Being rich and famous might just sound like the ultimate cheat code for a life of luxury, filled with exclusive perks and endless privileges. However, as we’re about to discover, even the glitziest red-carpet regulars aren’t immune to the golden rule of hospitality: don’t be a terrible customer. Turns out, good manners are truly priceless, and a celebrity status sometimes buys you nothing but a one-way ticket out the door.
We’ve all heard the whispers and seen the tabloid headlines, but it’s time to dive deep into the most outrageous tales of stars behaving badly when the check comes, or even before the appetizers hit the table. From demanding freebies to full-blown food fights, these incidents prove that the dining room can be a surprisingly level playing field where even the biggest names have to face the music – or, more accurately, face the boot.
So, buckle up, grab your popcorn (and maybe a napkin, you never know what might get thrown!), because we’re taking a whirlwind tour through some of the most jaw-dropping celebrity restaurant bans. These are the stories that confirm what many of us already suspect: money and fame don’t always buy you a ticket to good behavior, and sometimes, they just buy you a ban from your favorite eatery. Let’s get into it!
1. **James Corden: The “Tiny Cretin” of Balthazar**Ah, James Corden. Hugely gifted comedian, actor, and host, but according to restaurateur Keith McNally, he’s also a “tiny Cretin of a man” and “the most abusive customer to my Balthazar servers since the restaurant opened 25 years ago.” That’s quite a title to earn, isn’t it? This incident became one of the most talked-about celebrity hospitality dramas, all thanks to McNally’s very public Instagram posts.
One of the specific incidents McNally detailed involved Corden finding a hair in his food. Rather than a polite complaint, Corden allegedly demanded, “Get us another round of drinks this second. And also take care of all of our drinks so far. This way I [won’t] write any nasty reviews [on] Yelp or anything like that.” It seems the threat of a bad online review was his weapon of choice.
The second incident, perhaps even more dramatic, happened when Corden’s wife, Julia Carey, received an egg-yolk omelette that contained some egg whites. When the kitchen remade the dish, they accidentally sent it out with home fries instead of salad. That’s when Corden reportedly began yelling, “You can’t do your job! You can’t do your job! Maybe I should go into the kitchen and cook the omelette myself!” Imagine witnessing that outburst during your quiet dinner.
Following this tirade, McNally didn’t hesitate to ban Corden from Balthazar. However, in a surprising twist, McNally later posted an update saying that Corden had called him and “apologized profusely.” Believing in second chances, McNally lifted the ban, proving that even a “tiny cretin” can find redemption if they’re willing to eat humble pie – though hopefully, not an omelette with egg whites.
2. **Zachary Quinto: Yelling at Staff Like an “Entitled Child”**Next up, we have “Star Trek” actor Zachary Quinto, who found himself on the wrong side of the dining room at Toronto restaurant Manita. The establishment itself took to their Instagram story to call Quinto out, mincing no words about his alleged behavior. They made it very clear that while other celebrities were welcome, Quinto should take his business elsewhere.
Manita’s Instagram story confirmed that Quinto “Yelled at our staff like an entitled child after he didn’t reply to two texts to inform him his table was ready and refused to believe the empty tables in the dining room weren’t available for him despite being politely informed they were spoken for.” It sounds like a case of a star assuming rules simply don’t apply to them, leading to a very public confrontation.
The restaurant further explained the impact of his actions, stating that he “made a host cry, and made the other diners uncomfortable.” No one wants to see a staff member reduced to tears, especially not over a table mix-up. This isn’t exactly the kind of “star power” you want to bring to a relaxed evening meal.
The restaurant’s blunt message to Quinto concluded with, “Mr. Quinto, take your bad vibes somewhere else, we have many lovely celebrities join us at Manita but you are NOT one of them.” It’s a firm reminder that a reputation for kindness goes a long way, regardless of how many blockbusters you’ve starred in.
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3. **Sonja Morgan: The $1,000 Bill Blunder**Reality TV star Sonja Morgan, known for her antics on “Real Housewives of New York City,” reportedly found herself in hot water at Italian hotspot Tucci. The issue? A $1,000 bill she allegedly refused to pay, believing her celebrity status and single motherhood should grant her a free pass. It seems she thought being a “celebrity” came with comped meals as a standard perk.
Page Six reported a source claiming, “She was absolutely hysterical and refused to pay. It was like she was filming a ‘Housewives’ episode, shouting, ‘I’m a celebrity!’” This dramatic declaration didn’t quite have the desired effect, however. Instead of getting her bill comped, it landed her in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
Morgan had reportedly been given comped meals at Tucci in the past, which might explain her assumption that this visit would be no different. However, it seems there’s a limit to a restaurant’s generosity, especially when faced with a public spectacle over a four-figure tab. The goodwill she’d built up seemingly evaporated in that moment of alleged refusal.
While Morgan eventually settled the bill (with tip!) by the following Monday, the damage was done. She is no longer welcome at the establishment, proving that even for reality TV stars, trying to leverage fame to avoid paying can have lasting consequences on your dining options.
4. **Ruby Rose: A Fry-Throwing Fiasco**Australian actress Ruby Rose, celebrated for her role in “Orange is the New Black,” had a rather eventful evening at Rebellion Bar & Urban Kitchen in New Orleans back in 2016. The incident, which involved a tantrum, cursing at the bartender, and throwing food, quickly made headlines. The owner, Seung Hong, had to personally boot her from the establishment.
Rose, however, presented a different side of the story on Facebook. She claimed the situation escalated because the bartender mocked her sobriety. According to her post, she, her assistant, and her manager waited 60 minutes for fries and 90 minutes for food that never arrived. When she politely declined drinks because she was sober, she alleged the bartender made offensive comments, even telling her to “go call your f***ing sponsor!”
Her response? She threw a singular fry at him, and when he “continued making awful comments,” she “continued with the fries.” It’s a bold defense, admitting to the food-throwing but framing it as a reaction to provocation. She even mentioned working in hospitality herself, suggesting she understands the industry but felt the bartender crossed a line.
While Rose expressed regret for reacting, her concluding thought – “Maybe next time I won’t throw fries, then again, maybe next time that bartender won’t tell someone who is sober to ‘go call your [expletive] sponsor!'” – indicates a complex situation where blame isn’t entirely one-sided. Regardless, throwing food generally won’t earn you an invitation back.
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5. **Britney Spears: The Gourmet Food Face-Smear**Rewind to 2007, a particularly tumultuous year for pop icon Britney Spears. Amidst a flurry of personal struggles, including a shaved head, rehab stints, and custody battles, she reportedly found herself asked to leave the exclusive Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles for what was described as “odd behavior.” One incident, reported by The UK Sun, involved smearing a plate of gourmet food on her face.
This erratic action certainly raised eyebrows and, unsurprisingly, led to complaints from other diners. Victoria Beckham, who was reportedly present at the Chateau Marmont at the time, even noted that Spears seemed strange before the food-smearing incident began. This wasn’t just a quiet misstep; it was a public spectacle that left fellow guests “disgusted.”
Witnesses were quoted saying, “You wouldn’t expect that from a teenager in a fast-food joint,” highlighting the shock and inappropriateness of the behavior in such a high-end establishment. The hotel staff ultimately escorted Spears out and reportedly asked her never to return, a clear consequence for actions that disrupted the serene environment for other patrons.
Interestingly, despite the initial ban and the highly publicized incident, it seems all was eventually forgiven. Reports suggest she was allowed back to Chateau Marmont to celebrate her 28th birthday just two years later. Today, free from her conservatorship, it’s heartening to know she’s enjoying dining out once again, hopefully without any food-related performance art.
6. **Nicolas Cage: Drunk, Barefoot, and Belligerent**In September of 2021, patrons at Lawry’s Prime Rib in Las Vegas were treated to an unexpected and rather wild dinner show starring none other than actor Nicolas Cage. Eyewitnesses initially mistook the drunk, barefoot, unshaven man in a black t-shirt and leopard-print pants for someone homeless. It was quite the entrance for a Hollywood legend.
Once inside, Cage allegedly ordered and drank shot after shot of tequila and expensive 1980 Macallan whiskey. As his intoxication deepened, he reportedly began stumbling around, shouting, trying to pick fights with other customers, and arguing with the staff. It sounds like a scene straight out of one of his more intense films, but unfortunately, this was real life and quite disruptive.
The staff eventually had enough and asked him to leave. In a somewhat bizarre turn of events, a regular diner at the restaurant reportedly ended up taking Cage home, as he was in such bad shape. A witness recounted, “He was so drunk he could barely get his flip-flops on before being escorted out.” It painted a vivid picture of a star truly out of control.
The Sun speculated that this incident might have been connected to a rough year for Cage, including his fifth marriage and the death of his mother. Cage himself once told The Guardian, “If I don’t have somewhere to go in the morning and a job to do, I can be very self-destructive. Then I’m just going to sit and order two bottles of red wine and dissolve.” It certainly seems he had nothing to do that particular day.
