The Ultimate Top 20 Embarrassing Celebrity Moments
#20: Elon Musk’s Cybertruck Fail
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Even having all the money in the world apparently doesn’t shield you from public embarrassment. In November 2019, Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the Cybertruck, an electric pick-up vehicle boasting futuristic design and reportedly impact-resistant armored windows. However, things took a mortifying turn when Musk instructed a staff member to put the windows to the test by hurling a small metallic ball at them. Surprisingly, all it took was one hit for the supposedly indestructible glass to be almost completely destroyed. Granted, the windows weren’t punctured, but the ball left them, alongside any iota of Musk’s confidence, shattered on the stage. The tech boss tries to save face with some witty remarks, but what’s done is done.
#19: Zac Efron’s Red Carpet Mishap
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Celebrities take note: always check your pockets before hitting the red carpet. Back when he was still a teen heartthrob, Zac Efron attended the premiere of his 2012 animated movie “The Lorax”. While posing for the paps, Efron reached into his pocket and accidentally dropped a gold protection packet on the floor. Despite his swift attempt to retrieve and conceal it, the damage was done. The flashing lights and recording cameras had already captured the moment for the whole world to see. Realizing his mistake, an utterly embarrassed Efron stood frozen, desperately wishing the ground would swallow him up. It appears nothing shatters the Disney image faster than an unexpected encounter with a wandering rubber.
#18: Whoopi Goldberg Lets One Loose on “The View”
She’s a multi-talented entertainer and a member of the esteemed EGOT club. But if you needed a reminder that Whoopi Goldberg was human like the rest of us, look no further. In 2011, “Homeland” actress Claire Danes was a guest on “The View” when an unexpected incident occurred. In the midst of their conversation, co-host Whoopi Goldberg accidentally let out a loud fart, momentarily halting the discussion and sending the audience into a fit of laughter. Rather than let the awkwardness linger, Goldberg skillfully defused the situation with a hilarious remark and continued with the interview. While it may have been embarrassing, it’s not entirely surprising. The woman is named Whoopi, after all.
#17: Lil Mama Crashes Jay Z & Alicia Keys’ Performance
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The 2009 VMAs are infamous for a particularly uncomfortable interruption, which we’ll get to shortly. However, that wasn’t the only headline-making incident of the night. While performing their chart-topping hit “Empire State of Mind,” Jay-Z and Alicia Keys were joined by a surprise guest. As the performance concluded, New York rapper Lil Mama left her seat, walked onto the stage and awkwardly vibed to the beat. Then, in perhaps the most cringe-worthy moment, she struck a pose beside the two, as if she had just delivered an amazing performance. Soon after the incident, Lil Mama apologized, explaining that she was “caught up in the moment” and was simply “feelin’ it”. Maybe next time, she should stick to “feelin’ it” from her seat.
#16: Lochtegate
A highly decorated swimmer, Ryan Lochte managed to transform an embarrassing drunk night out into an international scandal. During the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Lochte and three fellow U.S. swimmers claimed they were robbed at gunpoint at a gas station. However, investigation by Brazilian authorities uncovered security footage showing that Lochte’s group had vandalized the gas station bathroom and were made to pay for the damage by armed security guards. The clip contradicted Lochte’s initial account, proving that he had fabricated the incident and publicized it all by himself. In the end, a situation that probably would’ve flown under the radar resulted in his suspension by USA Swimming and the loss of his major sponsorships.
#15: Miguel Leg Drop
If you found yourself wondering if this was a music performance or a “WWE Raw” audition tape, you’re certainly not alone. While performing at the 2013 “Billboard Music Awards,” R&B star Miguel decided to take things up a notch. He leapt from the stage across the teeming crowd, but fell short, landing directly on a fan’s head while hitting another with his leg. To add to the awkwardness, he proceeded to hug the wrong person and continued with his performance. Miguel later appeared in a backstage interview with one of the injured fans, in an apparent attempt at damage control. However, he was eventually sued by another lady who claimed to also have been hurt by his humiliating jump.
#14: Kathie Lee Gifford’s On-Air Blunder
Things took an awkward and quite frankly heartbreaking turn when actor Martin Short appeared on the “Today” show in 2012 to promote the “Madagascar 3” movie. Just two years earlier, Short had lost his wife, Nancy Dolman, to ovarian cancer, but it seems “Today” co-host Kathie Lee Gifford was unaware of this fact. During the interview, Gifford unintentionally touched on sensitive ground by asking Short about his marriage and why he was still in love with his wife. Despite the emotional impact of the question, Short maintained his composure and played along, choosing not to correct the mistake live on-air. After she was informed of her blunder, Gifford took to Twitter to apologize to the actor.
#13: Sacha Baron Cohen Spills Ashes on Ryan Seacrest
They say anything can happen in show business, and this incident on the 2012 Oscars red carpet certainly proved that. British actor and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen made a memorable appearance dressed as the character Admiral General Aladeen, from his movie “The Dictator”. Cohen carried an urn containing what he claimed to be the ashes of late North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il and, unsurprisingly, decided to cause a stir. While being interviewed by “E! News” host Ryan Seacrest, Cohen toppled the urn, spilling the ashes onto what must’ve been a very expensive suit. The moment is clearly upsetting for Seacrest, but he does his best to play it cool while Cohen is dragged away by security.
#12: Bieber Pukes Onstage
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We mean, good for him for soldiering on! While performing the first show of his world tour in Arizona, Bieber stopped and turned midway through “Out of Town Girl.” Before audiences could wonder if he was mooning them, Bieber puked and ran offstage, leaving his dancers to awkwardly frolic around a puddle of vomit. Now that’s what we call professional. Not wanting to disappoint his fans, Bieber gamely returned and blamed his sickness on having too much milk before the concert. Throwing up in public is embarrassing enough. Throwing up in front of 20,000 people who are avidly watching is probably wanting-to-die uncomfortable.
#11: 50 Cent’s Awful First Pitch
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There have been some doozy first pitches throughout the years, but none are as bad as 50 Cent’s. On the fateful day of May 27, 2014, the rapper threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Mets game, only he unleashed a ball that was about fifty feet off the plate and nearly hit the cameramen. While Fiddy had a smile on his face, he was surprised to learn just how mocked the infamous pitch became, as it was aired on all the major sports networks and even made into a baseball card. We know throwing a baseball over the plate is much harder than it looks, but this is just hilariously awful.
#10: Fergie Pees Herself Onstage
If there’s one thing that this and the Bieber video teach us, it’s that the show must go on. While performing with The Black Eyed Peas, some eagle-eyed viewers noticed a wet spot near Fergie’s crotch. Naturally, photos were taken and published, and Fergie’s face was probably beet red when she saw the headlines. In a later interview with Hot 97, Fergie explained that the band was stuck in traffic on the way to the gig and she was unable to go to the bathroom before being rushed to the stage. According to her, it was “the most unattractive moment of [her] life” - and, we imagine, easily one of the most embarrassing.
#9: Bow Wow Is Caught Flying Coach
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We suppose this is what happens when you try a little too desperately to stay relevant. In May 2017, Bow Wow posted a photo of a private plane to Instagram, implying that he was traveling in luxury. Later that same day, a passenger snapchatted Bow Wow on a commercial flight, and Instagram users discovered that the private jet picture was a stock photo that Bow Wow had thrown a filter on. This in turn started the #bowwowchallenge, where people posted pictures online contrasting a glamorous photo with the harsh reality. Being caught in a lie is embarrassing enough. Being caught lying about your seemingly flashy lifestyle and becoming a meme is something else entirely.
#8: Seinfeld Refuses to Hug Kesha
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Clearly Seinfeld was not a fan of “Tik Tok.” While attending the David Lynch Foundation’s “A Night of Laughter and Song,” Kesha approached Seinfeld when he was in the middle of an interview. That was her first mistake. She then told him she was a huge fan and asked for a hug, which Seinfeld denied not once, but thrice. The comedian even recoiled and stepped away, causing her to beat a hasty retreat. His admission to reporters that he didn’t know who she was inadvertently rubbed even more salt into the wound. This is prime cringe material right here, and we can’t help but feel bad for Kesha. Then again, who DOES hug complete strangers?
#7: David Hasselhoff Is Plastered
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We still can’t decide whether this video is hilarious or soul-crushingly sad. In one of the earliest viral videos, The Hoff was filmed lying drunk on the floor while chowing down on a cheeseburger. The video was filmed by his own daughter, who can be heard telling him that he’ll be fired if alcohol is found in his system. It definitely wasn’t the “Baywatch” star’s greatest moment, and he later stated that the video was made so he could witness his own drunken behavior. Despite his obvious issues, the video was widely parodied, and Hasselhoff’s visitation rights with his daughters were briefly rebuked.
#6: Mariah Carey’s Awful New Year’s Eve Performance
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Mistakes happen in live music all the time. For some, the show must go on; but for Mariah Carey on New Year’s Eve 2016, it was just the opposite. When there was a problem with her in-ear monitors, Mariah gave up, talking through her song "We Belong Together", while her dancers gamely carried on. The best part was when she spoke right through her pre-recorded whistle notes, a moment that perfectly epitomizes this monumental disaster. Things only got even worse when Mariah’s team claimed that the producers had intentionally sabotaged the performance to make her look bad. At least own the failure!
#5: Tom Cruise Goes Crazy on “Oprah”
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Love can make you do crazy things. Don’t believe us? Just ask Tom Cruise. Back in 2005, the Hollywood star appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” to promote the movie “War of the Worlds”. However, the entire focus of the interview shifted when Winfrey mentioned his then-girlfriend Katie Holmes. Like a sugar-high toddler, Cruise enthusiastically leapt onto the couch, proclaiming his affection for Holmes. Granted, love can sometimes be an intoxicating feeling, but Cruise’s demonstration came across as a little excessive and, consequently, insincere. The incident remains one of the most bizarre public displays of affection, especially in light of the rumors that Cruise and Holmes’ relationship was orchestrated by the Church of Scientology.
#4: Steve Harvey Calls the Wrong Winner
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It’s now the stuff of TV legend, and every bit as cringy now as it was back in 2015. While hosting the Miss Universe 2015 pageant, Steve Harvey made the blunder of a lifetime when he declared Miss Colombia the winner. As contestant Ariadna Gutiérrez wept tears of joy, relishing the moment, a shell-shocked Harvey shambled back onstage to declare that he had misread the card and that Miss Philippines was the actual winner. It was a humiliating mistake for Steve, who not only embarrassed himself, but also crushed the dreams of someone mid-celebration. This still hurts to watch.
#3: The Janet Jackson Super Bowl Fiasco
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It’s perhaps the most infamous event in live television history. As Janet Jackson performed with Justin Timberlake at Super Bowl XXXVIII, Justin exposed her breast to a live audience of millions. Janet claimed the stunt was supposed to reveal only her bra, but audiences remained skeptical. Either way, the incident, nicknamed Nipplegate, triggered a massive backlash, with Janet’s music blacklisted from radio stations. She told USA Today it was “truly embarrassing” for her to know that millions saw her breast, both live and up close online. Now, no matter what she does, she’s the celebrity who flashed the Super Bowl. On the upside, it also inspired the creation of YouTube . . . so hats off to Janet, and the breast that shook America!
#2: Ashlee Simpson Crashes and Burns
As embarrassing as Mariah Carey’s performance was, nothing will ever compare to the infamous Ashlee Simpson fiasco. After performing “Pieces of Me” on “SNL,” Simpson was set to perform “Autobiography”, when the vocal track for “Pieces of Me” played instead. Fully aware that she was caught lip-syncing, Simpson could do nothing but awkwardly dance her way offstage. She later claimed she’d lost her voice due to acid reflux disease. The media viciously attacked her, Lorne Michaels condemned the lip-syncing, and Simpson became the butt of numerous jokes and parodies in the coming years. Those watching live witnessed the destruction of a career right in front of their eyes.
#1: Kanye West Interrupts Taylor Swift
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Today, she’s one of the biggest music artists in the world. But back in 2009, Taylor Swift was still a rising star with only two albums under her belt. At the “MTV Video Music Awards” that year, Swift took home her first ever moonman for Best Female Video, a significant achievement for a country artist. However, Swift’s moment of glory was marred when Kanye West rudely interrupted her acceptance speech, asserting that Beyoncé deserved the award instead. Swift was understandably embarrassed by the whole situation, as was Beyoncé, who looked deeply uncomfortable when the cameras cut to her. Rather than deter her, this moment seemed to serve as motivation for Swift to continue to defy the naysayers.
What other celebrity moments have given you secondhand embarrassment? Let us know in the comments below.
