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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Have you met a celebrity villain?

865 replies

pawsies · 13/03/2021 13:29

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?

OP posts:
LadyEloise · 18/03/2021 15:25

GW has had 4 wives pinkmoomin Shock

sundowners · 18/03/2021 15:39

Oh please Bettercallsaul1 there are SO many stories from countless people about Meghan as well as an official investigation into workplace bullying!! That hasn't come from nowhere. I completely believe the accounts on here.

BIWI · 18/03/2021 15:50

Yes. 'Stories'.

And an 'official investigation' doesn't mean it's true either!

CatsBooksAndCoffee · 18/03/2021 15:51
  • MM's anecdotes
BIWI · 18/03/2021 15:56

@CatsBooksAndCoffee

Of course. Both are true.

As also often said - there are three sides to every story - his, hers and the truth.

MM321 · 18/03/2021 16:09

Boris J about 14 years ago. I waitressed a private dinner that he attended with other members of the House of Lords and he was AWFUL. None of us waitresses had a clue who any of them were at the time but spend the whole night all trying to decide who had been spoken to worst by Boris 🙈 the others were all either really friendly or completely ignored you but BJ was very vocal!
Hopefully he’s a changed man or I really feel for the staff at Number 10 😳

ancientgran · 18/03/2021 16:13

@BIWI

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!
Better than when I worked in police admin. Police officers generally referred to us as bloody civvies. Having said that I married one but I never heard him say it.
CounsellorTroi · 18/03/2021 16:17

@eatsleepread

I've a friend whose job is booking high-end comedy acts. I asked him who is the nicest - and most horrid - comedian. Best - Johnny Vegas Worst - Peter Kay
I can believe that about Johnny Vegas. There really is something very sweet, sincere and humble about him.
SimplyMarvellousDarrrrrrling · 18/03/2021 16:28

Who the bloody hell is GW with his 4 wives?

Ovine · 18/03/2021 16:33

@SimplyMarvellousDarrrrrrling

Who the bloody hell is GW with his 4 wives?
I was assuming Greg Wallace, as John Torode was mentioned in the same post?
smallandimperfectlyformed · 18/03/2021 16:34

@SimplyMarvellousDarrrrrrling

Who the bloody hell is GW with his 4 wives?
I think that is Gregg Wallace. I like him on Eat Well for Less but I have seen other people mentioning him on threads like this before.
Coldilox · 18/03/2021 16:35

Jerry Springer. Utterly lovely.

David Cameron. As soon as he was behind the scenes with no cameras etc he was completely cold.

Gordon Brown. Also behind the scenes. He was having a pretty bad day to say the least but he was perfectly polite.

Someone who is well known in MMA, no idea what his name was. Violent misogynistic arsehole.

SimplyMarvellousDarrrrrrling · 18/03/2021 16:38

Thank you @Ovine and @smallandimperfectlyformed, I just could get it 👍

SchadenfreudePersonified · 18/03/2021 17:31

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

Someone once mentioned to me that John Torode looked like a cartoon dog (Droopy) and now that is all I can think of him.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Droopy

SchadenfreudePersonified · 18/03/2021 17:32

@LadyEloise

GW has had 4 wives pinkmoomin Shock
Indeed.

His hobby seems to be marrying girls he has met on twitter.

Hoppinggreen · 18/03/2021 17:35

I met John Torode (not at the same time as GW) and he very nice and polite to my Mum who was telling him how he was cooking all wrong

DoverSoul · 18/03/2021 17:40

I wonder if Gregg shouts as loud in his home as he does in mine before I turn over.

TonTonMacoute · 18/03/2021 18:07

GW has had 4 wives pinkmoomin

When someone introduces you to his fourth wife, you don't wonder what was wrong with the first three!

Teacupsandtoast · 18/03/2021 18:10

I met John Leslie via work - he was an absolute letch so I don't doubt for a second the sexual assault claims against him are true. Same for Alex Salmond - he's a deeply unpleasant man

Cowbells · 18/03/2021 18:23

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll

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.

I agree. An old friend of mine became very very famous for a while. It was hell. So boring. We couldn't go for a coffee without her spending two hours signing autographs and taking selfies. Every single day. She was incredibly gracious about it but it made me realise I'd hate to be famous, I'd snap after two days and become one of the people bitched about on here, because sometimes, you just want a coffee with your mate or a quiet glass of wine outside the house. But no chance. Ever.
Hoppinggreen · 18/03/2021 19:36

@DoverSoul

I wonder if Gregg shouts as loud in his home as he does in mine before I turn over.
He shouted at me
lazylump72 · 18/03/2021 20:01

I met Andy McNab ..lovely guy.If the current Mrs McNab ever fancies a change will gladly swap her!

PantherPantherus · 18/03/2021 20:36

As this thread seems to have morphed into lovely people as well as villains, I will give you some who fall into both camps -

Villains

Craig Charles - undue attention seeking in the public in the West End.

Lovely

Prince Charles - met him when I was 11 years old, 22 and again at 53. Talked to him on each occasion which were private and coincidental. Very bright and engaging and he has the memory of an elephant.

Barry McGuigan - he is just 'there' in the room with you, feet firmly on the floor and engages with people and cares for their story.

Earl Charles Spencer - Princess Diana's brother. Hard working, not at all snobby, recognises he has privilege and responsibility and pays it all back.

Imnotdoingthis · 18/03/2021 20:54

Holly W 100% as said above, very very pretty in the flesh but almost odd behaviour. Supremely confident and almost taking the piss.. high school b type. So very lovely on tv, it’s bizarre!

Iamthewombat · 18/03/2021 21:42

Earl Charles Spencer - Princess Diana's brother. Hard working, not at all snobby, recognises he has privilege and responsibility and pays it all back.

And you know all this from the many weeks you have spent in his company?

What’s he paying back, by the way, and to whom? The descendants of the generations of faithful retainers working for a pittance for the Spencer family over 400 years?