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On the 2012 premiere of The Lorax — an animated film for kids, it needs to be burdened — the movie’s star Zac Efron was on the pink carpet when he reached into his pocket for one thing. However as an alternative of simply retrieving no matter he supposed to seize, a condom slipped out onto the pink carpet in full view of cameras. For a break up second, time appeared to cease. Efron, realizing what had simply occurred, scooped up the condom, however the paparazzi had already snapped images. The web nearly instantly exploded with jokes, memes, and countless hypothesis. Efron later addressed the cringe-inducing mishap, saying, “I by no means actually had a pocket-checking coverage earlier than happening the pink carpet, however now I feel I will have to start out!” You assume, Zac?2.
In early 2021, the hashtag #HereForCharli trended on Twitter, resulting in TikTok sensation Charli D’Amelio writing in a since-deleted tweet: “I’m wanting by the ‘hereforcharli’ hashtag, and oh my goodness you might be all so candy to me. You haven’t any thought how a lot your type phrases heat my coronary heart. I’m so fortunate to have you ever all by my facet!! I really like you bebs.” The one drawback? The hashtag was not for D’Amelio however Charli XCX, whose pal and collaborator SOPHIE had simply died from an unintentional fall. Yikes. I wager you simply shifted in your seat from secondhand embarrassment, huh?3.
Rappers wish to mission a picture as laborious and badass, and 50 Cent isn’t any totally different. This is certainly one of his lyrics: “The drama actually means nothin’ to me. / I will journey by and blow your brains out.” Rattling, 50 Cent! Go straightforward! However in Might 2014, the rapper regarded softer than a kitten’s fur whereas throwing out the primary pitch at a New York Mets recreation. His pitch did not simply miss residence plate — it soared wildly off track, veering practically sideways towards a cameraperson. It wasn’t merely a nasty pitch; it was presumably the worst pitch ever thrown, touchdown nearer to first base than the catcher. The rapper later joked about how he would ceaselessly be immortalized in baseball blooper historical past, so he will get factors for having an excellent perspective, however rattling…embarrassing is not a powerful sufficient phrase!4.
In July 2010, Lindsay Lohan appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom over alleged probation violations stemming from a earlier DUI arrest. Embarrassing? Positive. However the cringiest second got here when photographers zoomed in on her arms and seen she’d painted “Fuck U” on the nail of her center finger. Folks roasted her on-line for this infantile act of defiance, particularly as she sobbed by the listening to. Lohan denied on Twitter that the swear was a message for the courtroom, replying to a pal, “did not we do our nails as a joke with our pal dc? It had nothing to do w/courtroom. it is an airbrush design from a stencil xx.'” Um, OK. Fortunately, Lohan is in a a lot better place nowadays (she’s now a mother and has Freakier Friday on the way in which), however I wager she needs she might take again the entire fingernail fiasco.5.
Throughout a 2016 presidential major debate, Ted Cruz turned his second within the highlight right into a horror present — due to a mysterious white particle. As Cruz spoke passionately, a small white chunk exited his mouth and clung to his higher lip. However that wasn’t the worst half — in a second that can hang-out me ceaselessly, Cruz casually licked it away. The web exploded. What was that factor? A rogue piece of breath mint? A crumb? The most well-liked and disturbing concept? A tonsil stone — a bit calcified deposit from the again of the throat that typically dislodges (google it at your individual danger). Cruz by no means addressed the incident — as a result of how do you even start to clarify that? — however it stays essentially the most embarrassing factor he ever did…adopted by the point he (I imply an intern, proper Ted? Wink, wink) preferred a porn video on Twitter.6.
Throwing up in public is embarrassing for all of us, however doing it in entrance of 1000’s of followers? That’s, nicely, 1000’s of occasions worse. In September 2012, in the course of the opening night time of his Imagine Tour in Glendale, Arizona, Justin Bieber was performing “Out of City Woman” when he abruptly turned away from the viewers and vomited on stage. He briefly exited however quickly returned to proceed the present. What a trooper! However then, throughout “Magnificence and a Beat,” he upchucked all around the stage once more. Yiiiiikes. Bieber apologized to the gang, claiming he was sick from consuming an excessive amount of milk earlier than the live performance. To cite Anchorman: “Milk was a nasty selection.”7.
Successful an Oscar is meant to be a glamorous second — except, in fact, you wipe out in your approach to settle for it. That’s what occurred to Jennifer Lawrence on the 2013 Academy Awards when she tripped and fell to her knees whereas strolling up the steps to simply accept her Finest Actress Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook. Upon (lastly) reaching the rostrum, the gang gave her a standing ovation, and he or she joked, “You guys are simply standing since you really feel unhealthy that I fell, and that is actually embarrassing, however thanks.” Not gonna lie. It was “actually embarrassing.” However the fall and her good-natured means of dealing with the awkward second led to folks applauding her as refreshingly “relatable.” Truthfully, profitable an Oscar could be extra cringey/embarrassing, as you will notice subsequent…8.
Successful an Oscar is meant to assist your profession, not make folks assume badly of you. Sadly for Adrien Brody, that is precisely what occurred. When his identify was referred to as because the winner of this 12 months’s Finest Actor Oscar for his function in The Brutalist, Brody stood, pulled out his gum, and tossed it towards his accomplice, Georgina Chapman, earlier than continuing to the stage. (Significantly, bro? You could not swallow it? Or put it in your pocket?) Then, upon reaching the rostrum, he launched into an unfocused and un-extraordinary acceptance speech that might set a brand new document for its size — practically six minutes. Even when the orchestra mercifully tried to play him off, Brody endured, requesting the music be stopped. He even remarked, “I’ve completed this earlier than. Thanks. It isn’t my first rodeo.” (He beforehand gained for The Pianist). Falling on the way in which to the stage does not appear so unhealthy now, does it?9.
We will not focus on embarrassing moments on the Academy Awards, although, with out mentioning 2017…when Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway mistakenly introduced La La Land as Finest Image, just for it to be revealed the actual winner was Moonlight. The confusion began when Beatty opened the envelope and hesitated, clearly sensing one thing was off. He regarded to Dunaway, who, considering he was being dramatic, learn out La La Land. The La La Land group took the stage, gave emotional speeches, and celebrated what they thought was their win — solely to be interrupted by Oscars workers frantically speeding the stage. Because it turned out, the presenters had been given the improper envelope — one which learn “Emma Stone — La La Land,” which was truly for Finest Actress. The La La Land group needed to awkwardly cease their speeches as producers scrambled to right the error. It nonetheless offers me cringe chills.10.
Much more stomach-churning? The 2015 Miss Universe contest, the place on the dramatic conclusion, host Steve Harvey declared Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutiérrez, as the brand new Miss Universe. The gang erupted in cheers, Gutiérrez beamed with pleasure, and he or she was even topped and handed flowers. However moments later, a visibly uncomfortable Harvey returned and awkwardly admitted, “I’ve to apologize. The primary runner-up is Colombia… Miss Universe 2015 is definitely Miss Philippines.” Gasps crammed the room as pageant officers eliminated the crown from Miss Colombia’s head and positioned it on Miss Philippines. Harvey later mentioned, “I took my silly ass again on the market. I ought to have allow them to announce it the subsequent day within the newspaper. I wouldn’t have caught not one of the hell I caught.” Dude, it was your mistake, so admitting it was the appropriate transfer. And what century are you residing in the place the newspaper would announce it the subsequent morning?11.
As you’ll be able to see, dwell TV has a means of manufacturing a few of the most awkward and cringe-worthy moments, and probably the most notorious got here on The At present Present in 2012 when Kathie Lee Gifford enthusiastically praised Martin Quick’s decades-long marriage to his spouse, Nancy Dolman. She gushed about their “lovely” relationship and even requested how they managed to remain so in love in any case these years. There was only one large drawback — Nancy Dolman had handed away two years earlier, in 2010, after a protracted battle with ovarian most cancers. Quick, ever the category act, didn’t right her on-air. As an alternative, he graciously smiled and nodded alongside. Backstage, producers shortly realized the error. After the industrial break, a clearly embarrassed Gifford apologized and expressed her deepest sympathies to Quick.12.
Except you are from Australia, you in all probability do not know who Molly Meldrum is. So why is he on this checklist? As a result of, nicely, simply take heed to this shit. In January 2023, Elton John was performing throughout his farewell tour when a visibly intoxicated Molly Meldrum (a legendary music TV persona in Australia) climbed onto the stage, hugged Elton, after which tried to affix within the efficiency by pawing at Elton’s piano. That was awkward sufficient, however then issues took a fair wilder flip when his pants dropped, exposing his, uh, “down beneath.” Elton John continued taking part in, however studies counsel he wasn’t thrilled concerning the interruption — I am positive the identical may very well be mentioned of everybody else within the area. Meldrum later apologized, claiming his pants fell because of a defective belt buckle, although few appeared satisfied. What? Your genitals do not instantly flop out when you do not put on a belt? Sheesh.13.
In perhaps essentially the most painfully awkward movie star interplay of all time, pop star Kesha approached comic Jerry Seinfeld on a pink carpet in 2017 and enthusiastically requested, “Can I offer you a hug?” Seinfeld, nonetheless, was not into the concept. With a well mannered however agency response, he shortly replied, “No thanks.” Kesha, nonetheless smiling, tried once more. And once more. “Please?” she pleaded. Trying more and more uncomfortable, Seinfeld shut her down a 3rd time with a easy “Yeah, no thanks.” The second reached peak awkwardness when Kesha, clearly embarrassed, threw up her arms and walked off, whereas Seinfeld laughed uncomfortably and shrugged. Making this worse for Kesha is what Seinfeld later informed an interviewer: “I don’t know who that was. I want her the most effective.”14.
In 2007, a video surfaced exhibiting a drunk and shirtless David Hasselhoff struggling to eat a hamburger whereas mendacity on the ground. It turned out the Baywatch star’s daughter, Taylor-Ann, had made the video to point out her dad the severity of his consuming drawback. Nonetheless, it was leaked to the general public. Whereas it was not a enjoyable expertise for The Hoff, he later mentioned the video performed a pivotal function in his restoration journey and acknowledged that the general public publicity served as a wake-up name. As of 2025, studies point out that Hasselhoff stays dedicated to his sobriety.15.
Angelina Jolie is fortunate she received her bizarro antics out of the way in which earlier than the times of social media. In 2000, on the premiere of Gone in 60 Seconds, Jolie and her new husband, Billy Bob Thornton, couldn’t preserve their arms — or lips — off one another on the pink carpet. They engaged in a number of full-on make-out classes, and at one level, Jolie gushed: “We simply had intercourse within the limo.” Ugh. Additionally in 2000, Jolie gained the Finest Supporting Actress Oscar for Woman, Interrupted, and declared throughout her acceptance speech: “I am so in love with my brother proper now.” That raised some eyebrows, however issues received even weirder on the Self-importance Honest afterparty the place Jolie and her brother, James Haven, had been photographed kissing on the lips. Rattling. That is a complete lot of uncomfortable conduct, Angie.16.
In 2020, Madison Prewett, a contestant on The Bachelor, appeared to go away a fawning touch upon certainly one of her personal Instagram posts, writing, “Lovely date Madi. You might be so real and actual.” It appeared — oh, honey, noooo — she supposed to put up the praise from a pretend fan account however forgot to change accounts. Followers on Reddit roasted her, saying, “Nothing says ‘real and actual’ like having a pretend instagram acct to remark compliments in your public one!!” and “Omfg commenting with out switching to a fan account of your self is embarrassing sufficient, however commenting that you just’re so real and actual is SENDING ME what a nightmare mixture of cringe.” Prewett later claimed it was a pal’s remark mistakenly posted from her account. Positive, Jan. Positive.17.
Generally folks can imply nicely however nonetheless significantly embarrass themselves. Take Glee star Heather Morris, who, in June 2023, posted an interpretive dance tribute to George Floyd on social media. Sure, you learn that proper — an interpretive dance tribute to George Floyd (truthfully, it seems like one thing her Glee character Brittany Pierce would’ve completed). Within the video, Morris carried out an emotional dance, set to spoken phrase audio addressing racial injustice. Whereas supposed as a heartfelt tribute, many viewers discovered the efficiency insensitive and self-indulgent, criticizing Morris for making the tragedy about herself. As one particular person wrote on Twitter: “this lady had not even 1 pal to inform her this was silly. Heather Morris (Brittany) doing an interpretive dance to signify George Floyd’s dying I actually thought I might seen all of it.”
