Top 10 Most Shocking Hot Mic Moments

#10: Hunter College Professor

Allyson Friedman, a tenured associate professor at Hunter College in New York City, made racist remarks during a Zoom meeting, appalling the community. The comments in question were made during a Community Education Council meeting on Manhattan’s West Side where families conveyed concern about plans by the city to close schools. As a Black student appealed for her school to be saved from closure, Dr. Friedman was caught on hot mic saying, “They’re too dumb to know they’re in a bad school.” She then continued, “Apparently, Martin Luther King said it. If you train a Black person well enough, they’ll know to use the back. You don’t have to tell them anymore.”

#9: So Boring

Some people are never impressed, even while watching Olympian-level talent. This was the case for NBC Sports presenter Todd Richards, who was expecting a little more from the men’s snowboard big air final, and let the entire world know due to a hot mic mishap. Thinking he was off the air, Richards remarked, “That was boring. That was so boring,” adding, “The qualifier was way more exciting.” Briefly after the mistake, Richards, a former Olympic snowboarder who previously competed in Nagano in 1998, chose to stick by his evaluation in a video posted to Instagram.

#8: Bush's Major League Mistake

During his 2000 electoral campaign, George W. Bush and his running mate Dick Cheney were caught on hot mic lambasting New York Times reporter Adam Clymer. In a low whisper, Bush described Clymer as a “major league” butthole, except he didn’t use the word “butt.” Chenery responded, “Yeah, big time.” Asked later whether or not he felt Clymer was owed an apology, Bush did not answer the question directly, instead stating bluntly that he “regret[s] that it made it to the airwaves.” In response, Clymer himself simply said that he was “disappointed in the governor’s language.”

#7: NHL’s NSFW Blunder

Despite his 25 years of experience calling Philadelphia Flyers games, broadcaster Tim Saunders neglected to check if he was “on-air” during a third-period ad break. This resulted in him being caught on hot mic making a sexual joke to fellow commentator Todd Fedruk, to which he responded, “I think we’re still on the air, Tim.” Saunders burst out laughing before asking, “No, we’re not, are we?” Alas, the answer was yes. Because of this, he was given a two-game suspension and issued a statement taking responsibility for his remarks.

#6: Prince Charles' Royal Pain

In 2005, over 50 journalists met at Klosters, a ski resort in Switzerland, for a photo call observing Prince Charles’ soon-approaching wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles. During the event, Charles was unable to conceal his disdain, muttering to his sons Harry and William, "I hate doing this ... I hate these people" – mutters unfortunately picked up by his mic. When asked by the BBC’s royal correspondent for his feelings on his upcoming marriage, Charles replied with sarcasm, saying, "I'm glad you've heard of it." After this, he tilted his head towards Harry, whispering, "Bloody people. I can't bear that man… He's so awful, he really is."

#5: Billy Bush & Donald Trump

In 2016, footage was released of a 2005 discussion between TV/radio host Billy Bush and then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, during which neither man realized his mic was on. Trump was heard on the tape making sexual and misogynistic remarks regarding women, while Bush laughed alongside him while on a bus waiting to film an “Access Hollywood” episode. While Billy Bush was dropped by “Today,” Donald Trump, of course, became president of the United States. It just goes to show that, while people may say some shocking things when they don’t think others are listening, it doesn’t always matter as much as you’d think.

#4: Jacques Chirac's Food Review

While awaiting a decision as to which nation would host the 2012 Olympics, France’s President Jacques Chirac talked down to rival country Great Britain during a “private” conversation. Chatting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, he stated, "The only thing that they have ever done for European agriculture is mad cow disease.” He even insulted their food, continuing, "You cannot trust people who have such bad cuisine." London got the last laugh at the end of the day, however, as they are the ones who actually ended up hosting the Olympics in 2012.

#3: Obama Wants Some Space

Following a meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in the lead-up to the 2012 election, President Barack Obama huddled with the fellow leader to faintly continue their talk. Journalists could overhear Obama telling Medvedev to afford him “space” regarding missile defence, stating, "This is my last election ... After my election, I have more flexibility." Medvedev replied, "I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir [Putin].” At the time, the overheard conversation was used by Obama’s Republican rival Mitt Romney to show that he would “cave to Russia on missile defence”. This wasn’t Obama’s first hot mic debacle: in 2009, Obama was caught calling rapper Kanye West a “jackass” following the infamous MTV Video Music Award incident.

#2: Robert Durst Confesses

In 2015, HBO was in production on a six-part documentary series titled “The Jinx” about the murders that real estate heir Robert Durst was accused of committing. At the end of the season, we hear what appears to be a confession from Durst, who talks to himself in the bathroom, unaware that his body mic is still on. Despite being on mic saying he “killed them all”, there remained some doubt as to its admissibility in court – especially given that Durst was supposedly on crystal meth when the interview took place.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Jesse Jackson's Graphic Threat

Jackson Made a Crude Remark About Barack Obama on Live Television

Mama Gingrich on Hillary Clinton

Newt Gingrich’s Mother Gave Out His Unfiltered Hillary Clinton Opinion While Hot Mic’d

#1: Reagan Outlaws Russia

In August 1984, during the height of the Cold War, President Ronald Reagan gave one of his weekly radio addresses to the country from his vacation home in California. During a sound check before the broadcast, he joked, "My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes." These remarks were later leaked to the public, becoming world news despite their joking nature, and were criticized by both the Soviet Union and Reagan’s political opponents at the time.

Did we miss your favourite moment where somebody burned themselves on the hot mic? Let us know in the comments!