A recent Reddit thread on r/Detroit sparked over 300 comments, with locals sharing stories about their run-ins with celebrities and famous figures in the Detroit-area.

Some are great, some are awkward, and some are downright hilarious.

Allegedly, Aretha Franklin doesn’t pay her bills, Bill Bonds walks funny, and Barry Sanders is a frequent sight, often with his kids.

We’ve compiled some of the best stories from the thread that are sure to make you laugh.

Tim Robinson Actor and comedian “I saw him at bumbo’s in Hamtramck. It was after a lions game he went to and he was wasted. I didn’t want to fanboy out and bother him. I simply gave him a head nod walking by and he said ‘what up, doe’ and honestly it was perfect. Lol.” – euphorickittty Credit: Terence Patrick/Netflix
Flavor Flav Rapper and hypeman “I saw Flavor Flav at the Foot Locker on 8 mile and Kelly. I just wanted the black socks he was standing in front of. I was like ‘let me get those socks bro’ and he said ‘oh my bad brother.’ I got the socks and left. These celebrities are just regular people.” – Knightstar24 Credit: Shutterstock
Aretha Franklin Emerging from the gospel scene of Detroit, the Queen of Soul left an undeniable mark on music history with hits like “Respect” and “I Say a Little Prayer.” Beyond her music, she championed civil rights and Indigenous communities’ rights, earning 18 Grammy Awards and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Credit: Mark Reinstein /MediaPunch
Jack White Rock musician “Back in 05’ when he still lived here, I saw Jack White at Miller’s bar in Dearborn. He was sitting in the corner booth with his hipster friends. I sat at the bar trying not to look. After 15 minutes I stole a glance and he was staring daggers right back at me. I didn’t talk to (bother) him but he was super sweet to the bartender when he paid his tab.” – SweatyPalmsSunday “Jack White bought my friends and I a pitcher of beer.” – Hungry4Apples86 Credit: David James Swanson
Kwame Kilpatrick Former Detroit mayor “I was working in a costume store when Kwame Kilpatrick was running for Mayor. I waited on him in the rental department, but had no idea who he was, at the time. He rented a purple gangster suit from me, which he kept calling a ‘pimp suit’, and I saw the name on his ID, and couldn’t believe it. The funny thing was, I saw him in the suit on the news, when they were talking about some political event. It was NOT A COSTUME PARTY. I learned everything I ever needed to know about Kwame that day. The man rented a ‘pimp suit’ to wear to a political gala. I knew there was something wrong with him, based solely on that.” – SassyAuntie Credit: Shutterstock
Iggy Pop Musician and actor “Iggy Pop used to get lunch at the coney island near my office in Birmingham. We’d see him all the time.” – Hungry4Apples86 Credit: Shutterstock
Bob Seger Musician “I used to trick or treat at Bob Seger’s house.” – Hungry4Apples86 “My dad’s firm used to have seats at the Palace and once we were at a game and my mom was making her way back to her seat and tripped and fell and Bob Seger caught her. Turns out our seats were right down the aisle from his.” – emilyrfish Credit: Courtesy of the artist
Central: Anita Baker With many gold and platinum records as well as Grammy Awards, Anita Baker has won dozens of accolades for her contemporary R&B music. The star attended the city’s oldest public high school, Central High School, which was founded in 1858. Credit: Shutterstock
Clint Eastwood Actor and film director “I once carded Clint Eastwood at Whole Foods during the movie boom in 2008. He had one of those old school wallets that had multiple compartments for family photos. Really nice guy.” – veryverybased Credit: Shutterstock
Barry Sanders Former Detroit Lions running back “I was at the zoo and came upon a father and son at the grizzly exhibit. I sat down on the bench to rest for a bit and the dad sat next to me. I looked over and saw Barry Sanders.” – TheBimpo “My parents told me that I played with Barry Sanders son at a family fun Center in Waterford when I was like 8 years old. He was there with his kid and everybody was surprisingly chill about it, nobody approached him and asked him for an autograph or a picture or anything.” – Grand-Philosophy125 “Barry Sanders at DTW. He was behind me getting through TSA. I just said ‘Congrats on the Madden cover.’ It was right after he was voted to be on the cover of the 25th anniversary of Madden.” – YellgoDuck Credit: Courtesy photo
Tim Meadows Actor and comedian “Tim Meadows held the door open for me at Gold Cash Gold in Corktown about 6 years ago. He was with his two sons, and he told them ‘we always hold the door open for others.’ It took me a second to recognize him, but he gave me a quick wink and told me to have a good day. Lovely fella.” – Caitlin11790 “Speaking of Tim Meadows, I was neighbors with him and didn’t even know it was him. I’d smile and wave whenever I saw him, casual neighborly friendliness, then one day after I passed by him with my boyfriend, he was like ‘do you know who that is?’ I had no idea!” – s-rose-02 Credit: Courtesy of the Blind Pig
Neil Patrick Harris Actor and TV host “I run into Neil Patrick Harris a few times a year. He has family in Northville and loves the Meijer on 8 mile & Haggerty.” – sassyprofessor Credit: Shutterstock
Danny Brown Rapper and singer “I ran into Danny Brown in the bathroom right as he was walking out and he dapped me up and I got a couple sentences out because he was being swarmed by fans. I thought it was cool he was using the public bathroom though instead of doing it backstage.” – TheReborn85 Credit: Peter Beste
Charlie LeDuff Journalist and writer “Ran into Charlie LeDuff and talked Coneys and Tigers while walking around on a smoke break downtown like 7 years ago.” – TheCrowAngel “Ran into Charlie leduff while I was piss drunk once at the saint Patty’s Day parade. I don’t remember much of that interaction unfortunately.” – cfoley586 Credit: Vaughn Gurganian
J Dilla Renowned as a groundbreaking figure in hip-hop production, J Dilla, born James Dewitt Yancey, spent much of his life in Detroit. His innovative off-kilter beats influenced an entire era of hip-hop, collaborating with icons such as Slum Village, the Pharcyde, Erykah Badu, and Common. Credit: Courtesy photo
Justin Verlander and Kate Upton Baseball pitcher. Model and actress. “One time like 6 or 7 years ago my old band was playing at the Loving Touch in Ferndale and JV and Kate Upton walked in while we were playing.” – matthmcb “I had one of Justin Verlander’s old DC zip up hoodies. An ex-girlfriend of mine’s mom used to kind of do maid type work and when Verlander left Detroit apparently he left a lot of stuff behind. The TV in her living room used to belong to him and she let me have the hoodie. I wore it for years but it eventually got lost when I went to prison.” – TheReborn85 “Justin Verlander used to live in downtown Birmingham and once I was behind him and Kate Upton at Starbucks. I didn’t say anything to them mainly because I figured they probably just wanted to get coffee in peace but I also didn’t have anything to say, lol.” – jesusisabiscuit Credit: Shutterstock
Tony Hawk Skateboarder and entrepreneur “I got to make dinner for Tony Hawk and his wife when I worked at Katoi. Super nice dude, thanked me personally for dinner, I was super geeked.” – huffmonster “Was working at the Fox, was outside on break when I saw a guy who looked like Tony Hawk. Me: Are you Tony Hawk? TH?: Yes, Me: no shit, can I shake your hand? Amused TH: Sure. Perfect Tony Hawk experience.” – A2thekizzo Credit: Courtesy photo
Danny Glover Actor, film producer, and political activist “I’ve seen Danny Glover around a bit over the years, specifically he was at a protest when DPS closed the all women’s maternity high school.” – GreenGhost89 Credit: Shutterstock
Bill Bonds Detroit news anchor “I saw bill bonds walk across a parking lot in Detroit next to Shangri-La – Twingos at the time. He walked very strangely, lifting one foot high in the air after the other.” – alex48220 Credit: Courtesy photo
Isiah Thomas Professional basketball player “I used to work the afternoon shift at the Beaumont hospital in Troy. Near the end of the shift, we’d hang out in the x-ray dept waiting rooms where they had a tv. I was sitting there one night when in walked Isiah Thomas. He’d gotten hurt at that night’s game at the Silverdome and was there for x rays. We were watching espn and they showed a clip of redskin (commanders) qb sonny jurgensen. We chatted about how great he was and I remember being surprised that he knew who jurgensen was.” – Desertmarkr

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Layla McMurtrie is the digital editor of Detroit Metro Times. She's passionate about art, music, food, and Detroit's culture and community. Her work has been featured in the Detroit Free Press, Between...