Top 30 Stars Who Destroyed Their Careers on Live TV

#30: O.J. Simpson

The country was left flabbergasted on June 17, 1994, when the LAPD issued an all-points bulletin for the arrest of football legend O.J. Simpson. What followed was the media event of the 20th century. Simpsons legacy was certainly hurt by the murder charge, but it could have recovered should he be found innocent. But it was ruined forever throughout the proceeding live criminal trial as it became increasingly clear that, yeah, he probably did it. And while he was indeed found not guilty by the jury, the greater collective jury of the country disagreed and shunned Simpson for the rest of his life. He was widely known as the celebrity who got away with murder, and remained as such until his death in 2024.

#29: Fear

A little-known American punk band, Fear largely sabotaged their future prospects following a disastrous appearance on Saturday Night Live on October 31, 1981. Being a personal fan, John Belushi helped them get a gig on the show, but their performance was absolute bedlam. We dont know what they were expecting. A mosh pit broke out, the band shouted obscenities, and damage was caused to the set from the general ruckus. Producers were understandably furious, and Fear was largely blacklisted from mainstream television. Though punk fans celebrated the appearance as an act of rebellion, it tarnished the bands reputation beyond the underground scene and their major label prospects vanished, literally, overnight.

#28: Kelly Osbourne

Back in August of 2015, TV personality Kelly Osbourne was guest-starring on The View, with the topic of the day being Donald Trumps immigration policies. Its then that Osbourne made one of the most openly racist remarks ever heard on live TV. The comment was immediately met with backlash, with Osbournes co-hosts reacting in shock and disbelief. Osbourne thought she cooked with this one, but she immediately started backpedaling after witnessing the horrified reactions, which only added to the unbearable embarrassment. She later told Rolling Stone that this was the most cringe moment of [her] entire life. Fair enough. Her career was certainly hurt by it, well tell you that.

#27: Michael Richards

To be fair, Michael Richards was done for before his appearance on Letterman. You just dont come back from a super racist tirade like that, no matter how many times you apologize. But if that rant was the death blow to Richardss career, his Letterman apology was the dirt that covered the coffin. Many people consider this to be one of the most unintentionally hilarious moments on live TV, with Richards making further questionable remarks, the crowd giggling throughout, and Jerry Seinfeld telling the audience to stop laughing. Needless to say, the so-called apology did not land. In fact, it crashed and burned in magnificent manner, and suffice to say, Richards has never returned to the spotlight.

#26: Don Imus

A known shock jock, Don Imus ran the nationally-syndicated radio show Imus in the Morning, which was also simulcast on MSNBC. But that all came crashing down on April 4, 2007. Imus was discussing the NCAA Womens Basketball Championship game when he made a racist and sexist remark towards the players. The comment aired without immediate incident, but it was soon picked up and circulated widely on the internet, leading to enormous controversy. Major sponsors pulled out, MSNBC canceled the simulcast, and CBS Radio eventually fired Imus and canceled the show altogether. He returned to radio in late 2007 and later moved to other platforms, but his influence was significantly reduced, and he never regained the mainstream support he once had.

#25: Don Cherry

Once a successful hockey coach, Don Cherry is widely known for hosting Coach's Corner on Hockey Night in Canada between 1986 and 2019. With his gruff voice, flamboyant suits, and colorful personality, Cherry was a Canadian icon for decades. But on November 9, 2019, he made some controversial statements regarding Canadian immigrants. Specifically, he referred to them as you people and criticized them for not wearing poppies on Remembrance Day. A number of different organizations, including poppy distributor The Royal Canadian Legion, condemned the remarks as hurtful and racist. Public outrage was also swift and massive, and Cherry was ultimately fired. He then refused to apologize, saying, I know what I said and I meant it.

#24: Don Lemon

Our third Don in a row is Don Lemon, a renowned journalist who worked for NBC and CNN. In 2023, Lemon made a series of controversial remarks, the first of which occurred on February 16, when he said that presidential candidate Nikki Haley was past her prime. He then dug in further, arguing that women were only in their prime in their 20s and 30s. Just two months later, Lemon got into a heated argument with GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, with issues of race appearing. CNN leaders were already exasperated, but a Variety exposé released that same month revealed that Lemon had long engaged in misogynistic and sexist behavior off-camera. That was the final straw, and he was ultimately fired on April 24.

#23: Karmin

This duos Saturday Night Live appearance on February 11, 2012 was a pivotal moment in their career - but not in the way they had hoped. Karmin started as a novelty act on YouTube before signing with Epic Records and landing SNL. While their performance wasnt a disaster in the way that Fears was, it still received widespread backlash, with many criticizing Amy Heidemanns overly-rehearsed and theatrical delivery. The exaggerated facial expressions and performance style that worked on YouTube felt wildly out of place, almost embarrassing, on live TV, and people hated it. The performance marked the beginning of a credibility and reputation problem that they never quite recovered from. Their debut album underperformed, and Karmin eventually disbanded in 2017 after failing to take off.

#22: Andrew Dice Clay

This stand-up comedian saw both the peak and the nadir of his career in 1990. In February, he became the first comedian to sell out two nights at Madison Square Garden. And in May, he hurt his mainstream success by appearing on SNL. His very presence on the show caused enormous controversy. Cast member Nora Dunn refused to appear, publicly showcasing Clays industry alienation, and the event highlighted the deep divisions in how audiences perceived him - either as a subversive truth-teller or a symbol of everything wrong with early 90s comedy. The SNL controversy tarnished his image in the mainstream, and he soon found it harder to book major gigs or TV appearances, with cautious networks not wanting to associate with him.

#21: Kanye West

Were not saying the infamous VMA incident destroyed Yes career entirely. But you could certainly argue that it marked the beginning of the end. As everyone knows, West interrupted Taylor Swift while she was accepting her award and famously declared that Beyoncé should have won, much to the horror of the audience and Beyoncé herself. Following the enormous backlash (he was even called a jackass by Obama!), Kanye strategically retreated from the public eye. It also forced a significant shift in his brands perception. With this, Yes arrogance began to overshadow his artistry in the public eye, and he became a deeply polarizing figure - a reputation that continues well into the modern day.

#20: Iggy Azalea

Now, were not saying that this event was the sole reason for Iggy Azaleas downfall, butit certainly didnt help. Azalea was all the rage in 2014, and people everywhere were singing along to hits like Fancy and Problem. To celebrate her newfound success, Dancing with the Stars invited her to perform Fancy on the live finale. Unfortunately, the potential disasters of live TV struck, and Azalea bungled the start of the performance. According to her, there was an issue with the playback in her earpiece. Unfortunately, this incident tarnished an otherwise great year. Furthermore, unrelated problems with her record label caused Azaleas career to slow. She went on hiatus in 2021, and attempted to release another album, but delays and other creative projects led her to announce her retirement in 2024.

#19: Jamie Kennedy

Nothing screams the 90s quite like Jamie Kennedy. He enjoyed success throughout the late 90s and early 2000s, notably starring in three Scream movies, Romeo + Juliet, and The Jamie Kennedy Experiment. And then came First Night 2013 with Jamie Kennedy. Now, the comedians career was mostly over by then anyway, but this was the final nail in the coffin. It was easily one of the worst New Years Eve specials of all time. The broadcast was an epic disaster plagued with embarrassing technical issues, a bizarrely confrontational Kennedy, and an onstage brawl. There was even a mistimed countdown that brought in the new year too late. They couldnt even get that right?

#18: Steven Seagal

Saturday Night Live has a real propensity for ending careers. Steven Seagal was an up and coming action star in the early 90s, having starred in a string of hit movies. To capitalize on his newfound success, he hosted Saturday Night Live on the night of April 20, 1991. Unfortunately, his appearance was anything but good. According to certain SNL employees, including David Spade, Seagal was uncooperative. Some have even regarded him as the shows worst host of all time. A few more hits followed Seagals SNL appearance, but he was soon relegated to cheap, direct-to-video action films that no one watched. Maybe nobody wanted to work with him after this?

#17: A. J. Clemente

Maybe he wasnt a huge star at the time, but news anchor A. J. Clemente has since become an internet sensation. Maybe you dont know his name, but you certainly know this clip. Clemente was a new co-anchor at KFYR-TV, a news channel based out of North Dakota. During his debut broadcast on April 21, 2013, he let a string of nasty swear words fly just as the opening titles were coming to an end. So, his career as an anchor was effectively over before it even began. Clemente was promptly suspended and let go the next day. The incident made him a national celebrity, and he even appeared on Late Show with David Letterman after the host mocked him in a Top 10 List.

#16: Janet Jackson

This is arguably the biggest career-ending fracas in live TV history. You all know the story Jackson and Justin Timberlake were performing at Super Bowl XXXVIII when Timberlake ripped away her costume and revealed her breast. This was certainly not Jacksons fault, but everyone acted like it was. Hollywood all but disowned her and pretended that she never existed, and her subsequent album and singles were blacklisted from radio. Even mega conglomerates got in on the boycott, with an executive at Viacom stating that the higher-ups are still pissed at her. Luckily, the heat has since died down, and Jackson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

#15: Jenny Slate

This comedian first came to national attention while starring as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. Slate made her debut in the 35th season, which began in September of 2009. Unfortunately, she committed the cardinal sin of live TV and accidentally dropped the f-bomb during her very first episode. This is a major no-no on Saturday Night Live, and though it reportedly wasnt the main reason for her firing, she didnt return the following season. It looked like Slate had blown her major chance at becoming a comedy star. Luckily, she proceeded to land major roles on Bobs Burgers and Parks and Recreation, both of which have allowed her to become a household name.

#14: John Travolta

When the 86th Academy Awards rolled around, we were all excited to hear Idina Menzel sing Let It Go. After all, the Frozen song had a grip on pretty much everyone. But the performance ended up being memorable for something that happened before she ever opened her mouth. John Travolta was in charge of her introduction, but the name that came out of his mouth was one nobody had ever heard before. The mispronunciation was humiliating, to say the least, and Travolta was relentlessly mocked online. He subsequently apologized, and its been said that Menzel harbors no ill will toward him for the incident. Travoltas career recovered, but he certainly heard about Adele Dazeem for quite some time.

#13: Steve Harvey

For a while there, Steve Harvey was the biggest laughingstock in America. But you know how social media is - we all chuckled for a while and then promptly moved on. So did Harvey. One of the busiest TV hosts of our time, he was hired to MC Miss Universe 2015 in Las Vegas. In a moment that lives in infamy, Harvey accidentally crowned Miss Colombia the winner. In reality, she was the first runner-up - a mistake that he corrected after awkwardly sauntering back onstage amid the celebrations. To his credit, Harvey owned the mistake with class. Regardless, the incident was relentlessly mocked on social media, and the hosts reputation was briefly sullied. Luckily, he weathered the storm and continues to enjoy a successful career.

#12: Robin Thicke

This musical artist had been in the industry for years, but he didnt become a household name until Blurred Lines in 2013. Somewhat paradoxically, the song that made Thickes career was also the one that ended it. The track received a good amount of criticism for its questionable lyrics and racy music video. But things really flew off the rails when he performed it with Miley Cyrus at the MTV Video Music Awards. This performance is legendary - just, not in a good way. It immediately became an internet sensation and was widely criticized for being way too crass and raunchy. For a while, it effectively killed Thickes career. However, he has since enjoyed a resurgence by appearing as a judge on The Masked Singer.

#11: Fergie

By 2018, Fergie was already on her way out of the mainstream limelight. The Black Eyed Peas were in the midst of an extended hiatus, and Fergie hasnt had a top twenty single as a solo artist since 2007. Despite this, she was chosen to sing the national anthem at the 2018 NBA All Star Game. Unfortunately, her performance wasa little shaky and inappropriately sensual, and many people in attendance could barely contain their laughter. Naturally, it also made the rounds online, and Fergie became a viral national laughingstock. It served as the final nail in Fergies coffin, and shes basically been on a musical hiatus ever since.

#10: Mariah Carey

Its hard to end a legend like Mariah Carey, but her appearance on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve in 2016 nearly did it. This was a monumental disaster of a performance. Like Iggy Azalea, Careys earpiece began to malfunction, causing her to go out of sync with the backing track. Unlike Azalea, Carey didnt exactly handle it in a professional manner. She simply walked around the stage while passive-aggressively making excuses and complaining about the lack of a soundcheck. To make matters even more hilarious, the dancers soldiered on and continued their choreographed routine while the singer pouted. The moment definitely tarnished her reputation, though were not sure that anything could ever break it for good.

#9: Charles Rocket

Charles Rocket had a budding career on Saturday Night Live in the early '80s. He was one of the major players in the 1980-81 season, and he became popular for his impressions, his recurring character Phil Lively, and a regular segment called The Rocket Report. Unfortunately, Rocket dropped an F-bomb during the February 21, 1981 episode, breaking strict broadcast standards. This, along with the seasons negative reputation and critical reception, resulted in Rockets termination. And while he found some success playing comic foils in various '90s movies, he never quite rose above his status as that guy. What can we say? Hollywood takes swearing and nudity very seriously!

#8: Paula Deen

Beloved Southern chef Paula Deen found herself in hot water in 2013 when former employee Lisa Jackson sued her for racial and sexual discrimination. According to Jackson, Deen was often derogatory towards African Americans, and even wanted to host a plantation-style wedding for her brother, complete with black servants. During the deposition, Deen admitted to using the n-word in the past, further hurting her reputation. She then appeared on Today to smooth things over but only made the situation worse by playing the victim. When the whole ordeal was said and done, Paulas Best Dishes had been canceled and Deen had lost numerous lucrative partnerships, as all the major corporations had severed their ties.

#7: Brian Williams

From 1993 to 1999 Brian Williams served as the weekend news anchor on NBC Nightly News before being promoted to head anchor in 2004. He held this position until 2015, when he was brought under fire for lying about an event that occurred to him during the Iraq War. According to Williams, a helicopter that he was riding in was taken down by an RPG. Numerous soldiers came forward and claimed that Williams was never a part of this group and was in fact thirty minutes behind. They were left insulted by Williams false story, and he was suspended for six months. Following this, he was demoted to chief anchor at MSNBC, and his professional credibility was permanently stained.

#6: Howard Dean

Its amazing how far politics has come since 2004, when a simple scream was all it took to ruin a career forever. After coming in third in the Iowa Democratic caucuses, Dean made an impassioned and unpresidential speech that ended with him pumping his fist and screaming Yeah! This speech effectively ended his presidential campaign, and the speech and the scream were relentlessly mocked by the media and late night talk show hosts. It soon became known as The Dean Scream, and some believe that the endless coverage was a product of media bias against the politician. While Dean later became the Chair of the Democratic National Committee, his dreams of becoming President were forever crushed on that fateful day.

#5: Sinéad O'Connor

Sinéad OConnors career was positively blowing up in the late '80s and early '90s. In that time, she released her double platinum album I Do Not Want What I Havent Got, and her single Nothing Compares 2 U peaked at #1 in seventeen countries. However, that all came crumbling down on October 3, 1992, when OConnor appeared on SNL. While performing, she ripped a photo of Pope John Paul II to protest mistreatment of children within the Catholic Church, and soon she became a public enemy. Nothing Compares 2 U would be her last #1, though she continued to make music and perform up until her 2023 death. Meanwhile, widespread opinion of her would change following the public acknowledgement of the church's cover-up.

#4: Will Smith

No one really cared about the outcomes of the 94th Academy Awards. All they cared about was that Will Smith casually strolled on stage and slapped Chris Rock directly in the face. Rock had made a joke at the expense of Smiths wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Smith initially laughed but proceeded to slap Rock for the comment. The audience seemingly believed that it was a scripted bit at first, as they casually laughed at the attack. It wasnt until Smith yelled and cursed at Rock that everyone realized he was dead serious. The resulting silence was painful. No matter what Smith does from here on out, hell forever be known as the guy who slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars.

#3: Kathie Lee Gifford

This event didnt completely kill Giffords career as a television presenter, as she continued hosting Today until 2019. However, it did seriously tarnish her reputation and caused her great public embarrassment. In 2012, comedian Martin Short appeared on Giffords show to promote Madagascar 3. During the interview, Gifford praised Shorts marriage to Nancy Dolman, unaware that Dolman had passed away from cancer about two years earlier. Short didnt expose the mistake, but it was obvious that the topic of conversation was causing him pain. He informed Gifford of Dolmans passing during the commercial break, and later publicly forgave her. It was a fantastic look for Short, and a not so fantastic one for Gifford.

#2: Milli Vanilli

In 1989, R&B duo Milli Vanilli released Girl You Know Its True, an album that reached #1 and was certified 6x platinum. They also released five straight top five singles in the United States, three of which topped the chart. However, a huge hiccup occurred on July 21, 1989, when a live performance for MTV suffered a technical malfunction. The track began to skip, revealing that singer Rob Pilatus was lip-synching. While this prompted doubts regarding the duos authenticity, it wasnt until their album was released in America that singer Charles Shaw revealed that his work was being credited to Pilatus and Fab Morvan. With this, the duo admitted to being frauds, and Milli Vanilli was no more.

#1: Ashlee Simpson

This was arguably the biggest gaffe in live television history, and the blame pretty clearly fell on Simpson. While performing on SNL in 2004, she accidentally revealed that she was lip-synching when the vocals to Pieces of Me began to play in place of those from Autobiography. Not knowing what to do, she awkwardly danced off stage and later blamed the band for playing the wrong song. So, not only was she lip-synching on SNL, which in itself is a big no-no, she proceeded to throw her band under the bus. Except, no one bought this, and Simpsons career was left in tatters. And that, dear viewers, is why you never lip-synch!

Do you think the hate and backlash was deserved? Let us know in the comments below!