I have interviewed a few people in my day. Aside from a 2 year hiatus, I have worked in radio for 10 years and interviewed several artists on air including Little Big Town, Ty Herndon and T.G. Sheppard. I have also interviewed several people {for Examiner and my other blog} including Matt Paxton {Hoarders} and the Kentucky Headhunters. You can also check out my interview section on this blog to find interviews with Sister Hazel, Aaron Tippin, Dom McManus, Jackie Collins and more. So, I think I know a thing or two about how an interview should ideally go. Just like everything, there is a way to do something and a way to not do something. So, here are some examples of horrible celebrity interviews.
Horrible Celebrity Interviews: When Interviews Go So Very Wrong
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to conduct a professional interview. Treat others like you want to be treated, am I right? So, if you are thinking about getting into the interview game, here are some examples of bad interviews to hopefully at least school you on what not to do.
Horrible Celebrity Interviewss: Good Day Sacramento VS Cara Delevingne
Yes, I will admit, Cara Delevingne is being a bit of a pain answering the questions. She seems to have to answer every question with a smart alec answer first and then actually answer the question truthfully. She doesn’t seem like a person I would enjoy or want to interview {at least on that day, she may be wonderful otherwise}. So. I don’t have to like her to interview her. We are both there to do a job, not to become besties. She agreed to be interviewed, not to form lasting relationships with the people interviewing her.
Perhaps she was having a bad day. That is not saying that I think it’s ok to act the way she did but let’s try to have some empathy here. Regardless, people see that stuff and form opinions based on how they see actors behave in interviews. Trust. She is really only hurting herself behaving the way she did. The two interviewers did not need to call her out and act like it was their job to reprimand her. Perhaps her cat died or she was having an otherwise bad day. She is a person after all. She is also only in her early 20s. Cut the girl some slack. At any rate, no matter how she behaved, I think the interview team behaved highly unprofessionally, aside from the guy on the right who defended her. Kudos to him, by the way.
Horrible Celebrity Interviews: Krishnan Guru-Murthy VS Robert Downey Jr
On the other hand, sometimes the actor is a true professional, but you get some kind of interviewer who seems to have an ax to grind, an agenda, a personal bias or really wants to make a name for himself, no matter what. I think that is the case here. Krishnan Guru-Murthy insisted on asking question after question that made Robert Downey Jr. obviously quite uncomforable, without a bit of remorse. About half way through the interview, the questions got ridiculous and “tabloidy.”
If I made someone feel that bad, I would feel terribly guilty about it. Not this guy! He just keeps badgering him about things from the past that are, frankly, none of his business. They also are no longer relevant or “news-worthy,” so I don’t see the relevance of bringing them up today except to be a jerk. Celebrities are people, not encyclopedias with all of the information there for your taking. Robert Downey Jr finally just got up and walked out on this unprofessional interviewer. Good for him.
Moral Of The Story
I admit, it can be hard to come up with unique questions to ask stars, musicians, etc. You know these people get asked the same mess over and over and over. Ideally, an interviewee will act interested in your question and answer it accordingly. However, if you find yourself interviewing someone who treats you like an idiot, just keep it professional until the end. And then never interview or help that person promote anything again if you like. There is no need to try to publicly ridicule or embarrass them. Treat others the way you want to be treated or you will just end up looking like an idiot or a jerk in the end yourself. It’s really as simple as that.
I think sometimes people’s personalities clash and they just should not be in the same room together.
I definitely agree with that. I think, unfortunately, sometimes you just have to keep it in check for a job though. Lol.
David Letterman has had some awkward interviews..most notably, Joaquin Phoenix. But that interview with RObert Downey Jr. was SO awkward to watch.
I think I remember that Joaquin Phoenix interview. Didn’t Dave thank him for not being there or something like that? Lol.
The interview with Cara started off bad since the interviewer didn’t get her name right. I don’t think that went over well with her and she was just done. We all have those days.
My last name is McAlexander. Mc and Alexander seem to be no problem by themselves. Put them together and it’s like you have asked someone to read an ancient script sometimes, lol. Most people end up losing a whole syllable somewhere by saying McAllister. It doesn’t make me mad. But I do get impressed when people get it right. 🙂 So, if that was what got it going poorly {I think you are right}, then she needs to get over that real fast because it will not stop.
Perhaps she thinks she is so famous that everyone should have heard of her by now? I remember when they mispronounced Katherine Heigl’s name on some award show, too.
My answer was already taken, but I’m going to put it in here anyway. That interview with Joaquin Phoenix on Letterman was just painful.
It was so bad it deserved to be mentioned a second time anyway, lol.
I still remember where Tom Cruise was jumping on the couch on late night TV….pretty silly. I don’t follow celebrities but it seems the bad interviews get more attention than the good ones!
I saw the RDJ interview and agree that he acted with class. The interviewer overstepped boundaries there and I don’t blame him for ending the interview.
I remember that strange Tom Cruise and Oprah interview years ago where he was jumping on furniture. Very odd.
There is a code among the journalists: Be professional or Go home…. Wait, there is no such code, but it should be
Lol! You are most definitely right about that. 😀
My boyfriend is no celebrity, but he’s done a few online video interviews for a few different websites. I’ve been able to overhear him doing some and have given him a few pointers. Luckily, he’s not a-hole like some people with cocky answers.
I always found Barbara Walters interviews quite uncomfortable. Also, the Tom Cruise interview where he was jumping around on the couch was quite obnoxious.
Oh yes. The Tom Cruise interview. That is a classic, lol.
Oh I love to read any interview done with Kanye! He is so so strange!
He really is! I love that one where he was comparing himself with all of these great historical figures. I couldn’t stop laughing.
I think sometimes these interviewers get a sort of Napoleon complex? Although, I am sure they have had their share of bad interviews with actors who cannot act right in public lol
I can’t stand when interviewers act that way. I mean, no matter what the problem is, you have to put your life on hold and interview without bias.
I have seen a lot of awkward celebrity interviews. Joaquin Phoenix has had some doozies. It is hard to read him. You never know if he is being serious.
Haha! A lot of people have mentioned him. I wonder if people get stressed right before they find out they have to interview him?
I feel like I need to you-tube some videos, because I cannot think of any bad ones! would be irritated watching an interview though, if either side was being inappropriate!
It’s always difficult to watch interactions like these. Even the normal interviews can be awkward.
Haha, those are just painful to watch! Yikes, who knew there were such bad interviews out there!?
It is always difficult to watch a bad interview. It was just bad from the beginning with Cara!
It really was. I have to say that was one of the hardest interviews I have ever watched.
ummmm i def would not want to interview her. she looks like she didnt want to be there and was very snarky. #msnofun! LOL
I don’t really watch interviews (I have no interest in them) but I do know that a bad interview wouldn’t be all that nice to watch.
I think some celebrities might tired of answering questions after spending days on the interview circuit. I can be understanding if they get frustrated with how a particular interviewer is asking questions and take an approach that might be perceived as difficult.
I’ve never had to interview anyone. Thankfully. I don’t think I would like it much.
The interviewer shouldn’t be rude to the one who’s being interviewed. If the celebrity is being rude, you are right, just finish the interview like a professional and don’t interview him or her again.
See, that is my point exactly. Thank you. 🙂
Oh gosh… it physically hurt to watch those! Yikes.
I don’t ever watch celebrity interviews. Maybe I should start. Those were horrifying!