"Do you know who I am?" Some celebrities think those six words are more valuable than a credit card, which they don't like to use when they can get goodies for free. "The tangle of fame and fortune can also result in terrible tippers," said Eliza Pharrell, an assistant manager at a high-profile New York restaurant. "For instance, Kirsten Dunst came through and ran up a $233 bill and left without even the smallest gratuity."
But the "Spider-Man" star isn’t the only one weaving a web of whining waiters..
Fox News is reporting that when it comes to tipping, some stars seem so accustomed to big paychecks that they don’t carry around any small change.
According to the Web site bitterwaitress.com, where workers spill on the stars who do the Scrooge, Bill Cosby spared only $3 from a $375 meal, Ricki Lake parted with only $8 from $142.50 check (even after having been granted free dessert) and Sean Penn didn't top his $450 wine and dine in New Orleans with a single penny.
“It’s normally the ones who’d you least expect to be stingy,” said Corey Sandusky, a bartender at Tut's in New York City. “So every now and then you have some high-profile person that’ll only leave a dollar per drink.”
On a recent New Year's trip Down Under, the staff at Sloanes Cafe were unimpressed when Paris Hilton walked out without paying a $9.80 drinks tab, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. "She's got bucketloads of money and she didn't pay for her drinks," waitress Jo Pfahl said.
According to the bitterwaitress site, politicians are cheapskates too. Senator Ketsup, John Kerry, visited a restaurant in St. Louis and added only 2 percent to the signature line, while former Vice President Al Gore left only 8 percent at a restaurant in Alexandria, Va.
“Al and Tipper Gore were regulars in the restaurant I used to work at,” wrote one bitter waitress. “You'd think this would be cool, waiting on a former vice president. And it would be, if not for the fact that Al Gore is cheap.”
"Celebs easily fuse fame and freeloading," noted California public relations consultant Richard Breyer. "Designers are constantly at them to wear their outfits to showy events, jewelers are happy to add the bling and car companies loan cars to cruise in. Some of them then lose touch with what's free and what's not."
But if it's a reality check that the stars need, perhaps a little kicking to the curb doesn't hurt.
"We've refused entry to a number of VIPs who take advantage of our services," Pharrell said. "The message is simple: We have to make a living, too. Famous or not, we always remember those with scrimpy tendencies."
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