Top 30 CRINGIEST Celebrity Interview Walkouts

Top-30-Cringiest-Celebrity-Interview-Walkouts

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most embarrassing times that celebrities have walked out of an interview or it was suddenly ended by them or someone on their behalf. The cringe can come from either from the celebrity’s behavior or the interviewer’s inappropriate questions.

#30: Kanye West

Ye is a contentious figure and has given many infamous interviews throughout the years. Just ask Sway, who definitely doesn’t have the answers. One of the OG freakouts occurred all the way back in 2005, when Ye appeared on the Toronto radio station Flow 93.5. Ye was already on edge, as the station had previously edited the lyrics to his famous song “Gold Digger.” Ye confronted the host about the censorship and things got a little heated live on air. Unfortunately, the DJ cut off Ye one too many times during the discussion, prompting the rapper to slam his hands on the desk, yell at the host, and storm off the show.

#29: Montel Williams

Famous talk show host Montel Williams sat down for an interview with WPTZ’s Jack Thurston but it didn’t last too long. Williams is a known advocate of medical marijuana, having used the plant to aid with his multiple sclerosis. When Thurston brought it up, Williams immediately shut him down, claiming that his marijuana use had nothing to do with his reason for being there but that he’d be happy to discuss it at another time. When Thurston pushed, Williams simply stood up, claimed that the interview was over, and told the camera operator to cut their device.

#28: S Club 7

Formed in the late ‘90s, S Club 7 was another British girl group looking to capitalize on the Spice Girls craze. They had great success but broke up under curious circumstances in 2003. As a final goodbye, the group stopped at the BBC for an interview on “Liquid News.” Host Claudia Winkleman brought up the group’s finances, referencing a rumor that they were unhappy with their pay. Before they got into the weeds, a publicist stormed into the room and put a very awkward stop to the interview. Guess that answers that. Turns out, there was some truth to the rumor - band member Hannah Spearritt later admitted that the band members were severely underpaid, despite selling millions of albums.


#27: Jamie Foxx

Famous actor Jamie Foxx was in attendance at the 2018 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, playing for Team Clippers. “SportsCenter” host Michael Smith was lucky enough to score a ringside interview with the Oscar winner, but he squandered the opportunity with celebrity gossip. It has long been rumored that Foxx once dated Katie Holmes, and Smith referenced a series of photos that showed Foxx and Holmes playing basketball on Valentine’s Day. Foxx didn’t even address the rumors or the photos - he simply stood up, removed the headphones, and walked away. Now that’s how you leave an interview like a boss. The look that the sound guy gives the camera is just icing on the cake.

#26: Selena Gomez

Justin Bieber was controversial in 2013, often encountering run-ins with the law and engaging in problematic behavior. And at the same time, he was in an on-again-off-again relationship with Selena Gomez. Gomez appeared on Chicago’s WGN-TV and gave an interview with Dean Richards, who asked the pop star about Bieber’s behavior and if there was “something about him that we don’t get.” It’s quite an inappropriate question, and Gomez politely but noticeably made her displeasure known. She simply stayed quiet and gave some disbelieving looks off camera before the screen cut to black. It’s likely that her publicist ordered the cut, resulting in a brilliant bit of awkward comedy.

#25: Cameron Diaz

This wasn’t a walk-out per se, but a hung-up instead. Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel were discussing their new movie on the Australian morning radio program “The Kyle and Jackie O Show” when Kyle Sandilands made some inappropriate comments about Drew Barrymore and her controversial past. This immediately rubbed Diaz the wrong way, as she is very close to Barrymore. Her vocal demeanor instantly changed following the comment, and she became openly combative with Sandilands. Sensing the obvious tension, Jackie O attempted to change the subject, but it was too late. After a brief detour, Diaz abruptly ended the call, claiming “they're wrapping us up” before hanging up on the duo.

#24: Rihanna

We return to Australia for this interview between Rihanna and Natalie Barr, host of the breakfast show “Sunrise.” The pop star was there to promote her new movie “Battleship,” in which she plays a Navy gunner’s mate named Cora Raikes. The interview began well enough, but before long, Barr brought up Rihanna’s romantic life. She asked if it’s awkward being linked to other celebrities, and Rihanna gave a fierce comeback befitting the question. She insinuated that her personal life “shouldn’t matter” before the interview suddenly ended, with the implication that Rihanna had walked out. Barr later said that celebrities and publicists don’t like when “you venture into personal territory.” We suppose she just couldn’t help herself.

#23: Birdman

We don’t know what the record for shortest interview of all time is, but this has to be up there. Back in April of 2016, American rapper Birdman appeared on the popular radio show “The Breakfast Club,” and his displeasure was immediate. The second Birdman entered the studio, he attacked the hosts and told them to stop “playing” with his name. And when they went on the air, Birdman got into a vicious fight with Charlamagne tha God, told him to “put some respect” on his name, dropped a few racial slurs, and left, all within the span of just one minute. You can’t script this kind of stuff.

#22: Nicolas Sarkozy

As we’re learning throughout this list, many famous people do NOT like talking about their personal lives. That includes Nicolas Sarkozy, who served as the President of France between 2007 and 2012. The same year he took office, Sarkozy divorced his wife of eleven years, Cécilia Ciganer-Albéniz. This divorce came after months of rumor and speculation that the couple was not getting along, and Sarkozy was asked about the nature of the relationship during an interview with “60 Minutes.” Sarkozy remained tight-lipped, but host Lesley Stahl persisted. After another line of personal questioning, Sarkozy raised his eyebrows to his hairline, took out his earpiece and left with a genial handshake. The divorce was officially announced just two weeks later.

#21: Russell Crowe

Whatever you do, never tell Russell Crowe that he sounded Irish in “Robin Hood.” That’s what BBC radio presenter Mark Lawson did, and it resulted in a slew of problems. Crowe was on Radio 4’s “Front Row” to discuss “Robin Hood” when Lawson claimed that his accent in the movie sounded Irish. Crowe took immediate offense and told Lawson that he had “dead ears” for believing that. And then, despite answering a question, Crowe immediately returned to the Irish comment and claimed that the assertion is “ridiculous.” He then made one further sarcastic remark before leaving, muttering under his breath that he “doesn’t get the Irish thing.” Yeah, we can tell.


#20: Gary Coleman

Former child actor Gary Coleman found himself a target of the tabloids in January 2010 when he was arrested on an outstanding warrant related to domestic assault. He subsequently appeared on “The Insider” in an attempt to clear his name, but was pelted with accusations by the hosts. In the course, he grows particularly hostile towards guest host Lisa Bloom, who seemingly refuses to listen, despite his constant denials. They proceed to get into a fierce screaming match before Coleman storms out in a flurry of curses. The other hosts can do nothing but sit and gawk at the sheer pandemonium that is taking place beside them.

#19: Julian Assange

Getting an opportunity to speak to the man who probably knows more than most isn’t an opportunity to be squandered - but sadly, that’s what CNN ended up doing. During a 2010 interview, the journalist repeatedly asked Assange questions about his personal life, prompting him to threaten to walk if the questions didn’t stop. The interview was intended to focus on the importance of WikiLeaks, but quickly turned to inquiries regarding Assange’s past lawsuits. After repeated warnings that he would leave if the topic of conversation continued, Assange stayed true to his word and walked out.

#18: R. Kelly

Now this is an interview for the ages. While appearing on HuffPost Live, R. Kelly is told by the interviewer that his controversial personal life has been affecting his album sales and the way people interact with his lyrics. This does not please Kelly, and he tells the interviewer that she only has one more question. This results in an absolutely hilarious and surreal moment where the two talk over each other for a solid minute, with neither side being interested in what the other has to say. Of course, the interviewer has a point, because R. Kelly’s reputation HAS plummeted in recent years.

#17: Sarah, Duchess of York

Nobody likes being confronted with video evidence of them committing a crime - especially royalty. In an interview with the Australian version of “60 Minutes,” the Duchess didn’t seem to want to be there whatsoever. Snappy replies, eye rolling, and the demand that the camera crew delete certain segments of the recording made for an interview that was wild from start to finish. The final straw came when she was shown footage of her accepting a bribe for offering insider access to members of the royal family. With one more huff, the Duchess was out.

#16: Rita Ora

It’s not often that celebrities walk on the Associated Press, but here you have it! Rita Ora gives a rather innocuous interview with the Associated Press, and everything seems to be going swimmingly until the interviewer brings up Calvin Harris “not releasing some of her stuff,” causing Ora to politely smile and walk away. A discerning listener can also make out someone off camera saying something to the effect of “we’re not talking about anything personal,” and the fact that the interviewer was presumably warned about this makes the situation even more awkward. We guess he got caught up in the moment and sensed some juicy gossip.

#15: Paris Hilton

Sometimes, celebrities just don’t want to give up the spotlight. In the case of Paris Hilton, even the suggestion that her fame had run its course hit a sore spot for the notorious diva. As this ABC News interview went on and she was questioned if she felt threatened by the Kardashians’ newfound fame, Hilton became more and more… Hilton. Sarcastic laughter and clipped, short replies hinted that the TV personality had just about had it with her time in the interview chair. When the reporter asked, “do you want to wrap up?,” Paris spared him an answer and simply got up and left.

#14: LeBron James

A bit of context for this one. In game one of the 2018 NBA Finals, Cleveland Cavalier JR Smith made a monumental mistake, resulting in the eventual loss of the game. Teammate LeBron James was visibly peeved at Smith, and journalists couldn’t help but bring it up in the postgame conference. An ESPN reporter asked James what Smith was thinking when he made the error, resulting in a bitter back and forth. When pressed further, despite answering the question numerous times, James simply stood up, gathered his belongings, and left the stage amidst a painfully awkward silence. We’re going to go ahead and say no, he didn’t know what Smith was thinking. Just a hunch.


#13: Bee Gees

Before you bring a world-famous band onto your show, it’s probably best to brush up on at least a few of their songs. When “Stayin’ Alive” superstars appeared on Clive Anderson’s talk show in 1996, things were tense from the beginning. Singer Barry Gibb seemed to become especially annoyed with Anderson after the host mentioned he’d forgotten one of their hits from the past, and the pop star laughed before simply excusing himself and walking off stage. With a painfully awkward half apology, the rest of the band slowly followed, leaving the stunned host all alone. Was it something he said…?

#12: Jesse Ventura

In 2009, vet, wrestling icon, actor, and politician Jesse Ventura appeared on “Opie & Anthony,” only to spar with comedian Jim Norton over the topic of the American government and military. Norton continuously yells into the microphone while Ventura calmly tries to explain his situation and point of view. It eventually gets so bad that Jesse simply just sits back and stares at Norton, clearly frustrated with his stubbornness. Ventura leaves twenty minutes later, but even in the midst of physically walking out of the studio he and Norton can’t help but dig into each other. It’s wonderfully awkward, and it’s a miracle that it didn’t come to blows. Let's just say, Jim wouldn't have lasted long.

#11: Donald Trump

Ever since his election, there’s been friction between Donald Trump and the press – to put it mildly – and this botched interview with CBS was no exception. It began smoothly, things went south fast when the infamous validity behind the Obama wiretapping accusations were brought up. Apparently this was a touchy subject for President Trump, as only moments after the questioning began, he waved the reporter away and announced that the interview was over. To be quite honest, nobody was all that surprised.

#10: Jordan Belfort

Legally speaking, Jordan Belfort is a convicted scammer and fraudster who spent two years in prison for the same. You may know this because Leonardo DiCaprio played him in “The Wolf of Wall Street.” After its release, Belfort sat down with “60 Minutes” reporter Liz Hayes. Throughout, Belfort grows hostile when Hayes discusses his victims and their restitution, but things get really wild once she asks if he is hiding money in Australia, leading him to scoff and prod Hayes to move on, but an offscreen voice cuts the interview short. Belfort proceeds to chastise Hayes from the sidelines, calling her disrespectful and telling her that she has “a lot of nerve” to ask the questions she was asking.

#9: Robert Pattinson

Ryan Seacrest is no stranger to awkward moments, but this red carpet weird-a-thon with the “Twilight” star still makes us cringe. Chatting it up like old friends, the interview was going well until the radio host decided to poke at a taboo topic - Robert’s relationship with co-star Kristen Stewart. After an awkward pause, Pattinson’s PR manager decided that enough was enough and spirited the teen heartthrob away, with Seacrest sitting shunned. Too bad it didn’t keep the Robsten drama from blowing up all over the tabloids.

#8: Shannon Tweed

In June of 2011, Shannon Tweed and husband-figure Gene Simmons appeared on “Joy Behar: Say Anything!” to promote the new season of “Gene Simmons Family Jewels.” The interview was a little awkward to begin with, as Tweed kept repeating that she was sick of her relationship with Simmons and his philandering ways. Shannon rips off her microphone and walks out as Gene calmly asks her to return. Luckily, not too much damage was done, as Simmons and Tweed married just four months later and are still together as of 2020. At least the story has a happy ending!


#7: Naomi Campbell

Diamonds, drama, cameras being punched - this sounds like an episode of “Real Housewives.” Backstage during Campbell’s charity fashion show for Haiti, ABC reporters decided to question the supermodel about how she allegedly received a large “blood” diamond from ex-Liberian president Charles Taylor. Apparently she wasn’t in the mood to discuss her jewelry, as she quickly cut the reporter off and said that she would not be discussing any diamonds during the interview. Shortly afterwards, she stormed away, knocking a camera out of a producer's hand as she made a hasty exit.


#6: Kid Cudi

Nardwuar is an oddly-beloved, cult Canadian interviewer who uses an idiosyncratic personality and some truly impressive research to throw off his guests. His unorthodox approach typically results in bewilderment, and maybe even some acknowledgment, but it often gets him into trouble. Things were going quite well with Kid Cudi until Nardwuar showed Cudi some albums that his deceased uncle played on. Cudi is polite enough, but he quickly leaves without any fanfare or formal goodbye. He just up and walks out the door while Nardwuar chases him down the short hallway. Cudi couldn’t get out of there fast enough!


#5: Christine O’Donnell

When it comes to this notoriously sassy British TV personality, he has no issue putting his guests in the spotlight, whether it’s Kelsey Grammer or once-Republican Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell. Known for being just a tad eccentric, O’Donnell didn’t disappoint with her reaction to Morgan’s questions regarding her views on gay marriage. At first dodging the question and then becoming angry at Morgan for his “rudeness,” the Senate hopeful announced that she’d given up another interview for this slot and that she was being pulled away, leaving us all in awkward silence.

#4: Justin Bieber

This entire interview is like something you’d see in “Lost in Translation.” Bieber appeared on a Spanish radio show in 2015 and immediately took umbrage with the format. As the interview was conducted in Spanish, a translator was required to both translate the host’s questions and the Bieb's answers. You can practically see Bieber’s eyes glazing over throughout the interview due to the glacial pace and terrible questions, which many people attribute to poor translating. After eight minutes of torture and some unnecessary personal digs, the hosts ask Justin to “break the internet” with some popular YouTubers, forcing Bieber to nonchalantly walk out amidst the hosts’ obvious excitement. Talk about being a buzzkill. You know, he was great with us...


#3: Robert Downey Jr.

The British journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy has made awkward interviews his specialty. When “Iron Man” star Robert Downey Jr. sat down with him in 2015 to promote the latest “Avengers” movie, we’re guessing RDJ wasn’t expecting to be asked about his political opinions, his relationship with his dad, or his past experiences with drugs and alcohol. After testily answering a few of the interviewer's questions, Downey tried to steer the topic back to the movie before deciding that it was getting “a little Diane Sawyer,” waving goodbye, and walking out.

#2: Joan Rivers

The late Joan Rivers was not to be messed with. CNN proved that the hard way. The interviewer, Fredricka Whitfield, is clearly doing that whole “I’ll attack you but I’ll pretend to be polite and act innocent” thing throughout the whole interview. She takes numerous pot shots at Rivers while continuing to feign friendliness, which includes laughing at Joan’s comments, but before long, she has had enough. Once Whitfield comments on Rivers' fur coat, she flies off the handle before calling the interview “negative” and storming off. Whitfield also states that Rivers kept her microphone on after the cameras had cut and let fly some rather, uh... colorful language. Something tells us Joan didn’t take kindly to the passive aggressiveness.


#1: Whoopi Goldberg & Joy Behar

You know it’s bad when the hosts decide that they’ve had enough. Pit legendary Whoopi Goldberg against then-Fox News host Bill O’Reilly, and the gloves are bound to come off. A heated debate regarding the construction of mosques after 9/11 sparked an argument between the hosts that escalated quickly. After O'Reilly’s remark about Muslims, both Behar and Goldberg decided they’d had enough and walked off. After a short cool down and an apology from O’Reilly, they returned, but we’ll never forget the stunned silence as the two TV titans figuratively left the building.



Would you have walked out in their situation? Let us know in the comments below!