Howie Mandel has sparked plenty of chatter after a recent meet-up with OnlyFans creator Sophie Rain.
The unexpected pairing was filmed for social media, leaving many viewers puzzled about how the two ended up linking up in the first place.
Rain, who has reportedly earned an eye-watering $110 million through OnlyFans, met Mandel in recent days, and footage of their encounter quickly gained traction online.
“Why are these two even in the same room is my first question,” somebody on social media questioned.
Another person echoed: “Why are the two in a room together should be the first question anyone should be asking?”
However, it wasn’t only the surprise meeting that got people talking—it was also Mandel’s distinctive approach to greeting the 21-year-old.
In the clip, one of the first things Mandel asks Rain is whether she has washed her hands. He then pulls out a wearable plexiglass barrier and a pair of heavy-duty rubber gloves before going in for a handshake.
Once fully suited up in the protective gear, Mandel shakes Rain’s hands and says: “What a pleasure to meet you.”
The plexiglass-and-gloves moment split opinion online, with some viewers arguing the gesture came off as insulting.
“Not even funny just plain disrespectful,” one person replied to his TikTok video.
“That was not funny at all,” said another, while somebody else commented: “That’s a bit disrespectful bro, ur doing way to much.”
Others felt Mandel was simply leaning into a joke, though many were quick to note that he has been open for years about being a germaphobe and living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Per Mayo Clinic, OCD ‘features a pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears known as obsessions’.
Defending him, one supporter wrote: “If you know Howie Mandel’s history with OCD and severe germophobia, this actually makes perfect sense. He’s been very open about it for years.
“So, that’s not disrespect—it’s accommodation for a condition he’s lived with for decades.”
Mandel was diagnosed with OCD in his late 40s. In an interview with USA Today last year, he spoke about how challenging it can be to manage, and explained that even something as ordinary as a handshake can set off intense anxiety.
“For me, it’s about getting triggered into thinking there’s something on my hand, and then being stuck at a sink, scalding my hand for the next 12 hours,” he explained.
“Not being able to carry on life (as a) husband, father and provider. I can’t show up, and my life stops. I’m in this nightmare where I think terrible things are going to happen,” Mandel went on.
People with OCD may obsess over certain themes, such as: