Hospitality Industry Workers Are Revealing What It’s Like To Work With Celebrities (30 Stories)
People who have worked in the hospitality industry have created somewhat of a challenge on TikTok—those who have had the (dis)pleasure of serving celebrities are describing how the famous folks behave when the cameras are off.
The alleged stories feature everyone from Naomi Campbell to Keanu Reeves, and I think we can be pretty thankful for them. If it wasn't for these confessions, we would probably never know about our beloved A-listers' tipping habits or weird orders. So sit back, continue scrolling, and prepare to see your favorite idols in a new light. Enjoy.
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Keanu Reeves - Described By A Waitress
He came in for a lunch with a bunch of industry stiffs. Orders a dozen oysters for himself like it's a casual thing to do, He was so polite, so humble, paid for the whole bill. Tipped super well.
Jamie Lee Curtis - Described By An Apple Store Employee
Showed up 30 minutes early, waited outside for us to open. She's amazing.
Julianne Moore - Described By A Server
Beautiful, classy and sweet. One of the few celebrities to look you in the eye and say "Thank you".
She just had that kind of look to her. So I'm glad to read this.
These stories focus on much more than just tips, and I agree: some actions speak louder than words bills. But as a former waiter, I know that your tolerance tank gets way bigger if you're getting paid for your struggles.
If we were to look at Hollywood's generous tippers, thankfully, we'd see quite a long list. Jimmy Fallon, for example, kicked off 2020 at Kissaki Sushi in Water Mill, New York, with his wife Nancy Juvonen, and left a generous $400 tip for their waiter, a representative for the restaurant confirmed with PEOPLE. Fallon also agreed to take photos with fans who were eating nearby.
Hillary Clinton - Described By A Server
It was post-election Hillary. She had been through it. So I was thinking maybe she'd want red wine, something relaxing...Hillary Clinton was drinking tequila sodas
Drew Barrymore - Described By A Waitress
Gigi & Bella Hadid - Described By A Hostess
These two are so nice. I can not tell you enough things about them. They're super polite and friendly with staff which is unfortunately rare for celebrities.
The best part is that such acts are contagious. On November 7th, Blue Bloods star Donnie Wahlberg dined at a Marshland restaurant location in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and left his server, Denise Andrews, a $2,020 tip on a $35.27 bill.
Later that month, his co-star Tom Selleck left a handwritten note and a $2,020 tip on a $204.68 bill for the servers at Elio's restaurant in New York City. In his letter, Selleck gave a special nod to his costar Donnie Wahlberg, who inspired him to share his good fortunes and good wishes with the staff. "For Elios, I am honoring my friend Donnie Wahlberg's 'Tip Challenge' [see next slide] with my sincere hope for a better 2020. Thank you all," the letter said.
Of course, nobody expects celebrities to pay crazy amounts of money every time they drink a latte, but it's certainly nice to see them helping hospitality industry workers.
Beyonce - Described By A Hostess
We didn't speak too much. Her and Jay-Z came in , I walked them to the table. But when she left she made sure to look at me with a big smile, and say "Thank you". She was beautiful.
Zach Galifianakis - Described By An Apple Store Employee
This guy came in with a giant sun hat on, glasses and fanny pack. I asked "Do you need help with anything". He lowered his glasses and whispered "No". But he was funny.
So the characters he plays is a bit of reflection of his true self lol. Certainly makes life interesting if that's the case.
Dakota Fanning - Described By A Server
Seems like a really normal person. Met a girlfriend there, split a bottle of white wine. Solid tipper, can't complain.
Abby Lee Miller - Described By An Apple Store Employee
Her character from "Dance Moms" is not a character. She is exactly who you think she is. She was screaming at me.
Nicki Minaj - Described By An Airport Employee
Wouldn't get off the aircraft until everyone else got off, which she can't do because the flight attendants need to get off...I was a fan before I met her. After...yeah, no.
Was it a diva thing or a kindness thing as in "no, you guys go first".
Amanda Seyfried
Looks like a beautiful little fairy in person. Came in on a super busy night with her husband but was really sweet and and understanding.
Amanda Seyfried and Zooey Deschanel are apparently the same person; quirky girl-next-door who borders the hipsters and Hollywood A-List.
Kylie Jenner - Described By A Hostess
She was fine, but she tipped $20 on a $500 dinner bill, Do with that information what you will.
Chris Evans - Described By An Airport Employee
He didn't really talk to anybody. He was low-key not trying to be seen.
Naomi Campbell - Described By A Flight Attendant
There was many stories of how rude she can be, and was actually banned by the airline I worked at for apparently spitting in a crew members face. She sits on napkins whenever she flies to avoid touching the seat so, plus points for that.
Dakota Johnson - Described By An Airport Employee
Okay, so, Dakota. She forgot her passport, all the way in LA in the middle of traffic hour, So we had to delay the flight, and she still didn't make it back. But I made fun of her the next time she flew out — she laughed and was super polite.
Josh Peck - Described By A Hostess
Him and his wife came in for a lunch reservation one day and he was so friendly. I honestly think he's the nicest celebrity I've ever met. It fulfilled all my childhood dreams.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley - Described By A Flight Attendant
Smells amazing. Looks photoshopped in real life. Didn't eat one thing from a aircraft, didn't drink one thing from a aircraft. She only brought her spring water. She was kind.
Kim Kardashian - Described By A Flight Attendant
We were flying from LA to New York. It was a red-eye, she was seriously so sweet... but she did go to the lavatory with no shoes on.
Glenn Close - Described By A Server
With Glenn Close always came Pip, and Pip was running the show. Pip had full rein to run around the restaurant as much as he wanted. Not the most fun, but the dog was pretty funny, and it was overall okay.
How could you say such a thing. Dogs are better than humans... Fact
Kendall Jenner - Described By A Hostess
This is another one where unfortunately I did not have the best experience with them, She used to come in all the time and was pretty cold toward staff. She also usually has someone else speak for her, and doesn't speak directly to staff.
Wow, having someone to speak for you like that is just rude. If that's true, it's pretty disgusting behaviour. The only time it should be done is if the person can't talk, is deaf, or someone that needs translating, social anxiety etc. Not because your a stuck up celebrity thinking your better than everyone else. I hope that wasn't the case.
Nick Jonas - Described By A Hostess
He came in with his friends one time and he was super normal and chill. Not too much to report on this, but he definitely seems like a nice guy.
Breaking news: Normal person spotted in TMZ. Err.... Not sure what I'm doing here. Bye!
Cameron Dallas - Described By A Hostess
I kind of had a bad experience with him, Him and his friends called after we were closed and insisted on a table, and kind of pulled a 'Do you know who I am?' moment."
I actually don't know him so I would have just shrugged and said "No and I don't care".
Hailey Bieber - Described By A Hostess
This is gonna be controversial. I've met her handful of times and every time she was not nice. I really want to like her.
Bad Bunny - Described By An Airport Employee
He was super polite. Super nice. He actually took out his hand to shake mine and I died.
Katherine Heigl - Described By A Designer
If 2020 was a career, it would be Katherine Heigl. Friends of mine who have worked on set with her and photoshoots, have told me that she's extremely difficult and always mad.
I've heard similar stories like that, including her supposed diva behaviour on greys anatomy.
Orlando Bloom - Described By An Apple Store Employee
This guy came in with a motorcycle helmet, went all the way to the back, went to the staircase, which people aren't allowed to go and I went back there, and I said, 'Do you need help with anything?' and he took off his helmet and it was Orlando Bloom.
Okay so did he have permission to go back there or did he presume he should be exempt due to his fame. This doesn't really explain what he was like.
Jonah Hill - Described By A Waitress
Now this one was confusing, when I met him, he was standing in the doorway, holding the door open, going, 'Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.' It was either he was trying to get attention, or he was just trying to say thank you. Actually couldn't figure it out. Weird interaction.
Jessica Alba - Described By A Designer
I had several friends of mine work on set with her, for a show. 'She's not nice' is a phrase that we can use. She loves to rub hummus on her dress. Playing mind games on you. She does this thing where she talks to you while not talking to you.
What does this mean? "She loves to rub hummus on her dress“? I don't get it.
Jason Derul - Described By A Disney Employee
Jason Derulo does not know lyrics to Christmas songs and he had to write the lyrics on his hand, it was kind of embarrassing.
Sorry, not everyone is into Christmas songs so it should not be something to be embarrassed about.
If he is meant to be performing them, then he should at least learn the words.
Load More Replies...Try an entire group of 12 people trying to carol at a senior's home and all forgetting the carols because none of us practiced before hand. In my own defense, I was like 9, but there were at least 6 adults trying to bumble through about 4 carols at the same time.
This isn't a reflection of his character though, just his musical choices.
Michael Bublé was on. SNL for the Xmas episode a couple of years ago and must have been nervous because just as the camera zoomed in on his face forgot the words to a standard song. You could see the actual moment it dawned him he didn't know the next word. I remember thinking I bet he was embarrassed.
Not everyone is into Christmas music, but before the performance he should’ve taken the time to learn the lyrics at least.
ok, thats fine not every one is into holladay music whatever, but like- any one else think his hand looks weird in this pic? like photoshoped?
fun fact: his name isn't actually jason derulo. it's jason deruloaux or some overy complicated spelling
He puts his own name into all of his songs, maybe he just has memory issues, LOL!
it's actually sad considering great people someone who is just polite and act like an human being
Imagine being a celebrity and now being critiqued by everyone you come in contact with when you're trying to go about your normal life. I'm all for calling out bad behaviour, but this seems unnecessarily intrusive.
Yeah but it doesn't take much effort to be nice and polite. Most think that because they are famous, that gives them the right to be dickweenies to those of us who buy tickets to see their shows, like we are beneath them. They are no better than the rest of us who chose not to go into acting, sports, modeling and anything else that seems to give them a sense of entitlement.
Load More Replies...2006. L.A Autoshow. Worked security and had to "escort" Tom Cruise out of a side door. He grabbed my arm the whole time we were there while he took pictures and signed autographs. The guy smiled the whole time. Clearly knows his celebrity role, even when he just wanted to buy a Bugatti Veyron.
I was an extra in the movie "Nomadland." At the meal break for cast and crew, Frances McDormand sat with us extras like she was no one special, chatted with us, and asked if any of us wanted anything from the buffet when she went to get dessert. Very nice, unassuming, egalitarian person.
This is awfully nice. I am not a big fan of her acting ('wooden'), but she has always seemed like a very decent person, and I'm glad it's true.
Load More Replies...Am I losing my mind or were some of these repeats from a similar article?
People brag that they know intimate details of celebrities...anecdotal and without any evidence. And most of these are totally trivial too: "was easy-going", "behaved sweet", "friendly". What is this obsession with allegedly famous people?
I just realized the title on BP is "Hospitality Industry Workers Are Revealing What It’s Like To Work With Celebrities". The original TikTok videos RATE celebrities on a numerical range, and it is by far less positive as it appears here. Publicly putting metrics onto people for your own pleasure or others' entertainment? (Their fame notwithstanding.) I think that is quite pathetic.
Load More Replies...Not criticizing, but celebrities - just as anyone else - have good days and bad days. Of course some people are known to be this way or that way bla bla. But if one behaves a certain way with an employee it doesn‘t mean they‘re like this all the time.
Absolutely true! I'm normally a very nice person but I've had bad days where I know I was the bitch in someone's story. Happens to the best of us.
Load More Replies...How much do you "know" a person by serving them once or passing them their ticket?
There isn’t proof of any of this. People could just make up whatever they wanted.
Just a thought. Maybe some of these always-angry women are constantly hungry or have an undiagnosed hormonal imbalance? With those hormones it's very hard to keep it in. You get agitated a bit and it spirals out of control. Not saying that's the case with all these women but it might be a possibility
While I unfortunately find these stories entertaining, I feel like they hold celebs to an unrealistic standard. No one is going to be smiling and talkative every single moment of their day. You don't know what's going on in their personal life. I wonder if the people posting about these celebrities would mind someone posting about their own behavior in a store or restaurant.
Wow, this article is truly and deeply sad. Are we really praising these people for doing such mundane things as making eye contact, or having basic manners?
I’m officially old. I’ve never heard of a third of these celebrities. 👴🏼
Guess I'm old and out of touch with current pop-culture. I don't recognize over half these names and wouldn't know any of their faces if I saw them on the street.
I do recognise some of these in the photos, but when it comes to recognising people on the street, you could literally be the Queen of England and I'd just see a cute colourful grandma.
Load More Replies...I hate it when celebs think they’re soooo much more important just because they’re rich and famous. Like one of the Kardashians had a hospital provide special meals for them. Like- no!
it's actually sad considering great people someone who is just polite and act like an human being
Imagine being a celebrity and now being critiqued by everyone you come in contact with when you're trying to go about your normal life. I'm all for calling out bad behaviour, but this seems unnecessarily intrusive.
Yeah but it doesn't take much effort to be nice and polite. Most think that because they are famous, that gives them the right to be dickweenies to those of us who buy tickets to see their shows, like we are beneath them. They are no better than the rest of us who chose not to go into acting, sports, modeling and anything else that seems to give them a sense of entitlement.
Load More Replies...2006. L.A Autoshow. Worked security and had to "escort" Tom Cruise out of a side door. He grabbed my arm the whole time we were there while he took pictures and signed autographs. The guy smiled the whole time. Clearly knows his celebrity role, even when he just wanted to buy a Bugatti Veyron.
I was an extra in the movie "Nomadland." At the meal break for cast and crew, Frances McDormand sat with us extras like she was no one special, chatted with us, and asked if any of us wanted anything from the buffet when she went to get dessert. Very nice, unassuming, egalitarian person.
This is awfully nice. I am not a big fan of her acting ('wooden'), but she has always seemed like a very decent person, and I'm glad it's true.
Load More Replies...Am I losing my mind or were some of these repeats from a similar article?
People brag that they know intimate details of celebrities...anecdotal and without any evidence. And most of these are totally trivial too: "was easy-going", "behaved sweet", "friendly". What is this obsession with allegedly famous people?
I just realized the title on BP is "Hospitality Industry Workers Are Revealing What It’s Like To Work With Celebrities". The original TikTok videos RATE celebrities on a numerical range, and it is by far less positive as it appears here. Publicly putting metrics onto people for your own pleasure or others' entertainment? (Their fame notwithstanding.) I think that is quite pathetic.
Load More Replies...Not criticizing, but celebrities - just as anyone else - have good days and bad days. Of course some people are known to be this way or that way bla bla. But if one behaves a certain way with an employee it doesn‘t mean they‘re like this all the time.
Absolutely true! I'm normally a very nice person but I've had bad days where I know I was the bitch in someone's story. Happens to the best of us.
Load More Replies...How much do you "know" a person by serving them once or passing them their ticket?
There isn’t proof of any of this. People could just make up whatever they wanted.
Just a thought. Maybe some of these always-angry women are constantly hungry or have an undiagnosed hormonal imbalance? With those hormones it's very hard to keep it in. You get agitated a bit and it spirals out of control. Not saying that's the case with all these women but it might be a possibility
While I unfortunately find these stories entertaining, I feel like they hold celebs to an unrealistic standard. No one is going to be smiling and talkative every single moment of their day. You don't know what's going on in their personal life. I wonder if the people posting about these celebrities would mind someone posting about their own behavior in a store or restaurant.
Wow, this article is truly and deeply sad. Are we really praising these people for doing such mundane things as making eye contact, or having basic manners?
I’m officially old. I’ve never heard of a third of these celebrities. 👴🏼
Guess I'm old and out of touch with current pop-culture. I don't recognize over half these names and wouldn't know any of their faces if I saw them on the street.
I do recognise some of these in the photos, but when it comes to recognising people on the street, you could literally be the Queen of England and I'd just see a cute colourful grandma.
Load More Replies...I hate it when celebs think they’re soooo much more important just because they’re rich and famous. Like one of the Kardashians had a hospital provide special meals for them. Like- no!