10 Celeb Interviews That Went Horribly Wrong

10 Celeb Interviews That Went Horribly Wrong

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most off the rails celebrity interviews.

#10: John Cusack

It’s one thing to be improperly prepared for an interview – not a good thing, mind you – but it’s quite another to straight up not know who you’re interviewing. In 2007, John Cusack was puzzled when an interviewer remarked on the fact that the interview’s timing was a coincidence, as the friend she was texting was watching “American Beauty.” Cusack was puzzled by the statement, given that he, you know, wasn’t in “American Beauty.” It appears that the likely very anxious film student interviewing Cusack had mistaken him for Kevin Spacey. Awkward…but less awkward than than it would be now. Fortunately, this bit didn’t make it to the air.

#9: Tony Danza

In 1998, before a local news appearance, actor Tony Danza tore into the program, making fun of local news shows and exclaiming that he didn’t want to be doing this interview. Wait, did we say “before?” It’s a little unclear whether Danza’s comments were heard by an actual television viewing audience or just the interviewer and the crew. Either way, it’s just as uncomfortable as you would imagine as the news anchor attempts to smile through the incident and struggles to get Danza’s attention. Thankfully, she’s good-humored about it and doesn’t appear to let Danza take away her pride for how she makes a living.

#8: Madonna

Madonna has always had a knack for being rebellious, especially during the 90s. She begins this 1994 interview with David Letterman by giving her panties to the talk show host. She then proceeds to dodge his questions, preferring to instead make dirty jokes, curse, and be an altogether nightmare for censors. Thankfully, Letterman is a pro, and he turns what would typically just be bizarre and awkward into a classic moment in talk show history. Although some of his questions wouldn’t fly today. The pop star would go on to make future appearances on the program, but none would be as iconic as this one.

#7: Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan is certainly no stranger to public scandal, but understandably, there are times when she would like to forget all that and focus on her career. Unfortunately, during this 2013 appearance on the “Late Show with David Letterman,” the host made this frankly impossible. While Lohan appeared to promote “Scary Movie 5,” Letterman seemed much more interested in discussing the star’s upcoming return to rehab. He asked invasive questions, and Lohan fielded them until she had enough, noting that these topics weren’t discussed in the pre-interview and asked Letterman to "stay on the positive." Unfortunately, he did not, and Lohan was crying by the end of the interview.

#6: Samuel L. Jackson

During an interview with legendary actor Samuel L. Jackson, KTLA anchor Sam Rubin mentioned the actor’s alleged recent Super Bowl commercial when listing off some of his most notable work. Jackson immediately voiced his confusion. It didn’t take him much time at all to realize that the anchor had mistaken him for Laurence Fishburne, who had appeared in a Kia ad several weeks prior. Regrettably, Jackson seems all too used to this. Still, he goes off on the anchor, telling him that not all Black actors look the same. Fortunately, there were no long-term hard feelings.

#5: Brigitte Nielsen

Joan Rivers wasn’t exactly known for her kindness and tact, so we’re actually surprised she didn’t have more interviews that went exactly like this one. While being interviewed by the comedian on “The Joan Rivers Position”, Brigitte Nielsen was outraged by her line of questioning, causing her to storm out – not only once, but twice. According to an audience member, Rivers was speaking ill of some of Nielsen’s former husbands, which she did not appreciate. Although apparently it was somewhat difficult to figure out what the argument was about, as Nielsen began “yelling in Italian”.

#4: Meg Ryan

Romcom staple Meg Ryan butted heads with renowned British journalist Michael Parkinson during a 2003 interview. Parkinson insinuated that some press intrusion was a trade-off for Ryan’s fame, which the “Sleepless in Seattle Star” did not appreciate. When Parkinson asked how they should proceed, the actor responded with a curt quip. Reflecting on it later, Ryan said this experience with “that guy” was the one time she failed to keep a level head during an interview. To his credit, Parkinson admitted in 2017 that he regretted how the interview had gone.

#3: Anna Nicole Smith

Troubled model and actress Anna Nicole Smith was a guest on Howard Stern’s radio show several times before her unfortunate passing in 2007. Her 2002 appearance, however, is notable for all the wrong reasons. Both Stern and his co-host pestered Smith regarding her weight, with Stern even asking Smith to get on a scale for the show – which she rightfully refused to do. Smith was known to have struggled with her body image throughout the years. In the time since its original airing, the interview has been circulated widely and widely denounced for its body-shaming nature.

#2: Quentin Tarantino

Over the years, there have been a lot of people who have tried to link consumption of violent media to the urge to commit real-world violence. Quentin Tarantino, the king of violent pulp cinema, responsible for some of the bloodiest films of all time, obviously has an issue with this. When Channel 4’s Krishnan Guru-Murthy asked questions about this topic in an interview following the release of “Django Unchained”, the director refused to discuss it. While there's certainly a discussion to be had about violence in popular entertainment, Guru-Murthy's question was clearly posed in bad faith. And Tarantino wisely didn't bite.

#1: Britney Spears

In a “no-holds-barred” interview with Diane Sawyer, the journalist did not hesitate to breach the more sensitive aspects of the pop star's life, which caused Spears to break out in tears and request a timeout. For all the privileges that being a rich and famous celebrity affords you, it comes with plenty of drawbacks. The spotlight it places on you can be unforgiving, especially when you’re a superstar in your early 20s like Spears. In the years since the interview’s airing, it’s been negatively highlighted as an example of the media vilifying someone in an especially vulnerable state.

Did we miss an interview that left you mortified? Let us know in the comments!