# Male equivalent of Paris Hilton/Kim Kardashian (famous for being famous)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 7, 2014, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147 "2014-03-07T21:10:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/41 "2014-03-08T02:25:06Z")
How I read this: > [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > If Rush Limbaugh was truly famous for doing nothing, then how come left wingers have never succeeded in establishing an alternative, despite spending millions and about a dozen rivals, such as Jim Hightower and Mario Cuomo. The man truly has talent on loan from God. God? > [@Kobal2](#): > > Or, y’know, the other guy. > [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Bruce Wayne No, not him. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/42 "2014-03-08T02:36:10Z")
Spencer Pratt I guess, though I’m not sure how many people know who he is since the Hills has been off the air for awhile. Maybe Joe the Plumber. ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/43 "2014-03-08T02:57:54Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Would Bo Dietl count? Arby’s shill. I think he’s more legendary for his legendariness. Fine difference. ---
**Author:** ![ThisUsernameIsForbidden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ThisUsernameIsForbidden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisUsernameIsForbidden)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/44 "2014-03-08T02:58:18Z")
This appears to be a hard question. First, Paris and Kim both “came to prominence” after a porn video, in which they were the stars, separately. No man could come to prominence in that way. Thus, the question is loaded. Otherwise, someone would have named Ron Jeremy. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/45 "2014-03-08T03:11:43Z")
> [@ThisUsernameIsForbidden](#): > > No man could come to prominence in that way. That’s not what SHE said. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/46 "2014-03-08T03:19:14Z")
JFK Jr ran a moderately successful magazine. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/47 "2014-03-08T03:47:23Z")
Tom Arnold. He’s the only guy in this thread who has absolutely no discernible talent whatsoever. He became famous by marrying Roseanne, and nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/48 "2014-03-08T04:03:17Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Tom Arnold. He’s the only guy in this thread who has absolutely no discernible talent whatsoever. > He became famous by marrying Roseanne, and nothing else. Tom Arnold was brilliant in “The Stupids”! He is an [accomplished singer as well](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VxLQZPqI2M). ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/49 "2014-03-08T04:04:45Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Tom Arnold. He’s the only guy in this thread who has absolutely no discernible talent whatsoever. > He became famous by marrying Roseanne, and nothing else. I’m not a fan of the guy but he’s been in plenty of movies and TV shows. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/50 "2014-03-08T04:06:48Z")
That said, the reference to Tom Arnold reminded me of Kevin Federline, the guy who was married to Brittany Spears. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/51 "2014-03-08T04:18:17Z")
What about Levi Johnson? Initially rose to fame for being Bristol Palin’s babydaddy, now trying to make it as a D list celebrity. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/52 "2014-03-08T05:28:43Z")
The Situation from Jersey Shore. And now I have to go think of nice things to purge the thought of him from my brain. PS. Nothing associated with _The Stuipids_ can be considered brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/53 "2014-03-08T06:30:23Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Seacrest practically owns Hollywood, let me go check what he’s been up to: > Hosts American Idol, but we know that. > Hosts American Top 40, in place of Casey Kasem > Produces E! News > Produces(ed?) Keeping up with the Kardashians > Produces Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution > > Acts in/Hosts/produces a ton of other stuff. He’s been called the busiest man in Hollywood…so have other people, but he’s not slacking off over there. Seacrest also now is the host of Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve, now I believe called Ryan Seacrest’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. The man is everywhere. He is also a guy who fascinates me because i have NEVER heard him stutter, say “uh”, or “um”. He is amazing in his delivery, and has been since day one. As to this question, i think JFK Jr. was a good answer before he died. Now? I can’t think of anyone except that strange faced, wide-mouthed bass looking Phil Swift who hawks some waterproof sealant in a can. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/54 "2014-03-08T06:51:05Z")
K Fed is the poster boy for this. Some men have careers, but are known more for their relationships. Wonder if they count. Alessandra Ambrosio’s husband is known for being just that. He is a very successful businessman. Not known for that to the general public. Don Gummer is one of the world’s reading sculptors, but otherwise only known as Mr Meyrl Streep. The guy who married Natalie Portman… I think he is a successful something in ballet. Some politicians kids. Mark Thatcher comes to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/55 "2014-03-08T06:57:46Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > He is also a guy who fascinates me because i have NEVER heard him stutter, say “uh”, or “um”. He is amazing in his delivery, and has been since day one. I can’t [quickly] find it on youtube but this year after announcing that one of the contestants on AI was safe (for that week) the person came over, picked Ryan up, set him back down and then went over to the couches. Harry then said something like “that was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen, after he put you back down, it took you about 1 second to turn back into ‘ryan seacrest’”. Here it is: [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1cts6g\_top-10-of-13-results-american-idol-13\_music](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1cts6g_top-10-of-13-results-american-idol-13_music) Skip to 4:25 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/56 "2014-03-08T12:45:49Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Tom Arnold. He’s the only guy in this thread who has absolutely no discernible talent whatsoever. He was great in _True Lies_. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/57 "2014-03-08T13:22:12Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Some politicians kids. Mark Thatcher comes to mind. Wasn’t he[implicated in an attempt to overthrow the government of a third world country](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Equatorial_Guinea_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat_attempt) a few years back? As to the OP, I’m not sure there’s many at international success level the way the Kardashians or Paris Hilton are famous for being famous, but there might be a few at “local celebrity” level - guys who are well known at maybe city level for either something incredibly trivial (being “The man who met Andy Griffith” or something like that) or because they’re married to someone famous and that gets them in the social pages of the paper a lot. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/58 "2014-03-08T14:02:26Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > If Rush Limbaugh was truly famous for doing nothing, then how come left wingers have never succeeded in establishing an alternative, despite spending millions and about a dozen rivals, such as Jim Hightower and Mario Cuomo. **The man truly has talent on loan from God.** Methinks you need to recheck the direction on that “compass.” ---
**Author:** ![planetcory](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/planetcory/32/1032_2.png) [@planetcory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/planetcory)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/59 "2014-03-08T14:20:17Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > .Note that the guys who fucked Paris and Kim didn’t get famous, as far as I know. Actually the guy who fucked Kim might be a decent answer to this. He’s nowhere near as famous as Kim but he’s relatively famous. For… not much. Ray J. He’s mostly famous for being the brother of Brandy, a successful R&B singer. And also for the Kim thing. He actually _was_ the bigger name in that sex video when it came out. A few albums of his own and a few TV roles. But his degree of success with those doesn’t match his degree of fame. EDIT: Totally forgot he was also Whitney Houston’s boyfriend towards the end. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147/60 "2014-03-08T14:51:55Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > … As to the OP, I’m not sure there’s many at international success level the way the Kardashians or Paris Hilton are famous for being famous, but there might be a few at “local celebrity” level - guys who are well known at maybe city level for either something incredibly trivial (being “The man who met Andy Griffith” or something like that) or because they’re married to someone famous and that gets them in the social pages of the paper a lot. Even in moderately larger cities such as Nashville there are clowns like this coming out of the woodwork. They appear as guests on local TV gabfests to share their knowledge of some local trivia and keep coming back for reasons hard to discern. However, the level of “fame” these people achieve is on a much smaller and more contained level than the OP’s candidates. But the basic idea of people getting to be “well known” for being well known is tantalizing and it makes me wonder who would be the first or at least among the first to rise to this level of fame without ever having done anything. Outside of fiction anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-equivalent-of-paris-hilton-kim-kardashian-famous-for-being-famous/683147.md?page=4)