Brilliant talent, stunning dresses, hundreds of flashing cameras … what could possibly go wrong on a red carpet? Apparently, a lot. Throughout the years, there have been plenty of full-on feuds, falls, and fashion mishaps. Oh, and don’t forget the pranks (although handcuffing yourself to Hugh Grant doesn’t count as a prank, it’s just wrong!). Remember the time Will Smith slapped someone who wasn’t Chris Rock? Or how about when Kim Kardashian was flour bombed?
From clueless reporters to downright absurd celebrity behavior, here’s a look at some of the most outrageous and cringeworthy red carpet moments of all time.
John Travolta Kisses Scarlett Johansson (2015 Oscars)
No, that’s not a wax figure of Scarlett Johansson. That’s the actress standing totally still—and appearing incredibly uncomfortable—as John Travolta grabs her midsection and leans in for a kiss.
Bradley Cooper’s Clingy Fan (2014 SAG Awards)
I, too, would like to embrace Bradley Cooper and never let him go, but you don’t see me actually doing it. The actor seemed to laugh off this fan’s ambush at the 2014 SAG Awards—before security pried the man from his legs, that is. Turns out, it was notorious Ukrainian prankster Vitalii Sediuk.
Amy Schumer Face-Plants (2015 Time 100 Gala)
Amy Schumer jokingly face-planted in front of Kimye on the red carpet—and the couple walked around her with hardly a glance. Schumer later described her decision to dive in front of Kimye on The Graham Norton Show, saying, “…I saw Kim and Kanye standing there, just owning it, just being short and important. And I think falling is the funniest thing, so I took a dive in front of them.” Epic.
A Fan Cuffs Herself to Hugh Grant (2007 Music and Lyrics Premiere)
‘Member the time a Dutch prank TV show host straight-up handcuffed herself to Hugh Grant? And then told him she didn’t have the key? And then made him stand awkwardly with her to wait for police and fire rescue to arrive? And then only spent two hours in jail for it? 2007 was a time to be alive.
Tiffany Haddish Fires Back at “Costume Change” Comment (2022 Vanity Fair Oscars Party)
When Entertainment Tonight‘s Lauren Zima seemed to have accidentally called Tiffany Haddish’s new Oscars after-party dress a “costume change,” things went south. Quickly. “I’m not wearing a costume. I’m wearing Dolce & Gabbana,” the actress said. And nope, she wasn’t done just yet. “It’s called an evening gown, darling. No one is paying me for this. I paid for it, it’s custom. Thank you.”
That’s when the reporter jokingly announced her “time of death” and pretended to faint in an attempt to ease the tension. Tiffany’s response? “This is what fame looks like. This is what success looks like. This is what money looks like.” And yep, the moment is just as brutal to watch as you’d expect.
Stella McCartney Almost Takes Down Rihanna’s Skirt (2014 Met Gala)
Fashion designer Stella McCartney came *thisclose* to ripping RiRi’s skirt right off her body with her heel. Which the singer probably would’ve rocked anyway, because, um, she’s RIHANNA.
Jack Harlow Shows Some Love to Emma Chamberlain (2022 Met Gala)
Thank you, Emma, for providing us with one of the most hilarious (and viral) moments of 2022. When the YouTuber was interviewing Jack Harlow for Vogue, the rapper hit her with a totally random “Love you!” as he left. The result? This glorious image of her staring into space and questioning her entire reality. 10/10 reaction, tbh.
Selena Gomez’s Blue Streaks (2007 Teen Vogue Young Hollywood Party)
If this 2007 interview didn’t have you running to the drugstore for a box of blue hair dye, you’re lying. To this day, “I like a little edge, a little pop in my hair, so I wanted to add something different, especially for the Teen Vooooggguuueee party” might be the cringiest-yet-funniest red carpet quote of all time. Even Selena herself knows how truly iconic it is: In 2021, she made fun of the ’07 moment in a TikTok, captioning the clip: “To my younger self: you’re not cool bro.”
Mayim Bialik Defends Her Intelligence (2014 SAG Awards)
A reporter asked The Big Bang Theory actress *and neuroscientist* Mayim Bialik, “Being on The Big Bang Theory, how many people—not that you aren’t a genius—think that you can solve calculus at the drop of a hat?” Mayim brilliantly replied to the insulting question by saying, “I was trained in calculus for several years. I’m a neuroscientist—you may not have known that?”
Sutton Stracke Shades Lisa Rinna (2022 People’s Choice Awards)
If there’s one thing those Real Housewives are always going to do, it’s bring the drama. When asked if she’d like Lisa to return to the RHOBH cast, Sutton had nothing to say. No, really. She sat in total silence until the reporter moved onto the next question with a good old “Anyway…”
Björk Wears a Swan Dress (2001 Oscars)
This is one of the most iconic bird dresses of all time—that’s a category, right? Björk also brought six ostrich eggs with her (consider them accessories). “I was dropping them carefully on the red carpet,” she later told GQ, according to Us Weekly. “But other people’s bodyguards kept picking them up and saying in their thick American accents, ‘Scuse me, ma’am, you dropped this.'”
Sacha Baron Cohen Dumps Ashes on Ryan Seacrest (2012 Oscars)
Sacha Baron Cohen showed up to the carpet dressed as his character from The Dictator, accompanied by female bodyguards and an urn of “Kim Jong-il’s ashes.” Things got really weird when he “accidentally” dumped the material all over Ryan Seacrest’s Burberry tux. Ryan, being the true professional he is, brushed it off … literally.
Jason Segel Gets Swept Up (2012 Oscars)
After Sacha Baron Cohen’s stunt, someone swooped in to clean up—clearly unaware they were in the presence of (and blocking) thee Marshall Eriksen!! I know … I honestly can’t believe it either, Jason.
Gary Busey Kisses Jennifer Garner’s Neck (2008 Oscars)
Gary Busey repeatedly interrupted Ryan Seacrest while he was interviewing Laura Linney and Jennifer Garner for E!, but the encounter became truly uncomfortable when Ryan asked Gary, “Do you know Jennifer Garner?”—and Gary responded by abruptly kissing her neck. Jennifer was visibly taken aback and responded to Ryan’s next question with a very valid one of her own: “Aren’t you going to ask me about getting kissed on the neck on the red carpet by this man? Um, that was nice.”
This Greeting Between Reese Witherspoon and Felicity Jones (2015 Oscars)
Tag yourself: I’m the publicist in the middle silently judging Reese and Felicity for quite literally—and firmly, might I add—shaking wrists.
Giuliana Rancic Asks Issa Rae What She’d Call Her Memoir (2018 Golden Globes)
But, wait … Issa Rae already has a memoir. It’s called The Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl. It was published in 2015 … and it was a New York Times bestseller.
Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly’s Tongue-Touching (2021 Billboard Music Awards)
What’s worse: Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly (not to mention his DYED TONGUE) making out/licking each other on the red carpet, or him telling her during their first meeting, and I quote, “I am weed“? I mean, it’s only fair two of the hottest people on Earth are also two of the most awkward.
Kravis Brings the PDA (2022 Grammys)
One year later, Megan Fox and MGK’s clones friends Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker did pretty much the exact same thing at the Grammys. Sorry, but if I have to see this close-up angle, you do too.
Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac’s Flirting (2021 Venice International Film Festival)
Things got intense between Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac at the 2021 Venice Film International Festival. I’m talking arm kisses, loving looks, face caresses … let’s just say the tension was thick. It would’ve been cute and all if they weren’t both, ya know, married to other people.
Kim Kardashian Gets Flour Bombed (2012 “True Reflection” Fragrance Launch)
An animal rights activist unleashed on Kim at her 2012 fragrance launch, ruining her outfit and yelling what sounded like, “Lousy fur hag!” at the reality star. Which, tbh, kinda sounds like it could be the name of a pretty awesome punk song from the ’80s, but I digress.
Debra Messing Drags E! While Being Interviewed By E! (2018 Golden Globes)
“I was so shocked to hear that E! doesn’t believe in paying their female co-hosts the same as their male co-hosts,” Debra Messing told E!’s Giuliana Rancic, referring to former E! co-host Catt Sadler. In December 2017, Catt quit the network after learning that her male colleague, Jason Kennedy, earned nearly twice her salary.
Jennifer Lawrence Trips (2014 Oscars)
One of Jennifer Lawrence’s many famous fumbles went down on the 2014 Oscars red carpet, the year she was nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category for American Hustle. The year prior, she fell on her way to accept her Best Actress award for Silver Linings Playbook.
Jennifer Garner *Also* Trips (2013 Vanity Fair Oscars Party)
Tight dress + super high heels = 90 percent chance of losing your balance. It’s called math.
Jim Carrey Says Nothing Is Real (2017 Harper’s Bazaar ICONS Party)
If you want to see a red carpet reporter work hard for her money, look no further than Catt Sadler trying to rein in a very philosophical (????) Jim Carrey. “I wanted to find the most meaningless thing that I could come to and join,” he said of his attendance at Harper’s Bazaar‘s ICONS party. He then proceeded to explain how nothing was real, not even him.
Jason Derulo’s Stair Conspiracy (2011 Cannes Film Festival)
Prepare to have your mind blown. You know that meme of 🎶🎵 Jasoooon Deruloooo 🎶🎵 falling down the steps at the Met Gala? THAT WASN’T ACTUALLY HIM. And the pic? Wasn’t even taken at the Met Gala. It was an unnamed man trying to crash the Cannes Film Festival in 2011. In 2015, the singer told Radio.com about it, revealing, “My grandmother, she’s 93 years old, she called me. She’s like, ‘Are you alright? I heard you fell down the stairs.’ I was like ‘Grandma, I’m good. I ain’t fall down no stairs!'” Guess people still didn’t get the memo though, because he tried clarifying again in 2019, posting on Twitter: “Let’s clear one thing up, that was NOT me at the #Metgala 😂😂 y’all play too much, I was right on my balcony in Miami.”
Nancy O’Dell Tells Taylor Swift She’s Going Home With a Lot of Men (2015 Grammys)
While interviewing Taylor Swift on the 2015 Grammys red carpet, ET‘s Nancy O’Dell actually told Taylor Swift: “You’re going to walk home with more than a trophy tonight, I think, lots of men.” Taylor responded with perhaps the fiercest death stare of all time. “I’m not going to walk away with any men tonight,” she said. The conversation lightened up from there, but it was off to a rough start, to say the least.
Kanye West’s Bottle (2009 VMAs)
Speaking of Tay, here’s Kanye downing a bottle of Hennessy mere hours before he started the celeb feud of the century with her at the 2009 VMAs. Not a good look.
Elsa Hosk’s Earring (2019 Venice Film Festival)
The model had a “Kim, there’s people that are dying!” moment when she stopped the presses—literally—to locate her lost earring. With high stilettos and an even higher skirt slit, you gotta appreciate the commitment.
Kristen Stewart Goes Barefoot (2018 Cannes Film Festival)
In another wardrobe snafu caught on camera, Bella Swan nearly flashed the world while ripping off her uncomfortable shoes. She then proceeded to carry her stilettos down the red carpet. Honestly, respect.
Terrence Howard’s Philosophy Class (2019 Emmys)
While Professor Terrence Howard does have a nice ring to it, the actor’s bizarre chat with KTLA 5 at the 2019 Emmys—in which I heard the name Pythagoras for the first time since 10th grade geometry class—just left everyone confused. Don’t believe me? Try deciphering this gem of wisdom: “All energy in the universe is expressed in motion, all motion is expressed in waves, all waves are curved, so where does the straight lines come from to make the platonic solids?” Thought so.
Joan Rivers Accosts Nicole Kidman Over Her Dress (1997 Oscars)
At the 1997 Oscars, Joan Rivers belittled Nicole Kidman over the color of her gown. “Nicole! Come tell me why you wore such an ugly color!” she said. Nicole, either not hearing Joan or opting to make conversation with people who weren’t going to insult her, walked on by. Joan continued, “I hate that color! You are making me puke!”
Lil Uzi Vert Has a Strained Convo with Giuliana Rancic (2018 Grammys)
Giuliana Rancic and Lil Uzi Vert were not on the same page at the 2018 Grammys, at least not in terms of their enthusiasm levels. The exchange went something like this:
Giuliana: How are you feeling?
Lil Uzi Vert: I’m feeling normal.
Fair enough.
Zac Efron Drops a Condom (2012 The Lorax Premiere)
Dropping a condom in public might be awkward under any circumstance, but it’s especially awkward when it happens at the premiere of a children’s movie. Zac Efron learned this the hard way, when a condom shot out of his pocket at the 2012 premiere of The Lorax.
Michael Cera’s Slow-Mo Fall (2013 Sundance Film Festival)
When goofing off with actress Catalina Sandino Moreno caused him to fall, Michael, well, defied gravity. You could watch every season of Arrested Development in the time it took him to hit the floor.
Giuliana Rancic Tells Emilia Clarke “You Can Go” (2016 Emmys)
When Giuliana Rancic spotted Heidi Klum making her way over for an interview, the E! co-host told Emilia Clarke—with whom she’d been talking—that she’d let her go. The Game of Thrones star either didn’t hear Giuliana or wasn’t in a rush to leave, because she stayed put. “You can go,” Giuliana repeated. The co-host was polite, but the words hung awkwardly nonetheless.
Melanie Griffith and Dakota Johnson Have a Mother-Daughter Moment (2015 Oscars)
This cringeworthy interaction began as small talk: Had Melanie Griffith seen Fifty Shades of Grey? She hadn’t—and she noted more than once that she didn’t want to, either. “Alright! You don’t have to see it!” Dakota eventually snapped. The #momyoureembarrassingme exchange inspired many memes.
J.Law Puts Josh Hutcherson’s “Rash” on Blast (2013 Hunger Games Promo Tour)
“Is your rash doing okay?” is probably the funniest (and most awkward) way to crash somebody’s interview. Josh took it in stride, though, replying, “Yeah, it’s good.” He doubled down on the joke by ending the interview with, “I gotta go take care of the rash.” We love a short funny king.
Will Smith Slaps “Prankster” (2012Â Men in Black 3Â Premiere)
Controversial Ukranian “prankster” Vitalii Sediuk gave Will Smith a hug on the red carpet, then tried to kiss him. In response, the actor slapped Vitalii and said, “What the hell is your problem, buddy?”