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Marcus Mumford reflected on the first time he and Kendrick Lamar met during Monday\u2019s episode of the SmartLess <\/em>podcast.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n The Mumford & Sons frontman said it was \u201camazing\u201d that Lamar \u201ctook off almost all his clothes\u201d while they were backstage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n SmartLess <\/em>cohost Jason Bateman shared his thoughts on celebrities going backstage after stage shows. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Marcus Mumford<\/a> didn\u2019t know what to expect when meeting Kendrick Lamar<\/a> \u2014\u00a0but it definitely wasn\u2019t this.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I was invited, very explicitly invited, backstage was after Kendrick Lamar played Bonnaroo [Music and Arts Festival],\u201d Mumford told Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes during the Monday episode of their SmartLess<\/em><\/a> podcast. \u201cThere was a message that came down from on high that Kendrick would like to see you. When Kendrick calls you come, right, because he\u2019s the king.\u201d<\/p>\n Lamar \u201ctook off almost all of his clothes as I walked in,\u201d Mumford continued, adding that \u201cit was amazing\u201d to witness. The singer praised the rapper for his \u201cgumption\u201d to strip down to his \u201cundies\u201d before having a conversation. (Lamar has played Bonnaroo<\/a> three times, in 2012, 2015 and 2023.)<\/p>\n \u201cReal confidence,\u201d Mumford noted. \u201cSwag.\u201d<\/p>\n Marcus Mumford performing at The O2 Arena in December 2025.Credit: Samir Hussein\/WireImage<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n The conversation regarding Lamar came about after Arnett revealed that Mumford was a fan of their podcast, even attending a live show in Los Angeles. However, the Mumford & Sons singer<\/a> didn\u2019t tell the podcast hosts he was in the audience until after.<\/p>\n \u201cI vaguely remember, at the time, saying, \u2018I wish you had said hi.\u2019 Then you just mentioned it was hectic and you didn\u2019t want to say hi,\u201d Arnett said. \u201cYou came to our show and didn\u2019t come backstage and say hi, and Jason has thoughts on this.\u201d<\/p>\n Mumford explained he nearly did the same thing when seeing comedian Tim Key at a recent live show.<\/p>\n \u201cI went and watched his show, and was about to leave and thought to myself, \u2018No, he knows I\u2019m here. He helped with the tickets. It is rude to leave,\u2019\u201d Mumford explained. Bateman said that was a \u201cdifferent\u201d scenario than just attending a show on his own volition.<\/p>\n Bateman wondered if Mumford, as a musician, gets \u201coffended\u201d if celebrities in the audience don\u2019t come backstage and say hello.<\/p>\n \u201cCulturally, very different in music,\u201d Mumford explained. Bateman, meanwhile, said he was a \u201crock and roll guy at heart,\u201d because he finds it \u201cpresumptuous\u201d as an audience member to assume that they will be \u201cwelcome backstage\u201d because of their celebrity status.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s so arrogant. Just get the hell out and let the people rest,\u201d Bateman quipped. Mumford added, \u201cIt\u2019s more like, you probably want to see me because I\u2019m really famous, so I\u2019ll bless you with my presence.\u201d<\/p>\n Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our <\/em><\/strong>EW Dispatch newsletter<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Mumford added that sometimes the celeb will \u201cfind something polite to say\u201d even if it isn\u2019t a positive comment about the performance. They\u2019ll \u201ctalk about how great the program was or the lighting,\u201d he joked.<\/p>\n