Rude "famous people"

[acornfed]

We have a famous designer at my kid's school, born to a very wealthy family. Her kids are nice
She can be very unfriendly but inconsistently so - will often blank people one day and be friendly the next. Acts quite haughtily with the teachers. At times very abrupt.
She doesn't have to be friends with us civilians - that I fully understand. But what's with the rude behaviour? What's going on there? The school mums are a pretty innocuous bunch and I'd like to think we are friendly and welcoming.

@ancientgran

Entirely corrupt though, as his prison sentence for perjury and attempting to coerce his children into lying in court would suggest Maybe prison reformed him?

I think he had some kind of big religious conversion whilst in prison.

@Claudethecat That would make sense then.

He is now a deacon!

www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jun/03/jonathan-aitken-to-be-ordained-as-a-deacon

@CaptainCorelli Alan Rickman wasn’t rude to me! I would describe him as extremely well mannered, in fact. But he was very serious and didn’t show much of a sense of humour. I found him a very impressive, controlled sort of chap.

@Nishkin

Re Clare Balding, she said afterwards that she thought his teeth had been damaged during a fall rather that just misshapen ( would still not make it right but not quite as bad) he did actually get his teeth fixed and said afterwards that he wasn’t offended

Isn't it often the case, especially on MN, that people will take offence on someone else's behalf when in reality the person themself is not offended at all? We seem to have lost the ability to make jokey remarks, it's lucky that most of what's said between my friends and family goes unpublished!

I remember seeing an interview with Victoria Wood (I think it was the South Bank Show with Melvyn Bragg) and she was asked what the most common misconception is about her and she said “that I’m nice because I’m really not”. She was totally serious and made no apologies which I suppose is fair enough.
Back in the 80’s my mum and I were in M&S food hall in London and Gloria Hunniford was being served on the till next to us. Loads of make up,huge hair and bright clothes (yes it was the 80’s but she clearly wanted to be seen). She was making a bit of a scene as she was demanding a packer. They barely existed back then but she wasn’t going to shut up until someone bagged her shopping.
I’m now off to propose to Anton du Beke 👍🏻

Gary Oldman was shockingly, awfully rude. Had to deal with something over the phone for him and he was shouting and ranting at people in the background as well. Bad day maybe.

Nicest celeb ever was Billy Connolly. Came and chatted with people after his show. So charming and funny and generally interested in people. Even lovelier was when I happened to bump into him years later at a book signing he remembered me.

Paul Carrack was also an absolute sweetheart.

Not so nice was the welsh footballer who hit on me and a friend years ago in a bar and then when we weren't interested said some horrible stuff and then said we were missing out as he was famous. He was properly insulted when I said I didn't know who he was, never liked football.

@amillionmenonmars

Cheryl Core was very unpleasant to work with according to someone I know who was one of the dancers working with her a few years back.

Norman Wisdom was lovely. Very, very funny off stage.

I have also heard only good things about Victoria Beckham who has worked for her.

Victoria Beckham was fabulous on Parkinson’s years ago. She’s a very natural comedian with a great sense of humor.

Rishi Sunak?

@BarbedButterfly

Gary Oldman was shockingly, awfully rude. Had to deal with something over the phone for him and he was shouting and ranting at people in the background as well. Bad day maybe.

Nicest celeb ever was Billy Connolly. Came and chatted with people after his show. So charming and funny and generally interested in people. Even lovelier was when I happened to bump into him years later at a book signing he remembered me.

Paul Carrack was also an absolute sweetheart.

Not so nice was the welsh footballer who hit on me and a friend years ago in a bar and then when we weren't interested said some horrible stuff and then said we were missing out as he was famous. He was properly insulted when I said I didn't know who he was, never liked football.

Was that someone with a name that sounds similar to Gyan Riggs by any chance?

Oh, also, Jo Whiley was appallingly rude to one of my receptionists when they were filming live lounge in one of our buildings. Martin Freeman was also a nightmare, whereas Benedict C chatted to all the staff while they were setting stuff up. He just hung around the back of reception with us as we had the only kettle and the catering team were late

@brokenbiscuitsx It was indeed

Jenny Eclair tried to get me fired once! I was a 19yr old Office Junior working for a small TV production company, she called one day asking to speak to someone who was in a meeting so I had to take a message. I asked her to confirm and spell her surname, I'd never heard of her before (I didn't watch much TV back then) and wanted to be sure I was giving all the right information to the recipient. She screamed down the phone at me "IT'S ECLAIR! ECLAIR - LIKE THE CAKE - ECLAIR" like some kind of lunatic and then slammed the phone down on me. I later got called in to speak to the manager who had also by that point been subjected to angry cake lady's manic rantings, she had been complaining about how disgustingly rude and unprofessional I was. I was absolutely bewildered, all I could do was to say in a very confused tone "I only asked her to confirm her name". The manager said she had made excuses for me, told mad cake woman that I was only young and didn't know any better!

Yes. I mentioned meeting her in a similar thread the other day. I served her in my min wage job, she asked for generous scoop of ice cream then when her friends showed up shamed me in front of them for being too generous and had to make it again the normal size I would have done if she hadn’t asked. So as far as I can tell her on screen persona is entirely fake. Disappointing.

I had a similar experience at a different branch where a woman put two individual pick ‘n mix sweets on the scales and then complained about the price. I was a bit bolshi in response and she complained to my manager (a lovely bloke) who said do you know who that was ?! Turns out it was a tv actress from a famous comedy show where the character she played was lovely. Was a complete contrast. Won’t say who as don’t want to speak ill of the dead.

For context, in retail it is only ever well off people who will complain about prices.

@SophieRaworthsDress

You'll be pleased to hear that Sophie Raworth once smiled at me in a cafe, all is well.

I met Victoria Wood some years ago. Yep - she was rude. Arse-y and snide.

Being shy isn't much of an excuse - the rest of us manage to remain polite, even if we don't feel confident.

It's interesting, though, that her humour was gentle rather than 'spiky' - which is why everyone was shocked to find she was the opposite as a person.

I have seen the Beckhans mobbed by people and shoving cameras in their faces to take selfies.

They were gracious but honestly why ask for an autograph when they are busy shopping or having dinner out. Just leave them alone.

My brother met Steve Martin in the Serpentine gallery in Hyde Park one weekday lunchtime. It was pretty empty and Steve Martin approached him to ask his opinion on some of the pictures. Apparently, he was very friendly and intelligent.

Ones that I’ve met:
Princess Anne - very nice and approachable.
Jonathon Ross - just as he is on television; friendly and down to earth.
Rob Brydon - bit up himself.
Eddie Redmayne (the only celebrity I have ever asked for a picture) - polite and very obliging. He also met my husband separately in the queue at the bar and was joking with him about their similar hats.

I met James Corden at a charity event before he went to America and he was really up himself. Acted bored and like he was too good to be there, was low-key insulting people in the crowd.

Honestly I think anyone who sees themselves as "bigger than the little people" is pathetic and it's indicative of a weak character.

I met Gary Oldman a very very long time ago before he was particularly famous. He came across extremely polite, modest about his performance (Sid and Nancy) and self-effacing.

I think sometimes you only ever get a snapshot of people's behaviour / personality and obviously everyone can have a bad day or have lots going on in their life. I'm not always the nicest person to my nearest and dearest, I get frustrated at work and sometimes I can't be bothered being sociable (but I'm not famous so don't have to be 'on' all the time).

I was in at an very posh tea event with a friend and both Tim Henman and Michael McIntyre were there-

Tim was absolutely charming and lovely to chat with.

Michael McIntyre was exhaustingly self important and really not very nice at all

[quote lollipoprainbow]@MrsFezziwig I think Victoria wood was notoriously shy though probably didn't mean to be rude. [/quote]
@lollipoprainbow
I believe it was backstage after a performance, so an arranged thing. So if you are notoriously shy, then it would be better not to agree to see people. My friend was with a young relative who was a massive VW fan - she was so disappointed.

So pleased about all the Bill Nighy love!

Pps have mentioned Billy Connolly as a lovely, friendly man, I can confirm that too!
We were in a beer garden in St Ives 3 or 4 years ago and he was stood outside with a group of people/fans chatting away, he was very much the life and soul and people kept going over to him to say hello, he was making people laugh and just seemed so happy to be there.