Top 30 Celebrities Who LOST IT on Live TV

NBA

Nicknamed The Worm and The Bad Boy of the NBA, Dennis Rodman has always pushed the envelope on and off the basketball court. However, it was during a heated game between the Chicago Bulls and the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1997 that Rodman had one of his most infamous clashes on live TV. After falling out of bounds vying for a rebound, Rodman lashed out and kicked cameraman Eugene Amos square in the groin. The incident, broadcast to millions, led to a massive backlash against Dennis. He was suspended for 11 games without pay costing him over $1 million in salary.

Today (1952-)

In 2008, during a live segment on NBCs Today with then hosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb, Sam Zien better known as Sam the Cooking Guy seemingly snapped. As the notoriously chatty Kathie Lee and Hoda kept talking over the chef while he was trying to present his recipe, Sam visibly lost patience. In a rather jarring moment, he bluntly told them to pipe down. Momentarily stunned, Kathie Lee and Hoda carried on in awkward laughter. And while viewers were mixed about whether the outburst was disrespectful, Sam later explained he was frustrated after being constantly interrupted.

Morning Joe (2007)

During a live broadcast of MSNBCs Morning Joe in 2007, co-host Mika Brzezinski made it abundantly clear she had had enough of celebrity gossip cluttering serious news coverage. When producers handed her a lead story about Paris Hilton, Brzezinski refused to read it. Heck, she even tried to set the script on fire with a lighter - before shredding it dramatically in a paper shredder. The moment went viral and was seen as a stand against the tabloidization of news. Mika, in turn, earned respect for sticking to her journalistic principles.

Good Evening Britain (2018)

English actor Danny Dyer didnt mince words during a 2018 live episode of ITVs Good Evening Britain. When asked about Brexit, Dyer, who often portrays the tough guy, launched into a furious rant, calling former Prime Minister David Cameron a number of unseemly names for walking away from the situation he created. Dannys fiery remarks drew a few chuckles, though then-Opposition Leader Jeremy Corbyn managed to remain stone-faced. After finishing, the actor leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. We think its safe to say he's not exactly a David Cameron supporter.

Inside the NFL (1977-)

Legendary quarterback and NFL Hall of Famer Dan Marino is usually calm, cool, and collected. However, in the year 2000, while co-hosting an episode of Inside the NFL on HBO, the star athlete unexpectedly erupted. After stumbling over his words, the former Miami Dolphins QB slammed his fists onto the table, surprising those around him. And, judging by the cameras subsequent rapid movements, it seems Marino even caught the production team off guard. Marino later apologized for the so-called tantrum, but fans got a rare glimpse at his fiery side during this fateful broadcast.

WCW Monday Nitro (2005-21)

Yes, were fully aware of pro wrestlings scripted nature, but that doesnt mean real incidents of anger dont take place. During a live 1999 broadcast of WCWs Monday Nitro, Randy Macho Man Savage crossed a serious line in a chaotic backstage segment. Its here that Savage slapped then-newcomer Torrie Wilson. Reports suggest that Savage was genuinely upset with Torrie for smiling and laughing during the segment, which was intended to be portrayed in a serious, confrontational tone. WCW would go on to face major backlash from within, as executives in attendance were said to be furious about what theyd seen.

CP24 (1998-)

Mike Tyson has long been known as one of the most unpredictable figures to appear on live television. Even so, in 2014, the famed boxer made an appearance on Canadas CP24 news channel to promote a speaking engagement. But, when host Nathan Downer brought up Tysons past convictions and how his endorsement of then-Mayor Rob Ford might interfere in his election race, Iron Mike snapped. Launching into an expletive-laden tirade live on air, Tyson repeatedly cursed at the host. As noted, this wasnt the only time Tyson's temper was explosive on live TV but more on that later

Real Time with Bill Maher (2003-)

With a list of rules laid out ahead of time, live studio audiences are mostly well behaved. That wasnt the case during an episode of HBOs Real Time with Bill Maher, however. While Bill was talking with U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, a group from the audience started loudly yelling. At first, Lee and Maher simply looked at them in amusement and tried to carry on. But, when they kept shouting, Bill jumped out of his chair, marched into the audience, and personally helped security eject them. The incident showed Mahers absolute refusal to let his show be hijacked.

Reality Really Awards (2007

What do you get when you cross the unpredictability of award shows with the volatility of reality TV? That would be this bizarre trainwreck from the 2007 Fox Reality Really Awards. It was here that notorious Survivor villain, Johnny Fairplay, got way more than he bargained for. You see, after jumping onto Danny Bonaduce, the actor swiftly flipped Fairplay over slamming him face-first onto the stage. The impact actually broke several of Johnnys teeth and sent him to the hospital. As you might imagine, the shocking moment overshadowed the rest of the awards ceremony and left many jaws on the floor.

CNN (1980-)

When a comedian appears on live TV, you just never know whats going to happen - especially if said comedian is known for their provocative humor. Well, when Andrew Dice Clay appeared on CNN, things got rather ugly. When the anchor referred to Dice as a former headline guy and then asked what it was like running a gym, an annoyed Clay quickly corrected him. From there, he launched into an expletive-filled tirade, loudly tearing into the whole production. A standout moment? That would be when the anchor awkwardly tried to transition to the next segment while Dice continued shouting and swearing off-camera.

KTLA Morning Show (1991-)

KTLA anchor Sam Rubin welcomed actor Samuel L. Jackson via satellite for what could have been a normal interview. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until the newscaster asked Jackson about his recent Super Bowl commercial. Since that particular ad actually starred Lawrece Fishburne, Jackson immediately started dunking on the anchor for his egregious gaffe. Although the movie star had been brought on to talk about his film Robocop, this error made him focus more on dishing out a verbal beatdown. Even after they started speaking about the movie, the actor took an opportunity to pivot back to the mistake.

SportsCenter (1979-)

In 2009, boxer Floyd Mayweather was undefeated and ready to talk about his career for a "Sportscenter" interview. Unfortunately, host Brian Kenny struck a nerve with Mayweather right away. The boxer took umbrage with Kennys assertion that he was a former number one. But that was only round 1 of this painful interview. Throughout the conversation, Mayweather ducked the many of the presenters most biting questions. And when he wasnt directly answering, the boxer was ready to verbally spar with Kennny at every point. The anchors attempts to take control of the interview only lead to more chaos. By the time their conversation ended, its clear that Mayweather had dominated another tense matchup.

Real Time with Bill Maher (2003-)

During an episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, the host and author Sam Harris got to talking about Islam. When they started making critical statements and broad generalizations about the Muslim religion, an angry Ben Affleck stepped in. The famous actor kept challenging the host and the author not to see everyone who believes in the faith in one negative way. As Affleck threw out statistics and made impassioned arguments, he only grew angrier. Although he tried to stay silent, he jumped back in whenever another broad characterization of the faith was made. Ultimately, this moment went viral for the performers forceful presence in a tense debate.

Late Night with David Letterman (1982-93)

Comedian Andy Kaufmans appearance on Late Night with David Letterman was the stuff of legend. Prior to the interview, Kaufman lost a match so badly against professional wrestler Jerry Lawler that the funnyman had to wear a neck brace. Letterman thought it would be a great idea to bring them both together on his show. However, they both got heated during the course of this joint interview. After their conversation reached a fever pitch, Lawler struck Kaufman. The comedian later stormed back on set to shout many profanities and toss at least one drink. It was eventually revealed that the whole confrontation was staged. However, this freak out still represented one of the most talked about moments in talk show history.

Saturday Night Live (1975-)

Sinéad OConnor appeared on Saturday Night Live for the second time in 1992. During this appearance, she performed an acapella version of Bob Marleys song War. OConnor finished the stirring cover in shocking fashion by ripping up a picture of Pope John Paul II. She also made a comment that referenced the Catholic Churchs scandals. After OConnor made this controversial statement, she faced a ton of backlash. SNL also banned her from returning to the show at all. Decades after the incident, interviews with the late singer confirmed that she had no regrets about ripping up that photo.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003-22)

Over the years, Kanye West has become a celebrity who is often outspoken at the most unexpected times. His interview with Ellen DeGeneres was yet another example of him talking without a filter. After answering a few questions and letting some colorful language slip, West decided to let everyone in on all the things on his mind. He covered a wide range of topics from his career aspirations to his spirituality. Kanyes detour goes on for so long that parts of it didnt even make it to the episode. While DeGeneres managed to take back control, the show was completely in his hands for a while. Ye never made a return to the now-defunct talk show, but he has kept up his outspoken streak across other platforms.

UPN9/WWOR (1999)

As weve seen, it's wise to tread carefully when phrasing your questions to Mike Tyson during an interview. The heavyweight champ got a reputation as a brilliant fighter who has little patience for anyone who upsets him. When presenter Russ Salzberg asked about Tysons upcoming bout in one infamous interview, the boxer immediately dropped a word that the censors wouldn't like. Although the interviewer tried to reign in the fighters language and focus on the upcoming event, it was already far too late. Tyson continued to curse until Salzberg moved to end the discussion. Unfortunately for the station, the boxer got a few last words in as the segment ended.

Love & Hip-Hop: New York (2010-)

Even before the "Love & Hip-Hop: New York" reunion show aired, tensions were simmering between rapper Cardi B and her cast member Asia Davies. Their conflict finally boiled over in front of a live studio audience. Without warning, Cardi B launched a shoe at Davies. The stage quickly erupted into chaos right after the footwear was launched. After a few tense moments, the crew put distance between the women. But their conversation didnt get much better. When Davies hit another nerve, Cardi B tried to lunge towards her rival again before security stepped in. Putting these two in the same room was a recipe for disaster and infamous tv.

On the Record with Bob Costas (2001-04)

WWE chairman Vince McMahon co-created the alternative football league called the XFL. Its first and only season was marred in controversy, poor ratings, and criticism from other sports broadcasters like Bob Costas. Costas welcomed McMahon onto his On the Record show to address his plan for the league. By the end of the interview, it had devolved into a series of vague threats from the wrestling boss. He leaned forward and pointed in the hosts face for extra emphasis. Not only did the outburst hurt the then CEOs reputation, it signaled the end of the XFL.

32nd Video Music Awards (2015)

Nicki Minaj accepted the award for Best Hip-Hop Video at the 2015 VMAs. Instead of ending her speech with a thank you, she took aim at the shows host, Mily Cyrus. Minaj claimed that the singer had disrespected her in an interview. After winning a moonman, the rapper wasnt afraid to let the host know how she felt. Her stern change of tone sucked all the air right out of the room. Instead of escalating the situation, Cyrus tried to downplay the incident and keep the show rolling. While its debatable if that was the most shocking part of the VMAs that year, it was definitely the point where Minaj made her feelings known.

Late Night with David Letterman (1982-93)

Crispin Glovers unique and idiosyncratic behavior has led to him being at the center of several shocking incidents. One appearance on Late Night with David Letterman demonstrated his ability to shock and induce laughter in equal parts. Glover took the stage in a wig and costume that may or may not have been a complete joke. Letterman played along with the actors strange performance as best he could. However, the host lost his patience after Glover unleashed his best high kick. After cutting the segment short, Letterman returned without the actor sitting next to him. The host made it known that he wasnt a fan of how the interview went down.

Talk2 (1993-98)

Quarterback Jim Everett appeared as a guest on Jim Rome's "Talk2" sports program. The host made a joke by calling the athlete "Chris," referring to the tennis player Chris Everett. The guest leaned in and warned Rome about calling him the name again. However, the presenter decided to push his luck and make the lame joke one more time. Everett promptly leapt at his interviewer and knocked him to the ground. After the incident, the host regretted how he had treated his guest. In the immediate aftermath, Everett doubled down and expressed his negative feelings towards Rome.

CNN (1980-)

During a CNN interview, this legendary comedian didnt exactly get along with her interviewer Fredricka Whitfield. Joan Rivers was initially okay with being asked about her fashion opinions and comedy. But the conversation got incredibly awkward after Whitefield questioned the Fashion Police star about wearing fur. Feeling that the discussion had gotten too negative, Rivers didnt hold back her true feelings. After railing at the line of questioning, she decided to make an early exit. Whitfield was left stunned after Rivers cut the interview off. While the late comedian wasnt afraid to talk about other controversial topics, fur was clearly a subject she didnt want to touch that day.

The Arsenio Hall Show (1989-94)

Bobcat Goldthwait took his crazy comic persona to a whole new level when he made an appearance on "The Arsenio Hall Show. The eccentric performer spray-painted the set and treated the stage like a wrestling ring. Protesting the show's untimely demise, the comedian destroyed the space in support of the host. It also deserved mentioning how the emcee maintained his trademark cool all the way through the segment. There weren't many hosts that could stay positive and focused for this kind of crazy interview. Even if it was all for fun, the performer still startled everyone with his behavior. Goldthwaits performance art brought Arsenio Hall's original run to a surprising end.

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve (2017)

During the 2017 New Year's Eve festivities, Mariah Carey's act didn't go as planned. While trying to deliver a concert, audio problems threw the performance for a loop. The issues caused Carey to publicly criticize the technical failures as the event continued. Although she initially tried to continue, the singer couldnt regain her mojo. Carey alternated between complaining and walking through the motions until she couldnt stand it anymore. No matter what caused the issues that she faced that night, it was clear that she couldnt recover from what happened behind the scenes.

Wogan (1982-92)

Nicolas Cage emerged in the 1980s as one of the most entertaining performers in movie history. On the "Wogan" talk show, he proved that he can be just as wild in person as he can on the silver screen. He quickly showed off acrobatic and martial moves shortly after his arrival. Cage also made it rain with dollar bills for the audience. However, Cage wasn't done either. He later removed his shirt and kept it up for the remainder of the interview. Although this appearance was in line with his energetic public persona, the actor later acknowledged that it was a bit over-the-top. He would later channel some of the energy from this interview in his meta role for The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

Good Morning America (1975-)

After Charlie Sheen openly ran into issues with his substance use disorder, got into legal troubles and engaged in a few public feuds, he lost his job on "Two and a Half Men." The actor decided to discuss his troubles in an interview with "Good Morning America." What couldve been a normal discussion quickly became an infamous conversation. During the interview, Sheen gives surprisingly casual answers about serious questions. He also delivered a number ofunique words and phrases that would later be parodied and made into memes. After this troubling and chaotic interview, no one would look at Sheen quite the same way.

94th Academy Awards (2022)

Will and Jada Pinkett Smith sat front row as comedian Chris Rock took the stage at the 94th Academy Awards. During one part of the comedians bit, he joked about the actress' shaved head. Although Will Smith initially laughed at the joke, his demeanor quickly changed. He shocked everyone by proceeding to get up and slap Rock. After returning to his seat, Smith unleashed a few bleep-worthy threats. While some initially thought it was a big joke, it was soon revealed that the entire incident was incredibly real. The incident felt even more surreal when Smith won the best actor award later. Although it shouldve been a celebration of a great achievement, his actions cast a long shadow over his win.

26th MTV Video Music Awards (2009)

Every MTV fan remembers where they were when Kanye West spoke out during the 2009 VMAs. It all started when Taylor Swift beat out Beyoncé for best female video of the year. During Swift's acceptance speech, Kanye took the stage, stole the mic and protested the decision. Everybody at home and in the audience was completely stunned by the rappers actions. The incident was highly covered by news outlets and even prompted a response from President Obama. In the years since the interruption, West and Swift publicly clashed several more times. But its doubtful that any dispute could reach the heights of infamy that the VMA incident did.

The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986-2011)

During the promotional tour of "War of the Worlds," action star Tom Cruise stopped by the talk show to discuss the movie. However, the conversation quickly shifted to his relationship with Katie Holmes. While Cruise tried to contain his excitement about her, he eventually couldnt reign in his emotions. It all builds up to the moment where the only way he could fully convey his true feelings was by jumping on top of Oprahs couch. This infamous leap has been parodied and referenced to death since it aired. Although Cruise split with Holmes later on, this interview moment will likely forever be remembered as one of the wildest celeb interviews.

Did you catch any of these unhinged celebrity moments live as they happened? Share your reactions in the comments below.