‘At home broadcasts’ allows fans to spy on how their favourite celebrities really live
The judgmental eye of social media users has never been sharper when celebrities or politicians broadcast from home, revealing some surprising insights into the real lifestyles of the rich and famous.
When it comes to choosing a book to read during lockdown, Eddie McGuire doesn’t have a preference for fiction or biographies – only publications in the same size.
The media personality revealed OCD tendencies when he chose an usual background during a broadcast on Channel 9, standing in front of shelving featuring a row of neatly arranged books.
It wasn’t unnoticed on social media, with followers remarking on the Collingwood President’s quirky backdrop.
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“I wanna be the person who gets paid to buy Eddie McGuire’s books by height” one fan exclaimed.
“Has anyone ever had more books of exactly the same height as Eddie McGuire?” came another tweet.
Lego Masters host Hamish Blake may be busy with coloured bricks on the hit TV series, but it appears his on-screen job may have spilt over into his real life during lockdown. The comedian appeared on the Music From The Homefront broadcast in front of a rather unusual backdrop.
“Did anyone else notice Blake’s colour coded books? What a good use of time!!” said one Twitter user.
“Hey@hamishblake are you or Zoe the colour co-ordinated neat freak?” tweeted another fan.
Blake is not the only one who has been busy rearranging his bookshelf during the current pandemic. Hollywood actor Kerry Washington also revealed she may also be prone to OCD with a similar looking backdrop on the One World: Together At Home – Global Citizen concert organised by Lady Gaga.
While aimed at providing entertainment during isolation, such star-laden events have also given the public a rare chance to spy on the true lifestyles of the rich and famous.
There have been some dreamy backgrounds such as John Legend playing piano in front of a swag of Grammy Awards at his luxury West Hollywood property and Jennifer Lopez leaning against a tree covered in fairy lights on her private estate.
Aussie stars involved in last weekend’s Anzac Day performances kept their backgrounds a little more low-key. Delta Goodrem played piano with soft drapery, an indoor pot plant and black framed print in her background. Kate Cebrano’s home featured some oversized large scrabble tiles on the wall and a vase of native flowers.
Guy Sebastian gave a little glimpse into his recently completed ultra modern $3.1 million Maroubra mansion with a black cabinet, prints and, of course, several Aria awards on display during the broadcast.
It was hard, however, not to be distracted by his adorable son Hudson, who sat with his dad and showed off his wobbly front tooth.
“Amazing talent, makes me proud to be Australian! Side note – how gorgeous is Guy Sebastian’s little boy Hudson?!” tweeted one fan.
It is not surprising that some A-listers have opted to keep it ‘real’ when broadcasting from home during the pandemic.
This follows backlash faced by Ellen De Generes after she compared isolating at her $27 million Californian ranch to being in prison on the ‘at home edition’ of her show. The clip filmed inside the luxury property was later deleted from Twitter after a barrage of criticism.
The judgmental eye of social media users has never been sharper when a celebrity or politician broadcasts from home.
Actor Matthew McConaughey was roasted on social media for his old school ink printer in his home office. One Twitter user suggesting the Academy Award winner prerecorded his segment for the One World: Together at Home concert back in 1998. Another fan suggested everyone ‘chip in’ to buy the star a printer from the 21st century.
Sir Paul McCartney also copped it for the pine cabinets and popcorn ceiling in his home.
“Anybody jealous that Paul McCartney appears to be living in a dotcom break room from the late 1990s?” asked a Twitter user, while Jimmy Fallon’s unusual setting had viewers wondering if he lives in an actual treehouse.
This criticism could have prompted Tom Hanks to use what is suspected to be a green screen of a rather ordinary looking kitchen when hosting Saturday Night Live earlier this month.
Debate raged on social media whether it was in fact a real setting or fake.
“I live in a one-bedroom apartment so why is my kitchen bigger than Tom Hank’s kitchen?” asked one fan.
“Tom Hanks’ kitchen is one of the bigger disappointments of this moment in history,” said another.
A Twitter account called Room Rater @ratemyskyperoom has amassed 103.5k followers since it was launched earlier this month. It provides a critique of ‘at-home’ backgrounds used by celebrities, politicians and journalists during live crosses.
It awarded the legendary Meryl Streep just a 3/10 for her sparse background when she joined fellow actors Christine Baranski, and Audra McDonald in some bathrobe-cocktail-singing on the weekend. It questioned whether she may have been clearing out space for Oscars/Tony Awards.
“She’s having too much fun to worry about house decore,” one fan replied.
“Not a reader, I see,” responded another. Ouch.
Originally published as ‘At home broadcasts’ allows fans to spy on how their favourite celebrities really live
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