Veteran showbiz reporter Nelson Aspen reveals the rudest star he's interviewed: 'It was ridiculous'

Veteran entertainment reporter Nelson Aspen has spilled the beans on the rudest star he has ever interviewed.

Speaking with fellow showbiz reporter Kjersti Flaa on her Flaawsome Talk YouTube series, Nelson, 61, revealed that when it comes to celebrity traits that give him the 'ick', tardiness it at the top of the tree.

And the worst offender, according to Nelson, was Fast and Furious actor Vin Diesel.

Nelson revealed that the hunky Hollywood actor, 57, kept him waiting for several hours on one occasion.

'I was talking to you last time about lateness - chronic lateness, which was a problem with Vin Diesel,' Nelson said to Kjersti.

'It was ridiculous. It wasn’t just being kept waiting 10 minutes or even an hour, it would be like two hours, five hours, seven hours. I mean, ridiculous.'

Nelson added that when Vin finally graced the reporter with his presence he used his children Hania, 16, Vincent, 14, and Pauline, nine, as an excuse for his tardiness.

'He pulled the kid card, Nelson said. 'Like: "Oh I had something to do with my kid.'

But Vin's excuse did not wash with Nelson, saying the actor could've quite easily made a phone call.

'Why didn't you just call us then instead of keeping all the crews waiting, all the journalists waiting?' he said.

'That's money. That's money that Vin Diesel wasn't paying. That's money that the studio was paying. And then we would miss our flights and we’d have to have rejigged flights or hotel rooms and things like that.'

Kjersti also had her own Vin Diesel tale to tell, claiming the star also left her waiting for hours while he enjoyed rides at Universal Studios.

'He was about six hours late and then we were told...you know what he did? He took his kids to all the rides.

Nelson replied saying that his last interview experience with the Bloodshot star was also marred by lateness, despite being conducted online.

'The very last interview I did with Vin was a Zoom junket,' he revealed.

'And I said at least he's not going to keep me waiting on a rooftop or in a parking lot or in a hotel lobby at least I'll be home.

Nelson added: 'Even so in the Zoom it was two hours. I got to fart around the kitchen.'

It wasn't all negativity though, with Nelson revealing that his most swoon-worthy interview moment came when he sat down with Lord Of The Rings star, Viggo Mortensen.

Nelson revealed he was so taken with the star that he had trouble getting his questions out. 

'I could barely phrase my questions,' Nelson revealed. 'He's not a frightening person, he's a gentleman and he's got a charisma. I guess maybe he's used to that.' 

US-based Nelson was familiar to Australian viewers thanks to his long-time role on Channel Seven's Sunrise.

However the veteran reporter announced on air in June 2022 that he was leaving the show, to the shock of his co-hosts and viewers. 

Speaking to New Idea after his shock resignation, Nelson pointed to an increased workload during Covid as a deciding factor. 

'I had worked over 100 consecutive weeks without a break [because] Covid circumstances had basically turned all my work into remote/at-home broadcasting through my phone and Zoom,' Nelson explained. 

'It was relentless, and for the first time in my life I was feeling burned out, because there was never a break.'

Nelson had been a fixture of Sunrise for the last two decades, reporting to a series of hosts including Natalie, Samantha Armytage and Melissa Doyle.

He was based in Los Angeles when he first joined the team, and remained Sunrise's 'man in Hollywood' even after moving to New York City.

Since departing Sunrise, Nelson has published numerous books including 2024's Dancing Between The Raindrops: The Hollywood Years. 

He also co-hosts a podcast called Titanic Talk which is all about James Cameron's iconic 1997 film.