Have you met a celebrity villain?

[pawsies]

Someone that is controversial in the media or comes across unpleasant on TV or whatever?

What were they like in real life?

AIBU to think there might be some surprises and some of them will be a persona on TV or whatever?

A friends older sister worked in Harrods in the 90’s
At times the younger more attractive girls would invited to go away for long weekends with the owner and his son. When she was invited she refused but was advised by some colleagues that there were no expectations and it was fun. Apparently they were just expected to lie around in bikinis on a yacht looking pretty and that was it. She said that the gentleman concerned largely ignored them but was polite if he did speak to them. The son was a bit “handsy” but was too scared of his father to really be a problem. The son did ask her to go on a ski trip once but she refused as the word amongst the staff was it was better not to go on trips alone with him as the expectations were different
Pure heresy of course

Heresay I mean

Matt Lucas creeps me out. No evidence though so I know it's not fair. Just replying to the quirky tv presented post.

This is getting nasty now.

You can explain why people might behave like arseholes but there is never an excuse for being an arsehole.

Have you never been an arsehole at some point, though? Everybody on here - including me - almost certainly has. The difference with us non-celebs is that it doesn't get reported online and gossiped about ad nauseam. Having a bad day, making bad choices as to how to respond to a situation, just received upsetting news, getting irrationally impatient/frustrated etc; imagine that if you're also regularly on the telly and constantly approached by strangers.

No, it shouldn't be your default and you should always try to treat others with kindness and respect - especially if you're in the privileged position of being famous and having all the benefits that come with it (not that fans always treat celebrities kindly and respectfully, though). Celebrities are just people like the rest of us.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll
Pretty much everyone I know has behaved like an arsehole at some point in the time I have known them.
Some people more than others.

There are many celebrities named above that may or may not having been ‘having a bad day’ or have a ‘background story’ that explains their reaction.

That is exactly my point.
You can explain why someone is an arsehole but, you don’t have to excuse shitty behaviour if you are on the receiving end of it.

As you say:
No, it shouldn't be your default and you should always try to treat others with kindness and respect - especially if you're in the privileged position of being famous and having all the benefits that come with it (not that fans always treat celebrities kindly and respectfully, though).

For some people it is their ‘default’.

I was in the BA first class lounge and watched Meghan Markle rip the head off a passing air hostess and use it as a dip bowl to eat her taramasalata.

You can explain why someone is an arsehole but, you don’t have to excuse shitty behaviour if you are on the receiving end of it.

But some of what's been references on the thread isn't 'shitty behaviour', it's instances of people who do a particular type of job switching off their public persona, and being blamed for it.

Some comedian up the thread was being blamed for switching off his smiley persona when the cameras stopped filming and being bossy or cold with the crew assuming he wasn't actually being abusive, I think that's unfair. I don't feel the need to charm the birds off the trees when I'm around people who are working with me or for me and busy, especially if they aren't doing their job effectively and it's preventing me doing mine. Someone else (Meghan Markle) at some kind of reception was described as just shaking her head and occasionally saying 'No, thanks' to food, like that was a bad mark against her but again, I don't make friends with the waiters or caterers at work events. I'm polite, but my focus is elsewhere.

I happened to have a drink with Cillian Murphy and some people we both knew once, years ago, in Galway, and the sheer amount of times he was approached in an hour or an hour and a half, even in a small, obscure little pub and a low-key city like Galway, was exhausting -- and he wasn't anywhere near as famous back then, as I think it was before Peaky Blinders.

@draughtycatflap

I was in the BA first class lounge and watched Meghan Markle rip the head off a passing air hostess and use it as a dip bowl to eat her taramasalata.

Is that you Piers?!

I was once told a story about one of the actors in Spooks (it doesn't matter which one!) apparently they (and many other actors) often refer to non-actors as 'civilians' - which kind of gives you an insight into the innate superiority that they may feel they have!

Met the guy who ran the BNP, Nick Griffin as a teen.
My school, for reasons I'm still not quite clear on, invited a group of politicians to a mock debate during an election year. So you had Nick Griffin there, our local Labour councillor, someone from the Greens, a Lib Dem and a Conservative.
They all introduced themselves and when it got to Griffin he explained his parties position and he got booed.
Was he as big of a prick as he appears? Yep, and then some. A mixed race student asked him why his party preached hate, what was his issue with people like him and his dad?
Griffin answered "oh it's just you and your dad who aren't Brits then? Well it's more your mother I've got an issue with, shes let her self down having you with your dad".
Even at 14, we were all shocked.
Our teacher, who was already very clearly miffed that he had been invited and clearly didn't know in advance, ran up on the stage and said, that's enough, you need to leave now. Griffin just shouted abuse at her as he walked away.
She then apologised for what had been said.

I understand at the time the education authority raised an enquiry of why he had been approached to attend. But nothing was done, our Heads attitude was he wanted to give a "well rounded" view of the political climate.
What's worse is guess who the Conservative person was- Farage. Who also was rude as hell and said if you came from a single parent household, it was doubtful you'd achieve much.
My school was fucked up, even by nineties standards. When we had our 20 year reunion it got mentioned and we were all still unsure if it really did happen or we dreamt it.

Loving trawling my way through this, Oileoloe your Prince Phillip one is just lovely- love the mobility scooter comment!

I haven't posted here up til now and although I rarely join in anyway, I've changed my name for obvious reasons 🤣 (at least I think I have!!!)

My partner is a reasonably well known figure in the media and I'm well aware of just how easily fake stories and Chinese whispers can gather pace and momentum. My take would be - unless it's a direct experience being recounted by the person who claims to have met said famous individual, I would be cautious about the veracity. Doubly so if it's being posted on the internet as a second, third or fourth hand account. Some of the gossip that I've seen circulated online about my partner is just nonsense 😁

Re: people being pestered - there are very odd places and events my partner won't go to any more because of that - not trying to say he's MEGA WORLD FAMOUS, more that at specific events within his particular sphere, the numbers of people approaching can be relentless. At other times it might be very very minimal, but at the more intense level it can be challenging to deal with and enjoy yourself at the same time. That said I've never witnessed him being rude to anyone, he might decline a photo (especially as he isn't really comfortable with his whereabouts potentially being broadcast on social media) but he'll generally always say a quick friendly hello.

For us it's generally at a level where it's not massively intrusive, but for those who are constantly recognised everywhere they go, I get it must be draining to feel constantly on duty. I agree there's no excuse for rudeness though.

@NameChangedForToday7 I completely agree. I was having a quiet drink outside a pub with a famous Brit Pop singer a few years ago. The number of people who came over asking for his autograph was ridiculous (this was before mobile phones had cameras).

This woman even came down from an office over the road and asked for autographs for EVERY MEMBER OF HER OFFICE. It was insane.

[quote HermioneMakepeace]@NameChangedForToday7 I completely agree. I was having a quiet drink outside a pub with a famous Brit Pop singer a few years ago. The number of people who came over asking for his autograph was ridiculous (this was before mobile phones had cameras).

This woman even came down from an office over the road and asked for autographs for EVERY MEMBER OF HER OFFICE. It was insane.[/quote]
Yes the advent of phones with cameras has increased the level of intrusion. Personally I've no issue with anyone approaching us* and being polite, I'm always dead smiley and friendly.

I do get annoyed with the sneaky photos though. Last year a group of blokes sitting near us in a restaurant pretended to take a selfie (of themselves I mean!) but I could see they were angling the camera at us* instead. Now that does wind me up.

*Tbh when I say "us", I mean "him." 🤣🤣🤣

@draughtycatflap

I was in the BA first class lounge and watched Meghan Markle rip the head off a passing air hostess and use it as a dip bowl to eat her taramasalata.

This is simply not true! Meghan Markle doesn't like taramasalta. It was babaganosh.

I met Rupert Murdoch in a professional capacity. He was charming, polite and very charismatic.

Greg Wallace is as much of a twat as you would think

@Hoppinggreen

Greg Wallace is as much of a twat as you would think

That does not surprise me in the slightest.

I think the surprise there would be if somebody said he wasn't a twat!

This wasn't his finest moment.

I really sympathise with how intrusive it can be.

I remember an actor talking about it on tv ages ago. He was starring in a very popular series at the time and was playing the attractive bad boy character.

He said he had been at the school fête with his family when a woman asked for his autograph. When he asked her what she wanted signed (thinking it would be the fete programme or something) she ripped her blouse open so he could write on her chest! Right in front of his wife and young children!

@BIWI

As is often said here 'anecdotes do not equal data'

Which can also be applied to.MM's anecdotes...

Unsurprised to read many negative anecdotes about Holly Willoughby. My friend works with/for Fearne Cotton who she cannot praise enough but when she works on Celebrity Juice she doesn’t have one nice word to say about HW. Rude, obnoxious and arrogant- nothing like her TV persona.

I once got chatting to a lady in the sauna at my local gym. Turns out she was GW’s ex wife and I got an earful about his vile behaviour and treated of her. Some of the things she said were quite shocking and I felt really sorry for her.

My DH has met John Torode and said he came across as likeable and friendly.

@annonnymous

My grandmother once shared a lift with Daphne du Maurier and started to say how much she enjoyed her books, but the author snapped at her and was really nasty.

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