10 Times Celebrities LOST IT in Public

10 Times Celebrities Lost It in Public

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be looking at the most infamous incidents in which famous people were caught yelling, throwing a fit, or acting recklessly at the general public.

Britney Spears

Throughout her life in the spotlight, Britney Spears has had a rocky relationship with the media. In 2007, Spears endured a series of personal setbacks, including her aunt’s passing, the dissolution of her marriage, and losing custody of her sons. That same year, she experienced a highly publicized breakdown, which saw her shave her head in full view of relentless paparazzi. A few days later, she was hounded yet again by the flashing lights and vented her frustration by attacking a photographer’s car with an umbrella. The widely circulated image became a symbol of Spears’ troubled state. Although public opinion about this period has largely changed, it remains one of the darkest chapters in the Princess of Pop’s career.

Alec Baldwin

Apparently, Britney Spears isn’t the only celebrity to clash with the paps. Over the years, actor Alec Baldwin has had several run-ins with photographers, some of which have landed him in hot water. In August 2013, he physically confronted a paparazzo, shoving him around and pinning him against the hood of a car. Later that year, his talk show “Up Late with Alec Baldwin” was canceled, partly due to another incident in which he yelled a homophobic slur at a photographer. But Baldwin’s outbursts haven’t been limited to just paparazzi. He was arrested in 2014 for an altercation with a police officer, and again in 2018 for allegedly punching a man in a parking dispute.

Björk

Icelandic singer Björk doesn’t want to be bothered by the media and she has a pretty direct way of expressing that. In 1996, Björk made headlines after attacking a reporter who approached her and her son with a simple greeting at Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport. More than a decade later, the singer would lose it again, this time at the Auckland International Airport in New Zealand. Arriving for a performance at a music festival, Björk’s pictures were taken by a photographer for The New Zealand Herald. In response, she lunged at him, falling to the ground and ripping his shirt in the process. No charges were filed in either case and the “Violently Happy” singer went on about her business.

Tom Hanks

Even the most beloved Hollywood icon, Tom Hanks, can be pushed over the brink sometimes. In June 2022, the actor was leaving a restaurant with his wife Rita Wilson when a group of fans gathered around them asking for pictures. In the heat of the moment, one of them accidentally bumped into Wilson and caused her to stumble. Hanks swiftly intervened, yelling at the fans, in no uncertain terms, to back off. The overbearing group realized their mistake and promptly apologized to the actor. While an unexpected reaction from Hanks, it’s totally understandable, given the circumstances. He may be America’s Dad, but there are moments when he needs to protect his loved ones.

Solange Knowles

Three related music stars walk into an elevator. That was the setup for this infamous altercation between Solange Knowles and her brother-in-law, hip-hop mogul Jay-Z. In 2014, footage surfaced from a Met Gala afterparty showing Knowles yelling at Jay-Z and angrily attacking him in an elevator. She is then pulled off the rapper by a bodyguard. The video is without any audio, so there is no way of knowing what exactly led to the meltdown. Some have speculated that it had something to do with designer Rachel Roy, while others have hinted that it could be linked to Jay-Z’s alleged affair. But who knows? Maybe the audio of the tape could tell a completely different story.

Russell Crowe

On the screen, Russell Crowe has gained a reputation for playing fearless characters who never back down from a fight. It seems things aren’t much different in real life. The Oscar-winning actor is reportedly known in Hollywood circles for his short temper, resulting in numerous confrontations, both verbal and physical. The most notorious of these occurred in June 2005 when Crowe hurled a telephone at an employee of the Mercer Hotel in New York City, causing facial injuries. He was arrested by the NYPD and charged with second-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Crowe avoided jail time by pleading guilty, but had to cough up a reported six-figure settlement to the aggrieved employee.

Charlie Sheen

Charlie Sheen’s downward spiral is one that will live on in Hollywood infamy. In 2011, Sheen was the highest-paid TV actor for his role on “Two and a Half Men”. Early that year, while dealing with substance use disorder, he lashed out at creator Chuck Lorre during a radio show appearance. As a result, CBS canceled the series, but then reversed course and opted to replace Sheen with Ashton Kutcher instead. This only fueled the actor’s erratic behavior. Sheen appeared in multiple TV interviews where he proclaimed himself a “warlock” with “tiger blood” coursing through his veins. At the time, it seemed like the behavior of a troubled man, but Sheen later admitted it was all a desperate cry for help.

Kanye West

When it comes to public outbursts, Kanye West has done it all. The music mogul has criticized the President on live TV, interrupted an award acceptance speech and, of course, clashed with paparazzi. On two separate occasions in 2013, West got physical with photographers who interacted with him at the Los Angeles International Airport in California. In the first incident, West berated the lensman for daring to talk to him and lunged at him after he continued to do so. Just days later, he wrestled with another paparazzo, at one point placing him in a headlock. For the latter incident, West was charged with misdemeanor battery and sentenced to two years’ probation.

Reese Witherspoon

The words “do you know who I am?” have been publicly uttered by countless famous faces throughout history. In April 2013, Reese Witherspoon joined the roster after a drunken encounter with a state trooper in Atlanta. Witherspoon and her then-husband Jim Toth were pulled over by the officer on suspicion of driving under the influence. The Oscar-winning actress was handcuffed after failing to comply with the trooper’s instructions to remain in the car. She then launched into a tirade in which she bragged about her A-list status. Ironically, it didn’t seem like the officer even recognized her, so maybe the infamous question was needed, after all. Witherspoon was charged with disorderly conduct and ultimately pleaded no contest to obstruction of an officer.

Nick Lachey

Engaging with relentless paparazzi, sadly, comes with the showbiz territory. Singer and TV host Nick Lachey re-learned this lesson in March 2022 after being photographed with his wife and a friend in Beverly Hills. In a video released by TMZ, Lachey approached the paparazza in her car and reached into the vehicle to grab her phone. After failing at this objective, he laughs and sticks out his tongue, before walking away to rejoin his group. Lachey addressed the incident in a tweet afterwards, in which he admitted he “clearly overreacted”. The following year, it was announced that Lachey wouldn’t be charged with misdemeanor assault and battery, on the condition that he attend anger management classes and AA meetings.


Have you ever witnessed a public celebrity meltdown firsthand? Share your experience with us in the comments below!