Green giants
These stars have displayed some pretty epic ‘diva’ behaviour — and we’re loving it! By Rachel Beresford
Bond Girl Eva Green was in court recently suing production company White Lantern Films, claiming she is entitled to her $1million fee for the movie, A Patriot, despite its cancellation. The Casino Royale star had been set to star in the movie before production was shut down in October 2019.
She sued White Lantern Films who brought a counterclaim against the French actress, alleging she made“unreasonable demands” and undermined the film’s production.
And last week, the high court heard that a message from one of the producers of the film had claimed that Eva“would rather eat tumours”than make the movie before the project was shut down.
So, this week, with Eva being branded a ‘diva’ in court, we’re taking a look at the other stars who have been accused of diva-like behaviour…
Mariah Carey has long been known for her ‘diva’ behaviour with accusations of everything from over-the-top rider requests — she reportedly once asked for 20 white kittens and 100 white doves in her dressing room — to being abusive to staff — in a 2019 lawsuit, Carey’s former assistant Lianna Shakhnazaryan claims that she was subjected to physical abuse, including being urinated on and called several names. The claim was eventually settled.
In 2005, Mimi is said to have refused to get out of her limousine until London’s Baglioni Hotel provided a red carpet lined with white candles. And when she appeared on GMTV in 2009 she wouldn’t sit down without help from two producers.
But the story of Carey giving birth to her twins is probably the biggest diva moment she’s ever had.
According to Mariah’s ex-husband Nick Cannon, who is father to her twins Moroccan and Monroe, the singer gave birth to a live version of one of her hits.
Carey’s then-husband told The Gayle King Show that she gave birth in 2011 as a live version of her song ‘Fantasy’ played.
Nick said,“my wife wanted to make sure that when the babies came out, that they came out not only to a Mariah Carey song, but a live performance from Mariah Carey — her Madison Square performance of ‘Fantasy’ — so they came out to a round of applause.” Lindsay Lohan’s diva demands are pretty crazy, to say the least. She was once asked to appear on a popular Russian talk show to speak about her relationship with Egor Tarabasov, a businessman from Moscow.
However, the list of demands Lohan sent back was deemed ridiculous by the channel — after she reportedly requested a private jet complete with a hair stylist, make-up artist and a manicurist.
And as if that wasn’t enough, she also allegedly demanded a one-year Russian visa, the penthouse suite at the Ritz-carlton in Moscow and, oh, a private meeting with Presidentvladimir Putin. Of course, her demands were denied — and thanks for that! We all know rapper Kanye West can be a bit off the wall and is no stranger to the headlines. However, it also turns out his celebrity rider requests have always been rather strange. Backstage,yeezy regularly demands cylindrical vases to be placed around his dressing room. Kanye also has to have black towels, minty floss and ‘Kashi Go Lean’ cereal when he’s on tour.
However, he really raised eyebrows in 2012 when he headed up the Tour with Jay-z as the former Mr Kardashian had staff running around looking for a Genelecs
1031 speaker… which had actually been discontinued over a decade earlier. We wouldn’t like to have been the unlucky staff member on the receiving end of that particular request. Canadian singer Justin Bieber was outed for being a diva when his India tour rider was leaked.
Sorry singer Bieber’s demands included — but wasn’t limited to — things such as a personal chef that will name dishes after his own songs, a private jet and helicopter on standby and unlimited bags of Haribo cola bottles.
Ariana Grande looks like butter wouldn’t melt but after being accused of being a diva, the singer responded in epic fashion, saying,“if you want to call me a diva, I’ll say: ‘Um, well, cool.’ Barbra Streisand is a diva, that’s amazing. Céline Dion is a diva, thank you.”
Grande’s rep began in 2014, with rumours that she didn’t get along with a co-star on kids’ show Sam & Cat.
This was followed by allegations that her life coach quit because of her bossy behaviour and reports from a photographer that she refused to be snapped from her right side or in natural light.
But her ultimate diva moment seemingly came when a picture surfaced of her being carried by her tour manager, with rumours swirling that Ariana was too special to walk.
But later, Ariana quietened her critics when she poked fun at herself on Carpool Karaoke by getting James Corden to give her a piggyback to Starbucks.
While all these demands are pretty obscene, if not a bit laughable, perhaps the biggest diva award of all has to go to Knocked Up actress Katherine Heigl who once refused an Emmy nomination for Grey’s Anatomy because she felt the writing didn’t deserve the accolade.
Heigl’s reputation took a hit in 2008 after she abstained from an Emmy nomination for the Supporting Role in Grey’s.
Heigl released a statement saying that she did not feel she was given the material in season 4 to warrant an Emmy nomination and in an effort to maintain the integrity of the academy organisation, she withdrew her name from contention.
Heigl gained the reputation of being ‘difficult’ to work with but soon after she apologised to Grey Anatomy’s showrunner Shona Rhimes.
However, it seems her apology didn’t do the trick as just two seasons later Heigl’s character, Izzie, was killed off, departing for a new job and divorcing Alex Karev. Ouch! ■
“BARBRA STREISAND IS A DIVA. THAT’S AMAZING...”