10 Outbursts That Got Actors And TV Hosts FIRED

10 Outbursts That Got Actors or TV Hosts Fired

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the most scandalous sudden incidents that led to actors or TV hosts getting their marching orders to head off-set permanently.

Jay Thomas

“Cheers” (1982-93)

Known for his radio work, Thomas began transitioning into TV acting with a role in “Mork & Mindy.” Then in the late ‘80s, he was cast as Eddie LeBec in “Cheers,” playing the love interest of Rhea Perlman’s Carla Tortelli. However, in 1989, when a caller rang into Thomas’s radio show and asked him about the role, the actor responded that it was “brutal” since he had to kiss Perlman. Yikes. Thomas later claimed he was talking about the character, not the actor. Shortly after, Eddie was written out of “Cheers” as he was fatally mowed down by a Zamboni, after which he was then discovered to be a polygamist, a trait that really destroyed his character.

Jon Polito

“Homicide: Life on the Street” (1993-99)

Not many TV actors get a part written specifically for them. Yet that’s what Polito got with Steve Crosetti in “Homicide: Life on the Street.” However, due to low ratings, NBC wanted to shake up the show by introducing more female characters and removing Crosetti. Otherwise, it’d risk being canceled. But showrunner Tom Fontana had another idea. He told Polito that Crosetti would be written off, but he’d return after the series was renewed. Not believing this, Polito criticized Fontana publicly.. When “Homicide: Life on the Street” came back in season 3, Crosetti took his own life. Polito regretted what he said, and bridges were mended when he cameoed in 2000’s farewell to the franchise, “Homicide: The Movie.”

Asan N'Jie

“Emmerdale” (1972-)

In 2018, Ellis Chapman debuted in the UK soap opera “Emmerdale.” Played by N'Jie, he took the role by storm as he claimed nominations in award ceremonies. However, a ceremony would also be N’Jie’s downfall. Following the 2019 TV Choice Awards, he was recorded being dragged away from a very heated argument with “Hollyoaks” actor Jamie Lomas. The two even got into a brief fight, with N’Jie reportedly threatening to use a knife on Lomas. Bizarrely, Ellis had recently been involved in a stabbing story on "Emmerdale." After broadcaster ITV initially suspended N’Jie, he was fired from the soap as he apologized. The role of Ellis was later recast, with Aaron Anthony taking the role until departing in 2022.

Columbus Short

“Scandal” (2012-18)

In 2014, fans of “Scandal” were shocked. At the end of season 3, Harrison Wright had a firearm pointed at him, leaving it on a cliffhanger. But when the show returned in season 4, he’d been killed off. This was due to what actor Short was getting up to at the time, which he blamed on substance use issues. In 2014, on top of domestic abuse allegations from his wife, Short allegedly threw a running punch on a man during a family gathering, knocking him out. As such, Short was forced to depart “Scandal.” In 2015, he pleaded no contest to assault. Short received three years of probation, two months of community labor, and had to take 26 anger-management classes.

Clayne Crawford

“Lethal Weapon” (2016-19)

It wasn’t just one outburst that led to Crawford being kicked off of the “Lethal Weapon” TV series, but several. Firstly, as detailed by the Martin Riggs actor, he once screamed at an Assistant Director for not controlling noise from kids swimming nearby during a scene, leading to Crawford needing anger-management classes and being escorted by security on set. More infamously, he also clashed with co-star Damon Wayans. After Wayans was injured during a stunt directed by Crawford, the two clashed on set the following day. They were recorded arguing and swapping insults. In 2018, the “Lethal Weapon” creators had enough and fired Crawford. Instead, Seann William Scott joined the cast as Wesley Cole.

Thomas Gibson

“Criminal Minds” (2005-20; 2022-)

From the inception of “Criminal Minds” in 2005, Gibson had been a cornerstone of the franchise as BAU chief Aaron “Hotch” Hotchner. But in 2016, all that ended when he directed an episode. Concerned about a line in the script, he approached writer-producer Virgil Williams. An argument then escalated that resulted in Gibson allegedly kicking Williams. According to the actor, Williams walked into his foot. Regardless, this outburst wasn’t the only time Gibson allegedly had issues. In 2010, he was sent to anger management classes after an incident with an assistant director. As well as a DUI and having confrontations with then-colleague Shemar Moore, Gibson was dropped by “Criminal Minds,” and Hotch was written out.

Isaiah Washington

“Grey's Anatomy” (2005-)

From the first episode of the long-running medical drama “Grey's Anatomy,” Washington was there as Dr. Preston Burke, picking up awards for his work. However, in 2006, reports that Washington had gotten into an argument with co-star Patrick Dempsey came out. Washington had allegedly used a slur when discussing colleague T. R. Knight. Due to this scandal, Knight publicly came out as gay. Then, at the “64th Golden Globe Awards,” Washington repeated the slur to the press while denying having said it to Dempsey about Knight. This resulted in ABC not renewing the actor’s contract on “Grey's Anatomy,” and Burke was written out of the show before a brief appearance in 2014.

Jeremy Clarkson

“Top Gear” (2002-22)

In 2014, Clarkson was recorded during rehearsal for “Top Gear” doing the traditional version of “Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe,” including a racial slur used in some past versions. Due to the backlash, he was told by BBC bosses he had one last chance. Well, Clarkson used that up in 2015. After the production chef had left the set, Clarkson wanted a steak, which wasn’t possible. So, he was given the choice of eating soup and cold meat as alternatives. This enraged the TV host so much that he reportedly uttered racial insults and punched Irish producer Oisin Tymon. The BBC withdrew the three-year contract extension, and he left “Top Gear.” He was soon followed by co-hosts James May and Richard Hammond. In 2016, Clarkson settled a lawsuit from Tymon and apologized for what happened.

Charlie Sheen

“Two and a Half Men” (2003-15)

In 2011, Sheen, the then-reigning champion of TV, went to a rehabilitation center for the third time in a year, causing the production of “Two and a Half Men” to pause. Shortly after, when appearing as a guest on the radio program “The Alex Jones Show,” Sheen ranted about “Two and a Half Men” creator Chuck Lorre while using anti-Semitic language. He followed this with more Lorre insults with TMZ and other publications, causing season 8 to be cut short and Sheen to be banned from the Warner Brothers lot. This scandal caused Sheen to be fired from “Two and a Half Men.” The actor was then interviewed by several publications, giving bizarre and infamous responses about “tiger blood” that's haunted his career ever since.

Alec Baldwin

“Up Late with Alec Baldwin” (2013)

Known for not shying away from giving his opinions, the actor was given his own MSNBC talk show, “Up Late with Alec Baldwin” in 2013. He originally planned to do it for at least a year before seeing whether or not to continue. However, after only 5 episodes, the broadcaster canceled the show publicly. At the time, Baldwin was recorded yelling a homophobic slur at a photographer in New York The host denied using the gross phrase but apologized regardless when he was initially suspended. After having his show shelved, Baldwin, rather than putting his hands up for the incident, decided to blame the gay activists Rich Ferraro and Andrew Sullivan for its demise.

Which sporting figure outbursts that led to their firing stands out for you? Let us know below!