After Maya Rudolph blasted David Letterman for ‘humiliating’ her on TV, FEMAIL reveals the most embarrassing chat show moments ever – from Dakota Johnson confronting Ellen to stars storming out
- Bridesmaid actress, 50, revealed she was ‘heartbroken’ after David Letterman got her name wrong when she appeared on his talk show in 2009
- Here FEMAIL shares the most excruciating moments in chat show history
- Meg Ryan famously fell out with Sir Michael Parkinson on air in 2003
- Nicole Kidman snapped at show chef on The Ellen Show during 2017 appearance
Chat shows are supposed to be the lightest form of TV – but when you’ve got a never-ending stream of A-List guests to keep happy, it’s hardly surprising that things occasionally go awry for even the most experienced of hosts.
Earlier this week, actress Maya Rudolph, 50, revealed in an interview with WSJ magazine that she was left ‘humiliated’ by David Letterman when she appeared on his award-winning talk show back in 2009.
Explaining how the chat got off to the most awkward of starts, the Bridesmaids star said: ‘He said my name wrong, and I just sat there, like, “I grew up my whole life in love with you. And now my heart is broken.”
‘[I was just sitting there] embarrassed and humiliated. I didn’t know how to handle it. I didn’t know how to come up with something funny to say. My public persona muscle wasn’t strong yet.’
And Maya certainly isn’t alone in feeling hard-done by after a chat show experience.
From Sir Michael Parkinson’s infamous Meg Ryan interview to Claudia Winkleman’s toe-curling question which caused S Club 7 to storm off set, here FEMAIL looks back at the worst chat show moments of all time.
Maya Rudolph, 50, revealed in an interview this week that she was ‘heartbroken and humiliated’ when David Letterman said he name wrong when she appeared on his show in 2009.
The Bridesmaid actress told WSJ magazine that her ‘public persona muscle wasn’t strong yet’ and so she therefore didn’t have the confidence to correct the host
Dakota Johnson confronts Ellen DeGeneres
In 2019, Dakota Johnson set the internet alight when she hit back at Ellen DeGeneres on live TV.
The excruciating exchange – which has now racked up over nine million views on YouTube – kicked off when the show’s host asked about Dakota’s recent 30th birthday celebrations.
She joked: ‘How was the party? I wasn’t invited.’
The clip of Dakota Johnson hitting back at Ellen DeGeneres has racked up over nine million views online. Ellen accused the 50 Shades of Grey actress of not inviting her to her 30th birthday
However, the 50 Shades of Grey actress made of point of telling the host that she had been included on the guest list.
Dakota said: ‘Actually no, that’s not the truth Ellen. You were invited. Last year when I was on the show, you gave me a bunch of s**t about me not inviting you but I didn’t even know you wanted to be invited.’
Stunned by her guest’s reaction, Ellen said: ‘Well who doesn’t want to be invited to a party?’
Things then took an even more awkward turn when Dakota replied: ‘I didn’t even know you liked me!’
‘Of course I like you,’ Ellen said. ‘You’ve been on the show many times. Don’t I show…like?’
If that wasn’t cringeworthy enough, the star then went on to describe Tig Notaro – who had actually attended the celebrations – as her ‘favourite comedian’.
Claudia Winkleman’s car-crash S Club interview
Claudia Winkleman – pictured in 2003 – quizzed members of S Club 7 about how much they had made in the band. The television interview was then interrupted by a member of their production team who had tried to stop the question being asked
The band members diplomatically answered the question before being interrupted by someone on their production team.
The unnamed member of the band’s production team demanded the interview come to an end then and there
These days, she’s most famous as one of Strictly Come Dancing’s co-hosts – but back in 2003, Claudia Winkleman landed herself in some very hot water while chatting with S Club 7.
During the short interview, the host – who was 31 at the time – asked the band: ‘There are rumours you guys are grumpy because you haven’t made a mint.’
While Hannah Spearitt tried to laugh off the question, Bradley McIntosh attempted to shut it down by joking that he’d ‘love a mint’ for his breath.
Giving a diplomatic answer, lead singer Jo O’Meara said: ‘I think we’re all really really lucky to be where we are today at our age and have the bank balances that we do have.’
Just as Jo finished her answer, a member of the band’s promotion team came bursting onto the stage and shouted: ‘Can we not have that question, please?
‘I’m not having that. I’m not having you asking that question. I’ve tried to stop it and I’ve had to walk in here. We’re going.’
The clip ends with the band getting up to leave as Claudia grimaces at the camera.
Jonathan Ross’ ‘disrespectful’ Margaret Thatcher joke
The BBC received over 250 Ofcom complaints in 2006 when Jonathan Ross asked then Conservative Party leader David Cameron if he’d ever fantasised about Margaret Thatcher. Outraged viewers described the line of questioning as ‘vulgar and disrespectful’
In 2006, the BBC received over 250 Ofcom complaints after Jonathan Ross quizzed David Cameron on whether he’d ever fantasied about Margaret Thatcher.
At first, the former Conservative Party leader – who was 40 at the time – did his best to dodge the awkward line of questioning.
Trying to get a reaction out of the politician, the host asked: ‘[Have you ever thought about] the Iron Lady in a carnal fashion?’
After David refused to answer, the comedian tried again later in the interview.
He asked: ‘But did you or did you not ever have a w**k thinking of Thatcher?!’
Unsurprisingly, David only acknowledged the question with another chuckle and refused to speak about Thatcher.
Despite viewers claiming the question was ‘vulgar and disrespectful’, Ofcom said it was not a breach of programming code as the politician told BBC Radio 5 that he’d happily go on the show again.
Sir Michael Parkinson clashes with Meg Ryan
In 2003, Meg Ryan was accused of being ‘wary of press’ during her infamous interview with Sir Michael Parkinson
When it comes to car-crash TV interviews, few have gone down in history quite like Sir Michael Parkinson’s clash with Meg Ryan.
Introducing the chat, the TV giant quoted an interview the Sleepless in Seattle star had given where she’d admitted ‘acting was not in her nature’.
She replied: ‘I did? Did I? Okay. It seems like something I’d say. What I meant is that it always feels really awkward for me to be in front of an audience or in the spotlight. It doesn’t come all that naturally.’
As the chat progressed, Meg – who was 41 at the time and promoting the film In The Cut – revealed how she’d trained to become a journalist before quitting to pursue acting.
The host then asked: ‘Now that you’re wary of journalists, does it give you an insight into what they’re after.’
Meg told the TV veteran to ‘wrap it up’ just three minutes into the segment.
Although Meg denied being at all ‘wary’, the host continued: ‘Yes you are. You’re wary of me. You’re wary of the interview.
‘You don’t like being interviewed. I can see it in the way that you sit and the way you are. […] If you were me, what would you do now?’
‘I’d just wrap it up,’ Meg replied, just three minutes into the segment.
In 2020, Sir Parkinson told Australia’s Stellar magazine on Sunday: ‘Oh, beautiful Meg. She misbehaved – she was rude to my guests and gave the impression of not being very happy.
‘There was very good reason; she was in a film that didn’t do very well and was at the end of a long tour and couldn’t wait to get home, so there you are.’
Mariah Carey’s ‘extremely uncomfortable’ Ellen interview
Mariah Carey tried to dodge Ellen DeGeneres’ questions about a possible pregnancy in 2008 – prompting the host to bring out some champagne to see if she’d drink it
In 2008, Mariah Carey appeared visibly uncomfortable during her appearance on the The Ellen show after the host kept quizzing the singer on whether or not she was pregnant.
In 2020 interview with Vulture, the star revealed that she had been expecting a baby – which she later miscarried – at the time of the interview but was not ready to make her pregnancy public.
During their chat, Ellen tried to force Mariah to reveal prove she wasn’t with child by making her toast with champagne in front of the audience – a move that Carey said she’s ‘had a hard time grappling with’ it in the years since.
In response to Ellen casually mentioning the pregnancy rumours, Mariah laughed uncomfortably and replied: ‘I don’t discuss that.’
Pretending that it was ‘no big deal’, Ellen then brought out a bottle of champagne to try to trick Carey into either drinking it – thereby settling the pregnancy question.
After refusing to take a sip, Mariah accused the host of putting ‘pressure’ on her. In 2020 interview with Vulture, the star revealed that she had been expecting a baby – which she later miscarried – at the time of the interview but was not ready to make the news public.
First Mariah tried to say that champagne is fattening and then she seemed to think that you couldn’t have real champagne on TV.
After taking a sip and realising it was real alcohol, Mariah said: ‘I can’t believe you did this to me Ellen.’
‘This is peer pressure. Do you see what Ellen is doing? This is peer pressure.
‘Let’s toast to you not being pregnant,’ Ellen quipped while handing her a glass, as the audience roared with laughter.
12 years on from the infamous interview, Mariah said: ‘I don’t want to throw anyone that’s already being thrown under any proverbial bus, but I didn’t enjoy that moment.’
Nicole Kidman snaps at show chef
Nicole Kidman told Italian-American chef Giada De Laurentiis that her clementine and fennel focaccia was ‘tough’ during a very uncomfortable cooking segment in 2017
As Nicole Kidman admitted herself during a 2017 appearance on The Ellen show, ‘you’re not meant to criticise’ the cooking – but that didn’t stop her from making a snide comment about Giada De Laurentiis’ food.
During the six-minute clip, the Italian-American chef made the clementine and fennel focaccia recipe from her book.
But when the Academy Award winner bit into it, she couldn’t hide her true feelings.
While Ellen said ‘it sure it good’, Nicole told the chef: ‘It’s a little tough.’
Putting the bread aside, she added: ‘I know you’re not meant to criticise but it’s a little tough.’
What’s more, Nicole then repeated herself for a third time as Ellen signed off the segment.
Trying to join in on the joke, Food Network presenter Giada asked if producers could grab the two women some water.
Sharon Osborne loses a tooth live on air
In 2014, Sharon Osbourne was chatting to her The Talk co-hosts when she felt the implant over her tooth coming loose. Much to the horror of her colleagues, the mother-of-three pulled it out then and there
Ranting about how she’d ‘spent a fortune’ on her smile, Sharon asked producers to cut to an ’emergency tooth break’
She made a name for herself stateside as one of the co-hosts of The Talk – but in 2014, Sharon Osbourne’s appearance on the show hit headlines for all the wrong reasons.
The then 62-year-old had just gone on air with her co-stars when she felt one of her implants coming loose.
‘Oh s***,’ she shouted. ‘My tooth is falling off!’
Rather than ignoring until the break, Sharon decided to address the problem head-on and pull it out – much to the horror of her colleagues.
‘Oh no problem it’s one of those implants. It’s an implant!’ Sharon explained as she pulled out her fake tooth.
‘And I spent a bloody fortune on this f***ing thing is falling out! What do I do? No seriously has anyone got any glue? We have to take an emergency tooth break.’
Beyonce cringes during Tyra Banks interview
Model Tyra Banks – who hosted her talk show from 2005 to 2010 – admitted she was going to try a ‘different kind’ of interview technique when she welcomed Beyonce into the studio in 2008
After the clip recently resurfaced on Twitter, fans said it was clear ‘Beyonce hated this’
She may be one of the world’s most famous models – but it seems like even Tyra Banks gets starstruck in Beyonce’s presence.
In 2008, the Halo singer appeared on the model’s talk show to promote her album I Am… Sasha Fierce.
A recently resurfaced clip from the segment – which Twitter users said is the ‘reason Tyra doesn’t do interviews anymore’ – showed the model trying a ‘different kind’ of interview technique.
Playing around with the singer’s name, Tyra asked: ‘Séa-yoncé – If you could communicate with anybody that has passed away, who would it be?
‘Brie-yoncé – What’s you favourite cheese? Grey-yoncé – When you get older, are you going to dye your hair?
‘Squash-a Fierce – What sport do you like to play? Wash-a Fierce – Do you sing in the shower?’
Although Beyonce smiled at each and every question, viewers said it was clear she was ‘tired’ of it by the end.
‘Bro Beyoncé hated this,’ one said.
‘My girl was exhausted,’ another added.
Meanwhile, a third joked: ‘Has a host ever been removed mid-sentence?!’
Seann Walsh’s cheating scandal
Seann Walsh opened up about his Strictly Come Dancing cheating scandal during a 2018 appearance on Jonathan Ross’ talk show
Seann Walsh’s affair with Katya Jones was the scandal that rocked the 2018 series of Strictly Come Dancing – so it was a no-brainer that it would come up during the comedian’s appearance on the Jonathan Ross show the following March.
However, Jonathan and Seann’s heart-to-heart chat didn’t go down so well with the celebrity guests that evening – including Jennifer Hudson, Will.i.am, Samuel L Jackson and Brie Larson.
During the interview, the comedian, 36, branded himself ‘selfish and stupid’ – much to the confusion of the A-Listers, who cringed from the sides.
According to The Sun, unaired footage from the recording showed the celebs asking why they were present for the interview.
Celebrity guests Jennifer Hudson, Will.i.am, Samuel L Jackson and Brie Larson cringed from the sofa as the comedian branded himself ‘selfish and stupid’
Samuel L Jackson – who was promoting Captain Marvel at the time – asked: ‘What the f*** is going on?’
‘It is painful, yeah,’ Brie added. ‘This is not my thing.’
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