Famous people make friends with other famous people all the time. People make friends based on common interests and life experiences, and the experience of constantly living under the public eye seems to be something stars bond over. In that sense, it makes perfect sense for a celebrity to make friends with another group that is constantly scrutinized by the public, world leaders.
Some world leaders are fans of Hollywood stars and will use their power and influence to meet them, some even will get them to perform for them, like how Beyonce or Mariah Carey sang at the weddings and celebrations of multiple African rulers and dignitaries, including the controversial dead dictator of Libya Muammar Ghadaffi. Some have befriended U.S. Presidents and hit the campaign trail for them, others have somehow found their way into the palaces of dictators. Let’s take a look at some of the most surprising friendships between celebrities and world leaders.
10 Oasis And Tony Blair
The former Labour Party Prime Minister of England rose to power on the “New Labour” ticket, which pushed the once Socialist Labour Party further towards the center-right and capitalism. Blair needed some help making sure that the New Labour image was in touch with the youth of the U.K., and he got the help he needed from Oasis, one of (if not the) most popular U.K. bands of the 1990s. Blair and the band were spotted and photographed rubbing shoulders many times. Other famous associates of Blair’s included billionaire Richard Branson and soccer star David Beckham.
9 Dennis Rodman And Kim Jung Un
Although he tried to avoid talking about it when he was brought on the Eric Andre Show, the former NBA champion shocked and offended millions of Americans when he granted an audience to North Korean dictator Kim Jung Un. The trip on paper was rather innocent, Rodman and Kim watched some sports together, and they visited the graves of Kim Jung Un’s father and grandfather, the two previous rulers of North Korea.
8 Bruce Springsteen And Barack Obama
Barack Obama has a long list of celebrity supporters, many of whom have visited the White House both in official and unofficial capacities. Even Kal Penn, who rose to fame thanks to the Harold and Kumar stoner comedies, both campaigned for Obama and got a job in his administration. But no celebrity friendship of Obama’s is stronger than the one he has with The Boss, rocker Bruce Springsteen. The pair is so close they even started a podcast together Renegades.
7 Steven Seagal And Vladimir Putin
Although Putin has become the subject of international ire thanks to his aggressive invasion of Ukraine in 2022, some far-right celebrities and politicians are standing by the Russian dictator and former KGB agent. One such star standing by him is former action star, Steven Seagal. Seagal is hopeful that he can create better relations between the U.S. and Russia, and he served as a goodwill ambassador to the nation during the presidency of Donald Trump, who also supports the Russian leader.
6 Danny Glover And Hugo Chavez
Not many people know that Danny Glover is both a socialist and an activist, and through his connections to other celebrity activists, he gained an audience with then-Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. Chavez was a controversial leader because he nationalized the country's oil reserves, much to the annoyance of the United States government, who responded by sanctioning the South American country (those sanctions remain in place today.) Glover not only defends the government of Venezuela, but he is also highly critical of the U.S. sanctions, and he has a close working relationship with the nation’s Bolivar government. He sits on the board of Telesur, the nation's state-run media outlet and the presidency of Hugo Chavez originally was going to fund a film Glover was making, but the movie never manifested.
5 Harry Belafonte And Fidel Castro
Another prominent socialist and activist celebrity is Calypso legend, Harry Belafonte. Belafonte is considered one of the greatest American entertainers of all time, he is also a vocal supporter of anti-racist causes and bankrolled a huge chunk of the Civil Rights Movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Belefonte’s political concerns are international and thanks to his clout and connections to Caribbean nations he was able to arrange an audience with the governments of Venezuela and Cuba along with other stars, like his friend Danny Glover. Belafonte supported Castro and appreciated the help the Cuban government provided to Nelson Mandela, who fought to free South Africa from white rule. Belafonte supported Castro until he died in 2016.
4 Richard Gere And The Dalai Lama
Although his career has slowed down in recent years, the man who was a box-office magnet for co-starring inJulia Roberts rom-coms is one of the most prominent and famous Buddhists working in Hollywood. Gere is very open about his faith and his fame eventually found him coming face to face with the most prominent living leader of Buddhism, the Dalai Lama of Tibet. The Dalai Lama and Gere have done several interviews and panels together about meditation, enlightenment, and the importance of discipline, as well as various other topics important to Buddhism.
3 Elvis Presley And Richard Nixon
Although they only officially met once, the picture and story of their meeting is the stuff of legend. Even though Elvis was struggling with a drug issue, Nixon saw it fit to make Presely an honorary Federal Narcotics agent. Nixon’s presidency was the beginning of the controversial War on Drugs, which many believe was a total failure and a catalyst for racism in the U.S. Elvis, an outspoken conservative, apparently wanted to help the president, who at the time was floundering thanks to the Watergate investigations. Presley died 5 years later due to his drug problem. Before his public disgrace, Kevin Spacey starred in a film about the unlikely meeting.
2 Willy Nelson And Jimmy Carter
Although he was only a one-term president, Carter had an interesting time in office. His presidency oversaw one of the worst gas crises in U.S. history, and it ended with him forsaking his reelection campaign to negotiate the release of American citizens taken hostage in Iran. But in the slower moments, Carter saw it fit to invite Willy Nelson, who was fast becoming the most popular country singer in the U.S. at the time, to stay at the White House. Although it was still very illegal at the time, Nelson famously smoked a joint on the roof of the White House during his stay.
1 Kim Kardashian And Hillary Clinton
Although she never officially became President, Hillary Clinton is still one of the most influential public officials in the world and served as the country's Secretary of State, the second-highest position in the US cabinet second only to the Vice President. Famous for her “Girl Boss” style of leadership, it makes perfect sense that Kim Kardashian would not only be a vocal fan and supporter, but also a friend. The pair makes a point of visiting each other’s projects and podcasts all the time. Funny enough, while Kim is a known Democrat, her ex Kanye West famously endorsed Clinton’s 2016 opponent Donald Trump, leading fans to wonder how much of a factor politics played in Kim’s decision to file for divorce.