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Uma Thurman was trending in the media this week. Did she make a heated or political statement? Did she engage in some important philanthropic work? Was she nominated for an award for a powerful performance?
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When you think of diva-like behaviour, Jack White may not be the first celebrity that comes to mind. But the rocker of White Stripes fame was none too pleased when his crew's list of needs, known as a "rider," was leaked prior to a recent campus performance.
In addition to the $80,000 charge, the University of Oklahoma was presented with a strange slew of demands for White and his 30-person strong troupe, which included an outright ban on bananas (“This is a banana-free tour.”)
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Is it possible that someone in the White entourage is highly allergic to bananas? Does White himself have a phobia of yellow, crescent-shaped fruit? It's an enigma, folks.
In addition to the banana ban, the rider specified very explicit dietary requirements, ranging from a New York strip steak, cooked medium, to “freshly sliced, high-quality prosciutto and aged salami with a sharp knife.”
But the most attention-grabbing clause was the inclusion of a particular guacamole recipe, which has since gone viral. In a statement, White's management company, Monotone Inc., deemed the breach of private information unfortunate, unprofessional, and unwelcoming.
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Although I was secretly hoping it was a White family recipe, it's unlikely that the guac specification even came from the frontman himself. Still, foodies will want to take note of the inclusion of the pits and the surface coating of lime juice—to keep the guacamole from browning. The Haas avocados must be cut in half the long way with a butter knife, with 3-4 slits down and 3-4 slits across. And the recipe came with serious warnings about consistency and timing ("We'd love to have it around 5pm.")
While we mere mortals may laugh, how many celebrities would be embarrassed if their entourage's demands were made public? Maybe that would bring a few divas back down to earth.
You tell me: What's the most demanding or diva-like behaviour you've heard from a celeb?
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Talk about adding insult to injury. Being homeless is unfathomable, especially during the long northern winter. So it was an un-Canadian gesture from a quintessential Canadian company when a Tim Hortons owner threw a bucket of water on the homeless outside a Vancouver store.
At the time of the incident, Grant Faithful, his dog, and another man were sleeping outside of Timmies. They weren't disturbing anyone, not panhandling, when the franchise owner came up with a callous way to get the men to move. The owner obviously didn't like the look of them outside his storefront, and perhaps saw their presence as off-putting to customers.
That's no reason to eschew your compassion and humanity.
The incident sparked outrage on social media, with users on Twitter and Facebook calling for a boycott of Tim's.
The public outpouring of support meant a lot to Faithful, yet he hasn't heard a peep from the company. Though it has issued the standard "regretful" statement, Tim's officials haven't yet met with the man and refused to do so publicly. Instead, it has vowed to make a “meaningful donation” to a local Salvation Army shelter, ostensibly buying its way out of a bad PR situation.
One store does not make a brand, and clearly owners alone are responsible for the image they convey to the public. Sadly the face of this particular Timmies is neither friendly nor welcoming, but it wouldn't be fair to tarnish Tim's as a whole.
“Unfortunately, we have to sleep outside, we have to deal with a lot of stuff and that is just one of the everyday things that we go through,” said Faithful.
Homelessness isn't a straightforward problem with a straightforward solution. There are so many stories behind each person who lives on the streets, and we'd do well to bear this in mind every time we see someone with an empty cup in hand.
You tell me: have we been desensitized to homelessness?