15 Ridiculous Phobias of Celebrities and Historical Figures

We have Steve Jobs' fear of buttons to thank for smart phones.
15 Ridiculous Phobias of Celebrities and Historical Figures

Everyone’s scared of something. Heights, clowns, being attacked in the middle of the night by the crazy-eyed old man from down the street holding a rusty nail and shrieking — there are all kinds of fears out there. Plenty are very rational. Being uncomfortable in big-ass crowds makes sense. Worrying about losing your job does as well. But worrying that you might be buried alive, or a cat might eat your head, or just being scared of anything oblong? Those are irrational fears, or phobias. 

That said, a shitload of germaphobes were proven right a few years ago. And there’s nothing irrational about claustrophobia — being squished in a little space should scare you, goddamn it, humanity isn’t meant to spelunk.

Anyway, a surprising amount of high-achieving, well-known figures have succeeded despite irrational fears. Are they a side-effect of genius? Or is it just that only really successful people have the confidence to say, “By the way, I’m absolutely fucking terrified of buttons”?

Billy Bob Thornton Has a Crippling Fear of Antique Furniture

Billy Bob Thornton isn't afraid of all antique furniture, just old mildewy stuff. Old dusty heavy drapes and big tables with lions' heads carved in it. Stuff that kings were around. The issue? It was too big to be functional. It creeps me out. CRACKED

Source

Revolving Doors Are Not Alright Alright Alright Alright Alright Alright Alright

Matthew McConaughey fears revolving doors, worrying, They'll cut me in half. Strangers will see me tense up and hold my hand as I'm going through them. I'm constantly worried that I'm not going to make it through the door alive. CRACKED

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FDR Had Nothing to Fear But Fire Itself…

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was terrified he'd die in a fire. Не regularly carried out one-man fire drills in the White House, even when confined to a wheelchair. CRACKED

Source / History 

The Master of Suspense Found Eggs to Be No Yolk

Alfred Hitchcock terrified more moviegoers than any other filmmaker. But nothing made him shit his pants more than eggs. Не once said, I'm frightened of eggs, worse than frightened, they revolt me. That white round thing without any holes... Brr! CRACKED

Source / Pro Foto 

A Founding Father and A Famed Fairytaler Both Feared Fast Funerals

George Washington and Hans Christian Andersen both had taphophobia, the fear of being buried alive. Washington insisted that his dead body be left alone for three days in case he woke up. Other sufferers insisted on being decapitated to avoid it. CRACKED

Source / White House 

Dentistry Wasn’t Part of the Nazi Flossophy

Hitler and Goering were terrified of dentists. Goering cried in the big chair. Hitler delayed appointments until too late, and once needed 10 fillings in one go. However, dentistry had the last laugh when it came to identifying Hitler's body. CRACKED

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Salvador Dali Was Bugged by Grasshoppers

As a child, Salvador Dali was tormented by bullies who threw grasshoppers at him, leading to a lifelong phobia. Не was often convinced he had insects crawling all over his skin. Rather than avoid it, he leaned into the fear, using grasshoppers to represent fear in a lot of his work. CRACKED

Source / MGM 

Peter the Great Was Peter the Great Big Wuss About Cockroaches

Tsar of Russia for 40 years, Peter the Great, was incredibly powerful, but scared shitless of cockroaches. Не sent servants ahead to scan for them, and punched an army officer in the face after seeing a roach in his house. CRACKED

Source / Biography 

Marcel Proust Had Agoraphobia; No Grasp of Sensible Renting Choices

Literary giant Marcel Proust lived in the center of Paris, but as an agoraphobic terrified of leaving his house, he kept thick curtains permanently closed, soundproofed his walls and spent all day in bed. At Central Paris prices. What a dumbass. CRACKED

source / Interligne 

The Founding Father with a Touch of the Shy Ronnies

Thomas Jefferson helped author the Declaration of Independence, but had a phobia of public speaking and would rather shit his pants than make a speech. John Adams claimed he never saw Jefferson speak more than two sentences. Still got elected! CRACKED

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