The Unlikely Feud Between Louis Theroux and Ruby Wax
Louis Theroux, the celebrated documentary maker known for his gentle interviewing style, has navigated countless challenging conversations throughout his career. However, one of the most peculiar conflicts he has encountered occurred entirely off-camera, involving comedian and reality TV star Ruby Wax. This bizarre feud, which spanned years, left many observers baffled by its intensity and unusual nature.
A Name Forbidden in the Wax Household
Ruby Wax, now 72, once openly declared Louis Theroux as her nemesis, revealing that her animosity grew so profound she forbade her children from uttering his name. Speaking on the podcast Dish with Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett in June 2023, Wax confessed, "He was my nemesis," adding, "I was quite bitter and angry, and then I had to give him two BAFTAs, not one, but two, so I forbade my children to ever use the name Louis. It's forbidden." These sentiments echoed previous remarks to the Times, where she stated, "If my daughters mentioned his name around the house I punished them."
The Origins of the Resentment
The roots of this strange feud trace back to the 1990s, when Ruby Wax was hosting her own interview programme, When Ruby Wax Met.... The series featured high-profile figures such as OJ Simpson, Donald Trump, Pamela Anderson, Madonna, and Tom Hanks, delivered in her characteristically direct and confrontational style. In 1998, Louis Theroux launched his television career, adopting a notably softer and more empathetic interviewing approach. Shortly after Wax's programme was cancelled, she held Theroux responsible, convinced he had stolen her livelihood, "taking food out of my mouth and my children's."
A Candid Conversation on the Grounded Podcast
Ruby Wax only addressed her long-held frustrations openly after appearing on Louis Theroux's Grounded podcast. During the interview, Theroux directly questioned her about a previous remark she had made on another show—that his name made her want to "vomit." Clarifying her controversial comment, Wax acknowledged that while intended humorously, there was underlying truth to it, as she had "projected" her own career struggles onto him. "It's not you Louis, I'm projecting a lot on you," she admitted. "Remember, behind these facades, there are just two human beings."
Reflecting on Career Struggles and Identity
Wax elaborated on her feelings, explaining, "You get in a role [where] you think 'I'm invincible, everybody loves me, I have all these viewers'. And then one day after I did my best show, which was that race to Russia and back... after that my career stopped, nobody would talk to me again, then all that kept going on was Louis Theroux. Now it pinches my heart a little bit because I was cut off from the lifeline which was narcissism and my ego and it was all my identity that I had. I had so much aggression and turbo in my 20s that nobody could stop me. I didn't even have talent when I started, but I was so determined... I have this drive to beat everybody because I always think people are out to get me, betrayal is a big theme in me and failure."
Ruby Wax's Reputation and Public Persona
Ruby Wax has never shied away from stirring the pot, earning a reputation for outspokenness. In 2025, she appeared on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, where viewers dubbed her the "diva of the jungle" due to her characteristically blunt comments. After reportedly describing her pre-camp hotel accommodation as "trash," she left audiences stunned by confronting fellow contestant Angry Ginge for "standing in her light."
A Public Apology and Reconciliation
In a significant turnaround, Ruby Wax has since backtracked on her earlier comments about Louis Theroux. Recently telling The Sunday Times, "I really felt he'd stolen my career. But then I met him and he was so generous and kind. Louis, I'm sorry. I got you completely wrong." Theroux addressed her comments during the Edinburgh TV Festival, reflecting, "I also feel like people resenting you is kind of a compliment, not to be glib about it. I feel bad for her. I feel bad about it. And, at the same time, a little part of me is flattered that she would be so annoyed."
This feud, marked by intense resentment, a bizarre name ban, and eventual reconciliation, highlights the complexities of public personas and the personal struggles that often lie beneath the surface in the entertainment industry.
