"Became Very Arrogant": 40 People Who Knew Celebrities Before They Were Famous Reveal What They Were Like

We managed to get an interview with the Redditor that asked the question. First of all, they answered how they came up with it: "I couldn't fall asleep one night and this was one of the questions that popped up in my head!" Then we asked if they expected some of the answers they got: "I wouldn't say I didn't expect it, but a lot of people are jerks and easily let fame go to their heads."

The Redditor shared their own celebrity experience: "I once went to a Baltimore Ravens training camp and met some players and they signed a football I had. Those were just very brief interactions though. I've never known a celebrity personally, but maybe I'll have a story in the future!"

They also shared why they think people change once they become famous: "Power. It's that simple, honestly. When you have power and money, it's even worse. They make you feel like you're above everybody else and are better than everyone. Which obviously isn't the case. Some people can handle fame and be humble about it, and others not so much."

The Redditor opened up about how they felt after the question got so much attention: "I didn't expect it at all! Usually, posts don't get that much attention, so it was quite a surprise to open my phone in the morning with over 100 notifications. I tried to read and reply to all of them but there were SO MANY. I got exhausted trying to reply to everything. But it was fun to read them and see everyone's experiences."

We asked them who their favorite and least favorite celebrities are: "Starting with least favorite, I'd probably say Tom Cruise. He's a great actor but a very odd person and apparently isn't that great to work with. For my favorites, I would probably have to say, Keanu Reeves and Elizabeth Olsen. They both seem like very down-to-earth people and the stories I've heard of them corroborate that. Keanu Reeves is of course probably an internet favorite!"

We also talked with Deborah S. Bowen, Ph.D., and she shared some interesting and helpful insights on this topic: "Any dramatic change to a person's status quo certainly has the potential to change the person, even at the most fundamental level. When someone goes from relative anonymity to a constant stream of fan adoration on any number of platforms, that person is bound to experience change. Perhaps they'll become introverted and try to avoid the public; perhaps they'll embrace the newfound admiration and really lean into it, offering closeness via parasocial relationships. Regardless of the catalyst, these watershed moments in a person's life must surely be marked by behavioral adjustments."

We asked her what she thinks the main difference between celebrities at home and celebrities in public is: "I'd imagine that celebrities in private are just like you and me in private (except maybe in more luxurious surroundings!). Most of us want the same things: a safe place to call home, a kitchen stocked with nutritionally necessary items, and maybe a companion.

"There's no reason to believe that celebrities are any different when the cameras aren't rolling. Without the pressure of perfection or of brand ambassadorship, or of needing to hit a quota of likes or clicks, it makes sense that a celebrity can truly let their guard down and enjoy the relief of being their unobserved authentic self."

"Arguably, we all create public personas," Deborah S. Bowen said when asked if celebrities have public personalities. "I'm certainly a different type of person in the classroom than I am in the company of friends or when it's just my immediate family. It's likely that celebrities are encouraged or 'coached' into a persona that might meet with fan approval. That might be the only difference: celebrities receive media training while the rest of us have blunders around on our own!"

We also asked her about the strangest thing she's learned about celebrities and what the most fascinating thing about them is: "I learned that many celebrities who use their powers for good are often the quietest ones of all. Humility is a beautiful commodity in a culture that encourages everyone to reach out and grab their fifteen minutes of fame."

"Perhaps the most fascinating thing about being a celebrity, in my opinion, is how influence can literally change lives — positively and negatively. Celebrities can wield an awful lot of power when it comes to doing good work. From raising awareness of issues to assisting in fundraising to lending a name to a cause, a superstar can have an immediate and lasting impact. And, of course, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the comfort that piles of money would bring!

"Being a celebrity would mean sacrifice, though. Your life is no longer your own and I'd imagine that the demands on your time become excessive to the point of overwhelming."