Prince might have invited Kim Kardashian on stage during his 2011 performance at Madison Square Garden, but apparently he wasn’t too fond of the reality television family.
Actress Zooey Deschanel made an appearance on The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien on Monday, May 9, where she shared how Prince’s appearance on Fox’s “New Girl” came to be and his disdain for the Kardashians.
“He spent a lifetime cultivating mystique,” Deschanel recounted to Conan O'Brien during Monday’s broadcast. “And then one September day three years ago maybe I got an email from his manager saying he liked watching the show and wanted to come on.”
A “floored” Deschanel was surprised to learn the “When Doves Cry” singer watched any sitcoms, let alone her show.
For Prince’s appearance on the Fox network show, a celebrity-filled party scene was to occur—a guest list Prince was interested in fine-tooth combing—or burning.
“One of the PAs comes in and she’s like ‘I need all of the scripts, so she takes mine from me and everybody else’s—takes everything” recalled the 36-year-old actress on the day of Prince’s appearance on set. “I walk outside and she has a bonfire—she’s burning all the scripts and the call sheets.”
She continued: “It turns out that someone from Prince’s camp said ‘Who are the celebrities? I hope it’s not a Kardashian.’”
Khloe Kardashian and mom, Kris Jenner were the Kardashians Prince apparently didn’t want to have on during his appearance. To satisfy Prince, the Kardashians were hurried off set and deliberately kept apart to avoid an encounter with the legendary musician. In the end, the reality television stars’ appearance was nixed from the sitcom.
“I felt so bad,” Deschanel said. “Because obviously everyone had gone out of their way to be there on that day, but Prince was running the show.”
Watch Deschanel’s interview above plus a clip of Prince on “New Girl” above.
