica was 19 at the time, and I was 20).

Annette O'Toole and Michael McKean. Both were incredibly friendly, and regulars at the movie theater I worked at at the Westside Pavilion.

Viggo Mortensen and his son - Very quiet, nice guy. Got his autograph for my mom, since she adores him.

Carrie Anne Moss - Can't gauge her too much, honestly. She came into Barnes and Noble to buy some books for a charity, and after seeing it was her name on the credit card, we chatted briefly about her film, Chocolat, and left. Very pretty in person, but seemed pleasant enough.

Gillian Anderson - Very short, and pretty. Was a regular customer at our theater. She also seemed very pleasant and friendly.

Gary Busey - Just as insane as you'd expect, but friendly enough. He used to attend a monthly "Hollywood Bible Study" I used to go to with my cousin.

Diane Cannon - Same bible study, was friendly, and pimping her book most of the time.

I'm sure there are more, but I can't really remember them all.

EDIT: Oh yeah, one more, I met Joe Manganiello at work a few months back. He's tall as fuck (I'm short so he towered over me). My co-workers wasn't sure who he was, so I walked up to him and chatted a bit with him about True Blood, and he was surprised that I remembered him as Flash Thompson from Spider-Man. Friendly guy, but his size is intimidating as fuck. Lol.
 
John Flansburgh came out after a show me and my girlfriend went to one time. *Totally* chill guy. Signed our setlist, and was calming people down who were waiting. "Don't worry, guys. I'll sign all your stuff. I'm not leaving." I have never seen John Linnell do this after a show, and I've heard he actually has some social phobias regarding this.

I had heard Linnell isn't great with that sort of thing, and it was in Northern Ireland, so they didn't know the area too well.

Nice to hear they're as nice as I expected in person though :)
 
Some of you base their opinion about celebs on a single encounter you've had or interview you've read.

I don't think that's fair. Everybody has their bad days and especially during interview marathons it's not easy to remain relaxed and charming the whole time. Sure, they are professionals but they are also only humans.

Just look at the partially hugely contradicting reports in this thread.
 
He's often referred to as "The nicest guy in Hollywood" so I don't think he really belongs in this thread :

I thought that was Tom Hanks?

Some of you base their opinion about celebs on a single encounter you've had or interview you've read.

I don't think that's fair. Everybody has their bad days and especially during interview marathons it's not easy to remain relaxed and charming the whole time. Sure, they are professionals but they are also only humans.

Just look at the partially hugely contradicting reports in this thread.

Also this, say what you want but having your life constantly under a microscope can't be easy regardless of how much money you make.
 
Rudest celebrity I've ever met: Don Henley

No way. I've met Don a couple times and he was always super nice. He used to always visit my mom when he was playing shows in the area and give her tickets. Also, I think he hung out with her and another football secretary when UVA was playing a bowl game in Hawaii.

I don't think Don Henley boned my mom, though.

Every celebrity I've met or crossed paths with has been pretty cool.

Dave Matthews- Used to come to Bodo's in Charlottesville when I worked there. No one really bothered him, but he was friendly. I think he only got some tabouli, though. Weirdo.

Pauley Perrette- Stayed about a week at a hotel I was working at. She was doing a documentary about a JFK conspiracy theorist. She was really nice, and looks totally different without all the makeup and goth stuff. Early into her stay, she heard a loud argument in the room next to her. It was a family visiting their dying mother in the hospital nearby, and this woman's brother-in-law was yelling at her. Pauley paid for this woman to have her own separate room for the next couple night. She didn't want me to tell them anything about her, just that she wanted to help. She gave me her cell number so I could text her if anything sketchy happened, and I actually had to do so when they tried to bribe me to tell me more about her. Dude slipped me a $20. I ended up talking to Pauley quite a bit while she was there. I was doing video work at the time, so we talked about that stuff.

I never mentioned knowing that she was on NCIS while she was there. Just treated her like a normal guest. On her last night, however, I typed up a short letter thanking her for taking care of the woman in the room next to her. At the end of the letter, I wrote "P.S. I loved you on The Drew Carey Show." When I got to work the next night, she had left a signed headshot thanking me for being so cool. I think she was drunk, because her smiley faces were all fucked up.

Harold Ramis- I got to briefly talk to him after a Q&A at a showing of Groundhog Day. He was really nice, and actually made an effort to have a conversation despite my shyness. Might be because I told him how much I liked The Ice Harvest.


Oh, and that dude who used to scare out-of-control teens on Maury stayed at our hotel once. He was shooting a reality show here. He was really friendly, but acted way more Hollywood than his job called for.
 
No way. I've met Don a couple times and he was always super nice. He used to always visit my mom when he was playing shows in the area and give her tickets. Also, I think he hung out with her and another football secretary when UVA was playing a bowl game in Hawaii.

I don't think Don Henley boned my mom, though.

He definitely boned your mom.
 
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