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Hollywood’s Dark Side: 16 Cringeworthy Interviews That Expose Unsettling Truths

Hollywood’s Dark Side: 16 Cringeworthy Interviews That Expose Unsettling Truths
  • PublishedNovember 6, 2024

Celebrities often display quirky or eccentric behavior that we tend to overlook, dismissing it as harmless or just part of their charm. However, when scandals surface, we realize those seemingly strange moments were red flags, hinting at deeper, more troubling secrets. Many celebrities on this list, whose words and actions were once viewed as odd, have later been accused of assault, either by those they interacted with or within their inner circles.

These 16 examples show how what once seemed like harmless behavior is now seen in a much darker, more unsettling light.

1. Ellen DeGeneres Crosses the Line with Justin Bieber’s Privacy on Live TV

Story Credits: TheEllenShow

Ellen DeGeneres has often faced backlash for crossing boundaries with the celebrities she interviews on her show. One of the most notable incidents occurred eight years ago with Justin Bieber when DeGeneres showed censored n*de photos of him taken by paparazzi. Despite Bieber’s clear discomfort, as he covered his face with his hands, DeGeneres pressed on with invasive questions about his s*x life.

In hindsight, this interview takes on even more significance as a part of a troubling trend, with Bieber being objectified by DeGeneres and other celebrities like Katy Perry, James Corden, and Jenny McCarthy. These incidents have had a lasting negative impact on Bieber’s mental health, shedding light on an issue often overlooked in Hollywood—s*xual har*ssment and exploitation of men. This shift in perspective underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing such behavior, regardless of gender.

2. Justin Roiland’s Disturbing Rant About Minors Sparks Outrage

Story Credits: forbes

Justin Roiland, the co-creator of Rick and Morty, raised concerns during a 2011 appearance on The Grandma’s Virginity Podcast when he made unsettling comments about his attraction to teenage girls. His remarks, which seemed like an odd tangent then, now appear much more disturbing in hindsight, especially given the accusations that would later surface against him.

Roiland was dismissed from Rick and Morty after facing allegations of domestic abuse, and further investigations revealed that he had been involved in inappropriate online communication with underage girls. These revelations cast a darker light on his previous comments, revealing a troubling pattern of behavior that many had not fully recognized at the time.

3. Diane Sawyer Reduces Britney Spears to Tears

Story Credits: youtube

No celebrity endured harsher treatment in the 2000s than Britney Spears. Thanks to the #FreeBritney movement, the public has come to understand just how mistreated the young pop star was two decades ago.

A prime example of this mistreatment is seen in her 2003 interview with Diane Sawyer, shortly after her breakup with Justin Timberlake. The interview, which feels uncomfortable to watch, features the journalist taking an unusually harsh and unbalanced approach, asking, “You did something that caused him so much pain, so much suffering. What did you do?” This confrontational line of questioning sheds light on the pressures that may have contributed to Spears’s breakdown in 2007, helping to explain her struggles.

4. Bill Cosby’s Shocking Discussion About Spanish Fly with Larry King

Story Credits: fivethirtyeight

It was a shocking revelation when we learned that Bill Cosby, the beloved TV dad, had been drugging and assaulting women for decades. But in hindsight, should we have been so surprised?

Cosby had a troubling history of casually mentioning Spanish fly, a substance claimed to be an aphrodisiac. Even more unsettling, in a 1990 interview with Larry King, he openly discussed the idea of using it in women’s drinks, which now seems like a disturbing hint at his behavior long before the allegations came to light.

5. Barbara Walters Criticized for Objectifying 15-Year-Old Brooke Shields in Controversial Interview

Story Credits: nbcnews

Another interview that has not aged well occurred in 1981 when 15-year-old Brooke Shields was interviewed by Barbara Walters after gaining fame for her role in The Blue Lagoon. Throughout the interview, it became apparent that Walters was more focused on the young actress’s appearance, repeatedly asking about her body and measurements.

In her documentary Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields, the actress reflects on this interview as part of a larger issue in Hollywood, where there was a tendency to exploit her perceived “s*xual awakening” for commercial gain.

6. David Letterman Crosses the Line in Tense Interview with Lindsay Lohan

Story Credits: The Oklahoman Video Archive

Another example of celebrity treatment that feels harsh in hindsight is Lindsay Lohan’s 2013 interview with David Letterman on The Late Show. During the interview, Letterman repeatedly made jokes about Lohan’s struggles with substance abuse and addiction, to the point where the actress became emotional and stated, “We didn’t discuss this in the pre-interview.”

It’s hard to imagine that a producer or comedian would have ever thought it appropriate, let alone entertaining, to approach the interview in such a manner, especially given the clear distress it caused Lohan during the exchange.

7. Russell Brand’s Controversial Forced Kiss Sparks Outrage

Story Credits: cosmopolitan

In a 60-minute interview with Liz Hayes, Russell Brand was recorded kissing the journalist without her consent and making inappropriate remarks about her clothing.

Since that moment, Brand has faced multiple allegations from women regarding s*xual harassment and misconduct in the workplace. While he has denied these claims, this particular incident remains a public example of his troubling behavior.

8. Danny Masterson Shocks Kevin Pollak with His Disturbing Confession

Story Credits: Reddit

Danny Masterson, known for his role on That 70s Show, is currently serving a 30-year to life sentence at California’s North Kern State Prison for two felony counts of r*pe, crimes he committed over 20 years ago. It’s always unsettling to discover that a once-admired celebrity led a secretive, dark personal life, but what’s even more shocking is that his actions weren’t as hidden as they seemed.

In a 2012 interview on Kevin Pollack’s podcast, Masterson essentially outlined his approach to manipulating women, stating that his method was “pulling her into the shower.” This revelation takes on a chilling significance in light of court testimony from one of Masterson’s victims, who described being drugged and forcibly taken to the shower before being ass*ulted.

9. Bill Murray Admits to Geena Davis’s Allegations from Over 30 Years Ago

Story Credits: Reddit

In her memoir, Geena Davis accused Bill Murray of repeatedly harassing her while they worked together on the set of Quick Change. The truth of her claims became more evident when Murray himself essentially confirmed them in a 1990 interview they did together.

During the interview, Davis recalled an incident where Murray touched her during her audition for the film, and Murray reenacted the moment by getting too close and repeatedly caressing her. Davis, who was married to Jeff Goldblum at the time, commented, “It was a lot like this.” She also mentioned that Murray pressured her into accepting an electric massager, despite her repeated refusals. The interviewer, clearly uncomfortable, questioned whether this was a story Murray wanted to share. Murray has not publicly addressed Davis’s accusations since then.

10. Vin Diesel’s Unsettling Interview with Carol Moreira Raises Eyebrows

Story Credits: metro

In 2017, Brazilian YouTuber Carol Moreira interviewed Vin Diesel to promote XXX: Return of Xander Cage. However, the action star seemed so distracted by Moreira’s appearance that he struggled to focus on the interview, instead repeatedly commenting on how “sexy” she was.

Moreira, clearly frustrated, gave the camera an exasperated look. She later admitted feeling uncomfortable during the exchange, and many viewers online found his behavior strange, with some speculating that he might have been under the influence of steroids or other substances.

This incident takes on a darker tone when considered in light of a recent lawsuit filed by a former assistant, who accused Diesel of s*xual assault while working for him, alleging he fired her after she rejected his advances.

11. Ned Fulmer’s Infidelity Scandal Sparks Backlash Over His Hypocrisy

Story Credits: eonline

In 2017, Ned Fulmer of The Try Guys made strong statements about infidelity during an interview with Cosmopolitan, saying that cheating was his number-one deal breaker in a relationship. When asked how he would react if he discovered his wife had cheated, he responded, “Oh no, that hurts to even think about. We couldn’t stay together. I’d move to Canada.”

However, it turned out Fulmer’s relationship philosophy wasn’t as one-sided as he had claimed. In 2022, it was revealed that Fulmer had cheated on his wife with one of his employees. Despite this, his wife Ariel seems to have shown forgiveness, as the couple is still married.

12. Will Smith Opens Up About the Heartbreak of Being Cheated On

Story Credits: Reddit

Looking back at Jada Pinkett Smith’s 2020 revelations about her alleged romantic “entanglement” with August Alsina while still married to Will Smith, a 2016 interview with Will takes on a painful new perspective. During the 2016 Oscars roundtable, Smith shared that his first girlfriend cheated on him when he was 15, and it became a driving force behind his ambition to become famous.

Smith explained, “And I remember deciding that no one would ever cheat on me again. And the way I was gonna do that was by being the biggest actor on Earth.” While the Men in Black star certainly achieved success in his career, his story serves as a reminder that fame and success don’t necessarily protect against personal heartbreak, as he would later experience.

13. Louis C.K.’s Disturbing Obsession with His Private Parts Revealed

Story Credits: vox

A 2017 New York Times report highlighted accusations from five women who claimed that Louis C.K. s*xually har*ssed and intimidated them. The comedian later acknowledged the allegations, explaining, “At the time, I told myself that what I did was okay because I always asked first before showing a woman my body, which is also true.”

However, he admitted that he later learned, too late, that when you have power over someone, asking them to look at your body is not just a question—it’s a predicament. “The power I had over these women is that they admired me. And I wielded that power irresponsibly.”

Even in the context of the #MeToo movement, many found Louis C.K.’s behavior unsettling. Interestingly, he had alluded to this side of his personality years earlier in a 2010 Vanity Fair interview, where he jokingly described his appearance in a way that many now view as indicative of his troubling attitude.

14. Harvey Weinstein Shockingly Praised by Celebrities Before the Scandal

Story Credits: Reddit

Currently serving a 39-year sentence at Mohawk Correctional Facility in New York, Harvey Weinstein became notorious for the s*xual assaults that ignited the #MeToo movement. However, for years, he was widely regarded as a man with “the biggest heart,” a compliment from Renée Zellweger at the 2003 Golden Globes that many now find hard to reconcile with his actions.

In fact, there are numerous instances of celebrities and influential figures praising Weinstein, and these endorsements have not aged well. The contrast between the praise he received and the truth of his actions now stands as a stark reminder of the complicity and denial that allowed him to continue his abuses for so long.

15. Chris D’Elia’s Shocking Realization: Snaps Don’t Disappear After All

Story Credits: Youtube

Stand-up comedian and actor Chris D’Elia has been involved in numerous scandals, many related to soliciting explicit images from minors via Snapchat. D’Elia believed that the app’s disappearing messages meant he would never be caught, but he was mistaken.

In a revealing moment, a clip from his appearance on The Fighter and the Kid podcast surfaced, showing him realizing that his victims could have been saving his messages. This moment was captured forever, and video editors made sure to freeze-frame his expression for all to see, highlighting his shock and the gravity of the situation.

16. Jimmy Kimmel Shows No Sympathy for Megan Fox in Awkward Interview

Story Credits: buzzfeed

In a 2009 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Megan Fox shared her experience as an extra on Bad Boys II, revealing that director Michael Bay pressured her into filming a s*xualized scene when she was only 15 years old.

Instead of expressing sympathy, Kimmel made light of the situation, jokingly commenting, “Yeah, well, that’s a microcosm of how all our minds work — but some of us have the decency to repress those thoughts and pretend that they don’t exist.” The audience laughed, but Fox later reflected on the moment as a representation of how Hollywood operated in the 2000s, dismissing the concerns of women like her.

These interviews, when viewed through the lens of today’s awareness and cultural shift, highlight a troubling history of dismissing or even condoning inappropriate behavior in Hollywood. What was once passed off as humor or harmless eccentricity now serves as a stark reminder of the industry’s long-standing issues with power dynamics, exploitation, and the silencing of those affected. As we continue to confront these realities, it’s crucial to acknowledge the voices of those who were mistreated and work towards a future where such behavior is no longer overlooked or accepted.