Celebrities & Staff Non-disclosure Agreements
When working for billionaires, celebrities and professional athletes, signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is standard operating procedure nowadays. VIPs are very intent on keeping their private lives secret.
Signing an NDA isn't just for household staff. Celebrities are even making friends and girlfriends sign them now as well. Yes, even if the "girlfriend" is only for one night. In a bygone era, it really wasn't necessary; but in today's obsession with celebrity culture, too many tell-all books have been written.
Signing an NDA isn't just for household staff. Celebrities are even making friends and girlfriends sign them now as well. Yes, even if the "girlfriend" is only for one night. In a bygone era, it really wasn't necessary; but in today's obsession with celebrity culture, too many tell-all books have been written.
Which celebrity staff have to sign confidentiality agreements?
There really isn't any member of a celebrity's household staff that's off limits to an NDA: chefs, personal assistants, maids, butlers, security guards, etc. The list is endless. In fact, when it comes to protecting a celebrity's estate and personal well being, even vendors have to sign non-disclosure agreements. So, for example, if a cable man or pool cleaner needs to come on the property, they have to sign on the dotted line before they will be granted access to the estate.
What can't be disclosed when staff sign an NDA?
Courts can void some celebrity NDAs
If you work for a sports star, celebrity or billionaire, they can basically disallow you from talking about absolutely everything. In some cases, a staff member may even be forbidden to even utter that they work for the VIP in any capacity.
Essentially, it's up to the celebrity to decide how restrictive the NDA could be. It wouldn't be ethical for a celebrity, for example, to forbid an employee from using the celebrity employer's name on a resume to prevent them from getting another job. Any job with an employer in any industry should -- at the very least -- confirm a former employee's basic information: dates of employment, position, salary, etc. Any person considering working for a celebrity should be cautious about an NDA that's too restrictive.
Essentially, it's up to the celebrity to decide how restrictive the NDA could be. It wouldn't be ethical for a celebrity, for example, to forbid an employee from using the celebrity employer's name on a resume to prevent them from getting another job. Any job with an employer in any industry should -- at the very least -- confirm a former employee's basic information: dates of employment, position, salary, etc. Any person considering working for a celebrity should be cautious about an NDA that's too restrictive.
Can celebrity NDAs go too far?
Yes, of course. There have been a number of high-profile cases where former staff members and girlfriends were forbidden to speak of unethical or illegal acts that their employers committed.
Depending on the nature of the non-disclosure agreement, the state it was signed in, and the circumstances that led to the signing of the NDA, the contract could be nullified by a judge.
Depending on the nature of the non-disclosure agreement, the state it was signed in, and the circumstances that led to the signing of the NDA, the contract could be nullified by a judge.
