Michael Stipe sings “I’m Sorry” about a hundred times in the old school R.E.M. classic “So. Central Rain,” but he might want to consider saying it once more (with feeling) to the wait staff at a New York City eatery after allegedly being a jerk and a crappy tipper.
According to the New York Post, Stipe is a (formerly) anonymous character referenced in a memoir by comedian Sara Barron, who has devoted a significant chunk of her new book to stories from when she served as as a waitress to the rich and famous.
From the story:
… making overworked cooks run out to buy a pint of blueberries at 3 a.m. was far from Stipe’s worst transgression. Barron tells of a time when he and a posse of 19 rolled into Babbo at 12:42 a.m., 42 minutes after the kitchen closed to the public. Stipe refused to directly communicate with Barron, instead delegating a member of his entourage to place his orders. He never said “please” or “thank you,” never took his sunglasses off, and refused to go to the bathroom alone, according to the book.
By 5 a.m., says Barron, Stipe and his pals had rung up a tab of more than $2,000. The meal was comped by celeb-obsessed Batali, although Barron of course still expected a tip: “Four [hundred dollars] would be ideal – four would be 20 percent – but since they weren’t being presented with a check and didn’t seem mathematically inclined, figuring on two was best,” she writes.
When the group extinguished its cigarettes and filed out, Barron discovered that they’d left zero: “[Bleep] Waffle had kept our staff of seven on our feet for five extra hours . . . and he did so without tipping.”
Sheesh.
We always kinda figured Stipe enjoyed dick, we just never pegged him as being one.
Seriously, R.E.M. is easily one of the Top Fifty bands of all-time, but it’s time to start thinking of your legacy, Michael.
Free advice? Tip 20%. Oh, and shave.
By Wes Wolfe February 13, 2009 at 4:15 am
Seriously, a homophobic hit? You should thank your lucky stars that REM is still around, considering the current state of the American music industry.
By fitsnews February 13, 2009 at 4:30 am
Wes-
For the record, we make fun of ALL people around here.
And gays don’t get cut any slack, because that would be discrimination.
-FITS
By aeb February 13, 2009 at 10:23 am
Mike Mills would tip my wife $50 for a $25 dollar lunch when she was a waitress in Athens while attending UGA. Mike, where are you now? I need you man!
By my name efang February 13, 2009 at 10:24 am
Michael Stipe is my distant cousin…his family is from Orangeburg…
but I’ve never met him.
By T4 February 13, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Awesome! The downward spiral.
By Adrian February 13, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Batali should have tipped or said it to the 19 people to throw in together. Also, how does the writer know it was Michael Stipe’s ‘posse’??? Also it’s weird that Michael ‘made’ them run out and buy a pint of blueberries. I don’t know Stipe, but I’ve met him a few times and it’s highly impressive how normal he acts dispite the fame.Actually he’s as down to earth as the next guy. Sara Barron is slagging Michael Stipe to sell her pointless book, no douth her other A – list encounters follow a similar vain.
By Almost February 13, 2009 at 8:40 pm
I spoke to a cafe worker in Dublin . Stipe ate every day at teh cafe when the band played 5 nights at the olympia. He said he didn’t even know it was anyone famous for a few days because he was so totally unassuming and quiet.
By Mike Tyson February 14, 2009 at 12:41 am
If this dude dont tip me i bite off his ear man we gots to be fare ya see?
By amar February 21, 2009 at 10:43 am
this is laughable. Michael stipe is sincere and considerate. He can be a diva about fruit but this is obvious a load of bull to sell some crap.
By jacki moon February 24, 2009 at 1:16 am
I don’t know if Michael Stipe is guilty of these accusations. Maybe it’s an exaggerated version of the truth. What I do know is Michael looks incredibly and terrifically sexy with his professor beard.
By g February 28, 2009 at 4:09 am
ha — michael stipe is the biggest closet case in the book — after taking decades to come out ever so quietly its a little late to play the gay card. michael is a pompous ass. he thinks his poop smells like bergamont and vetiver. yeah hes talented. yeah hes got a huge ego. i give rem huge cudos for having just about every song they ever recorded on the list of songs banned by clear channel — love the band, don’t love michael stipe the diva wanna be.
i don’t care that he doessn’t shave that much — its a step up from the early days when he had cute nicknames like “ole green teeth” because his hygeine was that bad. some clever scenester figured out all you need is a marker and white out to change lucky strikes into ucky stipes. there was a joke about you knew your roommate was bonking mr stipe because you could smell him down the hallway. you would be amazed how far “hey little boy, im a rock star” goes. my wish is that he keep his clothes on in videos. whatever gym he goes to should refund his money.
By matt July 31, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Any more cliches you want to get rid of? Rich rockstars behaving like divas when You are dealing with them? Please come to your senses, if that´s not too much to ask for. Stipe gave you 2.000 dollars, and you have the nerve to ask for more – for 20 % more? Are you underpaid or just shameless?
By Johnny October 7, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Restaurant folks in Athens GA long ago accepted that, with rare exceptions, Michael simply will not tip. Why? Go figure. For better or worse, in Athens, no one has expected him to tip for years. This writer is probably telling the truth.
By Melanie October 10, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Considering the author didn’t name Stipe in the book, I don’t think it was a ploy to sell books. Also, the commenter that said she was asking for an extra 20% when Stipe gave her $2,000 — he didn’t give her 2,000. The meal cost 2,000 but was comped… maybe read the book before assuming what it says.
By Andrea October 12, 2009 at 12:24 am
Is anyone truly surprised that a man who once performed with his back to paying audiences isn’t courteous in other areas of his life? Stipe is no different than other celebrities who believe their own publicity. I’ve had maybe a half dozen encounters with him, some when I was working and others social. In the best of circumstances, he was aloof. In most, he was just a prick.
By Betty December 17, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Michael Stipe, is supposedly my second cousin,I am not really sure if I believe this, but supposedly his aunt, is/was my grandmother, Stella Katheline Stipe(Miner). In Quotes is her married name, my father told me this, but none of his older siblings knows anything about it, I am not really sure if I should believe my father. Maybe if I got a hold of my Uncle Dave he would know something, not sure. But yeah supposedly we are related, if you are reading this Mr. Stipe I would really like for you to shed some light on this.
By jellyfish February 24, 2010 at 3:56 pm
i worked in a bistro in ga when michael came in for lunch by himself. he could not have been sweeter. he seemed to sense i knew who he was and was trying not to drool. he was on the phone most of the time, and left a generous tip considering how little he ate. i don’t believe this person.
By BELINDA April 18, 2011 at 11:29 pm
MICHAEL STIPE IS EARNEST, HONEST, KIND, AND PRESENT. THIS IS A LOAD OF SHITE. I’VE SEEN HIM PAY FOR DINNER AND A CONCERT TICKET IN ATHENS, GA.
STOP LYING INTERNET. IT’S REALLY EVIL.