Kanye West
Kanye West is one of the most eccentric and enigmatic celebrities out there, so much so that it’s basically impossible to predict how he will react upon meeting him in public. In this case, judging by the way he is staring into the middle distance while the other people grin and throw up deuces, he either received devastating news seconds before this picture was taken or he is contemplating what his next shoe line should be.
Randy Orton
Becoming a celebrity means becoming okay with the idea of being approached in public. However, there are some boundaries dictating how and when it is appropriate to ask a celebrity for a photo or an autograph. Right at the top of the list, in giant red letters, should be the phrase: Never bother a celebrity in the bathroom! On the other hand, doing so might be a total faux pas but it also results in hilarious moments like this one.
Cara Delevingne
As a general rule, while actors and musicians have a little bit of licence to be goofy in public, models are held to a higher standard and expected to remain poised and perfect at all times. However, certain examples do break the mould, none more so than Cara Delevinge, who seems to make a point of making the ugliest faces she can whenever in public or on the red carpet.
David Beckham
How do you get a selfie with someone as legendary as David Beckham? Well, the same way you make a name for yourself at a football pitch of your choice and get a mark on your permanent record: you leap out onto the pitch in the middle of a game and snap a quick picture before security drags you away. Risky? Totally. A great story to tell the grandkids one day? Of course!
Luke Wilson
So here’s the million-dollar question. Are these two women genuinely thrilled to see Luke Wilson of The Royal Tenenbaums fame, or do they think he’s Owen Wilson? Whoever they think he is, they probably checked their digital camera after coming home and realised his eyeline was a couple of inches south of where it needed to be.
Bill Murray
Bill Murray is one of film’s all-time legendary funny men, so it’s no surprise that he has a great sense of humour off camera as well as on. The fact that he agreed to stop for a picture when it’s clearly raining is one thing, but the fact that he had the heart to play into the fact the distraught kid was crying? That proves beyond reasonable doubt that he’s a good egg. Either that, or he’s a secret supervillain who takes joy in kids’ suffering.
Rihanna
When it comes to pop stars with a penchant for glamour, there aren’t many with more elegance and style than Rihanna. That’s why it’s so surprising to see her in minimal make-up and a hoodie, as though she was just popping out to the drive-thru. What’s even funnier is that she agreed to stop for a selfie, but then posed in this totally awkward, borderline horrified way. Maybe she was unsettled by this guy’s thousand-yard selfie stare?
Keanu Reeves
If some celebrities have built a brand based on how untouchable and aspirational they are compared to normal people, then Keanu Reeves has done the opposite. All of his interview appearances show him to be a down-to-Earth and normal guy, and that shows in his selfies too. Not only does he never lean into the women he’s photographed with, but he also keeps his hands respectfully floating behind them. What a gentleman!
Stan Lee
As the de-facto face of Marvel Comics for several decades, Stan Lee has probably met more comic fanboys than almost anyone else on Earth. So why, looking at this picture, does it seem as though he still hasn’t perfected his poker face? The poor guy is radiating energy saying that while for the guy on the left, this is one of the best days of his life, for Lee this is a regular Wednesday and he’d rather have his feet up on the sofa.
Ed O’Neill
Ed O’Neill’s most famous role is that of Jay Pritchett in Modern Family, a gruff and semi-distant father and grandfather who nevertheless has a heart of gold. With that in mind, it makes sense that O’Neill looks uncomfortable and grumpy in most of the photos he takes with fans – even when it’s Britney Spears! Said O’Neill of the encounter when asked on Ellen: “I mean, look at my face: Do I look like I’m sitting with Britney Spears? You know, my daughter, Sophia, she said, ‘You are a moron.'”
Tom Hanks
Does any celebrity have more of a reputation for being sweet and wholesome than Tom Hanks? Probably not! From his quaint hobby of collecting typewriters to the way he gravitates towards roles like Forrest Gump and Mr Rogers, everything about Hanks seems to reflect his inner kindness. Even this image shows that Hanks didn’t let the fact that this guy was passed out get in the way of him taking home a selfie with the superstar. How nice is that?
Russell Brand
It might be difficult to remember now, given his reinvented persona as a new-age father and wisdom-dispensing yogi, but once upon a time, Russell Brand was Britain’s premiere sex symbol… at least among art students and fans of Big Fat Quiz of the Year. That means countless people would have loved to share a smooch with him, but unfortunately, this fan managed to experience the world’s most awkward kiss instead. Bad luck!
Emma Watson
Emma Watson grew up as an English actress in the spotlight, giving her more poise and politeness than almost any other celebrity on Earth. When she’s not starring in Disney movies as a literal Disney princess or walking the red carpet in stunning gowns, she’s eloquently addressing the UN on matters of feminism. That’s why it’s so funny to see her looking a little goofy and caught off-guard, as in the above image!
Luke Perry
When it comes to taking photos with celebrities at conventions, there are a few tried and tested angles you can go for. You can just stand next to each other and smile, or you can come up with some elaborate physical comedy pose, such as walking the dog or the evolution of man. Or, best of all, you can opt for the deliberately uncomfortable pre-prom picture, as these two are expertly demonstrating. Brava!
Sasha Banks
There aren’t many places as inappropriate to collar a celebrity than the bathroom, but the airport ranks pretty high too. Not only does everyone have somewhere to be, but the celeb probably isn’t wearing their usual make-up or a stylish outfit, and they might be cranky from travelling. Even worse for this guy, the woman he snapped a picture with is a pro-wrestler, and so maybe the worst person in the airport to risk angering. Godspeed!
Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian might have started as a run-of-the-mill reality star, but over time she’s become an ethereal figure of pure aspiration. She never looks anything less than runway-ready, and every outfit she wears looks as though it was plucked from a vacuum-sealed dress bag just seconds prior to her appearing in public. That’s why it’s hilarious to see her obviously practised smile paired with this out-of-focus selfie, especially since the selfie-taker seems more bored than enamoured!
Katy Perry
It’s fair to say that the established wisdom that you should never surprise your significant other with a tattoo of them doesn’t really apply to celebrities. Plenty of people have Ziggy Stardust on their bicep or Tim Curry on their lower back, and could show off their ink at a signing without breaking any social contracts… unless the images were in an unsavoury place, that is! With that said, it’s clear from Perry’s face here that she isn’t a huge fan of the design her fan got, and can you blame her?
Alexa Bliss
When you meet a celebrity at an official event, the only thing you’re guaranteed is a picture and a couple of seconds to speak. Whether they’ll accept gifts and letters, whether they’re comfortable with hugs and whether they’ll record a message for your best friend who really wanted to come but got sick, that’s all down to the celeb in question. It seems fair to say that pro-wrestler Alexa Bliss was okay with this hug, even if it was a little awkward-looking, because she could definitely do something about it if she wasn’t.
Miley Cyrus
Few celebrities have experienced the next-level fame that Miley Cyrus was able to access while performing as Hannah Montana. For her, having legions of screaming and sobbing teenage girls follow her around is just part of the job, hence her ability to take selfies with openly weeping teens like it’s no big deal. The head holding, however? That’s a little more difficult to figure out.
Ed Sheeran
Thanks to his shock of ginger hair and glasses, Ed Sheeran is one of the most instantly recognisable celebrities in the world. Hilariously though, he also just looks like a regular guy, in a way that other singer-songwriters like Leonard Cohen and Neil Diamond never could. As a result, all of his selfies with fans just look like pictures taken to commemorate a particularly good night at the pub.
Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber has had an unusual career trajectory, going from precocious child star to infamous teen bad boy to generally inoffensive R&B hit-maker with a beautiful wife. However, just because he has grown and evolved, does not mean his fans have ever lost the impulse to start crying when in his vicinity. Unless this woman is instead crying at his truly atrocious Sprite vest, which kind of looks like the bib you wear during a school sports day.
Dylan O’Brien
One of the most annoying things about being a celebrity is that until you reach a certain level of mega-fame, you still have to attend to your own affairs: getting your oil checked and changed, hanging out in the waiting room at the dentist, and going grocery shopping. This means that people can run up to you for pictures while you’re just trying to buy floss and Oreos, sometimes taking them before you’ve even had a chance to pose.
Jason Momoa
Although this image looks a little bit odd at first glance, it’s not difficult to figure out exactly what has happened. This woman has gone to a convention to meet Jason Momoa, one of the most handsome actors to ever grace the world of superheroes, and has brought along her partner. Only for Momoa to jokingly cut him out of the picture entirely. That must have been an awkward drive home!
Katy Perry
We’ve already discussed the fact that the uncomfortable prom pose is one of the classics when it comes to meet-and-greet photos, and Katy Perry and her fan have executed it perfectly. Not only are they leaving room for Jesus, but the guy’s totally casual t-shirt is hilarious when compared to Perry’s glittering, glamorous costume.
Jimmy Fallon & Jon Hamm
What’s funnier than a badly-executed photo of a normal person and a celebrity? A badly-executed photo of a normal person and two celebrities! This poor family’s holiday snap was crashed by both Jimmy Fallon and Jon Hamm, suitably decked out in warm winter gear against the New York backdrop. That’s definitely one for the mantelpiece!
Weird Al
Let’s be totally real: this is a self-deprecating joke on Weird Al’s part. As the world’s premiere musical comedian and parody artist, he definitely has legions of enthusiasts but instead decided to pose with this wall of fans instead. At least none of the fans will ever look back on this picture and wish they’d gotten a haircut, smiled less awkwardly or worn a better outfit!
Katie Holmes
In the early 2000s, Katie Holmes was considered to be one of the most stunning women in the whole world, if not the most beautiful of them all. However, nowadays her beauty isn’t considered quite so unattainable, as shown by the fact that normal people are aping her style with common household objects like toilet rolls. Glamorous!
Tom Felton
Plenty of actors have a predilection for playing villainous characters, but few performers are so synonymous with the dark side as Tom Felton. Ever since he played Draco Malfoy in childhood, Felton has seemed to gravitate to all things evil, so it makes sense that he would crash this gathering of Stormtroopers. Maybe he was the wizard they were looking for?
Eric Stonestreet & Neil Flynn
It’s easy to forget since they seem to live in a separate world from ordinary people, but celebrities can also be fans of each other. That explains why Neil Flynn of Scrubs fame and Eric Stonestreet from Modern Family were catching a sports game together, and this lucky fan was blessed enough to get a two-in-one celeb selfie.
Norman Reedus
Norman Reedus rose to fame after playing the toughest guy on The Walking Dead, so it takes someone seriously scary to make him look small, intimidated or outmatched. That’s how he can flip off this musclebound, tatted-up boyfriend while putting his arm around the guy’s girlfriend without fear of repercussions. The good news is, the two guys are clearly in a good mood despite trying hard not to smile, and the woman is totally failing to look less than thrilled!
Mark Hamill
What do you think the conversation was like before this photograph was taken? Maybe it was something like: “Hey Mark Hamill! I loved you in Batman: The Animated Series, would it be okay if we took a picture where you pose like I’m a buddy from your high school bowling team, and I pose like I’m staring directly into the light at the birth of the universe? Cool, thanks!”
The Bella Twins
The Bella Twins are simultaneously two of the most beautiful and fearsome women in the world, thanks to their successful career as the terrible twosome of pro wrestling. So maybe that’s why these two guys look ever so nervous to be posing with them? Or maybe the guy on the left is just hoping for good feedback on his drag cosplay?
Khloe Kardashian
Most people have a favourite Kardashian and, while Khloe isn’t the most popular choice, she is regarded as the most down-to-Earth and sweet of all the sisters. That’s why it’s so funny to see her clearly smiling and hugging a fan in a good-natured way, while also wearing such high and uncomfortable-looking stilettos that she towers over the person she’s trying to talk to.
Kristin Stewart
Some celebrities are amazing at dealing with fans and the pressures of fame. Others… are Kristen Stewart. Along with being an amazing but temporarily maligned actress in the late 2010s, managing to anger Donald Trump by just existing and biting her lip a lot, Stewart is famous for the awkward way she deals with fans and cameras. It hasn’t stopped legions of people from queueing up to meet her though!
Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise is an odd celebrity, because he’s simultaneously known as a suave and effortlessly charming leading man, and a guy obsessed with Scientology and behaving weirdly in interviews. However, at least when it comes to this image he’s obviously not the weird one, as that title goes to the person managing to extend their neck an inhuman amount in order to get closer while also sweating profusely.
Kanye West
Kanye West is such a megastar that he probably doesn’t see ordinary people that often, so it makes sense that he usually seems uncomfortable and bewildered in photos with them. With that said, in this case, the blandly annoyed facial expression is probably because he’s literally on the phone, and this guy is still trying to steal a selfie with him as he walks by. Not cool, let Kanye talk!
Avril Lavigne
Avril Lavinge was the North Star for a whole generation of awkward, shy emo girls, who wished they could dye their hair but whose parents wouldn’t let them, who nearly got a lazy eye for styling such a dramatic side-fringe and who would watch the Girlfriend music video on repeat on Saturday mornings. So it makes sense that this photo radiates such “two emos get shoved together at a house party where they don’t know anyone else” energy.
Khloe Kardashian
When serendipitously running into a celebrity in public, there are a few rules it’s important to bear in mind. Firstly, try not to take up too much of their time, since they might be in a hurry. Secondly, if they tell you they can’t stop for a photo or don’t want to sign anything, respect that. Thirdly, and most importantly, don’t touch, hug or grab them! No wonder Khloe Kardashian looks both startled and annoyed here!
Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr is now most famous for his career-defining performance as Tony Stark, but before that, he was most well-known for his public struggle with substance abuse and general bad behaviour. It’s true that in this picture, Downey Jr doesn’t look totally with it, but that’s probably down to not being given enough notice that a camera was about to flash in his face. Give him a second to straighten his tie at least!
Patrick Stewart
Patrick Stewart has been lucky enough to have a few legendary geek roles over the years, from Picard to Professor Xavier. As such, he has a huge contingent of sci-fi and comic fans who look up to him immensely. This guy, however, has no choice but to look down on him instead. At least he looks happy to have caught Stewart before he dashes off to play in the World Cup!
Hulk Hogan & James Blunt
There are plenty of unlikely celebrity friendships out there in the world, but none are so visually jarring as mild-mannered, ballad-aficionado James Blunt and legendary pro wrestler Hulk Hogan. Blunt clearly seems the more enthused of the two here, but it’s fun to imagine them bonding over their love of cardigans and the art of subtle putdowns.
Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton might be a y2k-core nostalgia icon now, but that’s nothing compared to how famous she was the first time around. More than even a cultural force, she typified a whole attitude of consumerism, fashion and hedonism, meaning that fans were more likely than not to turn their best looks when meeting her. This enthusiast even matched his hoodie to her book!
Kristen Stewart
We’ve already discussed the fact that Stewart isn’t great at appearing enthused when dealing with fans, even though she does seem to cherish them in her own way. This picture is the perfect example: her face betrays absolutely nothing about how she feels about this interaction, but she has just enough of a smile for the fan to feel satisfied with the picture he’s procured. Genius work.
Gerard Butler
When you take a selfie with a celebrity, there’s a good chance that you’ll end up looking much worse than they do, since they likely have a team of make-up artists, an expensive skin routine and the chance to get more sleep than you do. However, in this picture of Gerard Butler and a fan, neither man comes out looking their best. Better luck next time!
Robert Pattinson
Robert Pattinson is great at being famous. His rugged good looks make him the perfect leading man, but his outspoken tendencies in interviews, his habit of slating off his prior work and outright lying make him relatable to the average person. Also, like his Twilight costar Kristen Stewart, Pattinson manages to come off as cooly disinterested as well as devastatingly attractive in fan selfies. What more could you want?
George Clooney
George Clooney has been camping out in the top 20 of the world’s most handsome men list for literal decades, so it’s no surprise that he manages to pull off the perfect blue steel without even trying in this photo. What is harder to figure out is what expression the man on the right was actually going for. Surprise? Delight? I-just-bumped-into-this-guy-at-the-pub?
Hugh Grant
Hugh Grant has had a long and storied film career, in which he has often played dashing romantic leads with an irresistible sense of humour and effortlessly refined style and taste. So why is it that when this employee asked for a picture with him in the middle of this shopping centre, he ended up looking more like a haunted vampire on the run from the police after his first-ever kill?
Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian can make anything look stylish, which is how she’s pulling off a tube top that looks like it was made from a Halloween mummy costume or a burlap sack cut into strips in this picture. Not only that, but she’s gotten her photo face and posture down to a tee, so much so that she almost looks like a mannequin or cardboard cutout in this image.
Britney Spears
Despite having not released any music in years, Britney Spears remains the Princess of Pop, a powerhouse performer with the best costumes money can buy and more catchy hooks than you can shake a glitter-covered stick at! Unfortunately for her, this fan caught her on a less-than-great make-up day, and she seems pretty aware of it.
