Celebrity encounters, anyone surprise you? Disappoint you?

[Anonymous]

I took ski lessons with Larry Mullen Jr. and he couldn't remember his alias. It was fairly comical and it didn't matter since I seemed to be the only one who knew who he was and I wasn't letting on.

I met Henry Rollins in an airport 20+ years ago. I was in high school and my sister and I just happened to notice him making a call on a payphone and carrying an ancient Adidas bag. It was when his song "Liar" was really popular and MTV played music and the video constantly. Of course my sister and I were more Black Flag fans than Rollins Band fans and we waited patiently, and out of the way, for him to hang up. He was really kind and genuine. Just like you'd imagine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised nobody mentioned Bill Clinton! Tall, warm, and wow, he made you feel like I was the most interesting person in the world for the few minutes we chatted about the non-profit I was representing. Everybody always says how charming he is and it's true.

+ 1 had the same experience meeting him

I met him too - same exact experience.

Same! I'm not sure I've experienced anything else like it.

Looking back, I think it was less about his charm, personal charisma or even the office of President. I think it was more about the power of being present. Meaning, it felt like he was truly THERE in the moment, focusing on what what right in front of him (me), and nothing else.

I've thought about it often, and tried to take it as a lesson myself. Clearly, I was the most IMPORTANT thing in his life at that moment. Far from it!! But it's possible I was the ONLY thing for that brief time. Like he makes a choice to BE in the moment he's in, both physically and mentally, with every person he meets. No mental wandering, no distractions. Just presence.

Who knows, but it's a wonderful thing to experience, so I try to practice it when I can. We all have a ton going on in our lives (and in our heads!!), but giving someone your complete attention is very powerful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised nobody mentioned Bill Clinton! Tall, warm, and wow, he made you feel like I was the most interesting person in the world for the few minutes we chatted about the non-profit I was representing. Everybody always says how charming he is and it's true.

My grandparents met him several times when he was Governor of Arkansas and said the same thing about him--that he made them feel like they were important and interesting and like he could talk to them all day. I met him once when I was 16 and he was running for a second term. I chatted with him for roughly five seconds but he looked me right in the eye and was really listening. Say what you want about him, the man is a skilled politician.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anthony Keidis and Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers. They are incredibly stupid and short.

Trent Reznor. He was very quiet, short and incredibly hot.

Was in an antique store with Joan Rivers. She was very nice.

Trent dated My husband's friend and he refused to visit her while she was in the hospital.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anthony Keidis and Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers. They are incredibly stupid and short.

Trent Reznor. He was very quiet, short and incredibly hot.

Was in an antique store with Joan Rivers. She was very nice.

Back in the day he, when he'd hang out in the Flats in Cleveland, his pick up line was pretty blunt. "Wanna go home and fuck?" He was turned down more often than a bed in a cheap motel that rents by the quarter hour.

Then he made it big and it worked every single time.

Was this at the Nine of Clubs and do I know you?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I took ski lessons with Larry Mullen Jr. and he couldn't remember his alias. It was fairly comical and it didn't matter since I seemed to be the only one who knew who he was and I wasn't letting on.

I met Henry Rollins in an airport 20+ years ago. I was in high school and my sister and I just happened to notice him making a call on a payphone and carrying an ancient Adidas bag. It was when his song "Liar" was really popular and MTV played music and the video constantly. Of course my sister and I were more Black Flag fans than Rollins Band fans and we waited patiently, and out of the way, for him to hang up. He was really kind and genuine. Just like you'd imagine.

Funny thing - just the other day DD and I were watching Batman Beyond, and I had to do a double take when I heard one of the characters speak. Turns out it was Rollins, and he's done a fair amount of voice acting in other projects. The character he did for Batman was vintage old school Rollins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please say it ain't so...Bill Nye is a jerk?? Please tell me more!

Yeah, he's really unpleasant and condescending to others. I was working a science convention where he rudely turned down requests for photos and autographs. I get that it must get tiring to be approached all the time as a celebrity, so I might have been willing to give that to him. The manner in which he refused was totally assholic though. He absolute conceit and disdain for his fans was palpable. Then I watched him berate and humiliate someone on his staff. That was awful and inexcusable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please say it ain't so...Bill Nye is a jerk?? Please tell me more!

Yeah, he's really unpleasant and condescending to others. I was working a science convention where he rudely turned down requests for photos and autographs. I get that it must get tiring to be approached all the time as a celebrity, so I might have been willing to give that to him. The manner in which he refused was totally assholic though. He absolute conceit and disdain for his fans was palpable. Then I watched him berate and humiliate someone on his staff. That was awful and inexcusable.

Exact same experience here. He was a speaker at our conference and total asshole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please say it ain't so...Bill Nye is a jerk?? Please tell me more!

Yeah, he's really unpleasant and condescending to others. I was working a science convention where he rudely turned down requests for photos and autographs. I get that it must get tiring to be approached all the time as a celebrity, so I might have been willing to give that to him. The manner in which he refused was totally assholic though. He absolute conceit and disdain for his fans was palpable. Then I watched him berate and humiliate someone on his staff. That was awful and inexcusable.

Exact same experience here. He was a speaker at our conference and total asshole.

so it's Bill Nye, the asshole guy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took ski lessons with Larry Mullen Jr. and he couldn't remember his alias. It was fairly comical and it didn't matter since I seemed to be the only one who knew who he was and I wasn't letting on.

I met Henry Rollins in an airport 20+ years ago. I was in high school and my sister and I just happened to notice him making a call on a payphone and carrying an ancient Adidas bag. It was when his song "Liar" was really popular and MTV played music and the video constantly. Of course my sister and I were more Black Flag fans than Rollins Band fans and we waited patiently, and out of the way, for him to hang up. He was really kind and genuine. Just like you'd imagine.

Funny thing - just the other day DD and I were watching Batman Beyond, and I had to do a double take when I heard one of the characters speak. Turns out it was Rollins, and he's done a fair amount of voice acting in other projects. The character he did for Batman was vintage old school Rollins.

I once met someone who worked with him at Hanna Barbara

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anthony Keidis and Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers. They are incredibly stupid and short.

Trent Reznor. He was very quiet, short and incredibly hot.

Was in an antique store with Joan Rivers. She was very nice.

Back in the day he, when he'd hang out in the Flats in Cleveland, his pick up line was pretty blunt. "Wanna go home and fuck?" He was turned down more often than a bed in a cheap motel that rents by the quarter hour.

Then he made it big and it worked every single time.

Was this at the Nine of Clubs and do I know you?!

No, but you may know my sister.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please say it ain't so...Bill Nye is a jerk?? Please tell me more!

Yeah, he's really unpleasant and condescending to others. I was working a science convention where he rudely turned down requests for photos and autographs. I get that it must get tiring to be approached all the time as a celebrity, so I might have been willing to give that to him. The manner in which he refused was totally assholic though. He absolute conceit and disdain for his fans was palpable. Then I watched him berate and humiliate someone on his staff. That was awful and inexcusable.

Exact same experience here. He was a speaker at our conference and total asshole.

This is dissappointing but bot surprising. He seems pretty arrogant in interviews.

However if Neil Degrasse Tyson is really an assholr I will cry. He's like a lovable nerdy teddy bear.

[Anonymous]

I met Brad Pitt in the 90s. He was pretty nice and a bit lacking in self confidence. I didn't find him that attractive.

I also met Wynton Marsallis when I snuck backstage at one of his concerts. He was so incredibly nice, and super welcoming even though it was clear that college student me was not supposed to be there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised nobody mentioned Bill Clinton! Tall, warm, and wow, he made you feel like I was the most interesting person in the world for the few minutes we chatted about the non-profit I was representing. Everybody always says how charming he is and it's true.

+ 1 had the same experience meeting him

I thought he seemed sweaty and red-faced. And not that tall. Pp's must be short.

Um, he's listed as 6'2".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heights_of_presidents_and_presidential_candidates_of_the_United_States

[Anonymous]

Rick "Doc" Walker of the Redskins. Long past his playing days in the late 90s, I ended up walking next to him for a significant part of a charity walk. Actually, I was walking with a group of very fit and attractive coworkers (fitness industry) and he jogged up to us and had us laughing! Very nice man.

My DH thought it was very funny that Doc sought out the youngest and prettiest group of women at the event and then hung out with us! Doc was the guest speaker after the walk ended and he gave us shout outs and called his his lovely new lady friends!