Celebs Who Had Very Public Meltdowns
The following article includes references to drug and alcohol abuse, mental health disorders, and domestic violence.
Being an A-list celebrity can definitely put pressure on even the coolest stars. Our favorite famous faces are regularly in the spotlight — having to keep up appearances, conduct countless interviews, and make sure they seem totally approachable and down-to-earth. What happens, however, when the cracks start to show, and a celeb suddenly snaps? Even Hollywood's elite aren't immune to mental illness and substance abuse, so it's important to be mindful that we all struggle.
But for media darlings, those darker moments are sometimes immortalized by the press, and if the paparazzi aren't enough, celebrities also have to deal with, well, pretty much anyone with a smartphone.
While some stars respond well to the pressures of fame and fortune — consider Cole Sprouse's epic retort in the form of an Instagram account called "Camera Duels" — others have stumbled under the stress of being in the public eye 24/7. From some of the most notorious fiascos etched in pop-culture history to other bizarre tirades you may have forgotten about, here are some celebs who had very public meltdowns.
Britney Spears sparked memes with her meltdown
One of the most shocking meltdowns in celeb history goes to Britney Spears and her very public head-shaving incident. The pop star's antics left fans seriously concerned about her mental health and her safety, but her comeback years later sparked the trending inspirational meme: "If Britney can make it through 2007, we can make it through this day."
Need a refresher? According to Access Online, the pop princess showed up to a closed salon on that fateful day in 2007, but its owner opened the shop for the celebrity walk-in. When Spears asked to have her head shaved, the owner refused, so Spears did it herself. The owner eventually helped out "to even out Britney's scalp." Spears reportedly didn't say much except that her mother was going to kill her. After leaving the salon, Spears supposedly headed to — where else? — a tattoo parlor.
While many felt the incident seemed like a cry for help, Spears didn't see it that way. A year later, the "Womanizer" crooner appeared on the MTV documentary "For the Record" to explain what she was thinking at the time. "I was going through so much artificial stuff with my kids and my [then-husband] Kevin [Federline] ... I was devastated," she stated. "People thought that it was me going crazy and stuff like that, but people shave their heads all the time."
If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.
Shia LaBeouf resisted authority
Shia LaBeouf's colorful career has been littered with controversy. He's no stranger to public meltdowns, and unfortunately for the actor, a lot of those incidents have been documented. One of his most shocking tirades? Getting arrested in Georgia in 2017. According to TMZ, the cringe-worthy event started with the "Transformers" star approaching someone for a cigarette. When that person said no, LaBeouf started swearing with women and children around. Uh-oh.
After he was asked to leave by police, the actor reportedly got aggressive. When an officer tried to arrest him, the star reportedly bolted but was caught in the lobby of a hotel, where he kept acting wildly. The spectacle didn't stop there. According to a law enforcement video posted by TMZ, LaBeouf had some shocking things to say from the back of the cop car and hurled a threat.
LaBeouf, who said he was ashamed, released a public statement on his Twitter page. "My outright disrespect for authority is problematic to say the least, and completely destructive to say the worst," he tweeted in part. "I have been struggling with addiction publicly for too long, and I am actively taking steps toward securing my sobriety and hope I can be forgiven for my mistakes."
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Amanda Bynes had a gasoline-soaked nightmare
Nickelodeon star Amanda Bynes once seemed destined for a spot on Hollywood's A-list. In 2002, a profile in The New York Times professed high hopes for the tween icon: "Many a True Hollywood Story has been told about show-business kids going bad, but Ms. Bynes seems remarkably self-possessed." Unfortunately for the starlet, the ensuing years proved to be extremely difficult.
After months of erratic tweeting online, the "Easy A" star found herself in a very frenzied situation in 2013. According to the Daily News, witness Andrew Liverpool was driving home in California when he noticed a "sizable fire" in a driveway and a woman lying next to the blaze. As he ran to the scene, the woman ran from the scene, dog in tow, to the nearest liquor store.
That mystery lady was Bynes, and TMZ obtained footage from the liquor store that tracked the actor entering an employees-only washroom, where she reportedly attempted to wash her dog in the sink. Police eventually caught up with Bynes and reportedly placed her in a psychiatric hold. These days, the starlet seems to be doing better. In June 2019, she graduated from the Los Angeles-based Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Then in 2022, it was reported that the conservatorship she was under, which began in 2013, ended. Bynes is also reportedly engaged to a guy named Paul Michael.
Christian Bale had a psycho-style meltdown
Christian Bale has a tempestuous reputation. Don't believe us? A GQ profile of the actor published in 2012 noted a couple of nervous reporters speaking together in hushed tones before meeting the A-list actor. The reporters were asking each other if they were familiar with "The Dark Knight" star's mood, which certainly wasn't good on the set of 2009's "Terminator Salvation."
Per TMZ, Bale had his own Patrick Bateman-style outburst when the director of cinematography accidentally stepped into a shot. Several people heard the outburst, describing it as intense. The whole incident was caught on audiotape and depicts Bale quite literally screaming atrocities such as, "I'll kick your f***ing ass" and "I want you off the f***ing set, you p***k!" Pleasant, eh? After the tape was released, Bale tucked his tail between his legs and issued an apology on Los Angeles radio station KROQ (via TMZ).
"I make no excuses for it. ... There is nobody who has heard that tape who has been hit harder by it than me," he said. "The one thing that's really disturbed me throughout this ... is that I've heard a lot of people saying that I seem to think that I'm better than anybody else."
Ye West wanted to soften the truth
Ye West is no stranger to headline-making meltdowns. Remember the rapper's infamous rant at TMZ headquarters in 2018 — the one where he suggested slavery was a "choice" and set off a firestorm of controversy? That was a doozy, but we're going to focus on an even more tangential download of sorts dating back to 2016.
In November of that year, the rapper spit out a speech at a concert in Sacramento that was so unusual, Fader published a full transcript of the roughly 15-minute monologue. By the way, West reportedly showed up to that show 90 minutes late and then canceled the rest of it after his tirade. Per Variety, his verbal missive began after just four songs and included commentary about his peers, including Beyoncé and Taylor Swift. "Sometimes, we be playing the politics too much and forget who we are just to win. F**k winning, F**k looking cool ... F**k all that, bruh," West said in part. He eventually shifted to the topic of social media, claiming that he won't soften the truth for people, and that folks were lied to by Google, as well as by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
Whether you found the incident amusing or alarming, it's important to note that West was reportedly diagnosed with bipolar disorder, so there seems to be more to this meltdown than meets the eye.
If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.
Charlie Sheen said his meltdown was 'fun' to watch
Charlie Sheen experienced a painful-to-watch meltdown in March 2011 that seemed to be a product of his surroundings and part of a worrisome downward spiral.
According to the BBC, Sheen suddenly got sacked from his "Two and a Half Men" job. What audiences didn't know at the time was that he was fired due to a life-threatening drug addiction. However, the public did see Sheen posting a Ustream video of him babbling incoherently during a phone call. From his frenzied demeanor to the jibber-jabber of theories about phones being built by trolls, it was clear something was severely wrong with the "Platoon" actor.
Years later, in 2015, fans learned that Sheen is HIV positive — something he found out around the time of that apparent meltdown. In fact, Sheen told "Today" that he thought he had a brain tumor at first. He has since openly discussed his diagnosis and reflected on the bizarre low-points of his life. "It's fun to kind of watch sometimes, but also, just a little bit cringeable," he told ABC News. "It's like, 'Dude, what the hell was that?'"
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Alec Baldwin had words with friends and enemies
Alec Baldwin frequently makes headlines for his outbursts. Need we remind you that this is the guy who once got booted off a plane for playing "Words With Friends?" How do you spell "meltdown?" When he's not berating the friendly skies, Baldwin apparently prefers to cause chaos on his home turf in New York City.
As Page Six described, a witness once spotted the celeb exchanging insults with a man driving an SUV, and a drink was thrown. The "It's Complicated" star reportedly called the driver a "meatball" before asking him and a passenger to exit the vehicle. When his targets declined, Baldwin reportedly began recording the scene on his phone. "They pulled away right after, and he took a pic of their license plate and threw his extra-large drink in the street. Then he just went on his angry way," the onlooker told the tab.
Perhaps Baldwin is not a fan of the neighborhood, considering he was arrested in the same area three years prior for reportedly biking the wrong way down Fifth Avenue and screaming at police. Of course, the story surrounding Baldwin's argument wasn't reported nearly as much as the tragedy that occurred on October 21, 2021. On that day, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was accidentally shot and killed by a gun fired by Baldwin on a film set in New Mexico.
Reese Witherspoon failed to walk the line
Reese Witherspoon had a squeaky-clean reputation that often mimicked the roles she played on the silver screen, but the ultra-perky actor behind Elle Woods from "Legally Blonde" did not interact well with the legal system in 2013. In fact, it seems even the sweetest Southern belle can occasionally unleash a nasty temper tantrum.
According to TMZ, Witherspoon and her husband, Jim Toth, were driving in Atlanta when they were pulled over. Toth had to perform a sobriety test, and that didn't sit well with Witherspoon. Getting out of the car, the starlet got progressively more unruly. "Do you know my name," she asked the officer while being handcuffed. "You're about to find out who I am." The icing on the cake? Her meltdown was recorded on the police officer's dash cam — and released to the public. The "Walk the Line" actor was charged with disorderly conduct and her husband was hit with a DUI charge, since he was driving in the wrong lane, per Variety.
Witherspoon addressed the arrest during an appearance on "Good Morning America" (via ABC News). "I saw him arresting my husband and I literally panicked. ... I said all kinds of crazy things," she explained. "I was so disrespectful to [the officer] ... I know better."
Dennis Rodman had a million-dollar meltdown
Dennis Rodman has a bad boy reputation. From being accused of stealing merchandise from a yoga studio, to hanging out with Kim Jong-un in North Korea, you never know what the former basketball star will do next. However, for those of you who think Rodman's outlandish behavior has been limited to his time off the court, think again.
Back in 1997, the Chicago Bulls star stumbled out of bounds and fell on top of cameraman Eugene Amos, and Rodman kicked Amos while they were both down on the floor. The televised event left viewers in shock, and the videographer was sent to the hospital. According to AP News, Amos made a police report for assault.
Rodman was suspended for 11 games with zero pay and received a $25,000 fine. Madonna's ex reportedly settled out of court with Amos for $200,000. Crunch the numbers, and you'll discover that Rodman's meltdown cost him more than $1 million!
Serena Williams wants all meltdowns treated equally
Serena Williams is certainly not the first tennis legend to melt down during a tough match on the court (here's looking at you, John McEnroe), but the heated (and televised) incident that went down at the 2018 U.S. Open between Williams and umpire Carlos Ramos made headlines around the world. Sports Illustrated called it "the ugliest Grand Slam finish ever."
Here's what happened: Ramos issued a code violation for what he perceived to be illegal communication between Williams and her coach. When he refused to change his mind about the penalty, Williams smashed her racket and earned a second code violation. That's when she let it rip, defending her integrity while also calling Ramos a "liar" as well as a "thief." The mother-of-one demanded an apology on top of that. From there, Ramos issued a third code violation, which cost her the game. Opponent Naomi Osaka won the day, but Williams' controversy stole the show. However, Williams appears to have no regrets.
In a 2019 essay for Harper's Bazaar, the tennis pro claimed Ramos penalized her for being female. "Why is it that when women get passionate, they're labeled emotional, crazy, and irrational, but when men do they're seen as passionate and strong? ... I'm not asking to avoid being penalized. I am asking to be treated the same way as everyone else," she wrote.
Snooki made some changes after her meltdown
Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi has grown up a lot since her fist-pumping days on MTV's "Jersey Shore." These days, you're more likely to see the reality TV star double-fisting children — not drinks. However, there was a time when the mom-of-three was better known for her hard-partying meltdowns than her parental wisdom.
During one episode of the booze-fueled "Jersey Shore," Polizzi and her co-stars were seen doing what they did best in Seaside Heights — partying. But this time, the pint-sized starlet reportedly had a super-sized meltdown that led to an arrest in 2010. A source told OK! that they witnessed the whole thing. Polizzi supposedly left a bar and tried unsuccessfully to ride a bike, then things took a turn for the worse. "She was dancing and singing all by herself. Then she just suddenly started crying. [Polizzi and Jennifer "JWoww" Farley] went down off the boardwalk [onto the beach] and she was falling down on the ground and crying and yelling," the insider claimed.
Farley apparently tried to calm her down, but Polizzi allegedly started saying, "I want my mom. I want to go home!" The whole debacle concluded with her arrest. Polizzi later told Radar Online that it was that incident that prompted her to change her ways. "My dad was very, very pissed," she said. "I learned that I need to calm down with drinking."
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Lindsay Lohan tried to be a humanitarian
Did you think the days of Lindsay Lohan meltdowns making headlines were over? Well, think again. The former teen star has done a relatively good job staying out of the press after her mid-noughties domination of the tabs ... but we can't ignore an incident in 2018 that she broadcast for the entire world to see.
According to TMZ, the "Mean Girls" starlet got out of her vehicle to speak to a family in Moscow — while live-streaming. "Hey everyone, I just want to show you a family that I met," she declared. "A Syrian refugee family that I'm really worried about." Lohan invited the children back to her hotel to watch a movie, and criticized their mother for not being a "hard-working woman." The family tried to walk away from Lohan, which is when she accused them of child trafficking.
As the scene deteriorated, Lohan told the family "'You're ruining Arabic culture,'" reported TMZ. And in her final pièce de résistance, she grabbed one of the kids and got hit in the face by the mom. The court of public opinion came down hard on Lohan, but she merely emailed a statement after not talking about the incident with Paper. "I read the situation wrong. I've learned from it. And that's all I have to say," she said. Despite this incident, life as a whole seems to be looking up for the star, who married financier Bader Shammas in July 2022.
Azealia Banks had a Miami meltdown
Over the years, Azealia Banks has built a reputation for getting into a bunch of beefs with other celebs. She ripped Nicki Minaj in the past, for example, and dissed Ye West. Banks even said she had an affair with a married Dave Chappelle, which of course caused a huge stir.
In June 2022, Banks' name made headlines again after she performed at a Miami Pride concert and told the crowd that she didn't want to be there. From the way it sounded, the Harlem rapper didn't care for her set time and had a problem with not being the headliner after allegedly being told that was the case. She then proceeded to tell the crowd that people have been doing her wrong for a month-and-a-half straight.
"I'm really not happy to be here, but what did the fans ever do? I'm trying y'all but it's difficult," Banks explained. Afterward, her microphone was cut off, so she threw it to the ground. That led to her giving two middle-finger salutes, and being escorted off stage. People in the crowd began booing as she walked off and someone hurled a drink on stage. Man, what a meltdown.
Billie Joe Armstrong felt disrespected
"Disrespect." That would probably be the word Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong would use if he explained what he felt on September 21, 2012, while performing at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas. The veteran rock star got extremely upset when he realized his band only had one minute left to play. TV Guide reported that Green Day's set time was cut by 20 minutes so R&B star Usher could have more time on stage.
"One minute left. You're gonna give me one f***ing minute?" Armstrong yelled. "Let me tell you something, I've been around since 198-f***ing-8, and you're gonna give me one f***ing minute? You've gotta be f***ing kidding me! You're f***ing kidding me. What the f***! I'm not f***ing Justin Bieber."
Armstrong then realized that he had used the band's final minute up with his speech and proceeded to smash his guitar in anger. He then tossed the microphone over his shoulder and told the crowd that Green Day would be back. Three days later, in a statement given to the Associated Press and published by syracuse.com, the band said Armstrong would be checking himself into rehab for substance abuse and they apologized to anyone who was offended by his curse-filled rant.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Tom Cruise didn't want filming to stop
In December 2020, it seemed that most were aware of what needed to be done to slow down the spread of COVID-19: Keep at least 6-feet of distance from others, wash your hands frequently, and wear a protective mask. And because of that regularly shared information, Tom Cruise was baffled why people on the set of "Mission: Impossible 7" broke COVID-19 safety protocol. But the movie star wasn't just highly confused, he had a complete meltdown over it. Per the Los Angeles Times, Cruise lost it after crew members huddled around a computer instead of social distancing.
"I don't ever want to see it again," the actor could be heard screaming in leaked audio. "And if you don't do it you're fired. ... That's it and you too and you too. And you, don't you ever f***ing do it again. No apologies. You can tell it to the people that are losing their f***ing homes because our industry is shut down. ... So, I'm sorry, I am beyond your apologies. I have told you and now I want it and if you don't do it you're out. We are not shutting this f***ing movie down."
Cruise's meltdown came after the film had already been pushed back twice because of the virus. Later, he spoke about his outburst with Empire and said that he only yelled at those who committed the wrongdoing, not everyone on set.
Vanilla Ice melted twice
At first, he seemed to be okay with the gag, then all of a sudden he wasn't. We're talking about Vanilla Ice, who smashed the set of MTV's show ”25 Lame" in 1999. The concept of the show was for hosts Jon Stewart, Denis Leary, Janeane Garofalo, and Chris Kattan to list, discuss, and destroy the worst music videos ever. Unfortunately for the rapper, his video for "Ice Ice Baby" was ninth on the list, so Leary asked him to smash the tape himself.
Ice obliged, to put it mildly, but not only did he destroy the tape with a baseball bat, he smashed just about everything in sight. By the way it looks, his actions were a mixture of aggressive playfulness, wanting to shock people, and being offended at the hosts' snarky comments about his video. "I was genuinely afraid," Garofalo told Entertainment Weekly. "I thought he was seriously going to get really angry on a channel that embraced him and then turned and mocked him."
That wasn't the only TV set that Ice took down, however. He once also destroyed the set of "The Surreal Life: Fame Games" after castmate Ron Jeremy went against his word to not vote the rapper off.
Solange Knowles went into attack mode
It could be called one of the most shocking celebrity videos ever. The incident happened in 2014 after Solange Knowles, her sister Beyoncé, and Bey's husband Jay-Z attended the Met Gala in New York City. So what occurred then? Oh, nothing much, except Knowles physically attacking her brother-in-law Jay-Z in an elevator. It all went down after a Met Gala afterparty, TMZ reported. Leaked footage showed all three celebs getting on the elevator and Knowles punching and kicking the rap legend repeatedly.
Beyoncé can be seen standing to the side, like she was in shock, while a security person pried Knowles off Jay. But there's at least one moment when Bey stands in between her younger sister and her husband, but it didn't help, because Knowles continued to go after him. Now, why the security person kept letting go of Knowles could be easily questioned. But Jay remained calm the whole time, and after the attack, everyone walked off the elevator as if nothing happened.
"As a result of the public release of the elevator security footage from Monday, May 5th, there has been a great deal of speculation about what triggered the unfortunate incident. But the most important thing is that our family has worked through it," the family later said in a statement. "Jay and Solange each assume their share of responsibility for what has occurred."
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
Michael Richards went on a racist rant
"Aw, man, Kramer is a racist." That's probably what a lot of people were thinking when "Seinfeld" actor Michael Richards went on a racist rant in 2006 at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood, California. It happened when Kyle Doss, a Black man, was sitting in the crowd with some friends and heckled the actor while he was doing his stand-up comedy routine. TMZ was one of the first to share the story, as well as the disturbing video.
As the clip begins, Richard is heard making an overtly racist comment that seemingly has to do with Black slavery in the U.S. He then hurled the N-word numerous times, as some in the crowd gasped and others laughed. Then some in the audience began walking out while one person said Richards' racist soliloquy wasn't called for. But some might ask when is speech like that ever called for?
Shortly after, Richards went on an apology tour, which included a stop at the "Late Show With David Letterman," when his former co-star Jerry Seinfeld was a guest. In fact, Seinfeld asked Richards to appear on Letterman to make amends. "For me to be at a comedy club and flip out and say this crap, I'm deeply, deeply sorry ... I'm not a racist. That's what's so insane about this," Richards explained. He also agreed to sit down with Doss and others in front of an ex-judge to clear the air, per CelebrityAccess.
Will Smith wasn't in a joking mood
Probably one of the most shocking things about Will Smith having a meltdown at the 2022 Oscars is that he always seemed jovial, and with his many philosophical views, Zen-like. But that image vanished when he slapped Chris Rock at the ceremony after the comedian made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, Will's wife.
The 94th Academy Awards were held on March 27, 2022, and it was arguably the biggest night of Will's career, because he was up for Best Actor for "King Richard," a film about Venus and Serena Williams' dad. Before the category was read, Rock presented a different award, and that's when he made the joke about Jada. "'G.I. Jane 2,' can't wait to see it," Rock said, referring to Demi Moore's 1997 film where she appears nearly bald. Jada was wearing a low hairstyle at the Oscars, after saying that she has alopecia.
The "Red Table Talk" host rolled her eyes at Rock, right before Will went on stage and belted him with an open-handed slap. He then told Rock to keep his wife's name out of his mouth. The thing is, Will won for Best Actor and was still given the award, instead of being asked to leave. He then gave a teary-eyed speech, which made the night even more strange. The "Hitch" actor apologized for his actions on Instagram soon after and has kept an incredibly low profile since.
Bill O'Reilly was baffled by 'play us out'
Sure, Bill O'Reilly is known for being the former host of Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor," but he's also famous for having a meltdown at his previous job, "Inside Edition." A clip of the incident surfaced many years after, and it shows a younger O'Reilly losing it because he wasn't familiar with the term "play us out." A music video from Sting was closing the show at the time, hence the term, but O'Reilly was confused.
"To play us out. What does that mean?" he asked as his frustration grew to full-blown anger. "I can't do it. We'll do it live, f*** it. I'll write it and we'll do it live," he added. Finally, after flubbing a few times, he said his closing words and was seen throwing his pen as the footage ended.
"He was definitely hot-tempered and he was impatient, so when I was going to be dealing with him, I was so afraid," Theresa McKeown told HuffPost in 2017, who was the director of West Coast operations for "Inside Edition" when O'Reilly was there. "I never wanted to give him a reason to yell at me. Honestly, the man was very intimidating." In 2017, O'Reilly was fired from Fox News after there were a number of sexual harassment claims against him.
Mike Tyson gnawed on someone's ear
If you've followed the sport of boxing for any amount of time, then you've probably seen fighters use all kinds of techniques to help secure a victory, but more than likely, biting isn't one of them. However, that's exactly what Mike Tyson did to Evander Holyfield when they fought for the second time in 1997. The incident occurred in the third round of the fight, which took place at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena.
And if biting Holyfield once wasn't enough, Tyson actually managed to bite his opponent twice.
At the beginning of the round, the boxer-turned-podcaster came out without his mouthpiece, which could be considered a sign that he was planning to do some chomping. The fight was stopped after the first bite, but Tyson was still allowed to continue. Holyfield, meanwhile, was left with a chunk of his right ear missing. After the second bite, Tyson was disqualified and his boxing license was revoked, per ESPN, before being reinstated in 1998. "I was just mad and pissed off ... I just lost it," Tyson told VladTV in 2020 about why he bit Holyfield. "I just wanted to hurt him more than he hurt me ... I wish I didn't do that but I did."
Tiffany missed a few notes
Sheer panic got the best of Tiffany in 2021 when she was singing her '80s hit "I Think We're Alone Now" in Melbourne, Florida. The incident was captured on video and it shows the veteran artist missing several notes, which seemed to throw off the rest of her performance. There were some in the crowd who made noise after the performance went south and Tiffany responded to them by cursing. "This is my hit! I'm gonna sing it right!" she said afterward.
Later in a video posted to Instagram and Twitter, the California native apologized for the performance and explained why things went so badly. Tiffany also told her fans that she appreciated all of their kind words and support for her. It was clear that a lot of people checked up on her after the clip went viral.
"I am so sorry. I panicked," the former teen star explained after singing a line from "I Think We're Alone Now." She probably delivered some of the tune to show folks that she could hit the notes easily. "It's not often that I lose my voice and I got up there and just absolutely had a panic attack, a meltdown," she added. "And out of my frustration, I said things that I don't mean at all."
Justin Bieber had a rough week in the UK
Justin Bieber was none too happy after having a run-in with the paparazzi in 2013 while spending time in the United Kingdom. The pop sensation was exiting a London hotel when he got into a little tussle with the paparazzi.
Bieber was heading toward a waiting SUV outside the hotel when the paparazzi understandably swarmed him, as he is one of the most famous people on Earth. Not wanting to get photographed incessantly, he hid behind his security and tried to push his way through the waiting throng. However, while attempting to get into the car, he bumped into one of the photographers. The guy he hit ended up cursing at Bieber and told him to go back to the United States, which caused the "Believe" creator to leap out of his vehicle and lunge at the photographer while threatening him.
This occurred just one day after Bieber collapsed on stage in the U.K. with breathing issues. Clearly, it was a challenging week for the Biebs. "Ahhhhh! Rough morning," he tweeted after the incident. "Trying to feel better for this show tonight but let the paps get the best of me."
Björk said she was being harassed
What was wrong with Björk in February 1996 when she arrived in Thailand with her son? Reporter Julie Kaufman, who was attacked by the singer on that day, said she had no idea. Kaufman was working for a Thailand cable station at the time and greeted the Icelandic artist when she walked through Bangkok International Airport. Kaufman merely welcomed Björk to the country, but the singer went into attack mode, grabbing Kaufman's hair, dragging her to the ground, and swinging her all over the place. Later, Björk said the reporter was pestering her, reported Rolling Stone.
During the attack, the reporter began screaming, and others seemed to take way too long to quell things. The "Utopia" singer phoned Kaufman the following day to apologize, and Kaufman accepted, per Time.
"I feel sorry for Björk. She must have a lot of anger inside her, and she did it all right in front of her young son," Kaufman said in an interview that has been archived by The Free Library. "I have been asked to make a complaint against her but I cannot take an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. This has never ever happened to me before. But when Björk rang me to apologize we got on really well."
Teresa Giudice fought a table
"It's my party and I'll flip a table if I want to." It would be fitting if "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Giudice replaced the lyrics to Lesley Gore's song "It's My Party" with those words. Why? Because during a dinner party, Giudice lost it while arguing with former castmate Danielle Staub, and the table got the worst of it. The argument, which went down in the show's first season, started after the cast members accused Staub of lying about her past. "Two things are written that are true," Staub told Giudice about the rumor. "Name change, I got arrested. Pay attention, please!"
Giudice was clearly offended by Staub's demand that she pay attention and her anger came seconds after. "I am paying attention," yelled the dark-haired reality star. "Obviously, there has to be something else. It's just not name-change and arrested." That's when Giudice got even more upset and called Staub some vicious names. Then she lifted the table off the ground and nearly turned it over.
Undoubtedly, it was a moment that has gone down in "Real Housewives of New Jersey" history. "That moment gave anybody else coming after us license to go all out," former cast member Caroline Manzo told People in 2022.
Steve Harwell was forced to retire
Smash Mouth singer Steve Harwell certainly didn't smash his performance when the band played in 2021 in upstate New York. First, the band had some major sound issues, but things only got worse from there. In a video, the "All-Star" singer can be seen struggling with his lyrics and cursing up a storm.
There were threats hurled from the stage as well because Harwell said he'd kill someone's family. If that wasn't enough, he threw up the Nazi salute and told the crowd to hush since he was the singer, not them. Some of the concert-goers might've thought alcohol was responsible for Harwell's poor performance, but it was due to something else — based on what a Smash Mouth rep told the New York Post.
"Steve has been dealing with long-term medical issues over the last eight years and during his last performance at the Big Sip stage, he suffered numerous symptoms directly linked with his current medical situation," the rep explained. "As of today, Steve will be retiring from Smash Mouth to focus on his physical and mental health." In 2022, it was announced that singer Zach Goode replaced Harwell as Smash Mouth's frontman, since Harwell has cardiomyopathy, a condition where "The normal muscle in the heart can thicken, stiffen, thin out, or fill with substances the body produces that do not belong in the heart muscle," as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines.