It appears no-one can resist the draw of Candy Crush Saga – not even the most elite A-listers. Everyone from Meghan Trainor to Khloe Kardashian has admitted to playing the addictive mobile game, in which players have to match identical sweets to clear the board and score bonuses with special moves. For example, arranging four of the same candies into a square sets off a gummy fish that will eliminate one of the annoying obstacles in the way.
In 2021 an All Starts tournament was started in the US to crown “the nation’s number one crusher” who would win a years’ supply of gold bars on the game. It was Disney+ reality star Khloe Kardashian who launched the contest, which saw players compete against each other to score the highest points. Khloe explained: “I love competition, and I’m a fan of the game, so hosting this tournament is super fun for me.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I think I’m the most competitive in my family, and it’s no different when it comes to Candy Crush. This game has always provided an outlet for me to release my inner competitor. For now, get those fingers warmed up and get practicing!”
She’s not the only Candy Crusher in Hollywood, though.
All About That Bass songstress Meghan Trainor has also confessed she’s “such a big fan” of the mobile game – and even worked with the team behind it for her Made You Look music video. She confessed: “I’ve been crushing for years.
“I love playing when I have a bit of downtime in the studio, so I was super excited to be able to work with the game to release the Made You Look music video. We wanted to incorporate bright, fun colours, so Candy Crush was my source of inspiration. When I found out we had the opportunity to give fans a sneak peek of the music video exclusively in-game before it’s released anywhere else for 24 hours, it was the perfect match!"
Even Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz has declared his love for the game – and even wants to make his own, less child-friendly version. He tweeted: “I’m gonna make a new Candy Crush game but with meth called Hillbilly Heroin… you play as a character named Billy. Coming soon…”
He also tweeted: “Can iOS 7 beat the level of Candy Crush that I’ve been stuck on for a week?” and “Can’t sleep just stuck on the same level of Candy Crush forever!”
Martin Kemp’s son Roman Kemp appeared as one of the digital hosts of the UK version of All Stars, with other UK celebs including Alesha Dixon, Mark Wright, Laura Whitmore and Rachel Riley also featuring in the game’s special event.
Roman confessed: “Everyone knows Candy Crush Saga, it’s a game that so many people play and love, including me. As the host of the competition I'm setting the nation a true challenge where they can show off their skills and I'll be seeing those that come out on top in the Candy Crush Saga All Stars grand finale!"
American Horror Story actress Emma Roberts is also a fan of the game, and over the years has showcased her “addiction” on X, tweeting: “Candy Crush keeps locking me out for playing too much!” and “Right now, sleep is something to do to pass the time while I’m waiting for more lives on Candy Crush Saga.”
Maybe not the best advice for anyone trying to cut down on their screen time…
Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine has some controversial tips for getting the most out of your Candy Crush experience – he’s been known to beg people to send him extra lives on social media. He even admitted to using his wife Behati Prinsloo’s fingerprint to access the game on her phone while she slept.
Players can request lives from their friends on the game, but it’s a good idea to add as many friends as possible – and that’s bound to be more if you have hits like Payphone and Maps going for you.
