15 Celebs Who Actually Responded After They Were Publicly Called Out For Being Rude
by Kristen Harris · BuzzFeedPlenty of celebs have been called out for being rude over the years. Some respond with acknowledgments and apologies, while others double down to defend themselves.
Here are 15 times celebs actually responded after they were publicly called out for being rude:
1. In a 2024 TikTok video from a "Yours Cruelly, Elvira Xxperience" event, Elvira said that her "shadiest" celebrity encounter was with Ariana Grande during a performance. She said, "She comes backstage and she asks if I could take pictures with all of her friends and relatives she brought. I take a picture with every single one of them. I sign autographs for every single one of them. Then I say to her, 'Can we take a photo together?' She goes, 'Nah, I don't really do that.'"
In Elvira's Instagram comments, Ariana posted an apology.
2. In a 2024 YouTube video reflecting on her 2012 interview for Les Misérables, journalist Kjersti Flaa criticized Anne Hathaway's response to her idea to have the actors sing their answers back to her.
Here's the full video, with this part starting at the 6: 58 mark:
In a follow-up YouTube video, Kjersti said, "Yesterday, I did receive an email. It was from Anne Hathaway’s publicist, and he forwarded a message to me from Anne Hathaway. I have to say, I was pretty shocked. I had not expected her to reach out to me at all. … She sent me a long email explaining to me what she was going through right then when she did this interview, and she apologized for giving me an awful interview, basically."
She also said that she and Anne agreed to keep the details of the message private and that Anne invited her to do a new interview for her next project.
3. When Emily Blunt appeared on the Jonathan Ross Show in 2012, she casually body-shamed a server while telling a story about eating at Chili's.
Here's the clip, with this part starting at the 1:11 mark:
After the clip resurfaced in 2024, Emily issued a public apology. She told People, "I just need to address this head-on as my jaw was on the floor watching this clip from 12 years ago. I'm appalled that I would say something so insensitive, hurtful, and unrelated to whatever story I was trying to tell on a talk show."
She continued, "I've always considered myself someone who wouldn't dream of upsetting anyone, so whatever possessed me to say anything like this in that moment is unrecognizable to me or anything I stand for. And yet it happened, and I said it, and I'm so sorry for any hurt caused. I was absolutely old enough to know better."
4. In 2020, TikToker Julia Carolan posted a TikTok titled, "Rating celebrities I met while working as a hostess in a fancy Manhattan restaurant." In the viral video, she said, "This is gonna be controversial. I've met [Hailey Bieber] a handful of times and she was not nice. I really want to like her but I give her, like, a 3.5 out of 10. Sorry."
In the comments, Hailey apologized profusely.
5. In 2021, a Twitter user alleged that they'd delivered food to Andrew Garfield, who was "rude asf." The post fueled speculation that the actor was going to appear in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
In the since-deleted Twitter thread, the user said, "It was cool but I asked for his id it's protocol if we deliver liquor we have to scan. He kinda got agitated I brushed it off."
Appearing on the podcast Happy Sad Confused in 2022, Andrew confirmed the driver's story was true. He said, "I think he called me rude, which I definitely wasn't. I did ask to do social distancing, but I obviously upset the man. I didn't mean to, and I apologize for anything that may have been misconstrued as being rude — I don't like upsetting people."
He also said he thought something felt "fishy" because he didn't order alcohol, but he got his friend to show the driver his ID instead.
Andrew added, "It just became this whole thing. I think he got in trouble. I don't know, whatever. But wherever you are, sir, I knew what you were up to! You were sneaky, and you gave me a good challenge that night."
6. In a viral video from early 2023, Bad Bunny smiled at a fan who approached him with her cellphone camera, but then he grabbed her phone and threw it. The clip sparked social media discourse about whether his behavior was rude or justifiable.
In response to backlash, he tweeted [translated from Spanish to English via the LA Times], "The person who comes up to me to greet me, tell me something or just meet me will always receive my attention and respect. Those who come to put a damn phone in my face, I will consider it for what it is, a lack of respect and treat it as such."
7. In a 2022 TikTok video, JoJo Siwa flashed a picture of the the "rudest celebrity" she's ever met — Candace Cameron Bure.
In an Instagram video, Candace said she was "shocked" to see JoJo's TikTok.
She said that she apologized to JoJo, who purpotedly told her, "Yeah, you weren't even mean, and I get it now as an adult — when you're on the red carpet and everything's happening and you're being pulled in different directions. But at that time, I was 11."
Candace said, "I told JoJo how much I've always appreciated her because she has been a good role model because of her positivity throughout her whole life and career. She said she still loves watching Full House and watches it to fall asleep, and it's a comfort show for her, so we had all the feels, and it was all good, and there's no drama."
Then, JoJo told Page Six, "I had a rough experience when I was little. I was 11, and I was a big, big fan, and I wanted to take a picture with her, and it wasn't a good time for her. I will say because I had a bad experience, that doesn't mean that she is an awful human. I think it just was an inconvenient time for her, and little 11-year-old me was just so pumped up and so excited, but that doesn't mean she's the worst human ever."
You can watch Candace's full video here.
8. During an onstage interview at the 2012 Montclair Film Festival, Jon Stewart said that Hugh Grant was his worst The Daily Show guest because of his constant complaining. He said, "He's giving everyone shit the whole time, and he's a big pain in the ass."
In response, Hugh tweeted, "Turns out my inner crab got the better of me with TV producer in 09. Unforgivable. J Stewart correct to give me kicking."
9. In a since-deleted 2024 tweet, Zach Bryan said, "eagles > chiefs [and] Kanye > Taylor… Who's with me."
Following backlash from Taylor Swift's fans, he tweeted, "Guys I love Taylor. was listening to TTPD [The Tortured Poets Department] last night and thank you aimee came on and I drunkenly tweeted that about Kanye. If anyone took it serious please know I love both artiss a lot and think we’re in a really beautiful time of music.”
In later posts on his Instagram Story, he added, "For the record guys I wasn't coming for Taylor the other night. I was drunkenly comparing two records and it came out wrong. I know there's a lot of stuff that clouds around Ye and I was speaking purely musically. I love Taylor's music and pray you guys know I'm human and tweet stupid things often. Hope one day I can explain this to her. Twitter gets me in trouble too much and I'd say it's best I stay off it. I'm sorry to any Taylor fans I pissed off or let down. Love you guys and I'm trying my best!
I've been going through a hard time in my own life and I think I was projecting a little. To be completely honest, it just came off as rude and desensitized to Taylor. I respect her so much as a musician that the last thing I want is people thinking I don't appreciate and love what she has done as a musician. Okay, that's the last of it! Love you guys and hope you guys understand. Don't drink and tweet. Don't drink and tweet!!"
10. When Jack Whitehall guest hosted The Graham Norton Show in 2019, a returning audience member called him out for being rude to her the last time both of them appeared on the show. Even though he'd already apologized, Jack — completely mortified — apologized again.
Watch the full clip below:
11. In a 2022 Instagram post, restauranteur Keith McNally, the owner of Balthazar in NYC, said, "James Corden is a Hugely gifted comedian, but a tiny Cretin of a man. And the most abusive customer to my Balthazar servers since the restaurant opened 25 years ago."
"I don't often 86 a customer, to today I 86'd Corden. It did not make me laugh," he said.
In a follow-up Instagram post, Keith said James called to "apologize profusely," so he lifted his ban. However, the comedian told the New York Times, "I haven't done anything wrong, on any level. So why would I ever cancel this [interview]? I was there. I get it. I feel so Zen about the whole thing. Because I think it's so silly. I just think it's beneath all of us. It's beneath you. It's certainly beneath your publication."
He also said, "Should we not all be a little grown-up about this? I promise you, ask around this restaurant. They don't know about this. Maybe 15 percent of people. I've been here, been walking around New York, not one person's come up to me. We're dealing in two worlds here."
12. At the 2022 People's Choice Awards, Kathy Hilton — who was onstage with the The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast to present the Drama TV Star of 2022 award — put on lipstick and sighed during Mariska Hargitay's acceptance speech. Kathy's behavior was criticized by social media users.
In response, Kathy told Extra, "I feel terrible. I would never do anything to be rude intentionally, and I'm really sorry."
She also said, "I actually thought I was going to sneeze, and you don't want to hear me sneeze; it's the loudest sneeze; I was looking for a tissue, I didn't have a tissue or a hanky, so I got nervous and just put some lipstick on, and it was during her speech so I thought the camera isn't going to be focused on me.
...I adore and respect Mariska very much. I already reached out to her, DMed her. I want to get her address. I feel terrible."
13. In 2023, TikToker Rye Myers shared a video of the "rudest celebrity [he] ever interviewed" — Tony Danza. At the opening night of New York, New York on Broadway, Rye asked an appropriately NYC-themed question: "What's your favorite New York City staple food item? Is it a pizza or hot dog?" Patting his face, Tony replied, "You know what you gotta do, buddy? You gotta come up with better questions."
You can watch the TikTok here.
Showing support for the interviewer, Michael Bublé commented, "I think you’re amazing Ry. I’ll have a pizza with ya. Let’s not invite Tony."