Top 10 Stars Who Refused to Appear on Late Night Shows
#10: Kristen Stewart
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Actress Kristen Stewart has never been shy about admitting that she may have been too shy for the celebrity she achieved in her teens. She’s willing to discuss her projects and process in formal interviews. But she admits to not having a personality suited to the public bantering and hijinks of talk shows. Stewart is openly embarrassed about her awkward early days with on-camera interviews. The overwhelming spotlight that she never expected from “The Twilight Saga” was just too much. Now a style icon and acclaimed actress, Stewart has slowly been returning to late night. But as uncomfortable as she is with the fame that comes with her beloved career, she doesn’t have time for the fluffier side of promotions.
#9: Christian Bale
In 2002, Christian Bale sat down with Craig Kilborn and Carson Daly to promote “Reign of Fire.” These were his first late night talk show appearances, and his last. Bale has since gained a reputation for being extremely selective with interviews. The typical fluff of late night just doesn’t jibe with the legendary method actor’s brand. In some of his few profile pieces, he’s even mentioned wanting to retire from the job he took mostly to support his family. It’s unfortunate for him that he’s touted as one of the finest actors in the industry. However long that will last, Bale’s name carries enough cache for him to work around additional press.
#8: Frank Ocean
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A 2012 performance on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" marked Frank Ocean's sole appearance on a talk show. The renowned singer-songwriter's reluctance about doing interviews is one thing. But his notoriously elusive brand has extended to promotional music performances. He doesn't do many live performances at all. Ocean's signature command over his own brand leaves little room for discussing his art, let alone talk show banter. But the accolades speak for themselves. Even with rare new material, Ocean continues to captivate fans and engage with them on his public social media. His air of mystery has less to do with introversion than with controlling how the public sees the man and the music.
#7: Joaquin Phoenix
As one of Hollywood’s most committed actors, Joaquin Phoenix is also one of the most awkward interviews. In 2010, a shaggy, disconnected Phoenix made a bizarre appearance on “Letterman” that was later revealed to be a method acting stunt for the mockumentary “I’m Still Here.” Of course, Phoenix’s handful of legitimate interviews aren’t exactly comfortable either. Amid assumptions that he’s too shy for such banter, Phoenix recently revealed that he mostly hates serious questions on the spot. This goes back to the trauma of being a child celebrity. He is now overcoming that phobia to be more open to talk shows but still clearly considers the process burdensome. #
6: Abel Tesafaye [aka The Weeknd]
Superstardom may have cost Abel Tesfaye some of the signature mystery of the Weeknd persona. As widely as the R&B icon has been diversifying his brand, he still likes to keep fans in the dark. The Weeknd very rarely does interviews, let alone talk show appearances. Believe it or not, he once believed that he didn't have much to say even in a professional capacity. He certainly doesn't have an interest in talk show filler. At least he’ll give the occasional performance on late night. And as Tesfaye the renaissance man gradually distances himself from the Weeknd, he has a lot more to talk about. His more casual personality, however, remains strictly under wraps.
#5: Beyoncé
As the staggering star power of Beyoncé Knowles has grown, she’s become more focused on controlling her career. That includes limiting interviews. Beyoncé has been stepping back from sit-downs since the 2010s in light of public scrutiny of past comments, as well as a general concern about wasting time. The pop idol would rather choose her words more wisely in public statements and social media. It’s not enough to turn down interviews on talk shows. She hasn't even given live performances for late night in years. Beyoncé’s concerts, fan engagement and many other enterprises should say more than enough about her brand.
#4: Kate Moss
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Everyone wanted to talk to supermodel Kate Moss in the ‘90s. She remains a prolific beauty icon and entrepreneur to this day, but has long kept her public life strictly professional. In 2010, she explained to T magazine that she has become highly selective in interviews after years of media exploitation and misrepresentation. The legendary model doesn’t even have a personal social media presence. In wanting to make sure she maintains a totally authentic image, Moss has managed to completely avoid late night talk shows. She now has the clout to have more control in her few interviews. Otherwise, she prefers to keep her private life completely private.
#3: Shia LaBeouf
Actor Shia LaBeouf didn’t have much of a choice in his disappearance from talk shows. In fact, he was a larger-than-life personality on the press circuit. But his stardom effectively collapsed when that press turned largely bad. Viral videos of disturbing outbursts made LaBeouf a pariah. His road to sobriety allowed him to return to Hollywood, until allegations of abusive behavior effectively blacklisted him. He’s still busy, but his public appearances are now usually highlighted by apologies and self-defense. LaBeouf has thus begun to distance himself from interviews in general. The showmanship that once made him a hit on late night is certainly long gone.
#2: Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen
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Despite growing up as one of the most recognizable celebrity twins ever, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen claim that they were raised to be “discreet.” They were certainly outgoing enough for talk shows throughout their coming-of-age. But they were especially open about anticipating more agency as adults. Sure enough, they eventually took over their public appearances and quit acting to focus on fashion design. This helped set the stage for little sister Elizabeth’s own Hollywood stardom. Meanwhile, the Olsen twins rebranded themselves as fairly private entrepreneurs. They’re as likely to appear on talk shows as any other fashion designer who places professionalism over personality. What few interviews they do reflect that.
#1: Taylor Swift
Part of Taylor Swift's monumental status was built on consistent talk show sit-downs and performances. As she's grown as an artist, however, she's preferred to let the product talk for itself. Swift infamously held a media blackout from the production of her 2017 album "Reputation" to its release. The project itself was a direct response to the often hostile pressures of celebrity. Since then, one of music's leading public figures has reserved interviews for only the most high-profile outlets. Even when she appears on talk shows, it's hardly ever to perform. Swifty has finally mastered separating artistic professionalism from public image, by knowing when and where to talk.
