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 karen ann

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I cant resist...... I knew Michael Jackson personally for many, many years and as for the other two I did not know them. But I know Michael was not a pedophile, he was a dear human being. Why I did not comment on your vicious pack of media hype is because well I dont know those other people to agree with your... what did you say?? unsubstained sweeping statements? Wow you have quite the vocabulary! I feel sorry for you and people like you.

Sunday 08 November

Now I'm done.

By exoticdoc2

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Karenann. For someone who is "done" you do tend to prattle on. Assuming you are not lying about knowing Jackson, it means nothing. How many times have people who turned out to be mass murderers, child molestors, or other vile creatures have people who knew them say of them, "Gee, I never would have thought they could have done such a thing." It's the same malarky we are currently getting from the relatives of the murderous Muslim who just killed all those people in Texas. Jackson, by his own admission, took children into his bed and slept with them. What kind of grown man, other than a father, sleeps with children and is not a pedophile. The only thing that protected Jackson was his money, his ability to buy off the families of those he molested. You are as deluded as Elizabeth Taylor and the other Hollywood types out there who still defend this pedophile. They are as bad as Whoopi Goldberg and her defence of the known child rapist/producer Polanski. Because they are famous some people seem willing to give them a pass. Wrong is wrong, I don't care how famous and talented you are, and if you think "being mean" to such vermin, meaning pointing out what they do and calling it vile, is wrong then you are as bad as they are.

Tuesday 08 February

By hojo666

Brandy.That one is way over now.Be original babe....

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