Top 10 Heartbreaking Celebrity Interviews
#10: Angelina Jolie
In an emotionally-raw interview with National Geographic, the American actress and filmmaker was asked about the moments and people that made an impression on her over the years. In response, Jolie related her first humanitarian trip to Sierra Leone and her encounter with a 10- or 11-year-old at a transit center with a gunshot wound that rendered him unable to move his legs. Being one among thousands, and considered a hopeless case, he was left untreated. Tearing up, Jolie recalled feeling completely helpless, but also how it helped her realize that every individual counts.
#9: Kendrick Lamar
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In this brutally honest interview, viewers had the chance to see a very different side of the rapper and songwriter. Kendrick Lamar has enjoyed tremendous success in his career, with no fewer than 13 Grammy Awards to his name. But in this MTV interview, he opened up about experiencing depression and suicidal thoughts, both on tour and at home. Delving into his darkest moments and how they’ve affected him, Lamar spoke soberly about how music became his therapy, and about feeling a sort of survivor’s guilt over his success - particularly after the murder of three close friends.
#8: Diane Guerrero
When she was just 14 years old, this American actress and author had to deal with the sad reality of coming home to find her parents gone. In an interview on CNN, Guerrero revealed how her parents tried to prepare her for the possibility that they could be deported, and her memories of the day it finally happened. Although many years have passed since the day Guerrero hid under her bed hoping that the police wouldn’t come for her too, some of the saddest moments in this CNN interview came when she revealed that, although she now sees them yearly, she still sometimes feels as if she doesn’t really know them anymore.
#7: Tracy Morgan
In a tear-jerking interview with The Today Show’s Matt Lauer, beloved actor and comedian Tracy Morgan told all. After a horrifying car accident that left him in a coma, Morgan woke up to discover that his close friend and mentor James McNair had been killed in the crash. Afterwards, Morgan confessed, he would watch the accident and McNair’s funeral on Youtube repeatedly until he “lost it.” Morgan also spoke freely about how the accident affected him physically, confessing to Lauer that he still suffers from memory loss, headaches, and nosebleeds.
#6: Meghan Markle
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In a series of intense interviews with the royal couple, ITV’s Tom Bradby revealed a lot going on under the surface. Prince Harry spoke emotionally about his trauma over the death of his mother, and his pain at the constant bullying his wife experiences. But it was even more heartbreaking to hear from the Duchess of Sussex herself. In a telling interview, Markle talked about her struggles with the British tabloids, especially as a newlywed and new mother. You can’t help but feel for the Duchess, who’s clearly feeling vulnerable, as she reveals that she is not really “okay.”
#5: Britney Spears
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At 21 years old, this best-selling teenage artist of all time sat down with Diane Sawyer in 2003 for a tell-all interview. Sawyer certainly didn’t pull any punches. Things got noticeably difficult for Spears when Sawyer brought up her recent breakup with Justin Timberlake - who, Spears said, sh’d imagined she would spend the rest of her life with. Although she admitted that Timberlake was “not wrong” in accusing her of being unfaithful, Spears couldn’t hold back the tears when his name came up, and begged for the interview to stop.
#4: Rihanna
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Although she never broke down in tears, the emotion was palpable in the face of the award-winning Barbadian singer and actress. In her interview with Oprah, Rihanna revealed that although she and her former flame Chris Brown were not in a relationship anymore, he was her first love and will probably always be the love of her life. In a particularly touching moment that will resonate with anyone who’s ever had to end things with someone special, she confessed that she’d be crushed if he is ever lonely or unhappy, and that she just wants him to be at peace.
#3: Ariana Grande
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Shortly after Ariana Grande’s concert ended in Manchester on May 22, 2017, a terrorist set off an explosive in the arena, causing multiple deaths and over 500 injuries. In a subsequent interview with Beats 1 radio station, Grande was asked to talk about her song “Get Well Soon,” created as a response to the anxiety and trauma she experienced after the attack. She relived much of those raw emotions in the interview, as she discussed the song’s deeper meaning. As the title suggests, “Get Well Soon” is all about being there for one another - the musical equivalent of a hug.
#2: Celine Dion
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Although Dion has given a lot of emotional interviews, there are perhaps none as heartbreaking as this unaired clip from The Sunday Project. In it, Dion recalled her last conversation with her husband René Angélil - a quiet phone call in her dressing room in which he told that her he loved her and wished her a good show. She also related going home that night after her concert and not going in to see him before his passing, in a decision that has clearly weighed heavily on her. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honourable mentions: Chadwick Boseman Roger Federer Karrueche Tran Selena Gomez Katy Perry
#1: Princess Diana
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The life of Lady Di reads like a Greek tragedy, culminating in the devastating car accident that claimed her life in August 1997. Especially in hindsight, there’s something particularly heart-rending about her BBC1 Panorama interview, broadcast in November 1995. In it, she chronicled the struggles of living in the royal family, dealing with an unfaithful spouse, and living with constant public criticism and media attention. Although she didn’t feel like she would ever be queen, all she wanted was to be a “queen of people’s hearts,” and that’s the part that gets us every single time.
