Cardi B got it into her head that she could slip in and out of Ralph’s supermarket in Hollywood to pick up a few things, with no one noticing. Too bad that her idea of “going incognito “ is wearing a terry bathrobe and bedroom slippers. Add the rainbow hair and huge bodyguard and everyone in the store was buzzing and GAWKING. Her car and driver had to pull up to the front door to rescue her …
Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA
Before Covid, Hollywood paparazzi had a lot of choices of places to stalk celebrities during the day. Popular shopping areas like Melrose Avenue, Rodeo Drive, or The Grove, were ideal hunting grounds for celebrity hungry paparazzi. Outdoor cafes were easy pickings for a furtive photo. AFTER Covid struck, the only place that everyone went was to the supermarket. Paparazzi staked out the parking lots of all the upscale markets like Bristol Farms, Erewhon, or Gelson’s, and watched for arriving celebrities’ cars. Covid also changed celebrity shopping habits – now that they have to wear masks, celebrities think nothing of going to the market – or anywhere else they might have avoided before, for fear of being recognized. Some LOVE going out incognito, and they don’t have to worry about how they look. It’s more fun shopping in Hollywood now – you never know who that masked person is fondling avocados right next to you! Gwen Stefani enjoyed a supermarket visit this weekend with two of her sons…
Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA
We usually see Jay Leno behind the wheel of an unusual car enjoying the fresh air (thanks to the current lack of traffic) but today he made an important stop. This is another guy we have never come across in a supermarket, but times change, and Jay paid a visit to Gelson’s in Century City – without gloves or mask. He was only interested in the ice cream department and after carefully making his selection, he went right back to his car.
Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA
Amber Heard and her father David went grocery shopping at Gelsons in Los Feliz but they probably didn’t find much to buy. (We were there two days ago and the shelves were ransacked with very little left. We were happy to stock up on frozen dinners.) Amber’s father works in the construction business and as a part-time actor. A lot of actors are out of work now with most productions canceled, so you never know who will be competing with you for that last package of toilet paper!
Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA
SOME actors know how to leave home and go about their business without being noticed. Beautiful Selma Blair plays down her good looks with minimal makeup and simple clothing and doesn’t attract unwanted attention. In fact, she looks just like any other housewife doing her shopping at the supermarket. After Charlie Sheen fired her from “Anger Management” she walked away with a lot of money and now she’s filming “Sex, Death and Bowling” with Adrian Grenier. Life goes on.
Photo Credit: Pacific Coast News
A friend of ours in Malibu needed something quickly from the market and drove to Pavilions there. It’s usually not all that busy and easy to get in and out quickly. But that day he found the parking lot jammed with cars searching up and down for a space. After circling the lot numerous times, our source found a spot and dashed in only to find the store packed with people just standing around. “What’s going ON here?” he asked a clerk. The checkout girl whispered “Julia Roberts is shopping and no one wants to leave until they see her!” It seems Julia was oblivious and pushing her cart up and down the aisles while shoppers around her flipped out. When word got around that she was there, shoppers just stopped leaving. Julia is rumored to have bought a house in Point Dume. Actually, Julia should be flattered because Malibu residents are rarely star struck!
Photo Credit: Pacific Coast News
Scarlett Johansson, 26, hoped she wouldn’t be recognized when she picked up a few things at the Malibu supermarket yesterday. Her hair was stuffed under a hat and she dressed down in a baggy grey sweater and black jacket. She’s rumored to have moved into Sean Penn’s Malibu house or at the very least she’s spending all her time there. It looks like she planned to cook a healthy dinner for her 50 year old boyfriend, who is recently divorced just like she is.
We were shopping at the Mayfair Market in Hollywood this weekend when we saw a beautifully dressed woman perusing the magazines. It was Dita Von Teese and she looked amazing. No supermarket sweats for her – she was dressed in a gorgeous vintage fitted within-an-inch-of-her-life grey tweed belted dress with ¾ sleeves, a full skirt and fifties heels. Her hair was up in a perfect twist and her makeup was flawless (even in supermarket lighting!) We couldn’t resist telling her she is a favorite on our website and urged her to visit. We loved it when she said sweetly “I DO visit your website!”
You never know who you might run into in a Los Angeles supermarket. A clean-shaven Keanu Reeves is always a pleasant surprise. It’s funny how he runs his own errands – like picking up carry out sushi from Koi – or stocking up at the grocery store. Most actors have assistants do these mundane things, but Keanu has always been a man of the people.
Photo Credit: Buzz Foto
Foodaholic Kirstie Alley tried to get a supermarket to shut down so she could shop in peace! Kirstie is regular shopper at her local Mayfair Market in Los Angeles, and she approached the manager with a request. She asked if they would close the store for an hour so she could shop privately – without being watched or photographed by other customers with their cell phones or long lensed by paparazzi through the front window. (Kirstie has put on some weight, and knows that the bigger she is, the more people want to take pictures of her.) The manager was taken aback and replied that the store could be closed down for an hour ONLY if she guaranteed that she would spend $5000 or more. Kirstie dropped the idea.
