During the pandemic, folks have been indulging in their guilty pleasures a little more than usual.
I know the one place that gets my taste buds excited is Popeyes’ chicken. Whether it’s that delicious sandwich, tenders, or a couple of big breasts, I just adore that spicy, crispy bird. As for sides, for me, it’s always fries and a biscuit. Please don’t tell my doctor, who’s on me to cut out carbs.
As I was snarfing down the last bit of greasy goodness, it got me wondering, what do celebrities crave?
David Beckham heads straight to a McDonald’s drive-thru near his home in Bath, where he orders a Big Mac Meal.
Rita Ora says that she also heads to the golden arches, “I always get a Big Mac; you have to, why do people get all those little decorations like chicken nuggets?” she told Stylist magazine. “The Big Mac is the classic. It's what makes McDonald's McDonald's. So, if you're not going all the way, don't go there at all.”
Lena Dunham goes a little more upscale and chows down on Shake Shack’s hotdogs and hamburgers.
Turns out the Queen B and I have more in common than I thought. Beyoncé received the ultimate gift from Popeyes after publicly professing her admiration for their chicken.
"Popeyes gave me a lifetime membership and every time I go, I can pull out the card and get as much Popeyes as I want," the singer revealed. "But I've never used it because I've been too embarrassed." The diva also designed her Ivy Park x Adidas collection in the Popeyes’ iconic gold and maroon color combo.
Anna Kendrick told Conan O'Brien her addiction to Taco Bell is her guilty pleasure. “I love Taco Bell,” she said. “It’s a secret … It’s a dirty thing that I love Taco Bell so much. I cannot, cannot eat Taco Bell before midnight. It’s like a reverse Gremlins thing.” She added: “It has to be under cover of darkness in my car. I drive out of my way for the one with the drive-through, so I don’t have to go inside, and I’ll just eat it in my car.”
Despite their petite frames, some actresses manage monster-sized cravings. Emma Watson’s go-to is Mexican food, especially in the morning complete with all the trimmings: a tortilla with scrambled eggs, salsa, and guacamole, while Scarlett Johansson says, “I am obsessed with buffalo chicken wings. I am addicted to them.”
It's not only fast food that sets off cravings. Next time you’re in the snack and candy aisle, keep an eye out for these celebs. Debra Messing and Neil Patrick Harris admit to being addicted to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, while Taylor Swift lists her Guilty Pleasures as Pop-Tarts and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. When asked about her guilty pleasure, Britney Spears responded, “Chocolate. Definitely chocolate. A lot of chocolate."
Selena Gomez's go-to is Flamin' Hot Cheetos. She told Bon Appétit that she keeps her tour bus fully stocked with the snack (along with chocolate, pickles, and water).
LL Cool J has a sweet tooth, “Ice cream and cake — I love warm apple pie or peach cobbler, or some fresh warm brownies, or even cookies. It's like I'm handcuffed to the table when warm baked cookies come out of the oven — you smell them, and whoo!”
Fitness expert Jillian Michaels likes to crunch on something salty once in a while. In an interview for Shape magazine, Michaels said, “I adore Popchips. They’re 100 calories a bag — no preservatives, no trans fats, and no artificial sweeteners. Is it a superfood? No. But will it kill me? No!”
Channing Tatum reveals that he loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, with Cheetos added. Strange! But I wouldn’t kick him out of bed for eating that.
These celebrities may have made New Year’s resolutions to give up these guilty pleasures, but I bet they’ve broken those resolutions just as the rest of us have.
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Rick Karlin is SFGN's food editor. Visit SFGN.com/Food to read his previous reviews. Have a culinary tip to share? Email Rick at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
