Making the media rounds is a huge part of a celebrity's job, but that doesn't mean every celebrity has mastered the art of the interview. Some celebrities are just awkward when they're put on the spot, others don't hit it off with their interviewers, and still others might simply be having an off day. Whatever the case, there have been some seriously awkward celebrity interviews throughout the years. We're talking such uncomfortable interactions that we couldn't help but cringe while watching — and we think you will, too.
Even big celebs, including Selena Gomez and Robert Downey Jr., have been caught in awkward moments during interviews. And Kourtney Kardashian, who has spent most of her adult life in front of a camera, has even stumbled big time during a TV interview. They are human, after all! Sometimes things just don't work out as planned.
While some of these awkward celebrity interviews had a noticeable trigger for the awkwardness, others were just plain strange. Either way, these are the moments that make us glad that we don't live life in the public eye and have to do things like TV and red carpet appearances because … OMG, how embarrassing!
Keep scrolling to see some of the most awkward and uncomfortable celebrity interviews ever to go down.
Selena Gomez
A few years ago, Selena Gomez was so over the Justin Bieber questions that when a TV reporter essentially asked her to explain Justin's behavior, she looked utterly shocked and amazed, shook her head slowly, and simply didn't answer. They actually had to cut the feed, abruptly ending the interview. That was so rude of the reporter, though!
Kourtney Kardashian
Kourtney Kardashian was caught completely off guard in 2016 when Australian TV news anchors asked her about her sister Kim Kardashian's Paris robbery. She seemed to totally blank and then appeared to be listening to a PR agent, awaiting instructions on how to respond to the question.
Emma Stone
In 2014, Emma Stone did an interview with Graham Norton during a UK tour to promote one of her movies, and he was questioning her about her extreme love of the Spice Girls. She was already in fan girl mode when he led her to believe that the Spice Girls (whom she had never met in person) were there on set and she was going to get to meet them. When he coolly announced that he was just pranking her, she was visibly disappointed.
Melanie Griffith & Dakota Johnson
50 Shades of Grey star Dakota Johnson and her actress mom Melanie Griffith got into a mother-daughter tiff on the 2015 Oscars red carpet. Melanie was saying she didn't think she'd ever watch the movie because of its sexual nature, and Dakota got really annoyed with her, and it was super awkward.
Dakota Johnson — Again
We're not sure this woman is cut out for the press circuit! In this 2019 interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Dakota appears to call out the TV host for lying. After Ellen jokingly shades the actress for not inviting her to her 30th birthday party, Dakota firmly shuts down Ellen's claim, saying: "Actually, no. That's not the truth, Ellen. I did invite you and you didn't come." She even accused Ellen of not liking her. One word: awkward.
Mila Kunis
While at a press junket for Friends With Benefits, a movie also starring Justin Timberlake, a Russian reporter asked her why she thought Justin, as a singer, would get into acting. Mila swiftly and snarkily clapped back — in Russian, no less — "Well, what would you rather have him do?"
Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. actually walked out of a sit-down, in-person interview with a news channel when he was asked about his family and his history with substance abuse. He's been sober for years, and the line of questioning obviously insulted him. To be honest, even a celebrity as well-known as him shouldn't have to put up with that kind of personal questioning when that's not even what he was there to discuss.
Tom Hardy
In 2015, actor Tom Hardy was on tour promoting the film Legend when a reporter asked him about his sexuality in a roundabout way. He was not having it, though, and quickly shut the reporter down. He asked him directly, "Are you asking me about my sexuality?" and when the reporter admitted it, Tom irately asked, "Why, why?"
Shailene Woodley
Big Little Lies star Shailene Woodley has always been the blunt type. So when she was on the red carpet and a reporter asked her if she was hungry (and then told her that she herself was hungry), Shailene reacted in a way that created quite an awkward moment. She looked at the interviewer like she was crazy, and just said, "Well, you should probably eat." She's right! And it was such a weird question and comment from the reporter.
Prince Harry
Back when Prince Harry was still in the military, he was taking part in a sit-down interview while deployed in Afghanistan when he was suddenly alerted that a bunch of soldiers were running behind him in response to something that was going on out of frame. He immediately jumped up, tore off his mic, and ran off without another word.
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Jason Segel & Paul Rudd
Jason Segel and Paul Rudd are super funny guys, so there have definitely been some rather hilarious moments in interviews for both of them. But when they were interviewed together in 2014, it was the most awkward thing ever — well, for the reporter, anyway. They were so silly and totally fed off of each other, and the interviewer was left feeling uncomfortable and utterly confused.
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga has always been into the macabre, so maybe this shouldn't have surprised anyone, but way back in 2011 a reporter asked her what she would do if she could do something very dangerous one time with no risk. She answered flat out and with no delay, "Die." Okayyyyy …
Samuel L. Jackson
You cannot get more awkward than an interviewer mixing up his celebrities practically before the interview even starts. Samuel L. Jackson called out this reporter when he confused him with Laurence Fishburne, first asking what commercial he was talking about, letting him sit in silence, and then finally telling him who was really in that commercial.
Cara Delevingne
This interviewer seriously got it all wrong. First, she mispronounced Cara Delevingne's name, calling her "Carla." Then she accused Cara of seeming "irritated" and needing a nap after her coanchor said Cara didn't seem as excited about the movie she was promoting as she had during previous appearances. Cara was visibly annoyed and eventually cut the interview, after which the anchors continued to disparage her. Honestly, they were kind of rude.
Jim Carrey
In 2017, comedian Jim Carrey randomly showed up on a New York Fashion Week red carpet and told a reporter that he ended up there because he wanted to find the "most meaningless" event he could attend. He then went on a rant about how "icons" and "personalities" don't really exist, and suddenly it was like he was one of his own comedy characters in real life. The reporter was a total pro, though!
Dua Lipa & Gwen Stefani
Singer Dua Lipa interviewed Gwen Stefani while she was filling in as host on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and after a bit of a fan girl sesh, she went on to ask Gwen about spending quarantine with her "husband," Blake Shelton. Only thing is, they weren't married at the time! Gwen got a little stuck and then corrected Dua, who couldn't do anything but laugh at herself. Yup, that's awkward.
