10 Scariest Stories Celebrities Have Told

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Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at downright unsettling real-life tales shared by celebrities.

Keanu Reeves & the Floating Jacket

A childhood bedroom became the setting for one of Keanu Reeves' strangest memories. While talking with Jimmy Kimmel, Reeves once recounted a moment from when he was about six years old that has stuck with him for decades. The “Matrix” star states that he and his nanny once saw an empty suit jacket drift into his bedroom and move as if it were being worn. Reeves described it as floating and swaying – all before vanishing. The nanny was reportedly terrified (we don’t blame her), while young Keanu reacted with curiosity rather than fear. Of course, we wouldn’t expect a mini-John Wick to be fearful…

Vanessa Hudgens’ Moving Toy

To another terrifying childhood memory, we go…During a 2022 appearance on “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” “Highschool Musical” alum Vanessa Hudgens shared a tale that still sends chills down her spine. The actress recalled being around eight years old and getting ready for school when she noticed a pull-string duck toy. As she walked past it, she says the toy suddenly began moving on its own. Stranger still, Hudgens said it seemed to travel alongside her as she continued through the house. Thanks Vanessa - the image of a toy following a child through a house is the kind of unsettling scene that’ll keep us up at night.

Kim Kardashian’s Horrifying Robbery and Kidnapping

Forget the unexplained for this next one, because some of the scariest celebrity encounters involve very real danger. In the early hours of October 3, 2016, Kim Kardashian experienced a real-life nightmare while staying at a luxury residence during Paris Fashion Week.Kardashian later described the ordeal in emotional detail on “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” and in other harrowing interviews. A group of armed men disguised as police officers forced their way inside, restrained the concierge, then entered Kardashian’s room. The intruders bound her wrists and ankles, held her at gunpoint, and locked her in a bathroom while they stole millions of dollars worth of jewelry. The ordeal profoundly affected her sense of safety and changed how she approached social media and personal security.

Kesha’s Indecent Paranormal Encounters

As we’ve seen, most celebrity paranormal stories involve unexplained sightings. Kesha’s account goes in a much different direction, however. You see, over the years, the singer has claimed she experienced an encounter with a spirit that became unexpectedly, uh, intimate. She has discussed the incident in interviews, describing an invisible presence that interacted with her physically while she was asleep. Kesha has maintained that she genuinely believes the experience was paranormal and even cited it as inspiration for her song “Supernatural.” The story drew headlines because of its unusual nature, blurring the line between ghost lore and celebrity confession. What makes the story so disturbing? If Kesha's experience is genuine, whatever visited her wasn't merely observing - it was interacting.

Sarah Snook’s Ghost Sighting in a London Theatre

Historic theatres have been generating scary sightings for centuries. And, well, Sarah Snook says she may have witnessed one firsthand while performing “The Picture of Dorian Gray” in London. During the acclaimed production, Snook recalled spotting what appeared to be a woman dressed in Victorian-era clothing standing in the audience. At first, nothing seemed unusual. Then she looked away and glanced back, but the woman was gone. According to Snook, there was simply no way someone could have exited that quickly without being noticed. Curious and unsettled, she later learned that the venue already had a reputation for being haunted!

David Spade’s Near-Fatal Attack by His Assistant

It turns out David Spade's most terrifying horror story doesn't involve a stranger, but rather someone he trusted. In November 2000, the comedian says he was asleep in his Beverly Hills home when his assistant broke inside during the early morning hours. Spade claims to have awoken and thrust into a violent confrontation after being attacked with a stun gun. A struggle allegedly followed as the former “SNL” star fought to escape. According to later accounts, he managed to break free, retrieve a firearm, and barricade himself while calling police. The assistant fled but was arrested later that day. Naturally, Spade cites the event as deeply traumatic. We can see why!

Ariana Grande and the Demonic Cemetery

Long associated with urban legends and paranormal folklore, Stull Cemetery in Kansas is sometimes referred to as one of the “Seven Gates to Hell.” And, during a visit there, pop star Ariana Grande says she experienced something deeply unsettling. The singer told Complex magazine that she felt an overwhelming wave of negativity immediately upon arriving. According to her account, the air inside the vehicle suddenly filled with the smell of sulfur - a scent often linked in folklore to demonic entities. Grande also claimed she took a photograph that later appeared to contain three strange faces in the background. Feeling unnerved, Ariana says she left the area and attempted to send the photo to friends - only for her phone to malfunction repeatedly. Yikes!

Miley Cyrus’ Haunted London Apartment

For Miley Cyrus, a dream tour home quickly turned into something akin to a nightmare. You see, while touring in Europe, Miley says she had a series of unsettling experiences while staying in a London apartment just across from Harrods. At this foreign tour base, she claimed to see the figure of a small boy sitting on the bathroom sink…while she was in the shower. The strange activity didn’t stop there. Cyrus said her younger sister was also affected when the shower water suddenly turned scalding hot without warning (or explanation). According to Miley, even then-boyfriend Liam Hemsworth experienced odd occurrences in the space. With the disturbances escalating, they eventually decided they’d had enough and relocated to the Soho Hotel. Good idea!

Glen Powell’s Creepy Obsessive Fans

While discussing the strange side of fame during a Hollywood Reporter Comedy Actor Roundtable, Glen Powell revealed just how bizarre fan obsession can get. One of the creepiest stories involved a TikTok creator who reportedly spent weeks printing out images of his face and consuming them as part of an online campaign to land a movie role. Powell said he first became aware of the situation on a red carpet when someone told him, “The girl that eats your face is here.” Uhhhh, ok? He also noted other unsettling incidents involving fans showing up with private or hard-to-access family photos. It all underscores how quickly admiration can cross into truly unsettling territory.

Howie Mandel & the Spirit That Targeted His Child

Howie Mandel built a career making audiences laugh, but one story he shared on “Famously Afraid” was anything but funny. Mandel described experiencing what he believed was a supernatural presence inside his family home. What made the situation especially alarming was his belief that the entity seemed focused specifically on his young daughter. Parents naturally worry about protecting their children from physical dangers. Facing something they can’t explain is another matter entirely. And forget being a celebrity, this was a father becoming convinced that an unseen presence had singled out someone he loved most – his child.

Which of these celebrity stories unsettled you the most? Let us know in the comments down below.