Kendall Jenner attempting to chop a cucumber
Kendall Jenner’s cucumber chopping skills in 2022 went viral. While many found her attempts to slice a cucumber funny, the fact that Kris Jenner offered the assistance of her personal chef for this simple task made them seem even more out of touch. Celebrities, they’re just like us, right? Well, perhaps not when it comes to basic kitchen tasks.
Demi Lovato’s sugar-free frozen yogurt tirade
In 2021 Demi Lovato called out a frozen yogurt shop for offering sugar-free options, claiming it was triggering for people with eating disorders. While her intention may have been to raise awareness about mental health, the move was widely criticized as being out of touch, as many people prefer or need sugar-free options for various health reasons.
Kim Kardashian telling women to ‘Get your f****** a** up and work’
In a 2021 interview that left many people stunned, Kim Kardashian offered some very much unsolicited advice to women in the workplace, telling them to ‘get your f****** a** up and work’. This comment, coming from someone born into extreme wealth and privilege, was criticized as being completely out of touch with the realities that everyday working women face.
The celebrity pandemic Imagine video
In what was intended to be a heartfelt message during the pandemic, actress Gal Gadot along with her celebrity friends sang John Lennon’s Imagine. But the video was met with backlash as people found it to be tone-deaf and out of touch. Understandably so – considering the celebrities were singing about ‘imagining no possessions’ from their multi-million dollar homes.
Madonna calling quarantine the ‘great equalizer’
In a baffling Instagram post, Madonna shared her thoughts on the pandemic from her rose-petal-filled bathtub, calling the virus the ‘great equalizer’. The post was heavily criticized as being completely out of touch, as Madonna lamented the ‘unbearable’ quarantine while being surrounded by luxury.
Justin Bieber suggesting Anne Frank would have been a Belieber
During a 2013 visit to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, pop star Justin Bieber left a message in the guestbook suggesting that if Anne Frank had been alive today, she would have been a ‘Belieber’ – or in other words, a fan of his music. Aside from receiving a fair amount of online ridicule, this comment was criticized as being insensitive and out of touch.
J.K. Rowling’s Twitter controversies
Since 2020, J.K. Rowling has been stirring controversy by regularly tweeting statements that are widely interpreted as bigoted. Given her massive platform and influence, many feel like she’s perpetuating harmful and damaging beliefs. She’s faced backlash not only from fans but also from actors who played key roles in her movies.
Rita Ora’s lockdown birthday party
Flouting lockdown rules for a birthday party? Rita Ora did just that during the peak of the pandemic. She faced fair backlash for her 30th birthday celebration, which breached the UK’s lockdown rules. Not only was it a health risk, but it also showed a blatant disregard for the rules in place to protect the public. A sort of, ‘I’m above the rules’ approach.
Khloé Kardashian said it was ‘cute’ someone worked 20 hours to afford her jeans
It’s one thing to create a luxury brand, but another to inadvertently patronise the very customers who want to buy from it. Khloé Kardashian’s 2019 response to a fan who mentioned having to work multiple hours to afford a pair of jeans from her brand was both tone-deaf and distasteful. Treating financial strain as ‘cute’? Out of touch doesn’t even begin to cover it.
When Lily Allen defended ‘nepo babies’ in a pointed tweet
Lilly Allen stirred the pot in 2022 when she came to the defense of so-called ‘nepo babies’ in a tweet, suggesting that we should be more concerned about the ones in legal firms, banks, and politics. As a ‘nepo’ baby herself, many saw it as deflective. Maybe it wasn’t the best time or place?
When Kylie Jenner had a Handmaid’s Tale-themed birthday party
Of all the themes to pick for a birthday party, Kylie Jenner chose The Handmaid’s Tale – a series that showcases the oppression and subjugation of women. This choice not only left many scratching their heads but also led to criticism about the glamourization of a tale that’s anything but glamorous.
When Seth Rogen dismissed the seriousness of car break-ins
In 2021 Seth Rogen faced criticism when he downplayed a man’s frustration over his car being broken into, commenting that it was a normal occurrence. Many pointed out Rogen’s privilege and lack of understanding for people who can’t easily absorb the financial losses from crime, with one Twitter user calling him ‘Mr. Snootypants’.
When Drake custom-designed a $185 million Boeing 767
Of course, while there’s nothing wrong with enjoying your hard-earned cash, there’s a limit to how far you can take extravagance before you’re simply being ignorant. Drake’s 2019 custom-designed Boeing 767, costing an eye-watering $185 million, was a testament to his success but also an indicator of how out of touch he is with the world’s more pressing needs.
When Kim Kardashian promoted appetite suppressant lollipops
In 2018, Kim Kardashian faced well-deserved criticism for promoting appetite-suppressant lollipops on her Instagram. With many young, impressionable followers, this promotion wasn’t just seen as irresponsible but also as a push towards unhealthy body image standards. Out of all of her out-of-touch moments, this surely takes the cake (or should we say, lollipop?)
When Cardi B gifted her husband a $500,000 birthday gift
Perhaps a half-million-dollar birthday gift is normal in the world of celebrities? But when Cardi B gave her husband Offset a $500,000 cash gift for his birthday in 2018 and posted it all over social media, it seemed ridiculously out of touch. Many fans pointed out that such a sum could be life-changing for the average person and was a questionable display of wealth.
When Simon Cowell had a $500,000 birthday party for his son
Another $500,000 of spending – but this time for a four-year-old child. Most children would be thrilled with a simple birthday party, but apparently not Simon Cowell’s son. In 2018, Cowell threw a lavish $500,000 party for his son Eric’s birthday, complete with a celebrity guest list. Talk about a party fit for a king, or in this case, a four-year-old.
When Ellen DeGeneres compared self-isolation in her mansion to being in jail
There’s been a fair amount of news recently about Ellen DeGeneres’ alleged ‘I’m better than you’ attitude – and it does track with her behavior in 2020 when she comparing self-isolation in her giant mansion to being in jail. Many found the comment to be insensitive and out of touch. Life in a luxury mansion similar to jail? Most likely not.
When James Charles attended a pandemic party without a mask
James Charles found himself in hot water after attending a large party without wearing a mask, during the height of the pandemic. This irresponsible behavior was criticized as being incredibly out of touch, especially considering Charles’ massive young, and not to mention impressionable, fanbase who look up to him.
When 50 Cent mocked Terry Crews for speaking out about sexual assault
In 2018, in a move that was both out of touch and completely unacceptable, rapper 50 Cent mocked actor Terry Crews for speaking out about his experience with sexual assault. The post was widely criticized for being insensitive and perpetuating harmful stereotypes about masculinity and sexual assault survivors.
When Bella Hadid felt deprived for not getting Louboutins in high school
While many of us can only dream of owning a pair of Christian Louboutins, Bella Hadid found it necessary to lament not getting her first pair until after high school. We guess high school is a tough time for everyone, but maybe not in the same way for supermodels. Perhaps a slight misstep in understanding her audience?
When David Geffen posted a photo of his $590 million yacht
David Geffen’s attempt to show how he was ‘social distancing’ during the 2020 pandemic backfired massively. Posting a photo of his $590 million yacht, while millions were confined to small apartments and homes, only underscored just how out of touch he was with the rest of the world. Not exactly a lesson in reading the room.
When Ariana Grande said she was the hardest working 23-year-old in the world
Yes, there is no doubt that pop superstar Ariana Grande works hard, but back in 2017, she claimed to be the hardest working 23-year-old in the world. This of course raised a fair few eyebrows, as many people pointed out that there are countless young people working multiple jobs just to make ends meet.
When Kendall and Kylie Jenner released t-shirts with their faces over images of musicians
Tired of the Kardashian family features yet? This one is pretty baffling. Back in 2017, Kendall and Kylie Jenner released a line of ‘vintage’ t-shirts that featured their faces superimposed over images of iconic musicians like Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. The backlash was immediate, with many people calling out the sisters for their blatant disregard for the legacy of these artists. They were taken off the market pretty soon after.
When Oprah didn’t understand a $100 Christmas budget
For most people, budgeting for Christmas gifts is a normal part of the holiday season. However, in 2022, when Oprah, with her $2.5 billion net worth, was left speechless by a fan saying $100 was too much to spend on a Christmas gift, it highlighted she was clearly out of touch from the financial realities that many of her viewers face.
When the Kardashians had a private island birthday party
Just when you thought celebrities would have the sense to lay low during a pandemic, the Kardashians (shockingly…) proved us wrong. Celebrating Kim’s 40th birthday, the family flew to a private island, spending millions on themselves and blatantly ignoring the struggles the world was going through. Perhaps some of that cash could have gone to better use?
When Steve Harvey made comments about the Flint water crisis
In 2017, comedian Steve Harvey faced serious backlash after making light of the Flint water crisis during a radio show. Harvey told a Flint resident to enjoy their glass of brown water just because they said they were happy the Warriors won. Harvey’s comments were seen as insensitive and ignorant of the reality faced by the residents of Flint, Michigan.
When Gwyneth Paltrow sold a $66 jade egg for vaginal wellness on Goop
Gwyneth Paltrow is often hailed as the poster child for out of touch celebs, and her lifestyle brand Goop has been criticized many times for this. One of their most ridiculous products, released in 2017, was the $66 jade egg for vaginal wellness. Many health experts were quick to call out Paltrow for promoting a potentially harmful product.
When Kendall Jenner trivialized protests in a Pepsi commercial
In a misguided attempt to tap into the social justice movement, Pepsi released a commercial in 2017 featuring Kendall Jenner handing a police officer a can of Pepsi during a protest, seemingly solving the conflict. The ad was widely criticized for trivializing a serious movement and how the serious issues are surrounding police brutality.
When Bill Gates didn’t know how much groceries cost
Back in 2018, Ellen DeGeneres decided to put billionaire Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates to the test on her show by asking him to guess the price of common grocery store items. And, if Gates guessed correctly, the audience won a prize. Sadly, Gates’ estimation was wildly off, as he guessed the cost of Rice-A-Roni at $5, a whopping five times its actual $1 price tag. The audience’s reaction said it all, and it was pretty clear that Gates had not set foot in a supermarket for a long time.
When Vanessa Hudgens downplayed the seriousness of the pandemic
In a pretty shocking Instagram Live session, Vanessa Hudgens shared her take on the pandemic, stating that “people are gonna die, which is terrible, but inevitable”. This kind of dismissive attitude during a global health crisis, where countless people were losing their loved ones, showcased a clear lack of empathy. It’s safe to say her comments didn’t go unnoticed – or un-criticized.
When 50 Cent spelled out ‘broke’ in stacks of hundreds on Instagram
Another 50 Cent misstep… in a move that can only be described as ridiculously out of touch, rapper 50 Cent decided to spell out the word ‘broke’ with stacks of hundred-dollar bills on Instagram. This was particularly controversial given that he had filed for bankruptcy not long before. Definitely not his smartest move.
When Dan Sur replaced his hair with surgically implanted gold chains
In what can only be described as an extreme fashion statement, Mexican rapper Dan Sur underwent surgery in 2021 to replace his hair with gold chains. While Sur may have thought this made him look rich and stylish, to most people, it just looked like a bizarre and out-of-touch decision.
When Paris Hilton had a mini-mansion built for her dogs
While most of us are happy to provide our pets with a comfortable bed and some toys, back in 2017 Paris Hilton took pet pampering to a whole new level. She had a mini-mansion built for her dogs, complete with air conditioning, heating, and even a grand chandelier. Talk about a dog’s life!
When Chrissy Teigen joked about her mom buying AirPods all the time
Chrissy Teigen’s 2019 tweet about her mom constantly losing and repurchasing AirPods and treating them as ‘disposable’ came off as tone-deaf. For many people, AirPods are something they save up for, and joking about repeatedly buying them showed a complete lack of awareness of the financial situations of many of her followers.
When Martin Shkreli raised the price of a lifesaving drug to $750 per pill
In a move that angered many, in 2015 Martin Shkreli, then CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals, raised the price of a lifesaving drug from $13.50 to $750 per pill. This decision was widely criticized as being completely out of touch with the needs of patients who relied on the medication, and not to mention, incredibly greedy.
When Grimes said Elon Musk lives below the poverty line
Grimes made headlines in 2022 when she claimed billionaire Elon Musk lives “below the poverty line”. The comment came across as completely out of touch, and was a clear misstep showing a lack of understanding or awareness of the struggles faced by those who actually live in poverty.
When Kim Kardashian owned a $1.3 million diamond-encrusted watch
Yet another mention for the Kardashian family. Back in 2011, in a world where many people struggle to make ends meet, Kim Kardashian’s $1.3 million diamond-encrusted watch seems like the epitome of excess. And, another clear indication of just how far removed from reality this reality TV star can be.
When James Corden demanded free drinks and was rude to staff at Balthazar
James Corden’s behavior at Balthazar in New York City in 2021 was called out by the restaurant’s owner, who referred to him as a “tiny cretin of a man” and “the most abusive customer” in the restaurant’s 25-year history. This entitled behavior and lack of respect for service industry workers is unfortunately not an uncommon complaint about Corden.
When Charlie Sheen went on his ‘Winning’ tour
We all remember Charlie Sheen’s unhinged 2011 ‘winning’ interview. Whilst some found it funny, it was actually a tumultuous time in his life. Following the interview, he went on a tour and named it the ‘Winning’ tour. This bizarre behavior was widely seen as out of touch with the reality of his situation, as well as with the expectations of his fans and the public.
When Mike Tyson purchased two white tigers
Most people might opt for a cat or a dog as a pet, but not Mike Tyson. In a clear display of his extravagant lifestyle, Tyson decided to purchase two white tigers as pets. Yes, this was back in the 90s, but it was still frowned upon back then – and was an example of his major disconnect with reality.
