15 People Share Which Beloved Celebrities Randomly Give Them the ‘Ick’

Celebrities can become so familiar that audiences develop surprisingly strong reactions to them, even without any obvious reason. A recent Reddit thread asked people which beloved stars give them an inexplicable “ick,” and the answers were as varied as the number of people answering them.

These reactions aren’t necessarily accusations of bad behavior, mind you. Sometimes someone just doesn’t click with another person’s particular energy, and that’s perfectly fine. Several commenters openly admitted they couldn’t identify anything objectively wrong, yet still found certain famous faces strangely unsettling. Here are some of the thread’s most entertaining examples.

Tom Brady

One commenter described Tom Brady as “all teeth and Botox forehead,” finding the former NFL quarterback strangely terrifying. Whatever the reason, Brady’s intensely recognizable appearance has clearly produced a reaction that goes considerably beyond ordinary celebrity dislike.

Dakota Johnson

Dakota Johnson’s name appeared without any elaborate explanation, which may actually capture the phenomenon perfectly. Sometimes an actor simply has a particular screen presence that doesn’t connect with someone, even when they can’t identify anything specifically objectionable about it.

Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper has accumulated an enormous mainstream following through films including The Hangover, Silver Linings Playbook, and A Star Is Born. Yet one Reddit user specifically singled out his newer appearance as unexpectedly creepy, demonstrating how dramatically subjective celebrity impressions can be.

Bobby Flay

Bobby Flay is one of television’s most recognizable celebrity chefs, having built a career around competitive cooking shows and restaurants. That didn’t stop him from being named in the thread, signaling him as an inexplicable source of “ick,” offering no particular grievance beyond that immediate reaction.

Timothée Chalamet

One commenter couldn’t identify a specific reason for finding Timothée Chalamet unsettling, instead pointing toward his movements and eyes. Chalamet’s distinctive physical presence and frequently intense performances may simply create a screen persona that doesn’t work for everyone.

Adam Levine

Adam Levine has spent years as Maroon 5’s frontman while also becoming widely recognizable through television. One Reddit user, though, listed him among celebrities who trigger an inexplicable “ick,” without identifying any particular behavior or characteristic responsible for the reaction.

Katy Perry

Katy Perry’s flamboyant pop persona has made her one of the most recognizable entertainers of her generation. For one commenter, however, her resemblance to a family member’s former spouse was enough to create an immediate negative association that had nothing to do with Perry herself.

Will Smith

One of the commenters from the thread emphasized that Will Smith gave them the “ick” even before the infamous 2022 Oscars incident. Smith’s enormous career spans television, blockbuster movies, music, and awards recognition, making this particularly notable as a reaction unrelated to his most discussed controversy.

Davina McCall

British presenter Davina McCall has long cultivated an energetic, approachable television persona, particularly through Big Brother and Long Lost Family. One UK user nevertheless suspected that her cheerful on-camera personality felt different from her private self, though that impression remains purely subjective.

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande’s enormous pop career and highly recognizable public image haven’t prevented some people from experiencing an inexplicable sense of discomfort around her. One commenter summed up their reaction with just two words: “Weird vibes,” leaving the source of the feeling deliberately unexplained.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop empire and Oscar-winning acting career have made her one of Hollywood’s most recognizable personalities. Seemingly though, she’s still perceived as having an air of smugness around her, illustrating how a celebrity’s public image can provoke reactions that have little connection to their actual work.

Megan Fox

Megan Fox has been a major pop-culture figure since Transformers, but one Reddit user couldn’t identify anything specific that bothered them. Instead, Fox simply struck them as somehow “off,” showing how the inexplicable nature of an “ick” can be the entire point.

Austin Butler

Austin Butler’s career has accelerated dramatically through projects including Elvis and Dune: Part Two, yet one commenter still found him vaguely unsettling. They specifically acknowledged having no particular reason, making Butler another example of an instinctive reaction that resists rational explanation.

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds has built an enormously popular persona around sarcastic, self-aware comedy, but that exact personality appears to grate on some viewers. One user compared him to an annoying cartoon character, while acknowledging they couldn’t explain why they disliked him so much.

Jacob Elordi

Jacob Elordi’s distinctive appearance has helped make him one of the most recognizable young actors of his generation, particularly through Euphoria and major films. One commenter simply said his look bothers them, proving that sometimes an “ick” needs no elaborate explanation.