10 Disturbing Celebrity Interviews Right Before Scandal
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VOICE OVER: Tom Aglio
WRITTEN BY: Don Ekama
In hindsight, these celeb interviews are tough to watch. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we'll be looking at the most unsettling interviews with controversial celebrities that seemed to hint at an impending scandal, shortly before it actually hit. Our countdown of disturbing celebrity interviews right before scandal includes Chris D'Elia, Tiger Woods, Harvey Weinstein, and more!
10 Disturbing Celebrity Interviews Right Before Scandal
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be looking at the most unsettling interviews with controversial celebrities that seemed to hint at an impending scandal, shortly before it actually hit.
Chris D'Elia[a]
Stand-up comic and actor Chris D'Elia’s career came to a screeching halt in June 2020 when he was accused of sexually harassing and grooming minors. It was also revealed that he had solicited explicit pictures from his alleged victims, presumably through the social media app Snapchat. While this news shocked many fans, D’Elia may have hinted at his behavior months earlier. During a December 2019 appearance on “The Fighter and The Kid” podcast, a conversation arose about a high school teacher who was caught sending inappropriate pictures to her student. Initially, D’Elia seemed confused, as he believed Snapchat messages vanished automatically. But once he learned they could actually be saved, you could pretty much see the gears turning in his head.
Lori Loughlin[b]
In a December 2018 interview with “Access Hollywood,” actress Lori Loughlin weighed in on the Kevin Hart Oscars controversy, expressing her disappointment with a world that seemed unforgiving. She also talked about people making mistakes and how she was teaching her kids to be mindful of what they post online, as past actions could come back to haunt them. Well, just three months later, some of Loughlin’s past actions did come back to haunt her. It was revealed that she had participated in a fraud scheme to secure her children’s admissions into prestigious colleges. For Loughlin, the justice system was even more unforgiving, as she was sentenced to two months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud.
Tiger Woods
For many years, the name Tiger Woods has been synonymous with golf, making him one of the most famous athletes of all time. Despite his fame, Woods rarely granted interviews, with one of the notable exceptions being a 2009 sit-down with “60 Minutes.” This interview was particularly revealing, as Woods emphasized that his marriage to then-wife Elin Nordegren[c] and their children were his top priority. But we soon learned that was questionable, at best. Because later that same year, Woods became embroiled in one of the biggest infidelity scandals in history, as reports emerged he had cheated on Nordegren, allegedly with over a dozen women. This scandal led to the collapse of his marriage and significantly tarnished his once-pristine reputation.
Louis C.K.[d]
Stand-up comedian Louis C.K. was quite vocal about his disdain for Donald Trump during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. In April 2017, after likening Trump to Hitler, C.K. appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert[e],” where he expressed regret over those remarks but stopped short of retracting them. To clarify his stance though, he called Trump a liar in eight unambiguous words. However, shortly after this interview, C.K. came face-to-face with his own dishonesty. When allegations of sexual impropriety surfaced in September 2017, he strongly denied them. It wasn’t until November, when the New York Times officially published those claims, that he issued a statement acknowledging the truth and apologizing for his actions.
Roseanne Barr
Many may not know that Roseanne Barr ran for president in 2012 under the Peace and Freedom Party. She primarily conducted her campaign on Twitter, which led to her dubbing herself the “original crazy tweeter” in a March 2018 interview on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” This interview aired just before the revival of her sitcom “Roseanne,” which premiered to impressive ratings. However, just a few months later, when everything seemed to be going great for her, the self-proclaimed “original crazy tweeter” lost it all after posting a crazy tweet. Barr made remarks about a former White House advisor that many considered racist. As a result, she was fired by ABC, leading to the cancellation of “Roseanne,” which was ultimately retooled as “The Conners.”
Michael Jackson
In February 1993, pop icon Michael Jackson sat down with the talk show queen Oprah Winfrey for a televised interview that became the most-watched in American history. Jackson candidly discussed his life, fame and personal struggles, revealing how he missed out on a normal childhood due to starting his music career at a young age. He also touched on his close friendships with children, suggesting he was living vicariously through them. This interview aired just months before one of them, Jordan Chandler, alleged that Jackson had sexually assaulted him. Some viewers interpreted Jackson’s comments as foreshadowing the serious accusations that would follow. Although the subsequent police investigation was eventually dropped, the allegations would continue to haunt Jackson for the rest of his life.
Danny Masterson
Danny Masterson and Ashton Kutcher’s friendship dates back to the late ‘90s when they both starred in “That '70s Show.” In March 2016, while promoting their Netflix series “The Ranch” on “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” Masterson joked about their wild partying days, even mentioning he had compromising pictures of Kutcher. Just one year later, reports emerged that cast a dark light on those “wild partying days.” Three women accused Masterson of sexual assault, and following a three-year investigation, he was officially charged. Masterson was convicted after two trials, and while awaiting sentencing, Kutcher sent a leniency letter on his behalf, a move that sparked public backlash. Masterson ultimately received a sentence of 30 years to life in prison.
Sean “Diddy” Combs
Ever since singer Cassie Ventura filed a lawsuit against her former partner Sean “Diddy” Combs, unsettling details about his past have flooded the spotlight. Fans have combed through his old interviews for clues, but few were quite as telling as this “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” appearance just days before the lawsuit broke. During the interview, Kimmel referenced a rumor from an online source claiming to be Diddy’s former bodyguard. Allegedly, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith once wanted a threesome with Jennifer Lopez, which sparked threats of violence from Diddy, who was dating Lopez at the time. At the mention of this, Diddy froze, glaring coldly at Kimmel before laughing it off. Whether the rumor is true or not, Diddy’s chilling reaction spoke volumes.
Harvey Weinstein
Disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein had been a staunch supporter of Hillary Clinton, right from her first presidential bid in 2008. Naturally, he continued to back her eight years later. During the 2016 Democratic primaries, Weinstein was a guest on MSNBC, where he accused Clinton’s opponent, Bernie Sanders, of sexism for questioning her qualifications. But if there was anyone who embodied that very label, it was Weinstein, and it didn’t take long for the public to find out. The following year, The New York Times and The New Yorker published dozens of allegations of sexual assault and harassment against him, which triggered the MeToo movement. Weinstein was ultimately convicted on related charges, and in 2023, he received a 16-year prison sentence.
O. J. Simpson
A few weeks before O. J. Simpson was arrested for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman, he filmed an unreleased made-for-TV movie. Titled “Frogmen,” the project was intended to launch a series, but it was promptly shelved due to the infamous case. During the shoot, Simpson spoke with “Entertainment Tonight,” discussing Brown and his kids. In one scene, his character visits his ex-wife’s grave, and off-camera, Simpson even joked about being in a cemetery, which took on a haunting tone after the murders. More disturbingly, while preparing for the role, Simpson reportedly underwent knife training and visited a knife store with a co-star. This was the same store where he allegedly bought a knife shortly before the killings.
https://youtu.be/VSOnuoZUZGY?t=1185
[b]LORE-ee LOCK-lin https://youtu.be/70pr0DzceiA?si=GLkiKaGt6mJHUSIh&t=6
[c]EE-lin NORDI-grin https://youtu.be/niffD5G0-6I?t=149
[d]louie / loo-ee
[e]cole-bare
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be looking at the most unsettling interviews with controversial celebrities that seemed to hint at an impending scandal, shortly before it actually hit.
Chris D'Elia[a]
Stand-up comic and actor Chris D'Elia’s career came to a screeching halt in June 2020 when he was accused of sexually harassing and grooming minors. It was also revealed that he had solicited explicit pictures from his alleged victims, presumably through the social media app Snapchat. While this news shocked many fans, D’Elia may have hinted at his behavior months earlier. During a December 2019 appearance on “The Fighter and The Kid” podcast, a conversation arose about a high school teacher who was caught sending inappropriate pictures to her student. Initially, D’Elia seemed confused, as he believed Snapchat messages vanished automatically. But once he learned they could actually be saved, you could pretty much see the gears turning in his head.
Lori Loughlin[b]
In a December 2018 interview with “Access Hollywood,” actress Lori Loughlin weighed in on the Kevin Hart Oscars controversy, expressing her disappointment with a world that seemed unforgiving. She also talked about people making mistakes and how she was teaching her kids to be mindful of what they post online, as past actions could come back to haunt them. Well, just three months later, some of Loughlin’s past actions did come back to haunt her. It was revealed that she had participated in a fraud scheme to secure her children’s admissions into prestigious colleges. For Loughlin, the justice system was even more unforgiving, as she was sentenced to two months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud.
Tiger Woods
For many years, the name Tiger Woods has been synonymous with golf, making him one of the most famous athletes of all time. Despite his fame, Woods rarely granted interviews, with one of the notable exceptions being a 2009 sit-down with “60 Minutes.” This interview was particularly revealing, as Woods emphasized that his marriage to then-wife Elin Nordegren[c] and their children were his top priority. But we soon learned that was questionable, at best. Because later that same year, Woods became embroiled in one of the biggest infidelity scandals in history, as reports emerged he had cheated on Nordegren, allegedly with over a dozen women. This scandal led to the collapse of his marriage and significantly tarnished his once-pristine reputation.
Louis C.K.[d]
Stand-up comedian Louis C.K. was quite vocal about his disdain for Donald Trump during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. In April 2017, after likening Trump to Hitler, C.K. appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert[e],” where he expressed regret over those remarks but stopped short of retracting them. To clarify his stance though, he called Trump a liar in eight unambiguous words. However, shortly after this interview, C.K. came face-to-face with his own dishonesty. When allegations of sexual impropriety surfaced in September 2017, he strongly denied them. It wasn’t until November, when the New York Times officially published those claims, that he issued a statement acknowledging the truth and apologizing for his actions.
Roseanne Barr
Many may not know that Roseanne Barr ran for president in 2012 under the Peace and Freedom Party. She primarily conducted her campaign on Twitter, which led to her dubbing herself the “original crazy tweeter” in a March 2018 interview on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” This interview aired just before the revival of her sitcom “Roseanne,” which premiered to impressive ratings. However, just a few months later, when everything seemed to be going great for her, the self-proclaimed “original crazy tweeter” lost it all after posting a crazy tweet. Barr made remarks about a former White House advisor that many considered racist. As a result, she was fired by ABC, leading to the cancellation of “Roseanne,” which was ultimately retooled as “The Conners.”
Michael Jackson
In February 1993, pop icon Michael Jackson sat down with the talk show queen Oprah Winfrey for a televised interview that became the most-watched in American history. Jackson candidly discussed his life, fame and personal struggles, revealing how he missed out on a normal childhood due to starting his music career at a young age. He also touched on his close friendships with children, suggesting he was living vicariously through them. This interview aired just months before one of them, Jordan Chandler, alleged that Jackson had sexually assaulted him. Some viewers interpreted Jackson’s comments as foreshadowing the serious accusations that would follow. Although the subsequent police investigation was eventually dropped, the allegations would continue to haunt Jackson for the rest of his life.
Danny Masterson
Danny Masterson and Ashton Kutcher’s friendship dates back to the late ‘90s when they both starred in “That '70s Show.” In March 2016, while promoting their Netflix series “The Ranch” on “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” Masterson joked about their wild partying days, even mentioning he had compromising pictures of Kutcher. Just one year later, reports emerged that cast a dark light on those “wild partying days.” Three women accused Masterson of sexual assault, and following a three-year investigation, he was officially charged. Masterson was convicted after two trials, and while awaiting sentencing, Kutcher sent a leniency letter on his behalf, a move that sparked public backlash. Masterson ultimately received a sentence of 30 years to life in prison.
Sean “Diddy” Combs
Ever since singer Cassie Ventura filed a lawsuit against her former partner Sean “Diddy” Combs, unsettling details about his past have flooded the spotlight. Fans have combed through his old interviews for clues, but few were quite as telling as this “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” appearance just days before the lawsuit broke. During the interview, Kimmel referenced a rumor from an online source claiming to be Diddy’s former bodyguard. Allegedly, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith once wanted a threesome with Jennifer Lopez, which sparked threats of violence from Diddy, who was dating Lopez at the time. At the mention of this, Diddy froze, glaring coldly at Kimmel before laughing it off. Whether the rumor is true or not, Diddy’s chilling reaction spoke volumes.
Harvey Weinstein
Disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein had been a staunch supporter of Hillary Clinton, right from her first presidential bid in 2008. Naturally, he continued to back her eight years later. During the 2016 Democratic primaries, Weinstein was a guest on MSNBC, where he accused Clinton’s opponent, Bernie Sanders, of sexism for questioning her qualifications. But if there was anyone who embodied that very label, it was Weinstein, and it didn’t take long for the public to find out. The following year, The New York Times and The New Yorker published dozens of allegations of sexual assault and harassment against him, which triggered the MeToo movement. Weinstein was ultimately convicted on related charges, and in 2023, he received a 16-year prison sentence.
O. J. Simpson
A few weeks before O. J. Simpson was arrested for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman, he filmed an unreleased made-for-TV movie. Titled “Frogmen,” the project was intended to launch a series, but it was promptly shelved due to the infamous case. During the shoot, Simpson spoke with “Entertainment Tonight,” discussing Brown and his kids. In one scene, his character visits his ex-wife’s grave, and off-camera, Simpson even joked about being in a cemetery, which took on a haunting tone after the murders. More disturbingly, while preparing for the role, Simpson reportedly underwent knife training and visited a knife store with a co-star. This was the same store where he allegedly bought a knife shortly before the killings.
Which of these interviews did you find the most unsettling? Let us know in the comments below.
[a]Chris D’Elia = duh-LEE-uhhttps://youtu.be/VSOnuoZUZGY?t=1185
[b]LORE-ee LOCK-lin https://youtu.be/70pr0DzceiA?si=GLkiKaGt6mJHUSIh&t=6
[c]EE-lin NORDI-grin https://youtu.be/niffD5G0-6I?t=149
[d]louie / loo-ee
[e]cole-bare
