Interviewing celebrities can be a hazardous job. If they’re not telling you to “f*** off”, they’re making you cry.
Most of the time celebs have publicists or handlers on hand to stop their hissy fits from ever reaching the public but every now and then stuff seeps through, as Jesse Eisenberg and Rhys Ifans have found out to their cost.
First up, Eisenberg. The Social Network star’s difficult behaviour came to light after he did a video interview with a young blogger to promote his new film, Now You See Me.
His short answers and quickness to mock interviewer Romina Puga left her feeling humiliated and embarrassed.
Puga posted the whole exchange on her blog to show what a “jerk” Eisenberg is. He certainly doesn’t come off as likeable.
When Puga refers to Eisenberg’s co-star, Morgan Freeman, by his last name, he makes fun of her.
“Freeman Who are you What are you on a baseball team with him … Don’t call Morgan Freeman, ‘Freeman’ like you’re on a little league softball team.”
When Puga tries to get him to do a card trick (his character in the movie is a magician) he compares her to an unpopular comedian, Carrot Top.
Eisenberg: You know the comedian Carrot Top
Puga: Yes. He’s horrible.
Eisenberg: Well… you are like the Carrot Top of interviewers.
Puga: Ok. I’m going to cry now.
Eisenberg: No. Don’t cry now. Cry after the interview is over, because otherwise it’ll look like I was responsible for it.
Puga: Well, you are.
Eisenberg: Well, I don’t want to know that though.
Next up, Rhys Ifans, whose bad behaviour was exposed on the front page of The Times of London under the unambiguous headline “The interview from hell”.
Ifans, who is best known as the slob flatmate in Notting Hill and the villain in Amazing Spider-man, was obstructive and condescending throughout his exchange with The Times.
The actor’s handler had warned the writer, Janice Turner, not to ask him about his personal life, which she agreed to, but every topic she brought up seemed to irritate him.
Press regulation, the actor’s Washes – they all resulted in an angry glare.
