Dragons' Den star Steven Bartlett has been branded 'ridiculously out of touch' after casually mentioning that he flies his UK-based barber to the United States for haircuts. The 33-year-old entrepreneur, who hosts the popular podcast Diary of a CEO, made the remark during an interview with billionaire investor Jeremy Grantham.
Controversial confession on podcast
In the episode released last week, Bartlett discussed the difference in food quality between the US and other parts of the world. He recounted that his barber, Damon, had flown to the US to give him a haircut and complained about feeling unwell after eating American food. 'Brits fly over here, and actually we had my barber Damon, and he flew over here to give me a haircut last week. He said, "Oh gosh, I don't feel good". He said: "I went and got some food here, I really just don't feel good" and he says: "Every time I come over here I don't feel good",' Bartlett said.
Listeners quickly seized on the casual admission that Bartlett pays for his barber to travel across the Atlantic for a trim, with many accusing him of being disconnected from reality. 'Great interview, but the “my barber flew out to give me a haircut” line is the douchiest thing I’ve ever heard,' commented YouTube user mfhr6650. Another user, robragei8w, wrote, '“My barber flew here to cut my hair”. Brother, that makes you part of the problem.'
Backlash from fans and critics
The criticism was widespread on social media. User georgeisvold585 asked, 'Did you seriously just say: “My barber flew in from the UK to give me a haircut?”' while Anonp7g declared, 'This guy is so out of touch.' Others echoed similar sentiments, with milesshellbourne394 noting, 'Great conversation, but “my barber flew over to give me a haircut…” talk about losing touch with reality…' Claude6310 commented, 'Did I hear “my barber flying over to give me a haircut?” I don’t think it is the best use of resources!' and kilany10 agreed, 'Flying your barber for a haircut is the biggest sign of a bubble.'
The incident is the latest in a series of controversies for Bartlett, who has faced accusations of fuelling misogyny and criticism over his choice of podcast guests, including Ivanka Trump. In June 2026, a resurfaced clip from his podcast in which he claimed that drinking two to three glasses of wine 'derailed three days' of his life drew mockery from fans and celebrities alike. Vogue Williams, speaking on her podcast My Therapist Ghosted Me, said, 'He said he had three glasses of wine, and it ruined his life because it made him not optimal for three days. I think you're at your funniest when you're hungover.'
Bartlett's rise to fame
Bartlett became the youngest-ever investor on Dragons' Den when he joined the BBC reality series in 2022. He has since built a reputation for controversial takes on business and productivity. Despite the backlash, his podcast Diary of a CEO continues to attract high-profile guests and millions of listeners.
