Beyoncé Uses $900 straws?! And 10 Other Celebrity Backstage Health Demands
Surprise! Instead of hard partying, these celebs and rock stars take their healthy living demands on the road.
Overview
Being a celebrity comes with tons of perks: the best tables at restaurants, free designer clothing and the luxury of forgetting you ever knew how to clean your own toilet. And when the stars travel, they're often afforded riders — contracts that spell out their touring must-haves. To keep themselves as fit and fabulous as can be, these riders sometimes include perks only a bonafide health nut would demand. Behold the demands of 10 celebs who are intent on living their healthiest lives — even on the road!
1. Frances McDormand
While Frances McDormand is not a musician and this is not a backstage demand per se, her resounding Oscars 2018 call for 'inclusion riders' brings a much-deserved spotlight on demands geared towards mental wellbeing.
What's that, you ask? "This has always been available to all — everybody who does a negotiation on a film — which means you can ask for or demand at least 50 percent diversity in not only the casting but the crew," the Academy Award-winning actress explains.
When behind-the-scenes demands like this are being made, everyone is winning. So while this is not the average celebrity rider, it deserves mention.
2. Madonna
Madge has been making healthy demands for decades — her '90s tour documentary "Truth or Dare" even showed her slurping up miso soup. She is said to follow a strict macrobiotic diet and eschews wheat, dairy, meat and eggs. So it's no surprise to hear, according to a leaked tour rider, she travels with an acupuncturist, a yoga instructor and several personal chefs who cook up the healthy cuisine that keeps her lithe figure in check. It's working: She looks absolutely fantastic.
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3. Beyoncé
Queen Bey takes healthy living on tour very seriously. According to Elle, her rider includes $900 titanium straws to drink alkaline water through. She also insists on having the toilet seats replaced at each venue. Some of her other healthful requirements include her dressing room be kept at 78 degrees, brand new towels in the bathrooms, baked chicken "heavily seasoned" with cayenne pepper and lightly steamed spinach, green beans and garlic broccoli to go on the side. Sounds yummy!
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4. Justin Bieber
The Beebs doesn't hold back when it comes to asks afforded by his superstar status. Among what's listed on a leaked version of his rider: silverware, fresh flowers (no lilies!) and an abundance of healthy eats, such as coconut water, almond milk, strawberry and vanilla protein powder, raw organic honey, an assortment of decaf herbal teas, vitamin waters, organic deli meats and dried fruits are strong standouts among, predictably, some less healthy selections.
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5. Kanye West
When it comes to tour demands, the Yeezy designer reportedly likes his booze, but he also has a thing for yogurt. Apparently, he makes sure he's never short on Yoplait and plain yogurt "for dipping." He also favors pistachios and assorted nuts to snack on while sipping on a little something from the slushy machine. Yes, a slushy machine. Yikes.
6. Sir Paul McCartney
Possibly one of the world's most famous vegetarians, a leaked tour rider reveals that Sir Paul will not allow any meat, fur or leather in his dressing room. In fact, he's so hardcore in supporting animal rights, he won't even allow fake leathers or "artificial versions of animal skin or print" in his sight either. He also seems to be super into photosynthesis, because he's asked for six "full and leafy floor plants" that are "just as full on the bottom as the top," such as palm, bamboo and peace lilies. Also, "no tree trunks" allowed! He must have his reasons.
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7. Katy Perry
According to Business Insider, the ever-colorful Katy Perry is big on fresh organic fruit and veggies on tour. Her faves including apples, bananas, oranges and grapes and fresh crudites of cucumber, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, snap peas and celery, along with some less healthy Ranch dressing for dipping. She's also big on freeze-dried strawberries and baked (not fried!) blue corn tortilla chips and salsa. And to keep her pipes in shape, she requires Throat Coat, Twinnings Chamomile PG tips and Mint Medley teas with honey. At least she's cool with regular straws.
8. Jack Johnson
Word on the street has it that this singer-songwriter is all about running an environmentally friendly tour machine. According to a leaked tour rider, you'll find among his demands (for the greater good!): energy-efficient lightbulbs at the venue, bike valets, carbon dioxide emissions offsets, low-flow toilets and showers in his dressing room and, in all caps, "RECYCLING MUST NOT BE THROWN AWAY WITH THE TRASH." Plus, 100 percent of show profits go to nonprofit organizations. Talk about being a benevolent dictator!
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9. Lady Gaga
Back in 2011, Mother Monster was big on quick energy — one of her reported asks was a smoothie station in her dressing room. She's also outfitted with green tea, a cool-mist humidifier, veggie hot dogs (her fave kind are Yves) and guacamole, organic teas and honey, fresh fruit (to munch on) and cheese with "healthy" crackers. Oh, and Throat Coat tea. Who doesn't need some Throat Coat?
10. Arcade Fire
The hard-touring band Arcade Fire reportedly has a tour rider that reads like the inventory of a Brooklyn convenience store. Among the member's musts: loose black chai tea, tons of Evian water, hummus and pita, locally harvested mushrooms, cut vegetables, organic raspberries and vegan hot dogs. Not to mention "a craft corner with assorted paints and canvas as a creative outlet" (a coloring book would be so much easier), one bag of "locally produced, sustainable ice" and a collection of books from children's author Robert Munsch. Please, let it be true!
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11. Foo Fighters
The Foos are known for their wicked sense of humor. According to Rolling Stone, their 2011 tour rider was 52 pages long and full of tongue-in-cheek requests like coloring books. But according to Marie Claire UK, when playing the Glastonbury Music Festival this year, the dudes were wanting some healthy stuff, including Fiji Water, coconut water, pomegranate juice, fat-free organic milk, Edensoy milk, avocados, tomatoes, dark chocolate, assorted fruits like bananas, apples, pears, kiwis and grapes and "healthy cereal." Wild!
What Do YOU Think?
Who knew rock stars and celebrities could be so healthy on the road? If longevity is the name of the game, we suppose healthy demands are a must in lieu of hard living. So what do you think? Were any of these asks a surprise? Have you heard of any celebrity healthy living demands? Let us know in the comments below!