Top 10 Celeb Interviews That Caused Massive Backlash
#10: Britney Spears
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The 2021 documentary “Framing Britney Spears” detailed the life and career of the titular pop star, particularly highlighting her treatment by the media. The film brought renewed attention to a November 2003 interview between Spears and veteran journalist Diane Sawyer. During their conversation, Sawyer grilled the singer about her publicized breakup with Justin Timberlake, seemingly blaming her for the relationship’s end. Perhaps most egregious, she justified the statement of then-First Lady of Maryland, who expressed a desire to shoot Spears, citing her as a bad influence. Following the documentary’s release, Sawyer faced severe criticism for her line of questioning, which many deemed to be sexist. Fans repeatedly called for Sawyer to apologize, but she apparently never heeded those calls.
#9: Lindsay Lohan
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The Britney Spears documentary also sparked discussions about the sexism faced by other young female celebrities in the past. One such case involved Lindsay Lohan who, in 2013, appeared on the “Late Show with David Letterman” to promote her new film “Scary Movie 5.” However, the interview took an uncomfortable turn as Letterman delved into Lohan’s personal life, specifically her visits to rehab. Despite Lohan’s requests to keep the conversation positive, the host persisted, eventually pressuring her to reveal the date of her return to rehab. After the interview resurfaced, Letterman received heavy backlash for his “unprofessional” questions. Many fans also drew parallels between this incident and Letterman’s interview with Paris Hilton back in 2007.
#8: Kim Kardashian
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They say privilege blinds, and it perhaps never blinded anyone as much as media personality and businesswoman Kim Kardashian. In a March 2022 interview with her mother and sisters, Kardashian offered some controversial advice for women aspiring to launch successful businesses. While her family appeared to agree with her, the same cannot be said for the public. Kardashian was widely criticized for what many deemed to be an out-of-touch statement from a privileged celebrity. Some were offended by the implication that women simply weren’t putting in enough effort to achieve success, regardless of their disadvantages. Kardashian later defended herself, asserting that she always had to “work extra hard and harder to be taken seriously.”
#7: Prince Harry & Meghan Markle
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Just over a year after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from official royal duties, they sat down for a two-hour interview with Oprah Winfrey. In this conversation, the couple detailed shocking accusations against the British tabloid and the royal family. The discussion touched on claims that Markle was pushed to consider taking her own life, alleged remarks about their son’s skin color, as well as Harry’s strained relationship with his family. After it premiered, the interview received polarizing reactions, with U.S. audiences being largely sympathetic towards the couple while those in the UK supported the royal family. In the UK, it resulted in thousands of complaints to media regulator Ofcom, and elicited a rare response from Buckingham Palace.
#6: Jada Pinkett Smith
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In 2020, Hollywood couple Will and Jada Pinkett Smith lit an online firestorm with details about their unconventional marriage and entanglements in a “Red Table Talk” interview. Since then, the couple has consistently made headlines with more startling revelations, as well as the infamous slap at the 2022 Oscars. While promoting her 2023 memoir “Worthy” on the “Today” show, Jada Pinkett Smith dropped another bombshell: she and Will had been separated since 2016. Many fans were stunned by this, especially since the couple had presented a united front in public. Others were fed up with the constant revelations about their marriage, accusing Smith of being a narcissist and exploiting Will to boost her book sales.
#5: Paula Deen
In 2013, this celebrity Southern chef found herself in hot water after admitting to using racial slurs in the past. The revelation led to swift and severe consequences. Deen was dropped by several sponsors and dismissed by her longtime partners, the Food Network. After releasing a series of strange apology videos online, Deen appeared in an even stranger interview on the “Today” show to discuss the controversy. Instead of taking full responsibility and apologizing, the chef portrayed herself as a victim and urged anyone without fault to cast the first stone. If anything, the interview, which was deemed insincere, only exacerbated Deen’s troubles. She continued to lose more partnerships and eventually faded from the spotlight.
#4: Prince Andrew
Following the 2008 conviction of American financier Jeffrey Epstein on sex trafficking charges, his connection with British royal Prince Andrew came under scrutiny. Allegations soon arose that Andrew had participated in sexual activities with a minor which were arranged by Epstein. In November 2019, a few months after Epstein’s death by his own hands, Andrew participated in a BBC interview, addressing the allegations and his connection with the convicted financier. The interview was a complete failure. The prince was lambasted for his perceived lack of remorse for the victims and his self-absorbed demeanor. As a result of the backlash, Andrew stepped down from his official duties and was subsequently stripped of his military titles and royal patronages.
#3: Michael Jackson
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For a significant portion of his career, Michael Jackson faced multiple allegations of inappropriate behavior towards minors. In 2003, Jackson granted a series of interviews to British journalist Martin Bashir, later released as the documentary “Living with Michael Jackson.” Their discussions ranged from family and career to his plastic surgery and the misconduct allegations. Jackson admitted to sharing the same bed with children, but without any sexual intent. Nevertheless, the revelation sparked outrage, leading to the singer’s indictment on multiple criminal charges. He was ultimately acquitted in 2005. Years later, Bashir was criticized by Jackson’s family for manipulating him to secure the interview, similar to how he misled Princess Diana into granting him their infamous 1996 “Panorama” interview.
#2: Charlie Sheen
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Once upon a time, Charlie Sheen was on top of the world. He was the highest-paid actor on television, earning nearly $2 million per episode. But while his professional life seemingly flourished, Sheen’s personal life was in disarray. He had faced domestic violence charges and grappled with substance use disorder, which required multiple stints in rehab. In 2011, Sheen engaged in a public feud with “Two and a Half Men” creator Chuck Lorre. This culminated in a series of bizarre interviews in which the actor claimed to be a “warlock” with “tiger blood” who was undeniably “winning”. This all proved too much for the network, resulting in the swift termination of Sheen’s contract. He was eventually replaced with Ashton Kutcher.
#1: R. Kelly
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R&B musician R. Kelly had been dogged by allegations of sexual assault and predatory behavior for most of his career. In 2019, the Lifetime docuseries “Surviving R. Kelly” examined these allegations and brought renewed attention to them. Amid the escalating controversy, Kelly took to “CBS This Morning” for an interview with Gayle King. The singer vehemently denied the claims, at one point, leaping to his feet and yelling at the cameras. If he had hoped that it would help his case, then he was dead wrong. To many, it all seemed like an elaborate performance. A few months later, Kelly was indicted on a series of federal charges that would ultimately land him behind bars. What other controversial celeb interviews did not make our list? Spill them in the comments below.
