Top 10 Most Shocking Reveals in Celebrity Interviews

Lance Armstrong was one of the world’s most celebrated cyclists, overcoming testicular cancer to win a record seven consecutive Tour de France titles. Throughout his career, Armstrong faced doping allegations, which he continued to deny, even when indicted by the United States Anti-Doping Agency and subsequently stripped of all his achievements. It wasn’t until a January 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey that he made his first public admission of guilt. Armstrong gave a partial confession. He admitted using illicit performance-enhancing drugs for at least a decade but claimed to have stopped doping in 2005. Interestingly, he stated that he never viewed his actions as cheating, likening them to simply filling his tires with air or his bottle with water.

Prepare to have your childhood memories shattered. Between 2004 and 2007, Devon Werkheiser and Lindsey Shaw starred on the Nickelodeon series “Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide” as teenagers navigating their way through middle school. But while it may have been an innocent show, it turns out behind-the-scenes, the two got off to some pretty racy stuff. On their recap podcast “Ned's Declassified Podcast Survival Guide,” Werkheiser and Shaw revealed that they hooked up multiple times while working together on the series. Although they admittedly never went all the way, Werkheiser acknowledged that they “got busy,” attributing it to the fact that they were hormonal teenagers at the time.

In October 2021, a tragic incident occurred on the set of the western film “Rust”. During a scene rehearsal, actor Alec Baldwin accidentally discharged a live round from a prop gun, which resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza. Baldwin, also one of the film’s producers, publicly addressed the incident for the first time in an interview with George Stephanopoulos. Baldwin revealed that he didn’t intentionally pull the trigger; instead, the gun fired accidentally when he cocked it. This claim was supported by the film’s assistant director, who had provided Baldwin with the firearm. According to the actor, he believed the gun was empty and was merely following Hutchins’ direction when he pointed it at her. However, a subsequent examination by a forensic expert determined that the trigger would've had to have been pulled by Baldwin.

For nine years, Bethany Joy Lenz portrayed Haley James on the teen drama series “One Tree Hill”. Throughout this period, she was also entangled in a religious cult, a fact that she revealed on an episode of the podcast “Drama Queens”. Lenz reportedly joined the cult not long after landing the part on “One Tree Hill,” initially believing it to be a regular Bible study group. However, it gradually transformed into a highly manipulative entity, exercising control over nearly every aspect of her life. During this challenging period, Lenz found solace and support from her “One Tree Hill” castmates. Eventually, with their assistance, she managed to free herself from the cult.

In this 2021 interview hosted by Oprah Winfrey, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle revealed many startling details from their time as working members of the royal family. Markle disclosed that the couple actually got married in a small secret wedding three days before their televised royal ceremony. Additionally, she criticized the British tabloid press for its apparent racist coverage and expressed frustrations with the royal family for not adequately addressing the narratives. Particularly troubling were allegations of concerns within the royal family about the potential skin color of their child, Archie. Markle disclosed that these issues led her to contemplate taking her own life. The widely watched interview drew polarizing reactions and significantly impacted the couple’s favorability among the British public.

In 2018, music icon Quincy Jones gave a rambunctious interview to Vulture Magazine where he discussed everything from Michael Jackson’s plastic surgery to his theory on JFK’s actual assassin. But what really captured widespread attention was a passing comment he made about Hollywood actor Marlon Brando. Jones claimed that Brando and legendary comedian Richard Pryor had engaged in a sexual relationship while they were alive. These revelations lit a firestorm on the internet, with many wondering if they were factual or mere conjecture. Pryor’s widow appeared to validate the claim, noting that the comedian had been open about his bisexuality with friends. On the other hand, Brando’s family dismissed the rumor, referring to Jones’ comment as “wrongful”.

Following his resignation from the presidency in 1974, Richard Nixon largely retreated from the public. He resurfaced nearly three years later in an exclusive series of interviews with British journalist David Frost. The intense four-part interview delved into Nixon’s actions during his presidency, covering various topics from war to global affairs and, of course, the Watergate scandal. After years of deflecting responsibility, the former president admitted that he had let the American people down and failed to uphold their trust. One particularly memorable moment occurred when Frost questioned Nixon about the legality of a president’s actions in certain situations of national security, prompting his controversial response, “[Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal].”

In 2002, R. Kelly faced multiple criminal charges following the leak of a disturbing video of him and a minor. Kelly underwent a trial and, in 2008, was acquitted of all counts. That year, he sat down for an interview with BET reporter Touré, who came right out of the gate, asking the singer if he liked teenage girls. The normal response would’ve been a flat-out no. Instead, Kelly proceeded to ask for clarification, taking the wind out of the reporter’s sails. Despite such a disturbing answer, there were no immediate repercussions for the singer. He continued to enjoy success until the release of the 2019 documentary “Surviving R. Kelly,” which ultimately led to his downfall.

Years before Prince Harry’s sit-down with Oprah Winfrey, his mother, Princess Diana, had an explosive interview with the BBC’s Martin Bashir. During their candid conversation, Diana made shocking revelations about her tumultuous marriage to then-Prince Charles, as well as her treatment by the royal family. She disclosed details about Charles’ affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, infamously referring to their marriage as “a bit crowded.” The Princess of Wales also spoke openly about her struggles with mental health and eating disorders, and expressed doubts about Charles’ ability to rule as King. The fallout was immense. Although Charles and Diana had separated years earlier, the interview marked the final blow in their relationship, resulting in their divorce the following year.

The 2003 documentary “Living with Michael Jackson” featured a series of interviews between Martin Bashir and the “King of Pop.” The film was highly anticipated, however, once it aired, many were left stunned by the disturbing revelations made by Jackson himself. The singer, who had earlier faced accusations of improper relations with a minor, openly admitted to sharing his bed with children and defended it as a natural and innocent gesture. Well, not everyone saw it quite the same way. The revelation sparked such a huge controversy that it led to a criminal investigation. In December 2003, Jackson was charged with multiple felony counts and faced a sensational trial two years later. Ultimately, he was acquitted of all charges.

Did we miss any other sensational celebrity interviews? Reveal them to us in the comments below.