According To The Celebrity Rumor Mill, These Stars Can’t Stand James Corden

As host of HBO’s popular current affairs and politics show Real Time, Bill Maher is famous for having some strong opinions. And the combative comic fell out with James Corden over the “New Rules” segment on one episode in 2019, in which he tackled obesity in America. Maher opined then, “Fat shaming doesn't need to end, it needs to make a comeback. Some amount of shame is good. Shame is the first step in reform.”

Perhaps not surprisingly, as someone who has openly struggled with his weight, Corden didn’t let Maher’s words pass without comment. No, he would address them in a monologue on The Late Late Show soon after. The Brit chided the outspoken comic for his “fat-shaming” and pushing the “common and insulting misconception that fat people are stupid and lazy.” The Real Time host then hit back on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, arguing that Corden “missed a great opportunity to literally save lives” and that “he took the easy way out” in slamming him. Easy, fellas.

Journalist and TV anchor Piers Morgan is never shy of having an opinion on something. And the loudmouth Brit is not afraid of sharing his often-controversial views either, whether on TV or via his Twitter account or newspaper columns. So it should come as little surprise then that Morgan has offered his take on James Corden.

Yes, during an interview with Corden’s Gavin and Stacey co-star Larry Lamb on Good Morning Britain, Morgan labeled The Late Late Show host as “arrogant.” Co-host Susanna Reid had asked Lamb if Corden had changed now he was a big star in America, which led to the belligerent Brit to butt in and assert, “No, he's not changed... he's always been arrogant.” Erm, ever heard the phrase the pot calling the kettle black, Piers?

Rob Brydon is best known to American audiences for appearing in The Trip series with Steve Coogan, the movie Cruise of the Gods and with Corden in Gavin and Stacey. But the Welsh actor, singer and funnyman – who played Bryn West in the hit U.K. comedy – has had some choice words about his co-star in the past. So what exactly did he say?

As the story goes, Brydon would take Corden out for lunch, and take him to task over his behavior. It seems the actor couldn't stand elements of Corden’s developing personality and public image as fame beckoned. The Welshman told The Independent newspaper that he thought the future host of The Late Late Show was becoming “ratty and irritable” and had “lost his way for a bit” due to his fame. But his pep talk and warning to be careful about his behavior helped Corden learn, at least. Nice one, Rob!

With mammoth hits such as “Summer of ’69” and “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You,” Bryan Adams was one of the biggest rock stars of the ’80s and ’90s. But the Canadian soft-rocker is apparently not so fond of James Corden. That’s if the stunning story of his non-appearance on Carpool Karaoke is anything to go by. Adams had been booked to appear on the famous Late Late Show segment, in which Corden drives around L.A. singing hits with a celebrity.

The saga was explained by Corden on The Late Late Show. He said, “For the anniversary of Back to the Future, we were gonna do a sort of Best of the ‘80s Carpool Karaoke. And we had booked Bryan Adams... And we were very excited. [But] Bryan’s walked in, seen the list of other people that have done it, turned around, walked, and got in his car and left. I’ve never seen – I’ve never heard from him. He just bolted. He was gone.” What a snub!

You might know actor Ricky Whittle through his standout appearances in popular shows such as Mistresses, American Gods and The 100. But before he made it big stateside, Whittle starred in a teen soap opera in the U.K. called Hollyoaks. And comments about that show by Corden – who also appeared in an episode of it way back in 2000 – would really irk the Englishman.

Yes, Corden would slam the show in an interview with Esquire magazine in 2008. He said he’d “actually rather die than go back” on the soap opera, and mocked the lofty aspirations of actors who appear in it. Whittle, though, was not amused. He told website What’s On TV, “It's very childish that he's slating the place where he came from, the place that made him.” But he wasn’t finished, saying “I don't know who he is and I've never seen the show he's in. Is he Gavin?” Erm, no Ricky, he was Smithy!

Ricky Gervais rose to fame in the early noughties via the UK version of The Office, which he co-wrote with his regular collaborator Stephen Merchant. The iconic role of David Brent saw the Englishman soon make a name for himself in America, with a host of TV shows and films such as Night At The Museum and Extras, plus numerous hosting gigs for the Golden Globes. Apparently though, Gervais is not so fond of his fellow Brit James Corden, who, like him, emerged from British TV to achieve success stateside.

The Sun newspaper alleged that the spat originated in 2009, when Corden portrayed Gervais on his sketch show Horne and Corden. Ever since, Gervais has publicly hinted at his dislike of The Late Late Show host. The newspaper’s source reportedly said, “Ricky is now somewhat obsessed, attacking James when his jokes fall flat and poking fun of his size.” One such occasion was the 2020 Golden Globes, where Gervais quipped, “The world got to see James Corden as a fat pussy. He was also in the movie Cats, but no one saw that.” Now, now, play nicely, boys.

Eric André cut his teeth on the stand-up comedy circuit, before making it big with the Adult Swim series The Eric André Show. The American funnyman has also acted in the FXX series Man Seeking Woman, and voiced Azizi in the 2019 computer animation reimagining of The Lion King. But what’s his problem with James Corden?

André’s views on Corden would become public when rumors began to circulate that Corden could replace Ellen – who was mired in a meanness scandal – in her daytime TV slot. That in turn led to a petition for André to jump into the prospective role, and the comedian spoke out both on Ellen’s behalf and with regard to cancel culture. He opined that the chat show host’s alleged cruelty wasn’t a reason to cancel her, and tellingly indicated, using rather crude language, that he thought Corden's career was over "if not being nice gets you cancelled.” Ooh!

New Jersey-born Artie Lange toiled as a stand-up comedian before landing his career breakthroughs in the ‘90s via Mad TV and in Norm Macdonald's cult favorite Dirty Work. The comic – who has had long-standing problems with substance abuse and several run-ins with the law – then became the sidekick to Howard Stern on his popular radio show from 2001 to 2009. But since his split with Stern, Lange has attacked both his former paymaster and recent associates, such as Corden.

Corden got a broadside from Lange in 2016 during an episode of the gravelly voiced comic’s podcast Artie Quitter. After ribbing Stern and his perceived watered-down, celebrity-friendly shift, the New Jersey comic attacked the Brit. He said, “When James Corden opens his fat mouth to do karaoke in a car — something that wouldn't be funny to the secretaries at an accounting firm, and gets an Emmy for it, I'm allowed to say he sucks.” Oof!

Artist and influencer Kim Saira has built up a sizable following on Instagram. But the self-proclaimed Filipina and Chinese immigrant hit the headlines in June 2021 when she strongly criticized – and began a petition to end – an “offensive” and “culturally insensitive” segment on The Late Late Show with James Corden. That being the Spill Your Guts part of the show. Her petition gained over 45,000 signatures but also brought personal abuse to Saira.

Corden was moved to respond to the petition and Saira’s demand for an apology in a statement. In it, he promised that he wouldn’t involve any Asian foods again. The Brit said, “We heard that story, and the next time we do that bit we absolutely won't involve or use any of those foods... As you said at the start, our show is a show about joy and light and love, we don't want to make a show to upset anybody.” But Saira has thus far deemed his response inadequate.

Rick Ross is undoubtedly one of hip hop’s big hitters. But the Floridian rapper and entrepreneur does not have a good relationship with James Corden. The lack of spark between the pair became apparent during the Spill Your Guts segment with Demi Moore on The Late Late Show in 2019. Corden was asked to name his most disappointing guest, and you guessed it, Ross was who he named. So, what exactly happened?

Well, Corden explained, “We sent the [idea] to Rick's people, and Rick had seen it, loved it, and was so excited to do it.” The Brit noted that Ross sat with them and did the skit about binging with rapping before going to the bathroom. But he never returned. Corden added, “About 20 minutes later, we just stood there and he hadn't come back. Then his management person came back and went, ‘Yeah, Rick's not going to do that.’” Oh dear!

Lily Allen rose to fame in the mid-2000s after uploading some songs she had made on to Myspace, which soon led to her securing a record deal. Allen’s first single “Smile” hit number one in the U.K. in 2006, and the Brit became a huge popstar in her homeland. She has also earned Grammy nominations and a cult following on the other side of the pond. But at the height of her fame the singer had an uncomfortable experience with James Corden on her own BBC chat show in 2008, which she addressed several years later.

That night Corden flirted forcefully with the “LDN” singer, and although it seemed mutual banter given Allen’s responses, she later tweeted, “No, I wasn't horny for James... [Corden]. He came on to me in front of a studio audience, if I'd have shut him down, I would have been labeled cold or up myself or snobbish.” Corden, though, has expressed regret in his book about this, claiming it was “where I was at the time, with my ego starting to spiral out of control.”

Comedian and writer Phillip Henry is notable in both New York comedy and LGBTQ circles. He is perhaps best-known for hosting a weekly variety show called The Tea Party, which is performed in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. He has written for magazines such as Mic and Teen Vogue and websites including Them. But what is his beef with James Corden?

Well, Henry was really unhappy with Corden’s casting and performance in the movie The Prom. He played an LGBT man in the film and Henry – like many others – was left less than impressed by his flamboyant turn. He tweeted his disapproval, writing, “The unrepentant violence that is James Corden doing a homophobic portrayal of a gay man in a musical about gay rights.” Ooh, that’s cold!

As a writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live! Jack Allison has penned a fair few jokes in his time. But he is not a fan of Kimmel’s late-night rival Corden. And it all centers around the Brit’s alleged advocacy of lower pay for writers at a Writers Guild of America meeting. In 2019 Allison tweeted, “I'd like to state once again for the record that I went to a WGA meeting for only Late Night writers, and James Corden showed up without any of his staffers to advocate for a lower pay grade.”

Allison went on to allege that Corden wished to hire “writers’ assistants” for 13-week stints instead of contracted pros, whom the WGA ensures get a higher salary. The American tweeted, “He was framing it positively as ‘we want to give writers’ assistants a chance so maybe there should be a lower pay grade for them.’” Corden denied this claim, stating, “I would never ever want to pay a writer less than they deserve. Never." But Allison has stood firmly by his account of events.

Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber is one of the world’s most famous and popular theatrical producers. The Englishman helped reinvigorate musical theatre on both sides of the pond, with hugely successful productions such as Evita and Cats. But the esteemed composer doesn’t appear to be too fond of his fellow Brit Corden. In particular, he was seemingly not happy with Corden’s performance in the movie version of his famous stage show. It’s likely Webber wasn’t impressed with the Gavin and Stacey star’s mocking response to the film too.

On a live commentary made for Cat’s 1998 filmed version, Lloyd Webber trashed the Corden-led Bustopher musical number. The composer said, “Bustopher … as I wrote it. Do not be beguiled by other versions…with unfunny interpolations which I begged to be cut out. I did manage to get the worst of them removed. I cannot tell you how absolutely un-Eliot it all was in this song… He certainly didn’t hang around on a seesaw.” Ooh, shots fired!

Pierce Brosnan is well known to American audiences for playing the titular character in the ’80s series Remington Steele and, of course, the suave British secret agent James Bond. But 007 is not fond of Corden, it seems. No, the Gavin and Stacey star revealed he had a bizarre run-in with 007 at a U2 concert during a Spill Your Guts segment with Khloé Kardashian in 2017.

The Late Late Show host recalled the time he went to a U2 concert with his wife and several pals. The Brit was seated near Brosnan and his clan, but the James Bond star decided to depart during the show. This left a plum spot by the runway where Bono often sauntered to sing, so the group moved there. But according to Corden, Brosnan “just pushed me out of the way.” He moaned, “I've never felt anything like it.” Could we say he was shaken but not stirred?

You most likely know Sir Patrick Stewart from his role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek, or his appearances in the X-Men films as Professor Charles Xavier. The veteran English actor is highly respected, with numerous awards to his name. But he didn’t seem to have much respect for Corden after an ugly run-in at Glamour magazine’s Woman of the Year Awards back in 2010.

While presenting an award, Stewart took the opportunity to take the show’s host Corden to task, chiding him for standing around with his hands in his pockets and looking like he’d rather be somewhere else. The Gavin and Stacey star hit back, before the Star Trek actor landed a low blow. He said, “From where I was sitting, I can see your belly, and that was right there over at the back of the room.” Now that’s pretty low, Patrick.

Liam Gallagher rose to fame in the early ’90s as the lead singer of the English rock band Oasis. With their brash attitude and his snarling delivery, the group dominated the U.K. charts in that decade, spearheading a movement known as Britpop. Gallagher and his guitarist brother Noel became famous for falling out, and making numerous enemies along the way. And one of many people at whom the outspoken frontman has hit out is Corden.

Gallagher was interviewed by GQ magazine back in 2017. And somehow the conversation got to Corden, and specifically the Carpool Karaoke segment of The Late Late Show. So would Liam appear alongside Corden, jovially singing along to Oasis hits? “No chance mate. With that fat bloke from Kevin and Perry?” Erm we think you mean Gavin and Stacey, Mr. Gallagher. “I don’t need to watch it to know I won’t like it,” he concluded.

The daughter of director Dario Argento, Asia Argento made her name in Italian cinema before crossing over to Hollywood. The Rome-born actress later became a leading accuser of disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, and dated the late chef and TV personality Anthony Bourdain before his untimely death in 2018. But Corden is not someone that she is fond of, it seems.

But what has Corden done to make her angry with him? Well, at a black-tie event for AIDS research in October 2017, the Gavin and Stacey star threw in a bunch of jokes about Weinstein and his unlawful antics. Argento, who claims she was sexually assaulted by the former Hollywood big shot, was not amused. The Italian actress tweeted, “Shame on this pig and everyone who grunted with him.” Corden apologized, but the damage was done.

You’ll likely know Rose McGowan from her turn as Paige Matthews in Charmed, or via the many movies in which she appeared, such as Planet Terror and Death Proof. Like the aforementioned Argento, McGowan has become one of the leading proponents of the #MeToo Movement. And also like the Italian, she is not fond of Corden.

McGowan’s beef with Corden arose from the same event which Argento attended, the October 2017 charity gala for AIDS foundation amfAR. As a purported victim of Weinstein, the actress did not respond positively to Corden’s gags about him, such as the evening being so lovely that Weinstein “has already asked tonight up to his hotel to give him a massage.” McGowan tweeted a message to the British host, calling him an expletive followed by “PIGLET.”

British comedian Stewart Lee has a devoted cult following in the U.K. But the comic threw some serious shade at Corden in an episode of Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle. The comic quipped, “I don't know James Corden personally, right, but he's always going on in interviews about how brilliant he thinks I am. And the feeling is not reciprocated. Britain’s loss is America’s loss also.”

Lee continued, “Honestly, if you Google James Corden and my name you find all these interviews. You know, there’s people going to him, ‘What’s your favorite thing?’ And he goes, ‘Ah Stewart Lee’s brilliant!’… Trying to make out he’s clever. Imagine James Corden watching me? It’s like a dog listening to classical music!” Ouch! But Lee did admit to a BBC interviewer that his digs at Corden were – at least partly – in jest, suggesting that the funniest thing to make of his fandom would be to act annoyed about it.