Most Infamous Celebrity Interviews

By Scott Harris Posted Nov 6th 2009 12:00PM

When Rihanna sits down tonight with Diane Sawye r on '20/20', it's sure to be one of the biggest interviews of the year. But will it go down as one of the biggest interviews of all time? Over the years, the celebrity interview has become one of the staples of the entertainment industry. Make a huge mistake? Go on the 'Tonight Show' and humbly plead forgiveness. In need of a reputation makeover? Talk to Oprah and shed a tear. Need to generate instant headlines? Letterman is your man. When celebrities open up, crazy things seem to follow, so whatever happens tonight, chances are people will be talking about it tomorrow. In order to help Rihanna prepare, then, we thought we'd give her (and you) a refresher course in some of the most infamous interviews of all time.

Of course, Rihanna isn't doing an interview to rehab her image; that task was left to her rightly vilified ex Chris Brown, who appeared on 'Larry King Live' with both repentance and a bow-tie ensemble he borrowed from Archie Andrews.

Tom Cruise has had so many crazy interviews in recent years that it was difficult to narrow it down to just one. But while his appearance on 'Today' is legendary, it was prompted by the need to explain his antics on 'Oprah Winfrey'. So by default, the couch episode trumps all.

Perhaps the most famous act of celebrity contrition came back in 1995 when Hugh Grant, fresh off his prostitution scandal, appeared with Jay Leno, who spoke for America when he asked "What the hell were you thinking?"

Whitney Houston makes her first appearance on our list thanks to her infamous 2002 talk with Diane Sawyer, which immortalized the phrase "crack is whack". Truer words have never been spoken, Whitney.

It's not just movie and music stars that turn to the media in times of crisis. One of the most famous interviews in television history took place in 1992, when presidential candidate Bill Clinton appeared on '60 Minutes' to emphatically deny reports of infidelity. Hmm.

Perhaps more than any other celebrity, Farrah Fawcett lived her life in the spotlight, opening up to cameras about every detail of her life, even the iffy parts. She vaulted back into the spotlight in 1997 thanks to a wacked out interview with David Letterman.

1993 was an up and down year for pop legend Michael Jackson. He started off strong, appearing in this full length special with Oprah Winfrey, which briefly rekindled interest in his career. The effect was undermined, however, by the child molestation charges that followed later that summer.

Britney Spears has had enough unwanted media attention in her life, so she probably didn't need to be grilled by Matt Lauer. Yet it was this exact topic that finally caused her to break down. Wow, that's pretty meta.

David Letterman has had more than his share of uncomfortable interviews, locking horns with everyone from Madonna to Joaquin Phoenix to Crispin Glover. Our favorite, though, is this complete dismantling of Paris Hilton, which was so thorough we actually started to feel bad for her.

Our trip through the annals of celebrity interviews wouldn't be complete without a return to Whitney Houston. Seven years after damaging her reputation almost beyond repair with her Diane Sawyer interview, Houston turned to a higher power to help rehabilitate it: Oprah Winfrey.

Comments

(64)

Friday 06 November

By Roan

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I hate Tom Cruise, too -

But, daggumit I loved him in Tropical Thunder!!!

He is gay, though. I wonder how much he paid what's her face who no longer has a career (thanks, Tom) to have the kid and actually stay with him. Must be good money to give up your career, your youth and your life.

Ick pooh!

Saturday 07 November

By Ruby Sky

Lol. Tropic Thunder** Not Tropical Thunder. Haha.

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Yeah....that movie, too

lmfao!

By Howard

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Even if Tom is gay: 1. Why does he have to tell the world. 2. As a gay man I'm really glad that the psychotic little moron doesn't admit to being one of us. We don't need the added negative conotations.

By Redhed

I have never figured out why everyone made such a big deal about Farrah's interview with David Letterman. She was funny and cute. Nothing like some of the drugged out, egotistical actors we've seen since. Always looking for a story, I guess.

By barbara

farrah looks like she had cancer back in 97. she was tooo skinny.

By Scott

I told you guys that Ton Cruise is a whack-o.

By Some Guy

Thanks For Telling us Scott!!!!111!

By yuexin1w00

hello

By Alex

xtime

By Cinrit

Where's the Joaquim Phoenix/David Letterman interview?

By Brandy

I think I just threw-up a little in my mouth....

By kerry

as for tom cruise and his jumping on the furniture..children do that..and i have seen retarted people do that when upset or happy.

By kirche

tom cruise strikes me as someone who battles a lot of inner demons... i think he puts up the good fight in trying to be normal or find some way to just cope with his kookiness; like the scientology thing where he's just now realizing it's nothing but a big cosmic scam.

i envision cruise as someone, behind closed doors, curls up in a dark closet somewhere, sucking his thumb and sobbing, while wearing oversized ganny bloomers. and after a few hours he's good for a coupla days.

i do like his acting: war of the worlds, color of money, that hitman movie with whats-his-face, are all damn good flicks.

hang in their tom, you screwball.

kerry - good observation... never go full retard and jump up and down on the furniture.

By webo

These "interviews" are like train wrecks. You don't want to watch but you just can't bring yourself to look the other way.

It's important to remember that much of this is acting and that creative editing also helps with the drama.

Remember most of this is "infotizing". They are trying to sell something.

If you're entertained, great, if you think you are learning something about the person being interviewed, you're mistaken...

By Nell

I watched the Farrah and Tom Cruise videos for the first time -- all I ever saw before were the little news bits -- and I can't see what all the fuss is about. They were just being themselves; what's wrong with that? What I saw was genuine and fearless emotion. I'd rather see them opening up as human beings than being uptight and scripted. I shudder to think what the complainers would act or sound like in an interview.

Right on!! I totally agree with you on this!!!

By karen ann

I agree!!!!

By Evelyn

I've noticed an unfortunate trend in the USA. Whenever someone in the limelight embraces any religion other than Christianity, they are ridiculed in the media... and then the sheep follow. The ugliness that follows Tom Cruise is just unbelievable... when you read these blogs you see people speculating about everything from his relationship with his wife (how much did he have to pay her) to his sexuality and the size of his penis. What a disgusting society we have become.

I have always found Tom Cruise to be decent and polite in interviews. If I were famous and these rude, insensitive reporters were to ask me some of the intrusive questions they ask the likes of Tom Cruise, I'd be punching people out left and right!

Tom is a GREAT actor - his range is vast and he always delivers.

To the rest of you, mind your own business and when ugly, unoriginal thoughts pop into your small minds, bite your tongue!

I learned a poem in kindergarten... "Gossip, gossip terrible thing, much unhappiness it brings. If you can't say something nice, don't talk at all is good advice".

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