11.28.2005

Cheap Celebrity Bastards!

From: Page Six of the NY Post
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STARS' 'STIFF' STUFF
By TODD VENEZIA

November 26, 2005 -- Waiter-stiffing skinflints across New York are getting payback for all their measly 10 percent — or less — tips, thanks to a Web site that lets members of the restaurant industry name names and out bad tippers.

BitterWaitress.com has thousands of entries listing the identities of the gratuitous gratuity avoiders, including scores from New York City.

The so-called S- - - -y Tipper Database has famous names and regular Joes all outed side by side for turning cheap when the check came.

"What a bitch!" declared one entry that claimed Jennifer Lopez's tipping habits were less generous than her derriere, after she allegedly left only $1.27 as a tip on $350 bill at an unnamed Manhattan eatery.

The entry claimed that the measly tip came after J.Lo complained that her water was cold and asked the staff to warm it up.

Another entry claimed that fellow diva Barbra Streisand was equally parsimonious in her tipping habits — allegedly giving only $10, or roughly 2 percent, for a $457 bill.

"She demanded the best table, acting rude to everyone, and then barely tipped," the entry said.

The list of names included regular people — their full names presumably gleaned from their credit-card receipts — and well-known stars like Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Britney Spears and Barry Manilow, who allegedly tipped only $60 on a $564 bill complaining "his flan was too 'caramelly.' "

Among the unexpected names on the list was "Shaft" singer Issac Hayes, who supposedly gave no tip for no known reason at a Manhattan eatery.

Reps for the stars listed on the site could not be reached yesterday, and anyone can apparently post on the Web site — so there is no way to tell if the j'accuse allegations are true or not.

Such gastronomic gossip about tipping habits has long been part of the cost of being a celebrity. But the site kicks it up a notch with accusations against everyday people, identified by name.

One post identifies a woman named Jill T. Conner as having stiffed the wait staff one night at tony Da Silvano restaurant in Greenwich Village, giving only $4 for a bill of $241.

A Manhattan woman with the same name couldn't be reached for comment.

Not all people named on the list were given a smackdown. A few got lauded for their tipping.

Howard Stern was hailed as a modern-day Frank Sinatra, who was legendary for handing out $100 bills like they were business cards.

Natalie Portman also got a positive review, after allegedly giving a $45 tip for a $150 bill. She signed autographs, too.

todd.venezia@nypost.com

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