The Truth About Matthew McConaughey's Friendship With Guy Fieri
When Guy Fieri is ready to appoint a new mayor of Flavortown, don't be surprised if he names good pal and number-one fan Matthew McConaughey as his successor. The actor and New York Times best-selling author would no doubt bring character to the office, provided Flavortown constituents could get on board with McConaughey's bongo playing and staunchly anti-shirt agenda. Fieri doesn't seem to take issue with either — in fact, his and McConaughey's friendship has spanned nearly two decades now, and it shows no signs of slowing down, according to Southern Living.
In a public display of affection, brotherhood, and shared love of shiny sunglasses, McConaughey took to the stage at the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2019 to pay tribute to his friend Fieri who was being honored (as seen on YouTube). It turns out that even celebrities have that one person they call on for good restaurant tips; it's just that Matthew McConaughey's go-to-guy happens to be Guy himself, host of the Food Network show "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives." Or, as McConaughey refers to the show, "Triple-D."
In fact, the celebrity chef was instrumental in helping McConaughey choose a spot to eat in each town he hit during his years living on the road (as he told Men's Journal), and Fieri said he was happy to help anytime the actor needed advice. So, when McConaughey hung up the keys to his Airstream and put down roots in California, where Fieri lives, it was only a matter of time before the pair struck up a face-to-face friendship.
A relationship based in food, fatherhood, and Kenny Rogers
The weather seemed calm and peaceful on Fieri's day on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but there must have been some dust in the air because, by the time McConaughey walked off the stage, most of the audience was rubbing their eyes. "In a business where you can be anyone you want to be, you've been you the whole time," McConaughey said of Fieri during the heartwarming commemoration, "and that ain't easy" (via HuffPost). Later, in his speech, the actor shared a sweet story about the first dinner the pals shared together at the not-so-divey Los Angeles pad McConaughey then called home. It wouldn't be the last special meal they enjoyed, either; according to US Weekly, McConaughey tapped Fieri to cook a Southern-inspired dinner for the third day of his wedding festivities, when the actor wed wife Camila Alves in 2012.
These days, Fieri still lends McConaughey a helping hand whenever he needs it. According to Yahoo News, McConaughey most recently posted a video on social media in anticipation of Father's Day, reflecting on the values that his own dad instilled in him, and wondering what other fatherly lessons his friends carried around with them. Fieri was only too happy to contribute, and McConaughey tweeted out his bestie's video that included takeaways such as firm handshakes, eye contact, and randomly, Kenny Rogers' 1978 hit, "The Gambler" (via Sonoma Index-Tribune).
One can only hope that when the incumbent mayor of Flavortown does retire, the incoming McConaughey will have the keys to an Airstream waiting for him, so they can pal around the country's best diners, drive-ins, and dives together 'til the end.