The most cringeworthy celebrity moments we’ve all forgotten about

Caption: The most cringeworthy celeb moments that we’ve all forgotten aboutPictures: Getty / EllenTube / BBC / ABC / Rex

Sometimes things happen that keep you up at night – and that’s no different if you’re a celebrity.

In 2023 there have been some horrific awards show moments, but not a day goes by when we don’t think about the vintage celeb classics; the wince-worthy moments from years like 2010, or – bless it – 2004.

Just because it’s Twixmas, we’re taking you through the very worst celebrity fails you might have forgotten about since 2000.

Remember that time Mark Wahlberg got drunk and sat on Graham Norton’s lap? Or when Ryan Seacrest tried to high five a blind man?

So when you’re planning your list of New Year’s resolutions – be kind to yourself. You haven’t done any of the below…

Angela Bassett and Ariana DeBose did the thing

February 2023 made it into the pop culture history books when Ariana DeBose namechecked Angela Bassett during a ‘painful’ Bafta opening rap.

Her intention was to list off inspiring female nominees including Viola Davis, Ana De Armas and Jamie Lee Curtis in a rap verse during her rendition of Eurythmics hit Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves.

But the result was excruciating. And the best part? When she said Ariana – who gave a powerful performance as Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – ‘did the thing’.

What ensued was a hilarious Twitter storm of people wondering what Ariana meant by the ‘thing’.

The following week Angela was met with rapturous applause when she declared that she ‘did the thing’ at the NAACP Image Awards, rounding off the whole thing in beautiful showbiz poetry.

Hugh Grant’s Oscars interview with Ashley Graham

The second most incredibly awkward celebrity moment this year came at the 95th Academy Awards, when model Ashley Graham asked Hugh Grant a few lighthearted questions which were met with icy responses.

‘What was it like to be in Glass Onion? How fun is it to shoot something like that?’ Ashley enthusiastically asked at one point in the wince-worthy red carpet interview.

But Hugh wasn’t in the mood for chatting, and quipped: ‘Well I’m barely in it, I was in it for about three seconds.’

Elsewhere during the conversation – if you can call it that – at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Hugh described the Oscars as ‘vanity fair’ before adding that he was excited to see ‘no one in particular’.

When Ashley didn’t clock Hugh was talking about the frivolous, vapid nature of the event and thought he meant the afterparty of the same name, things really went downhill…

And from the history books…

Sometimes you’ve got to dig deep into the past and remember where you came from, so here are all of the most memorable, cringe-worthy celebrity moments since 2000.

You’re welcome. Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year and all that…

Lady Gaga’s epic ‘Stay’ fail

Lady Gaga really trusted her fans when she got them up on stage at one of her concerts four years ago.

Two young girls joined her and gathered around the 37-year-old like animals might Snow White.

The Poker Face star gave them the microphone to sing the word ‘stay’ in her performance of Million Reasons,

The first youngster took to the mic and really hit some impressive notes as she sang the one-syllable word, and drew it out like Beyoncé might.

‘I love you Gaga,’ the fan said sweetly, and the superstar replied: ‘I love you too.’

After wow-ing the crowd, we all expected the second fan to pull of a similarly brilliant X-Factor moment.

However, clearly overwhelmed, the fan appeared to screech out the word, leaving Gaga continuing as if nothing had happened. Ouch.

Mark Wahlberg on Graham Norton Show

It’s been 10 years since one of the most memorable episodes ever of the Graham Norton Show – and there has been many.

Get ready to hide behind a cushion because Mark Wahlberg looked to be just a little bit inebriated as he crawled onto Graham’s lap during Sarah Silverman’s story on the show.

Poor Sarah looked totally exhausted – and indeed Graham was too – when the Ted actor kept interrupting her story with his drunkenness.

But the host bore the brunt of it, as Wahlberg rubbed his torso and Graham half-joked: ‘That’s wrong, don’t touch the man there…’

The host looked extremely awkward as Mark continued his antics before eventually sitting down.

Kesha and Jerry Seinfeld hug-gate

This has got to be one of the most nail-biting red carpet exchanges ever.

It all happened at the Kennedy Centre in 2017, when Jerry Seinfeld was being interviewed by a WTOP News reporter.

What no one expected was for Kesha to interrupt the interview requesting a hug – and Jerry then refusing her request not once, but three times. New fear unlocked.

‘I love you so much,’ the Die Young singer said, as Jerry replied hesitantly: ‘Oh thanks.’

Perhaps the Tik Tok hitmaker should have taken heed of his reluctance before opening her arms wide and asking: ‘Can I give you a hug?’

‘No thanks,’ he responded, with a firm hand in the air. ‘Please,’ she pressed, before again Jerry said, ‘No thanks,’ looking genuinely terrified.

‘A little one,’ she said again, shuffling closer to him, as he backed away nervously and repeated: ‘No thanks.’

The stand-up comic, 69, then laughed nervously as Kesha stalked off sheepishly, before he turned to the cameras and admitted he didn’t know who she was.

They say never meet your heroes…

Dakota Johnson on Ellen

‘How was the party? I wasn’t invited,’ are the words no one ever wants to hear – especially on national television. Gulp.

Well this very thing happened to 50 Shades of Grey actor Dakota Johnson on The Ellen Show when host Ellen DeGeneres asked about her 30th birthday party just gone.

Perhaps expecting this jibe would be laughed off in a way celebrity pals might when the cameras are rolling, this was not the case on this occasion as Dakota well and truly clapped back at the controversial comedian.

‘Actually no that’s not the truth Ellen, you were invited,’ she replied.

‘Last time when I was on the show, last year you gave me a load of s*** about not being invited, but I didn’t even know if you wanted to be invited,’ she said.

‘Well who doesn’t want to be invited to a party?’ asked Ellen, defensively.

‘I didn’t even know you liked me,’ replied Dakota, staying calm.

Dakota Johnson really went in on Ellen (Picture: EllenTube)

‘Of course I liked you, you knew I liked you. You’ve been on this show many times, and don’t I show… Like…?’ asked the 65 year old.

‘But I did invite you and you didn’t come, so…’ responded Dakota, sticking to her guns, before Ellen asked seemingly incredulously if that really was the case, which the actor confirmed twice.

‘I don’t think so,’ said Ellen, before Dakota challenged her to ‘ask everybody’ before singling out the show’s producer in the wings.

‘Why didn’t I go?’ asked Ellen, and a producer shouted something inaudible, to which the host joked, ‘Oh yeah, I had that thing.’

Ellen then admitted she did actually remember she was invited, and thanked Dakota for the, er, thoughtful gesture, before exclaiming it was probably in Malibu which was too far for her to travel.

Busted.

Hilaria Baldwin’s ‘fake’ Spanish accent

Hilaria Baldwin – who was born Hillary Hayward-Thomas – has hit the headlines a number of times over her dubious heritage.

In 2020, people began to smell a rat when – having spoken on and off in a Spanish accent – Hilaria was outed as having been born in Boston, when she and even her agency, Creative Artists Agency, both previously claimed she was born in Spain.

Married to Alex Baldwin, the yoga instructor was accused of faking her Spanish accent on a number of occasions, including when she seemingly forgot the word for cucumber – which she later said was down to live TV nerves.

Back in 2020 Twitter user, @lenibriscoe, wrote: ‘You have to admire Hilaria Baldwin’s commitment to her decade long grift where she impersonates a Spanish person,’ before sharing a post involving supposed accent inconsistencies and clips showing her parents who did not appear to be speaking Spanish.’

Hilaria is married to Alex Baldwin (Picture: John Nacion/Getty Images)

Her talent agency claimed she was born in Majorca and moved to the US as a teen. After the online storm any mention of her birthplace was removed from the site.

Hilaria herself said she moved for college when she was 19, with some taking that to mean moving to the US in general.

However, within the Twitter chatter, she was identified online as a 1992 graduate of the Cambridge School of Weston, which seemed to dispel any suggestion she hadn’t lived in the US before turning 19.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, one former neighbour of Hilaria’s said: ‘I don’t know what she is talking about. She lived here since she was a child. She didn’t call herself Hilaria then – just Hillary. And she certainly didn’t speak with a Spanish accent.’

Hilaria has said she is bilingual and grew up speaking both English and Spanish, while she and husband Alec have said she speaks Spanish to their children in the home.

She did spend a lot of time in Spain growing up, saying she first went there as a baby – but it appears she is not Spanish…

How confusing.

Jesy Nelson’s ‘Balegdeh’

If you’ve never seen Jesy Nelson’s attempt at a Jamacian accent, now is the time.

The Little Mix singer came out with a totally random word – the now meme-worthy Balegdah – and everyone is still confused.

There really is nothing more to it.

James Corden and Sir Patrick Stewart’s legendary spat

Back in 2010, no one was expecting an on stage spat between James Corden and Sir Patrick Stewart to happen at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards – but it did.

Corden was hosting the ceremony, and when Sir Patrick took to the stage to present an award he deeply criticised the comic’s MC style.

‘When the presenters are up here and when the recipients are receiving their awards, don’t stand at the back of the stage with your hands in your pockets looking around as though you wished you were anywhere but here,’ he said into the mic to James.

‘Oh, you couldn’t be more wrong, Sir,’ responded James defensively. ‘You couldn’t be more wrong. If it looked like that, I’m so sorry. But when you come up to present an award, just f***ing get on with it.’

What ensued was some fat-shaming by the X-Men star.

This did not end well (Picture: Richard Young/REX/Shutterstock)

‘From where I was sitting I could see your belly,’ the Star Trek actor continued, ‘and that was night over there at the back of the room.’

‘Sorry I’m waiting for the punchline, go on. No, seriously, go on,’ said James, getting into Sir Patrick’s face, and claiming the whole room was watching him ‘dying’ on stage.

‘One more,’ Sir Patrick continued (please, no!) before his next words: ‘If you fancy the Jonas Brothers, cover your belly.’ Okay…

Later in the evening James then showed the crowd his stomach, and made more jibes at ‘the old man’ Sir Patrick, who he suggested should go home in a taxi.

Shots well and truly fired.

Justin Bieber dubs Anne Frank a Belieber

Back in 2013, Justin Bieber came under fire when he said that Anne Frank would have been a ‘belieber’ – the name for his fanbase.

The Canadian singer, now 29, visited the Amsterdam museum a decade ago and wrote in the guestbook he hoped Anne, one of the most discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust, would have been a ‘Belieber’.

Anne Frank House wrote on its Facebook page that the 19-year-old had stayed in the museum for an hour with his friends and guards.

‘In our guestbook he wrote: “Truly inspiring to be able to come here. Anne was a great girl. Hopefully she would have been a belieber,”’ the museum said.

He was accused by many for making the visit to Frank’s home all about himself, with people dubbing the comments ‘self-serving’ and having totally missed the point.

When Ryan Seacrest tried to high-five a blind man

Most people born in the 20th century have seen – and will remember – this video of Ryan Seacrest, which has gone down in history as one of the most awkward TV moments of all time.

It all happened on an episode of Pop Idol in 2009, when a blind man called Scott found out the judges had put him through to the next stage of the competition.

Waiting in the wings with Scott’s friends and family – apparently swept up in the moment so much so he totally forgot himself – Ryan, now 49, tried to high-five him, which of course the contestant couldn’t see.

He moved swiftly on, as you would.

This is the most awful moment ever (Picture: Youtube)

Kanye telling a disabled man to stand up

Five years after Ryan’s very public blunder, Kanye West had a truly awful moment in which he told a wheelchair user to stand up.

The video surfaced from the All Falls Down hitmaker’s concert in Sydney, in which he sang Good Life, and then declared he couldn’t perform the rest of the show until he saw everyone standing up.

He then singled out people in the audience, one of whom was in a wheelchair. It gets incredibly awkward in what is four minutes of hell.

The crowd also seemingly hadn’t realised the disabilities of the sitting fans – one of whom had prosthetic limbs – as they booed in their direction in what is a truly torturous video.

One X, formerly Twitter user, @bigwal_, took to social media at the time and said: ‘Kanye West telling a disabled kid to standup is worse than Ryan Seacrest high fiving a blind guy.’

Ashley Simpson on SNL

Now we’re going back 10 years from the Kanye incident to 2004, when Ashley Simpson famously appeared on Saturday Night Live for a, ahem, live performance.

Except it became very clear that was not her intention at all – when her voice miraculously carried to echo around the room as she held the microphone by her side.

Everyone, rightly, accused her of lip-syncing in what was a truly cringeworthy state of affairs.

Because of what is believed to be a hoarse voice, Ashley decided to lip sync her second song – but when the wrong song began, she totally froze and did a little dance instead. As you do.

Flustered, she walked off the set of the show mid-song. Saturday Night Pre-recorded doesn’t have the same ring to it…

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Happy New Year!