1.
On the 2012 premiere of The Lorax — an animated film for youngsters, it must be confused — the movie’s star Zac Efron was on the pink carpet when he reached into his pocket for one thing. However as a substitute of simply retrieving no matter he meant 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 pictures. 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’re all so candy to me. You haven’t any concept how a lot your sort phrases heat my coronary heart. I’m so fortunate to have you ever all by my aspect!! I really like you bebs.” The one downside? The hashtag was not for D’Amelio however Charli XCX, whose buddy 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 undertaking a picture as exhausting and badass, and 50 Cent is not any totally different. Here is one in every of his lyrics: “The drama actually means nothin’ to me. / I will trip by and blow your brains out.” Rattling, 50 Cent! Go simple! However in Could 2014, the rapper seemed softer than a kitten’s fur whereas throwing out the primary pitch at a New York Mets sport. His pitch did not simply miss residence plate — it soared wildly astray, veering practically sideways towards a cameraperson. It wasn’t merely a foul pitch; it was probably the worst pitch ever thrown, touchdown nearer to first base than the catcher. The rapper later joked about how he would endlessly be immortalized in baseball blooper historical past, so he will get factors for having a superb angle, however rattling…embarrassing is not a robust sufficient phrase!
4.
In July 2010, Lindsay Lohan appeared in a Los Angeles court docket over alleged probation violations stemming from a earlier DUI arrest. Embarrassing? Positive. However the cringiest second got here when photographers zoomed in on her palms and observed she’d painted “Fuck U” on the nail of her center finger. Individuals 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 court docket, replying to a buddy, “did not we do our nails as a joke with our buddy dc? It had nothing to do w/court docket. it is an airbrush design from a stencil xx.'” Um, OK. Fortunately, Lohan is in a a lot better place as of late (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 main 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 endlessly, Cruz casually licked it away. The web exploded. What was that factor? A rogue piece of breath mint? A crumb? The preferred and disturbing idea? A tonsil stone — slightly calcified deposit from the again of the throat that typically dislodges (google it at your individual threat). Cruz by no means addressed the incident — as a result of how do you even start to clarify that? — but it surely stays probably the most embarrassing factor he ever did…adopted by the point he (I imply an intern, proper Ted? Wink, wink) favored a porn video on Twitter.
6.
Throwing up in public is embarrassing for all of us, however doing it in entrance of hundreds of followers? That’s, properly, hundreds of occasions worse. In September 2012, through the opening evening of his Imagine Tour in Glendale, Arizona, Justin Bieber was performing “Out of City Lady” 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 ingesting an excessive amount of milk earlier than the live performance. To cite Anchorman: “Milk was a foul selection.”
7.
Profitable an Oscar is meant to be a glamorous second — until, after all, you wipe out in your option 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 dangerous that I fell, and that is actually embarrassing, however thanks.” Not gonna lie. It was “actually embarrassing.” However the fall and her good-natured manner of dealing with the awkward second led to individuals applauding her as refreshingly “relatable.” Actually, profitable an Oscar may be extra cringey/embarrassing, as you will note subsequent…
8.
Profitable an Oscar is meant to assist your profession, not make individuals 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 yr’s Finest Actor Oscar for his position in The Brutalist, Brody stood, pulled out his gum, and tossed it towards his companion, 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 file for its size — practically six minutes. Even when the orchestra mercifully tried to play him off, Brody continued, requesting the music be stopped. He even remarked, “I’ve accomplished this earlier than. Thanks. It isn’t my first rodeo.” (He beforehand received for The Pianist). Falling on the way in which to the stage would not appear so dangerous now, does it?
9.
We will not talk about 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 seemed to Dunaway, who, considering he was being dramatic, learn out La La Land. The La La Land crew took the stage, gave emotional speeches, and celebrated what they thought was their win — solely to be interrupted by Oscars employees frantically dashing the stage. Because it turned out, the presenters had been given the fallacious envelope — one which learn “Emma Stone — La La Land,” which was really for Finest Actress. The La La Land crew needed to awkwardly cease their speeches as producers scrambled to right the error. It nonetheless provides 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 best transfer. And what century are you residing in the place the newspaper would announce it the subsequent morning?
11.
As you possibly can see, reside TV has a manner of manufacturing a few of the most awkward and cringe-worthy moments, and one of the notorious got here on The Immediately Present in 2012 when Kathie Lee Gifford enthusiastically praised Martin Quick’s decades-long marriage to his spouse, Nancy Dolman. She gushed about their “stunning” relationship and even requested how they managed to remain so in love in any case these years. There was only one huge downside — Nancy Dolman had handed away two years earlier, in 2010, after an extended 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 listing? As a result of, properly, 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 character 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 an excellent wilder flip when his pants dropped, exposing his, uh, “down below.” Elton John continued enjoying, however stories recommend he wasn’t thrilled in regards to the interruption — I am certain the identical might be mentioned of everybody else within the area. Meldrum later apologized, claiming his pants fell as a result 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 probably the most painfully awkward superstar interplay of all time, pop star Kesha approached comic Jerry Seinfeld on a pink carpet in 2017 and enthusiastically requested, “Can I provide you with a hug?” Seinfeld, nevertheless, was not into the thought. With a well mannered however agency response, he shortly replied, “No thanks.” Kesha, nonetheless smiling, tried once more. And once more. “Please?” she pleaded. Wanting 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 palms 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 perfect.”
14.
In 2007, a video surfaced displaying 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 indicate her dad the severity of his ingesting downside. Nevertheless, 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 position in his restoration journey and acknowledged that the general public publicity served as a wake-up name. As of 2025, stories point out that Hasselhoff stays dedicated to his sobriety.
15.
Angelina Jolie is fortunate she acquired 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 palms — or lips — off one another on the pink carpet. They engaged in a number of full-on make-out periods, and at one level, Jolie gushed: “We simply had intercourse within the limo.” Ugh. Additionally in 2000, Jolie received the Finest Supporting Actress Oscar for Lady, Interrupted, and declared throughout her acceptance speech: “I am so in love with my brother proper now.” That raised some eyebrows, however issues acquired even weirder on the Self-importance Truthful afterparty the place Jolie and her brother, James Haven, have been photographed kissing on the lips. Rattling. That is a complete lot of uncomfortable habits, Angie.
16.
In 2020, Madison Prewett, a contestant on The Bachelor, appeared to depart a fawning touch upon one in every of her personal Instagram posts, writing, “Stunning date Madi. You’re so real and actual.” It appeared — oh, honey, noooo — she meant 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 simply’re so real and actual is SENDING ME what a nightmare mixture of cringe.” Prewett later claimed it was a buddy’s remark mistakenly posted from her account. Positive, Jan. Positive.
17.
Typically individuals can imply properly however nonetheless critically 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 (actually, it feels like one thing her Glee character Brittany Pierce would’ve accomplished). Within the video, Morris carried out an emotional dance, set to spoken phrase audio addressing racial injustice. Whereas meant 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 woman had not even 1 buddy to inform her this was silly. Heather Morris (Brittany) doing an interpretive dance to signify George Floyd’s loss of life I actually thought I would seen all of it.”
