The 30 Most Absurd Celebrity Riders of All Time

published 27 January 2018

Ask and you shall receive—at least when it comes to celebrity riders (a list of demands stars write into their performance contracts). From Justin Timberlake's ridiculous request to have doorknobs cleaned to Beyoncé needing her dressing room set to a very specific temperature, these are the most outrageous requirements.

Adele

For Adele, it was very important that she receive one pack of Marlboro Lights and a lighter, as was included in her rider for the “Adele 21” tour. She also requested she be given two bottles of "the best quality Californian red wine and one bottle of the best quality Californian Sauvignon Blanc white wine (chilled). NO CHARDONNAY!"

Justin Bieber

When he was first starting his career in 2010, Bieber’s riders were simple: lots of snack food. Now, eight years later, Bieber’s riders include 10 luxury Sedans, a massage table, and a private jet on standby for any of his travel desires.

Beyoncé

Don't bring Coca-Cola products near Queen Bey, as she’s in a contract with Pepsi and drinking anything else would break it. Also requested in her hospitality rider: heavily seasoned, baked chicken legs, breasts, and wings (don’t forget to the hot sauce). And as if performing didn’t make her sweat, Beyoncé likes the temperature in her dressing room to be set to 78 degrees at all times.

Christina Aguilera

The singer really hates traffic, so to bypass any on her way to a venue, she requests a police escort, adding that “under no circumstances are the vehicles to be allowed to encounter any delays due to traffic.”

Drake

Among his list of requests while on tour, Drake’s weirdest is four dozen natural-scented incense sticks. Less surprising: a *ton* of alcohol, including bottles of Hennessy or Courvoisier, Patron Silver Tequila, Grey Goose Vodka, Jack Daniels, and Heineken.

Taylor Swift

Swift loves her Starbucks so much that her very specific order has to be delivered to her before 11 a.m. The order includes 1 Grande ICED Caramel Latte with 2 Sweet-N-Lows, 1 Grande ICED Americano with 2 Sweet-N-Lows and soy milk, and 1 slice of Pumpkin loaf.

Selena Gomez

Post 2014 break up with Justin Bieber, Gomez had declared no one she worked with could go by the name “Justin.” Apparently quite a few crew members had the name and therefore were given different monikers during her time of mourning. Other than that one strange request, Gomez just needs chicken pot pie and pickles.

Rihanna

During her “Last Girl on Earth” world tour in 2010, Rihanna’s rider included one large fur rug (preferably animal-printed) for her to walk on barefoot. Apparently she was also very big into curtains, specifically blue or black with “icy-blue chiffon” and white curtains to cover any lockers or bricks.

Justin Timberlake

The “Sexy Back” singer is very health conscious and, according to his rider, he requires someone to disinfect the doorknobs of any backstage venue or hotel he's in every two hours. On top of that, it’s necessary for him to have the elevator to himself and an entire floor of a hotel.

Jennifer Lopez

It’s all-white everything for Lopez. Her rider says all objects, from the curtains down to the candles, must be the creamy shade.

Katy Perry

The “Extraterrestrial” singer is a little extra with her food requests. Perry’s snack list is complete with unsweetened, dried apples and pears, and lightly salted, dry-roasted edamame. And if you ever plan to send Perry flowers, under absolutely no circumstances should they be carnations.

Jay-Z

In his spring 2009 production rider, the rapper demanded that he have seven dressing rooms (one for every day of the week maybe?). And Jay-Z was also in need of some “good quality peanut butter” and “good quality jelly” to, you know, make some really bomb PB&J sandwiches in his down time.

Mariah Carey

For a tour, Carey requested a bottle of Cristal champagne, complete with bendy straws for sipping. Oh, and she was also in need of a person whose sole purpose was to throw away her gum.

Joe Jonas

At the top of Joe Jonas’ rider: 12 puppies. He revealed that it’s been on his rider for a while, but this is the one thing he doesn't always get. He said only occasionally will “a city will show up with 12 puppies" for him. Other than that, he just wants beer and meat pies.

Kanye West

In one of his previous tours, Kanye bolded the most important things to him on his rider. Chief among the requested: Carmex chapstick, Sunkist salted pistachios, bottles of Propel Water, and booze—a bottle of Hennessy, Skyy or Absolut Vodka, Patron Silver Tequila, and four 6-packs of Heineken. During his “Saint Pablo” tour, Kanye’s wife Kim Kardashian, posted a photo of alcohol-infused slushie machines in his dressing room, and we can only assume that means they were put there by demand.

Lady Gaga

Gaga has made some pretty unusual requests, one being a mannequin with "puffy pink public hair” (we think she meant pubic hair, but hey, who knows!) for her “Monster Ball” tour. She also was in need of some extra long straws and lots of tea—as any true fan knows, she’s obsessed with it.

Kevin Hart

Hart’s request could be the most absurd yet. He asked to have five women between the ages of 21-27 “with an athletic/sexy build” at the venue one hour ahead of time and to stay one hour after. The ridiculous rider said T-shirts and tights would be provided to the women and the only “sizes are x-small, small, and medium.”

Britney Spears

During her performance in London’s O2 Arena, Spears requested that a framed photo of Princess Diana be hung in her dressing room because, reportedly, "Britney adores the monarchy. Diana was in many ways her inspiration." She also really wanted some McDonald’s cheeseburgers...but hold the buns.

Lindsay Lohan

Before she was to appear on a Russian talk show, Lohan sent a list of demands, one of which included meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin. She also requested she be given a one-year visa, private jet, and $650,000 for her appearance on the show.

George Clooney

Supposedly, Clooney requested a hot tub, custom-made beach hut, and basketball court to be installed near his trailer while making the movie Gravity.

Mary J. Blige

She’s apparently not a fan of public toilets. Her rider states she needs her own private one, complete with new seat. Plus, any hotel she stays in must have king-sized beds, because “twin beds are unacceptable.”

Madonna

Her biggest request, and we mean biggest as in number, was a 200-person entourage. Oh, and she’s adamant about her backstage room resembling her own personal home, with flower-scented fabric furniture

Eminem

The rapper could care less about the furniture is his dressing room—his rider only lays out what food he should have. And he’s a kid at heart, requesting 6 Lunchables—3 turkeys and 3 hams if we’re being specific. He must also have a love for Diet Coke, because he needed 24 cans and 24 plastic bottles of it.

Ne-Yo

The singer needs a lot of alcohol to be stocked in his dressing room, including a bottle of Ketel One. But this isn’t the kind of vodka for drinking. Ne-Yo requested a bottle for the sole purpose of using it to clean things, though the rider didn’t specify what things that would be.

Cher

Cher and her managers don’t wear backstage passes. End of story. Her rider points out that people should familiarize themselves with their faces because they won’t be wearing them. Oh, and she’ll take one separate room for all her wigs too.

Prince

The “Purple Rain” singer made one of the biggest requests to date in 2007, asking the venue’s owner to build him a luxury five-bedroom home near the O2 Arena in London. In his 2004 rider he required that “all items in dressing room must be covered by clear plastic wrap until uncovered by main artist. This is absolutely necessary.”

Whitney Houston

Per her rider, Houston requested that she be transported in an “armored” Mercedes Benz or BMW 740.

One Direction

The now-split boy band had some pretty fun requests for their 2015 “On the Road Again” tour, including a fridge stocked with beer at all times, lots of KFC, a ping-pong table, and soft toilet paper. This all seems pretty doable compared to what other celebrities have asked for.

Will Ferrell

Like many of the roles he takes on, Ferrell has some pretty funny requests—and we’re not sure if they were to be taken seriously. Items included an electric three wheel mobility scooter, a flight of stairs on wheels, a fake tree on wheels, and a rainbow on wheels. We’re seeing the pattern here.

Paul McCartney

Quite the opposite of Rihanna, McCartney requested all items be animal-free, including food, materials, and prints (no plush fur rug for him). His rider states that “there will be no meat, or meat by-products allowed to be served in the dressing rooms, production office, or areas within the 'backstage area.'” If he’s not eating meat, no one can.

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