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)

Saturday 07 November

By Roan

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Well.....I didn't see anyone posting anything about Tom Cruise's religion on here. I think it's hilarious that any time someone doesn't like someone, it's got to be for some reason other than they're a creepy little creep. I mean, I can dislike Tom Cruise's acting, and his behavior, and his demeanor, all by itself, just because he walks the Earth. Doesn't have to be because of his skin color, or his religion, or the way he wipes his a**.

LOL

Ya know what? I don't care what religion Tom Cruise is. I don't care if he's white, black or Mexican, or Japanese or Chinese, or Martian. I don't care if he's rich or poor. If I did not know who the man was, and he was in an elevator with me, he would still creep me smooth out, my friend.

And anyone who watches that Oprah video, where he's spastic, and keeps coming at Oprah, the poor woman, and attacking her in some playful way who doesn't think that that behavior is weird - invite someone to your house, let them bounce around on your couch and act crazy in front of your children, and see how fast you throw them out.

Don't make it okay just because he's Tom Cruise.

By Evelyn

Patricia, thanks for the kind words and back up.

Roan, I don't believe you. I think you WOULD care if Tom Cruise were a martian... I think you'd have a LOT to say about that. And, I think it's curious how you LOL at your own comments - must be lonely out there. I have no idea how he wipes his ass, and I don't think Tom Cruise was "spastic" in the Oprah interview. I think he was giddy, a common reaction when someone finally meets the person they want to share their life with... I know I certainly felt that way when I met my husband and excitedly told all my friends about how tall, dark, handsome and wonderful he was. Patricia makes a good point when she talks about all the audience members screaming, clapping, jumping up and down just because they get to SEE Tom Cruise - but no one says a word about their spastic or wierd behavior, curious isn't it?

My point was that I think he's been unfairly targeted for ridicule because he's chosen to follow a controversial religion. That's MY OPINION and I'm entitled to it. This is a forum for us to air our opinions about things in the news.

Monday 09 November

By Firemind

This whole celebrity schtick is just a mindless way
to find a "Straw man" to foist all your troubles, pratfall and foibles upon.
Don't expect anything "normal" out of these poor hapless vestiges of homo sapien matter. You've built them up just to tear them down.
Shame on the whole lot of you human leeches sucking out the life force on your love/hate relationships.
Get your own life.

By womankll7w1blow

I find it so hilarious that you idiots talk about Scientology yet you Christians and Muslims don't realize you are all apart of a cult. Lol. SO stupid you people are. Why don't you people TRY reading your bible and view how screwy your BIBLE is. Read your Koran and realize how STUPID your "HOLY" books are. ALL STUPID religions. Are religions are cults. Especially the Pentacostal religion. I think it's sfunny how you all call Scientology FAKE and a hoax. Lol. yet you don't realize ALL religionsa re all HOAXES. And yes TOM Cruise is an idiot. Can't stand him.

Saturday 14 November

By Tom

Jon and Kate are nothing like Bonnie and Clyde were, all though they have all kinds of money and their picture is plastered on many news papers along with storys about them.

Please please let these stories go away because I am sick and tired of hearing about them. ARE YOU!

By sharon

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That's the last time I have seen Katie smile.

By Dwayne

I dont know what's worse. What Cruise did, or the constant reminder of what Cruise did! Uh, this just in. DEFINITELY THE CONSTANT REMINDER. It was 8 years ago. Let it go already. This is why the media is less likable than the people you crucify under the name of "journalism".

By Stephen

Yeah, I agree I didn't think Farrah was that bad on letterman. I remember seeing that years ago and never thought she looked / acted like she was high. She was promoting her Playboy issue and most likely trying to act like a ditzy blonde. Look like it backed fired.

By crumbs444

what Pop Eater should do is post, side by side, michael jackson's 92 pr video of him denying any guilt in his molestation allegation case and the 09 pr video of his doctor's denying any blame in his death.

the thing is they are so creepy similar

By John

Cruise is a moron ................. !

By Patricia

I don't think Tom Cruise acted all that OUTRAGEOUS!!!
He was elated because he was IN LOVE & READY TO GET MARRIED!!! He was 40yrs. old & he was 1 of the few celebrities who had not been married, divorced, re-married, & re-divorces several times perviously.
THAT WAS A HUGELY HAPPY MOMENT FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH THE WORLD ON OPRAH!!!
Tom may have jumped on the couch 2 times (a little crazy) but his shoes were clean. It's a white couch, he didn't leave footprints on it. AND, he knelt down in a position of humility, or humbleness 3 or 4 times!!
Then he was still so hyped to show the world the woman he loves, he ran to the waiting area backstage & brought her on stage to introduce her to the world.

On the other hand,...ALL THE WOMEN WERE JUMPING UP & DOWN (INCLUDING OPRAH) BECAUSE THEY WERE SEEING TOM CRUISE IN PERSON SO CLOSE!!!!
I think it was more of a "FINDING A FLY IN YOUR CHARDINAY" moment.
or, "MEETING THE MAN OF YOUR DREAMS, & THEN MEETING HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE" TO BE,...moment.

If he grabbed one of the women out of the audience, ...or Oprah, & said, 'It's you!! I want to marry you!!!' everyone there would have continued screeming & jumping up & down.
He was jumping with them, ...but they stopped jumping when he ran out & got the woman he loves.

All those b!tches acted like he said, "It's YOU!!...NOT!!
The ONLY thing Tom Cruise did WRONG THAT DAY is ANNOUNCE that he is GETTING MARRIED.

AND, that IS all IT TOOK for ALL of those B!TCHES, & OPRAH, to feel like total losers.

Imagine the disgrace; after bragging to all their friends that they were going to see TOM CRUISE IN PERSON, SO UP CLOSE & PERSONAL ON OPRAH ON CAMERA ALL OF THEM!! And then that bastard announces his dreams have come true, he's getting married, but not to any of them!!!!
If he just showed up was that happy to appear in front of them & walked away with a smile & a wave (without the marriage announcement) everyone would have been perfectly happy about TOM CRUISE STILL!!

To Tom announcing his wedding plans, was also saying he is going to be starting his family, having children, being a father, LIVING HIS LIFE!!!

I'm glad that all the b!tches proved how vicious & petty they truly are.

By Proteus

Sure, Tom Cruise’s behavior was strange, but he was doing exactly what the audience wanted him to do. They were encouraging him and egging him on the whole time. They certainly weren’t shocked into silence by his behavior. The weirder he acted the more boisterous they became.
Ton Cruise is simply a performer who does whatever his audience wants him to do. What does that say about us, his audience?

By xpd

when you see a happy truly happy man you attached stttttrings to it and blame him for being irrational, emotional unstable??? what... is happening in old conservative good USA next?? if you yield to love??? and screem to your love one??? in the middle of the street??... hey love one... I LOVE YOU!(not barney styler)...you''ll be pick up by the police for clogging the trafic or harrasing the public?? stupidity is not to do love someone..and claimmed it... with all your soul ?; and body gestures??? how happy your soul may be?? are being in love today a contradiction to normality?? that stupid we are getting ?? its in our veins to explote when we are in true love?? or not anymore?/ TOM CRUISE PLEASE KEEP IT UP AND KEEP GOING THE WAY IT SEEMS TO BE!! YOU ALL RIGHT AS A REAL MAN EVEN IN RUSSSIA .. EUROPE , Mexico CANADA ,,, SO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE ZEALOTS OF THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT... for being scare to openly say i love you...kate. and btw i feel kate is in love with you ..just for being who you are a true man to your self...

By exoticdoc2

Of course you are going to get bizarre interviews, look who the interviewees are. Cruise follows the wacko scientology cult and talks to ash trays and bottles, Michael Jackson was a demented pedophile (among other things), Hilton is a socialite who has never really done anything except sleep around and get drunk...just what do people expect they are going to get out of these types?

By Karen ann

You must be friends with Dave.

Evelyn,

The Bible also lists Gossip as a sin. People think it is just so much fun to wag their tongues about everything & anything, truth or lies, plotting, scheming, connieving. They don't take into consideration how serious the trouble is that they cause with their words & attitudes.
If a person does NOT know something for a fact, did NOT witness it themselves, were NOT there when it happened, they should NOT repeat it, MERELY because they have nothing intelligent to say. Most gossip is not factual or pertinent to anything that needs to be said.
It would be a wonderful world if people exchanged good advice, as freely as they feel the need to merely talk sh!t.

I just cannot understand why Jon and Kate are in the news so munch,they didn't rob any banks like Bonnie and Clyde did and yet both of them have alot of money and there picturs are in many news papers along with stories about them, plus they are not movie stars. I am sick and tired about reading and listing to them on the news.
Don't they ever think about the kids?

The kids might be small now but believe me when I say that they are not stupid and see and hear what is going on around them. (THOSE POOR KIDS).

By Dak

Who's that sitting next to former President Bill Clinton? The current Secretary of State or a Tammy Wynette bobblehead?

Sunday 08 November

By Vickie

You know, this morning for the first time in my life I am commenting on something on AOL...I do not care about seeing Tom Curise jump on the sofa again. I don't watch Oprah or any of the Entertain talking heads because I have no interest in the majority of the crap that they discuss. Oprah does do some good work and I admire her success however, she feeds this appetite of spending our lives compariing our sucess and failure to the lives of entertainers...most of whom are very insecure and neurotic. I am much more interesting in getting current information about world events, human interest stories about real people with real succcess, educational articles on science, medical updates and even though I am a grandmother...articles on parenting, marital issues, special interest tabs for articles on hand gliding, sky diving, etc. As a mental professional I see so many people living unfulfilled lives because they think that the star are our role models. I have been an AOL user for at least 15 years and I am considering ending my account this morning. I hope you will add a poll or something to get a reading on the interest in having Entertainment articles on your newsfeed...those interested can find this crap anywhere...on a separate tab or elsewhere on the web! Thanks, Vickie

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