Top 10 Times Child Stars Lost It on TV

“Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition” (2012-13)

On the first season of "Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition", contestant Elisabeth Tracy was as known for her anxiety as she was for her dance skills. Unfortunately, her declining performance led to her being eliminated by Week 4. Despite her reputation, no one was expecting her reaction to the bad news. The thirteen-year-old exploded into what many consider to be one of the biggest tantrums ever seen on “AUDC,” sobbing inconsolably and swearing at her reassuring mother. Tracy has since taken her dancing off of the public stage, but her outburst remains one of the highlight moments in dance show history. Whatever the future holds for the talented Tracy, she is a real contender among reality show meltdowns.

“Toddlers & Tiaras” (2009-16)

MaKenzie Myers was considered one of the breakout stars on “Toddlers & Tiaras” for her genuine enthusiasm, as well as her regular tantrums. The biggest one was before her appearance at a major pageant in Paris, when she freaked out in her hotel room over exhaustion and dissatisfaction with her appearance. The incident became a viral sensation that many say exemplified the show's mini-diva antics. The Myers say that the scandal was an eye-opening experience that led to them leaving the pageant system. The now-teenage MaKenzie has regained stardom as a social media influencer, quick to mention the show that first made her famous. Of course, she is reluctant to bring up the scene that made her infamous.

“Teen Mom 2” (2011-22)

Of all the drama that played out on MTV's “Teen Mom 2,” Jenelle Evans was particularly popular for her volatile crusade to overcome addiction and find a place in son Jace's life. With Jenelle's own mother Barbara having full custody, some ground rules had to be laid out, whether Jenelle liked it or not. Though this argument appears to be staged, the very real pressure on two single mothers stuck with audiences. It's a fan-favorite moment of perspective for all the hard work that Janelle was willing to put into growing up, and just how far she had to go professionally and emotionally. Of course, Barbara's concern for his daughter's marijuana use certainly helped to make the scene iconic.

“ForeRunner Chronicles” (2012)

In 2012, Angus T. Jones was TV's highest-paid young actor for playing Jake on "Two and a Half Men." He had also just adopted Seventh-day Adventism, becoming more outspoken about his own show's lack of substance. This culminated in a video testimonial for the Christian group ForeRunner Chronicles, in which Jones let loose on "Two and a Half Men" and advised viewers to stop watching. The interview went viral, especially since Charlie Sheen ranted about the sitcom amid his dismissal. CBS walked back Jake on the show until Jones formally exited in 2014 to a career in freefall. "Two and a Half Men" remained a hit until it ended in 2015. But audiences did stop watching its outspoken young star.

“Keeping Up with the Kardashians” (2007-21)

In 2010, Season 4 of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” chronicled 14-year-old Kendall Jenner's entrance into professional modeling. The family had mixed reactions, to say the least. But younger sister Kylie made a real spectacle with her obvious jealousy about Kendall getting all of the family's support and attention. The meltdowns and convenient resolution to this sisterly conflict may not be the most realistic in reality TV history. But they hit the audience as a defining showcase of the turbulent dynamic between Kendall and Kylie. Young entrepreneurship is tough enough without sibling rivalry. Iconic moments of Kardashian drama like these wound up breaking out both Jenner sisters' public image, albeit not in the best light.

“Dance Moms” (2011-19)

The Zieglers were a mainstay on the Lifetime reality show “Dance Moms.” Maddie was a sensation for her dancing abilities and unique confidence under stress. However, following rehearsals for an award show performance in Australia, Maddie got hung up on her mistakes. She only got more frustrated when one of the dance moms tried to praise her as an important member of the troupe. No pressure, right? Overcome with emotion, the twelve-year-old stormed out of the room. This was considered a particularly shocking breakdown for fans of the show and a somber moment in its history. Though Ziegler has gone on to build her own successful dancing and acting career, her breakdown goes to show that stardom can get overwhelming even for the toughest kids.

“Studio 11 L.A.” (1947-)

By 2011, TLC's "Toddlers & Tiaras" was both a cultural phenomenon and a scandal. Young pageant contestant Kailia Posey appeared on Los Angeles's Fox 11 News to address the controversy that the show exploited children. Though her mother Marcy and host Jeff Michaels discussed the issue very seriously, Kailia stole the show with her bouncy mugging at the camera. Though she didn't quite know how to answer the interview questions, she knew how to make everyone laugh. This memorable live TV interview seemed to suggest how much pressure is really on child models to hold an audience's attention. But with Posey’s tragic death eleven years later, moments like this exemplify her signature energy.

“Dr. Drew On Call” (2011-16)

Shortly after seven-year-old pageant girl Alana Thompson became an overnight sensation, she and Mama June appeared on "Dr. Drew on Call" to discuss "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo." Not yet used to the interview circuit, Thompson tried to get out of the questions by feigning sleepiness. When she finally came to, she was eager to read the cue cards aloud and complain about the pressures of celebrity. Her tune suddenly changed when Dr. Drew pulled her into casual conversation and a heated game of rock-paper-scissors. It was far from a professional interview, but it was considered lively television. The camera's inability to stay off of Honey Boo Boo's infamous antics wound up being the perfect promotion for her outrageous show.

“My Super Sweet 16” (2005-17)

"My Super Sweet 16" was controversial as one of the most extreme teen-themed reality shows of its era. But many agree that few of its stars were as extreme as Audrey Reyes. She was eager to receive a brand new Lexus convertible for her Quinceanera, but got it precisely on her 15th birthday. Reyes responded to the extravagant present by berating her mother on-camera, just because it wasn't debuted at the party. Reyes quickly expressed regret to the public, but their complaints that "My Super Sweet 16" promoted spoiled brats still seemed to be confirmed. This legendary meltdown over a car has since made Reyes a star for the wrong reasons. Never mind that she wasn't even old enough to drive at the time.

“25th Miss Teen USA Pageant” (2007)
Caitlin Upton entered the public eye as 2007's Miss South Carolina Teen USA. But she achieved a stardom she was not expecting as the third runner-up for Miss Teen USA. During the questions round, when asked about why a fifth of Americans couldn't find their own country on a map, Upton gave a response that may have required a map of its own. Her babbling speech about so-called "U.S. Americans" went viral before the term was even coined. Luckily, Upton was able to give a more confident response during an interview on "The Today Show." She has since used her notoriety to navigate the entertainment industry. But if you're trying to find young talent getting lost on camera, Upton might be the north star.