From David Hockney to Beyonce, Jay-Z & Solange: Famous people & their elevator adventures

Artist David Hockney had to be rescued by firefighters after getting trapped in a hotel lift for 30 minutes in Amsterdam last month. After the rescue, he posed for pictures with the firefighters.

A look at other times things went down in an elevator.

Rapper’s battle

A leaked video of Jay-Z, Beyoncé and sister Solange Knowles in an elevator after the 2014 Met Gala had all the makings of a theatrical drama. In the video, a silent Beyoncé looked on as Solange and Jay Z got into an argument, which ended with Solange screaming and kicking the rapper. At one point, Beyoncé stepped forward to stand between her husband and sister. The video went viral but the family maintained a united front and reportedly said, “It was nothing”.

Boss brawl
It was 1981 and the New York Yankees had just lost their third straight match to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The then-Yankees owner, George Steinbrenner, was alone with two drunk Dodgers fans in the elevator of an LA hotel. Obscenities were hurled by the fans and when Steinbrenner responded, the drunk men broke a beer bottle on the then 51-year-old businessman’s head, who threw three punches and knocked the offenders out.


Escape route

Pop duo Daryl Hall and John Oates first met playing at the 'Battle Of The Bands'. Both were playing in Philadelphia with their respective bands when a gun fight broke out between two rival gangs attending the event. Hall and Oates were backstage and ran to get into the same service elevator to escape. And though they didn’t know each other, they formed a fast friendship and later decided to join creative forces.

Making a stand

In September 2018, shortly after US Senator Jeff Flake announced that he would vote to confirm the Supreme Court nomination of sexual assault accused Brett Kavanaugh, the politician was accosted in an elevator by two women. The women, who were sexual assault survivors, confronted Flake, which was aired live on national television. Flake who kept his eyes downcast during the entire incident eventually said that he would not support Kavanaugh’s confirmation without an investigation into the allegations. Kavanaugh was sworn in as an associate justice in October 2018.

Assault case

In February 2014, American footballer and member of Baltimore Ravens Ray Rice was caught on camera punching and knocking out his then fiancée, Janay Palmer, in an elevator. This caused the NFL to change their domestic violence policy and Rice was suspended indefinitely from the league. Ravens terminated his contract in 2014. Since then, Rice has successfully appealed against his suspension, but hasn’t played professional football. Rice and Palmer are currently married.

Did You Know Queen Elizabeth Is A Trained Truck Mechanic? Here Are Other Famous Personalities & Their Hidden Talents

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Queen Elizabeth

When she turned 16, Elizabeth registered with the Labour Exchange – the British employment agency at that time – and was interested in joining the women’s armed forces. While her father King George VI was reluctant, he relented in 1942. Once in the services, she learned how to change a wheel, deconstruct and rebuild engines and drive ambulances and other vehicles. However, unlike the other members of the services, Elizabeth returned to the royal residence, Windsor Castle, each night.

Queen Elizabeth When she turned 16, Elizabeth registered with the Labour Exchange – the British employment agency at that time – and was interested in joining the women’s armed forces. While her fat..

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Bob Dylan

Dylan’s 2016 release was not an album. The artist, whose name is synonymous with protest music, made an enormous iron sculpture called Portal for the Royal Harbor Casino in Maryland. His ironwork skills were unknown till 2013, when a London gallery exhibited them. Dylan said at that time, “I’ve been around iron all my life ever since I was a kid. I was born and raised in iron ore country — where you could breathe it and smell it every day.”

Bob Dylan Dylan’s 2016 release was not an album. The artist, whose name is synonymous with protest music, made an enormous iron sculpture called Portal for the Royal Harbor Casino in Maryland. His i..

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Anil Kumble

A quick glance at Anil Kumble’s Twitter account will tell you how passionate he is about photography. In 2010, he released a coffee-table book featuring a compilation of photos he took during his cricket tours. The book gives a glimpse of an avid photographer’s view of life on and off the field.

Anil Kumble A quick glance at Anil Kumble’s Twitter account will tell you how passionate he is about photography. In 2010, he released a coffee-table book featuring a compilation of photos he took d..

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Abraham Lincoln

Flip through history books or watch a Hollywood biopic – Abraham Lincoln’s image has been consistent through the years — that of a dignified, solemn leader. What many don’t know is that the former American President was also an exceptional wrestler. Lincoln was a grappler known for his keen mind and strength in his teens. He was, reportedly defeated only once in 300 matches.

Abraham Lincoln Flip through history books or watch a Hollywood biopic – Abraham Lincoln’s image has been consistent through the years — that of a dignified, solemn leader. What many don’t know is t..

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Matthew Hayden

The former Aussie opener is as good with the ladle as he is with the bat. Hayden’s love for food encouraged him to whip up some lip-smacking recipes at a young age. Being an athlete only helped, because he would then alter and customise recipes to suit his dietary needs. Hayden said that he enjoys travelling in search for new ingredients to combine them with healthy recipes. Setting the field on fire or the grill, Hayden always plays on the front foot.

(Text: Aarti Bhanushali)

Matthew Hayden The former Aussie opener is as good with the ladle as he is with the bat. Hayden’s love for food encouraged him to whip up some lip-smacking recipes at a young age. Being an athlete o..

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