From Ariana Grande to Beyonce, which star is the biggest diva of them all?
We see which star has the most ridiculous rider and bizarre backstage behaviour
WHETHER it's ridiculous riders to barmy backstage behaviour, many celebrities can be guilty of being a diva from time to time.
Here, we reveal the A-listers' high-maintenance demands and see who is the ultimate diva.
GRANDE REQUESTS
Diva demands: Ariana Grande, 25, has a rep for being a mini Mariah in training. It began in 2014, with rumours that she didn’t get along with a Sam & Cat co-star, 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. We’ve all got our best angles, right?
Ultimate diva moment: When a picture surfaced of her being carried by her tour manager, rumours swirled that Ariana was too special to walk. But she poked fun at herself on Carpool Karaoke by getting James Corden to give her a piggyback to Starbucks.
She says “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.”
Diva rating: 3/5.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
Diva demands: As well as all the Scientology, Tom Cruise, 56, also has some strange on-set requests. To do his own stunts he apparently needs to wear a custom-made thong, and requires the costume department to make over 50 of them so he can use a new one each time. That’s nothing compared to the lackey who has to walk through doors before him to “clear the negative energy”.
Ultimate diva moment: In 2012, the star asked the Forza Mare hotel in Montenegro to clear out its guests so he could eat dinner in peace. The manager refused, so he ordered a seafood platter to his yacht instead.
He says: “I can’t do something halfway… If I’m going to do something, I go all the way.”
Diva rating: 3/5.
PRIMA DONNA
Diva demands: While on her 2012 MDNA tour, Madonna insisted on taking a 200-person entourage around the world, including 30 bodyguards, a yoga instructor, an acupuncturist and vegan chefs. Her rider also included custom-made furniture, rare pink and white roses with the stems cut to precisely 6in, 20 landlines (Madge’s very own call centre) and a new toilet seat for every venue.
Ultimate diva moment: After a gig in Portugal, the Material Girl, 60, had her dressing room stripped of DNA by a sterilisation team. Yep, we definitely don’t need more Madonnas.
She says: “A lot of people are afraid to say what they want. That’s why they don’t get what they want.”
Diva rating: 4/5.
HOT 'N' COLD
Diva demands: Katy Perry’s requests are as OTT as her outfits. During her Prismatic world tour, her leaked 45-page rider requested specific furniture and lighting, banned carnations and forbade her drivers from speaking to her or looking at her in the rear-view mirror. To be fair, we wish we could do this with Uber drivers occasionally.
Ultimate diva moment: In 2014 it was revealed that Katy, 34, hires someone to wash and cut up her fruit and vegetables for her. Like buying those mango pots at Pret, but on a more extra scale.
She says: “If you lived on the road every single day and you were in and out of hotels, don’t you want comfort? Don’t you want some sliced turkey?”
Diva rating: 3/5.
MARIAH CARRY-ME
Diva demands: The pampered princess of pop is super-famous for her dramatic behaviour. MC, 49, once insisted she didn’t “do stairs”. Her demands include baskets of puppies and kittens and she has a special attendant to dispose of her gum. And you thought your job was bad.
Ultimate diva moment: In 2005, Mimi 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.
She says: “I have had diva moments and then people can’t handle it.” Plus, when Katy Perry tweeted her about the puppy rumours, Mariah replied: “That was ONE TIME!” That’s us told.
Diva rating: 5/5.
QUEEN B
Diva demands: Considering she has a song called Diva, Beyoncé’s tour rider was always going to be specific. She apparently requests that all her crew members wear 100% cotton, her water is chilled to 21ºF and served through £700 titanium straws, and she has access to hand-carved ice balls after every show to cool her throat.
Ultimate diva moment: In 2013, the 37 year old reportedly instructed Blue Ivy’s £16,000 crib be flown in from their NY home to the Superdome in New Orleans. Only the best for the Bey-bay.
She says: “A diva is a female version of a hustler.”
Diva rating: 4/5.
JUSTIN DIVA
Diva demands: He became well known for attacking paps and storming off stage in a strop, but the India leg of Justin Bieber's Purpose tour was next level. According to a leaked rider he had two five-star hotels on reserve, a female masseuse flown in, 13 rooms backstage at each venue, half a gallon of almond milk, a convoy of 10 luxury sedans, two Volvo buses, a private jet and chopper and chef-prepped meals. Just the basics, then.
Ultimate diva moment: In 2015, Justin, 25, had a tantrum live on TV after a camera failed to record his dance moves.
He says: "I've made myself so unrelatable with all stuff that I was doing. Not even the bad stuff, just outrageous stuff. Like, you got a monkey, what are you doing?"
Diva rating: 5/5.
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WATCH THE THRONE
Diva demands: Kanye West, 41, apparently likes his staff to wear all black (“patterns distract him”), only eats white grapes and refuses to press lift buttons for himself. On tour, he requests non-labelled bottles of Volvic water, raw asparagus and a discontinued and rare sound system. The models at his Yeezy fashion show were also issued 38 rules, including “no smiling”.
Ultimate diva moment: When he performed on Later… With Jools Holland in 2013, Kanye allegedly asked for the carpet to be ironed as it was too bumpy.
He says: “I am the number one human being in music. That means any person that’s living or breathing is number two.”
Diva rating: 4/5.