20 Celeb Interviews That Went Horribly Wrong

MM Celeb 20 Celeb Interviews That Went Horribly Wrong_F0U9H9

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at celebrity interviews that went wildly off the rails, with stars and interviewers alike taking things in unexpected directions.

Cara Delevingne’s Rough Morning Chat

This one got awkward - fast. In July 2015, actress Cara Delevingne appeared remotely on “Good Day Sacramento” to promote the film “Paper Towns,” but the interview quickly went sideways. After mistakenly calling her “Carla,” the hosts questioned whether she had actually read the John Green novel, with Delevingne responding with some strong sarcasm. When they then suggested she seemed tired, the exchange became increasingly tense - ultimately ending the interview in a cloud of discomfort. However, things didn’t stop there. After Delevingne was off the call, they continued criticizing her, taking issue with her lack of enthusiasm. It’s not every day you see TV hosts openly trashing their guest on-air.

Crispin Glover Throws a Kick at Letterman

David Letterman had no shortage of unusual guests, but Crispin Glover’s 1987 appearance was in a category of its own. You see, when the “Back to the Future” star appeared on “Late Night with David Letterman,” he behaved erratically while donning an odd outfit complete with towering platform shoes and a wig. Things escalated when Glover suddenly challenged the host to an arm-wrestling match before launching into a high kick that came dangerously close to Dave’s face. Letterman promptly left the stage, bringing the strange encounter to an abrupt end. Regardless if Glover was “in character,” the bizarre appearance had left audiences wondering what exactly they had just witnessed.

Andy Dick Gets Kicked Off “Kimmel”

Few celebrity interviews need security intervention. This one did! Yep, by 2007, comedian Andy Dick’s reputation as a troublemaker had seemingly lost its charm. And, well, he appeared to be impaired during this now infamous appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” The host humored Dick’s antics that night until Ivanka Trump’s interview, which Andy stayed seated for. Unfortunately, he kept disrupting the chat by touching her hair and leg. Heck, he even asked for a kiss. Kimmel eventually had to call security to help him forcibly escort Dick out of the studio. Yeesh.

Rashida Jones’ Awkward Compliment

At the 2015 “Screen Actors Guild Awards,” Rashida Jones stopped for a red-carpet interview with TNT correspondent Danielle Demski. Demski proceeded to tell Jones that she looked as though she had “just come off an island,” describing her as “very tan” and “very tropical.” Jones, who is the daughter of Quincy Jones and Peggy Lipton, responded with a perfectly timed, “I mean, you know, I’m ethnic.” Jones handled the exchange with humor, but the bizarre attempt at a compliment quickly became a viral example of why interviewers should probably know a little about the person standing in front of them.

Robert Downey Jr. Isn’t Going There

In April 2015, Robert Downey Jr. was promoting “Avengers: Age of Ultron” when Channel 4 presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy shifted the conversation from Tony Stark to Downey’s personal history. In an uncomfortable exchange, Guru-Murthy began asking about Downey’s relationship with his father, drinking and substance use. When Guru-Murthy continued probing, a clearly annoyed Downey finally asked: “I’m sorry, what are we doing?” After receiving what appeared to be a cue from his publicist, stood up and ended the interview. As he walked away, RDJ made his feelings about the direction of the conversation pretty clear. Spoiler alert – this isn’t the last time we’ll see Krishnan Guru-Murthy on this list.

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Andrew Dice Clay Explodes on CNN

When a comedian with a reputation for courting controversy goes live, you better brace for impact. And so, when Andrew Dice Clay appeared on CNN’s former financial news sister network, he turned what should have been a routine interview into a memorable on-air meltdown. The tension began when the anchor, Allan Chernoff, referred to Clay as a former headliner before asking about his involvement in running a gym. Clearly irritated by the characterization and claims, Clay immediately pushed back. The most awkward moment came when the anchor attempted to move on to the next segment, only for Clay's cursing to continue as the cameras tried to leave the chaos behind.

Farrah Fawcett’s Bizarre Night on “Letterman”

For those who witnessed it, this was less an interview and more a television fever dream. On June 5, 1997, Farrah Fawcett made her first appearance on Late Show with David Letterman while promoting her Playboy pictorial and accompanying video. The star appeared distracted and gave rambling, often incoherent answers. She behaved so unpredictably that the audience frequently burst into laughter. Letterman tried to make sense of the situation as Fawcett wandered through the conversation. Fawcett later insisted that she was not under the influence and explained that she had been joking around and reacting to people in the audience. Ok, sure.

Billy Bob Thornton Freezes Out His Interviewer

Billy Bob Thornton proved that sometimes silence can be more hostile than shouting. In April 2009, the actor and musician appeared on CBC’s "Q" with Jian Ghomeshi alongside his band, The Boxmasters. Before the live interview, Thornton reportedly requested that discussion focus on the group's music rather than his Hollywood career. However, when Ghomeshi referenced Thornton's acting background early in the conversation, the guest's mood noticeably shifted. Thornton responded with terse answers, long pauses, and increasingly strange remarks. Yep, the whole awkward exchange showcased how quickly a routine promotional appearance can unravel horribly.

Bobcat Goldthwait Sets Fire on the “Tonight Show”

In the 90s, comedian Bobcat Goldthwait was known for his chaotic stage presence — and in May of 1994, he brought that uneasy energy to “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” It was then that Goldthwait staged a bizarre stunt by dousing the guest chair in lighter fluid and setting it on fire. Luckily, Leno quickly doused the flames with a cup of water before things went terribly wrong. He then forced Goldthwait to sit in the charred chair. Whatever message the comedian was trying to send was completely lost however, replaced instead by a moment that started feeling terrifyingly dangerous.

R. Kelly Loses It on Gayle King

Oh boy. R. Kelly’s 2019 sit-down with Gayle King for CBS has become infamous for being one of the most volatile interviews in modern TV history. Confronted with allegations of abuse and misconduct following the release of the revealing series “Surviving R. Kelly,” the singer initially tried to remain composed. But, when King pressed him on the accusations and his legal battles, his demeanor unraveled dramatically. Kelly leapt from his chair and pounded his chest. The meltdown became instantly viral. It exposed how emotionally unmoored Kelly had become in the face of mounting legal pressure and public scrutiny – and the chaos was all captured on camera.

John Cusack is not Kevin Spacey

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.

Tony Danza Trashes the TV Interview

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.

Madonna Pushes Buttons on “Letterman”

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.

Lindsay Lohan’s “Letterman” Breakdown

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.

Samuel L. Jackson Won’t Let It Go

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.

Brigitte Nielsen Storms Out on Joan Rivers

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”.

Meg Ryan Clashes With Michael Parkinson

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.

Anna Nicole Smith Gets Shamed on Air

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.

Quentin Tarantino Shuts Down Krishnan Guru-Murthy

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.

Britney Spears is Vilified by Diane Sawyer

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 you witness any of these disastrous episodes as they happened? Let’s talk in the comments below.