Top 10 Savage Moments Caught on Live TV

Everyone at the 2014 Oscars was shocked and confused when John Travolta took the stage and introduced someone named Adele Dazeem. Of course, we now know he meant Broadway queen Idina Menzel, but the internet didn’t let him off the hook easily. The jokes came pouring in, and while Travolta took most of the heat, Menzel didn’t exactly escape unscathed. At the next year’s ceremony, Menzel got her sweet, sweet revenge. While welcoming Travolta to present the Best Original Song award, she referred to him by the wickedly funny name, Glom Gazingo. And that’s a perfect Disney villain name, if we’ve ever heard one.

We’ve all been there before: sitting in a movie theater, only for someone’s phone to ring and ruin the moment. But while most of us may bite our tongue, Wendy Williams is certainly not one to hold back. The talk show host was in the middle of her “Hot Topics” segment during a taping in 2019 when an audience member’s phone began to ring. The loud sound distracted Williams, prompting her to yell at the culprit to “get out.” Though she later admitted that her reaction might have been a bit dramatic, Williams stood firm on her rule that all phones must stay off. If only every movie theater had its own Wendy Williams.

Taylor Swift is one of the biggest names in music today, selling out arenas and shattering records. However, back in 2009, she was still an artist on the rise when she won the VMA for Best Female Video. That night, Swift was nominated alongside Beyoncé, whom Kanye West believed was more deserving of the award. Rather than keep his opinions to himself, West jumped on stage during Swift’s acceptance speech and grabbed the mic to voice his displeasure. The audience booed him off and he eventually returned the mic to Swift, who looked shaken and unsure of what to say. Though Beyoncé later invited her back onstage to finish her speech, this moment marked the start of a years-long feud between Swift and West.

You don’t come for a living legend like Patti LaBelle without getting served a reality check. In 2008, LaBelle appeared on “The Tyra Banks Show,” for a baking segment alongside chef Lisa Lillien[a]. As Lillien discussed a batch of cupcakes, LaBelle casually grabbed one and pointed out that she was holding it by the paper, not the cupcake itself. Somehow, the chef misinterpreted the comment and, in a tone that landed somewhere between patronizing and clueless, instructed LaBelle not to eat the paper. The Godmother of Soul was not having it. She quickly cleared the air, making sure Lillien got the message loud and clear before moving on. Now that’s what you call a chef getting cooked.

Animal trophy hunters aren’t exactly the most beloved people on the planet, not even when they are kids. In 2016, American youngster Aryanna Gourdin[b] sparked controversy when her father shared pictures of her posing next to deceased animals. The two later appeared on “Good Morning Britain,” where they defended their strange hobby in a tense exchange with co-anchor Piers Morgan. Morgan pointed out the irony of Gourdin posing with her beloved pet cat while also celebrating the killing of wild animals. He then challenged them by asking how they would feel if he treated their cat the same way they treat other animals. While Morgan got his point across, we doubt this uncomfortable exchange did much to sway the Gourdin family.

George W. Bush received a torrent of criticism for his administration’s response to Hurricane Katrina. Perhaps the loudest came not from any political opponent or pundit, but from rapper Kanye West. During a televised fundraising concert for Hurricane relief in 2005, West deviated from the script and called out Bush directly. He first condemned how poorly Black victims of the disaster were portrayed in the media, before declaring that Bush didn’t care about them. The moment left West’s co-presenters, as well as millions watching from home, stunned. Bush later called it one of the “most disgusting moments of his presidency,” though many would argue there’s stiff competition for that title.

It doesn’t get more savage than a guest appearing on a talk show and getting it canceled shortly after. That’s exactly what Jon Stewart pulled off in 2004 when he went on CNN’s “Crossfire.” Stewart was supposed to promote his satirical book, “America (The Book),” but as soon as he sat down, things veered completely off track. He used the opportunity to criticize hosts Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala[c], calling them “partisan hacks” for reducing important political debate to shallow arguments. The exchange quickly escalated into personal jabs, with Stewart mocking Carlson for wearing bow ties and, right at the end, likening him to a certain body part. We’re not saying Stewart’s words stung, but we’ve hardly seen Carlson in a bow tie since.

Mike Tyson is, without a doubt, one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time, but his career certainly hasn’t been without any controversies. Known for his ferocious and intimidating tactics in the ring, Tyson took things to a whole new level during a 1997 match against Evander Holyfield. Holyfield, the defending champion, was already leading when Tyson abandoned all restraint and bit off a piece of his right ear. Though Holyfield was bleeding and clearly in pain, he opted to continue the match, only for Tyson to bite his other ear as well. This time around, the match was halted and Tyson was disqualified. He subsequently had his boxing license revoked, although he eventually got it back.

In 1992, singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor was outraged by the Catholic Church’s mishandling of sexual misconduct cases, so she staged a ballsy protest. As the musical guest on “SNL,” she saw the show as the perfect platform to make her statement. During her second performance, O’Connor held up a photograph of Pope John Paul II, ripped it and declared him “the real enemy.” The moment took everyone by surprise, especially since she only brought out a child’s picture during rehearsals. O’Connor must have been expecting some backlash, but the intense outrage that followed effectively derailed her once-promising career. Years later, as the cases in the Church came to light, many realized that O’Connor had been calling out a truth they just weren’t ready to hear.

At the 2022 Academy Awards, Hollywood’s finest gathered to celebrate the best in film. But not even the most ingenious screenwriter could have dreamed up the night’s most shocking plot twist. Will Smith was the frontrunner to win the Best Actor award, for his acclaimed performance in “King Richard”. But shortly before his category came up, Chris Rock made an ill-fated joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, while presenting an award. The actor didn’t receive the joke well and decided to hash things out by storming the stage, slapping Rock across the face and yelling expletives at him. As expected, Smith later won Best Actor, delivering a teary acceptance speech that doubled as an awkward apology to the Academy.