Explore the secret lives of celebrity assistants, who see it all, from Madonna’s toilet changes over germ fears to Mariah Carey’s delegated hair washing. Discover strange habits, like Jamie Dornan’s love for needlepoint, in these assistants’ most cringe-worthy stories about their famous employers. Let’s begin with:
Khloé Kardashian
According to a Khloe Kardashian assistant speaking to Radar Online, Khloe is hands-off at home, directing her assistant and housekeepers to arrange cookies and treats for optimal on-camera presentation without lifting a finger herself.
Jennifer Aniston
There were rumors that Jennifer Aniston insisted on having fans on her at all times to stay cool between filming scenes. Just Jared reportedly found her during the shooting of The Bounty, where it appears Aniston indeed relies on an assistant to hold a fan, presumably a sizable one, to maintain her comfort.
Major celebrity with OCD
Personal assistant and Redditor Smell Ya Later reveals insights into a prominent celebrity with OCD, detailing significant idiosyncrasies and quirks:
“1. The only plants allowed in his house are cacti.
2. He loves gourds. Inside of every gourd is a different star wars figurine. Chewbacca, however, is in two gourds.
3. He will sometimes call me in the middle of the night and ask me to help him tune his voice.
4. He will usually do this before high stress public events.
5. He can only eat off of plates made out of abalone shells.”
Madonna
In preparation for her concert at the Palais Nakaia concert hall in France, Madonna reportedly had all the toilets, showers, and sinks removed, thoroughly cleaned, and then reinstalled, as stated by a source for InTouch Weekly.
Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber’s housekeeper revealed that during the singer’s “crazy days,” he was heavily into “sizzurp,” a concoction made with codeine-based cough syrup and soda, as reported by the Mirror.
The housekeeper expressed concern, fearing that if Bieber doesn’t address his behavior, he could face a fate similar to Michael Jackson’s, stating, “I’m terrified he’ll become the next Michael Jackson. If he doesn’t act now, I will hear one day that he has passed away. It is heartbreaking.”
Mariah Carey
According to an assistant for Mariah Carey, as disclosed to Naughty Gossip, the singer avoids washing her own hair, opting to have a professional handle it at the salon or delegate the task to an assistant. The assistant further noted, “She couldn’t even work a microwave if she tried!”
Lady Gaga
As revealed by Lady Gaga’s former assistant Jennifer O’Neil on Reddit and reported by College Candy, Gaga’s daily routine resembles that of a teenager. O’Neil described how Gaga spends her time sitting on her laptop, browsing through gossip sites, Tumblr, Twitter, and more.
According to O’Neil, Gaga uses this extensive social media research as a foundation for her creative process, gathering imagery and ideas in her head and then finding a way to make them absurdly creative.
Kim Kardashian
Radar Online interviewed one of Kim Kardashian’s numerous assistants, who revealed that Kim is extremely particular about how she wants sweaters folded. The source shared an incident where a staffer didn’t meet Kim’s standards, prompting her to take a sweater from the middle of the stack, disrupting the meticulous folding that had just been done.
Jamie Dornan
As per Celebrity Dirty Laundry, a former employee disclosed that Jamie Dornan shares an obsession with needlepoint comparable to Christian Grey’s fixation on sex.
Ariana Grande
According to a source shared with Celebuzz, one of Ariana Grande’s recent rules is that she insists on being physically carried, like a baby, when she doesn’t feel like walking. The reason cited is that she doesn’t want her feet to touch the floor.
Selena Gomez
According to a personal assistant to Selena Gomez, as detailed on Celeb Dirty Laundry, the singer is described as more than just unorganized – she’s a slob. The assistant mentioned that Gomez can turn a hotel room into a mess in less than 24 hours, leaving makeup stains all over the bed and underwear scattered everywhere.
The assistant expressed surprise, saying, “I never expected to see a celebrity’s dirty undergarments, let alone have to pick them up!”
Christian Bale
Harrison Cheung’s book, “Christian Bale: The Inside Story of the Darkest Batman,” as reported by Huffington Post, reveals that Christian Bale, while preparing for his role as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, would call up family and friends and greet them with the character’s signature line, saying, “It’sssssssss Patrick!”
Cheung, who served as Bale’s publicist and assistant for many years, provided these insights into the actor’s method preparation.
Blonde Super-Celeb Avoids Microwaves
According to Redditor BitchAssist, who worked for an undisclosed blonde celebrity, the celebrity in question had an extensive 80-page booklet of instructions on how to eat, behave, and live. The instructions included recommendations such as avoiding electromagnetic fields, including microwaves, electric razors, and televisions.
Additionally, the booklet suggested walking barefoot on the earth for at least 10 minutes a day. The Reddit thread highlighted the celebrity’s peculiar dietary habits, stating, “Needless to say, she ate pretty much nothing.”
Ryan Gosling
According to the Telegraph UK, Ryan Gosling’s household staff has disclosed that the actor prefers to sit down while using the toilet.
Lisa Rinna
As Ninie Papadatos shared with Minyanville, her role involves protecting Lisa Rinna from negative press. Papadatos filters through Rinna’s media coverage, keeping the negative aspects away from her. In Rinna’s words, Papadatos is referred to as her “Adult Nanny.”
Britney Spears
As shared by Britney Spears’s ex-personal assistant Alli Sims on Today, when Spears barricaded herself and her sons at home, it was described as a protective act, with Spears expressing that she wasn’t ready for her kids to leave. Sims explained the situation, saying, “It was a mom just being protective and a mom that didn’t want her kids to leave … I mean, it’s weird when you have kids three days a week and you’re used to having them all day every day.”
Sims also provided insight into Spears’s breakdown, attributing it to the fast pace of having kids, dealing with a divorce, and acknowledging that it was a lot for a young person to handle.
Scott Rudin
As reported by The Wire, former assistants of Scott Rudin revealed that he would vent his anger by throwing phones and office supplies, leading assistants to take precautions. Some assistants, concerned about potential outbursts, discreetly moved framed objects out of his reach, while others measured Rudin’s phone cord to maintain a safe distance.
Former assistant Derek Evans noted that newcomers often stood too close without realizing the potential for such incidents.
Steven Seagal
According to Kayden Nguyen in her sexual assault lawsuit against actor Steven Seagal, she alleges that Seagal has a “unique physiological reaction to sexual arousal.” The details of this reaction were not disclosed to ABC News, as Nguyen’s lawyer, William Waldo, stated that he couldn’t provide specifics.
Waldo mentioned, “There is something he does — he knows what it is and she does, and everyone else who has had a similar experience with Mr. Seagal knows.”
Naomi Campbell
Rebecca White shared with the New York Post the specific routine she had to adhere to while setting up Naomi Campbell’s hotel rooms. This included tasks such as calling housekeeping to unpack, steam, and press the clothes, as well as removing the contents of the minibar.
Additionally, White mentioned that 25 lily-scented candles had to be strategically placed around the suite, with a specific allocation of five candles in the bathroom, 10 in the bedroom, and 10 in the living room.
Frank Sinatra
According to George Jacobs, Frank Sinatra’s personal valet, as revealed in his book “Mr. S: My Life with Frank Sinatra,” the legendary singer had to wear specially crafted underwear in public to discreetly manage a “considerable endowment.”
Described in The New York Times, Jacobs portrayed Sinatra as occasionally “abusive,” but overall depicted him as a “tragic character.”
PA Asked to Transport Drugs and End Relationship
An unnamed assistant, while not explicitly naming the client, revealed to NY Mag that in addition to picking up her client’s “herbs,” she also had to end a relationship on her behalf. The assistant explained, “I broke up with a very prominent actor boyfriend of hers.”
The client apparently requested the breakup, citing the end of their collaboration on a movie and a new relationship, and asked the assistant to convey the message to the actor.
Paula Deen
Paula Deen’s assistant, Brandon Branch, expressed his dissatisfaction with the 2013 Royal Caribbean “Cruise with Paula” on Twitter. Branch tweeted critiques like “This is a floating nursing home!!!!” and “My room is also the size of my powder room at home. And no liquor in minibar! I am in a dark place!!!!” The tweets were later removed, as reported by US Weekly.
Taryn Manning
According to the New York Daily News, actress Taryn Manning faced misdemeanor assault charges for allegedly punching and choking her personal assistant, Holliann Hartman. Manning’s lawyer explained that they had a late-night argument that escalated into a physical altercation. The incident occurred after the two had been working long hours together. However, Hartman later chose not to pursue the case.
Courtney Love
Jessica Labrie, Courtney Love’s former personal assistant, filed a lawsuit against the singer. According to Rolling Stone, Labrie claimed that Love “acted with an improper and evil motive amounting to malice or despicable conduct.” Labrie alleged that she worked over 60-hour weeks without receiving overtime pay, was compelled to send false legal correspondence, and was even asked to hire a computer hacker.
Moreover, Love reportedly promised to cover Labrie’s Yale tuition but failed to fulfill that commitment.
Jennifer Lopez
According to HuffPost UK, Jennifer Lopez has earned a reputation as the ultimate diva, with reports suggesting that she has banned staff working on her new home from talking to or making eye contact with her.
Additionally, Gawker reported specific requirements for a new assistant, including the need to be graceful under pressure, possess thick skin, and be resourceful in foreign countries. The assistant is expected to be on call 24/7, handle tasks like changing diapers and cooking if the butler is unavailable, and must be attuned to J. Lo’s snack time preferences.
Lance Armstrong
Shortly after becoming Lance Armstrong’s personal assistant, Mike Anderson allegedly discovered a box labeled “Androstenedione” (a banned steroid) in Armstrong’s bathroom, which later disappeared. As Anderson became increasingly uncomfortable with Armstrong’s actions, he was eventually fired. Armstrong then asked Anderson to sign a nondisclosure agreement, which Anderson refused.
Following this, Anderson faced lawsuits and public scrutiny before the truth about Armstrong’s doping came to light. Armstrong’s lawyers painted Anderson as a “disgruntled schemer,” prompting him to move to New Zealand to pursue his dream of opening a bike shop.
Lindsay Lohan
According to Perez Hilton, Lindsay Lohan reportedly kicked her personal assistant Gavin Doyle out of a car right after he bailed her out of jail. Additionally, Gawker reported that she attempted to place blame on Doyle for a car accident earlier in the day, telling police that he had been driving when the crash occurred.
Sharon Stone
According to court documents obtained by Radar, Sharon Stone has faced accusations of mistreating her staff. In one instance, doctors ordered Sharon Stone’s former employee, Angelica Castillo, to undergo a brief period of bed rest due to health concerns.
However, Stone reportedly denied Castillo’s request and insisted she come into work that day. When Castillo mentioned persistent pain four months later, Stone allegedly referred to her as “crazy and stupid.”
Katherine Heigl
According to a source on the set of “27 Dresses,” Katherine Heigl reportedly exhibited challenging behavior. The source claimed that Heigl refused to film scenes until her pregnant assistant fetched her a Coke Zero and that she avoided having lunch next to anyone or engaging with others once the cameras stopped rolling. This behavior reportedly contributed to a negative reputation for Heigl among fellow actors and directors.
Martha Stewart
According to the Daily Mail, Martha Stewart is known for sending her personal assistants, of which she reportedly has nine, on random trips to India just to purchase fabric. When a former executive from her company raised concerns about the number of assistants being excessive, it is reported that they nearly lost their job.
Ricki Lake
Ricki Lake revealed to New York Magazine that her assistant had to witness her giving birth in a bathtub, and the assistant even had to clean up the bathtub afterward. The experience reflects a unique and intimate situation that goes beyond typical employer-employee dynamics.
Keri Hilson
According to The Urban Daily, after a 2011 performance, Keri Hilson was reported to have screamed at her assistant, expressing frustration for “not being able to do anything right.” Hilson allegedly criticized the assistant for forgetting to pack her eye drops and throat spray.
Anna Wintour
Lauren Weisberger, author of the 2003 novel “The Devil Wears Prada,” famously documented her experiences as an assistant to Anna Wintour, the editor of American Vogue. Weisberger mentioned leaving her position after 11 months, and the novel portrays Wintour with a demanding and frosty leadership style, leading to her being nicknamed “Nuclear Wintour.”
The book sheds light on the challenging dynamics of working for someone with a reputation for high expectations in the fashion industry.
Paris Hilton
As reported by The Daily Mail, Paris Hilton was described as being unable to handle lifting anything beyond a purse and a tiny dog. The publication highlighted a specific instance where Hilton, dressed in a chiffon tea dress with coordinating accessories, was seen strolling from a car to a studio while her companion carried numerous bags and Halloween costumes from the same vehicle. This portrayal emphasizes a perception of Hilton relying on others for carrying belongings and handling tasks.
Beyoncé
As reported by Us Weekly, Beyoncé has been known to assert control over her red carpet appearances. During one event, while posing for photographers, her assistant attempted to fix her outfit. In a subtle but telling exchange, Beyoncé looked over, grinned, and casually instructed her assistant to “stop it,” after which the assistant promptly ceased and allowed Beyoncé to resume posing on the red carpet, maintaining the superstar’s spotlight.
Cheryl Hines
Cheryl Hines of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” admitted to The Wrap that she had her assistant clean out her daughter’s pets’ cages, which included hedgehogs. Hines shared, “I had to ask my assistant to clean out every cage. By the way, it’s not easy to handle a hedgehog. They are prickly and there’s a lot of poop involved.”
She acknowledged that while she wouldn’t say she regretted having the animals, it did come with a lot of apologies, and she humorously suggested she’d rather work at a convenience store and hire someone to clean hedgehog poop if she weren’t in the entertainment industry.
Jillian Michaels
Jillian Michaels, known for her role on the reality show “Just Jillian,” humorously admits to taking issue with her assistant’s car cleanliness. While discussing the perks of having an assistant, Michaels jokingly complains about her assistant’s car, referring to it as a “sh*tbox.” She playfully mentions that having an assistant with a clean car allows her to work on the go, highlighting the humorous side of their working relationship.
Celebrity assistants spill embarrassing personal stories that’ll make you say “Omg”
Eduardo Gaskell
12.19.23
Explore the secret lives of celebrity assistants, who see it all, from Madonna’s toilet changes over germ fears to Mariah Carey’s delegated hair washing. Discover strange habits, like Jamie Dornan’s love for needlepoint, in these assistants’ most cringe-worthy stories about their famous employers. Let’s begin with:
Khloé Kardashian
According to a Khloe Kardashian assistant speaking to Radar Online, Khloe is hands-off at home, directing her assistant and housekeepers to arrange cookies and treats for optimal on-camera presentation without lifting a finger herself.