Top 20 Shocking Talk Show Scandals.!
Sure, here's the complete script:
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**Gasp!** For this list, we’ll be looking at the most intense controversies from daytime and late-night talk shows that left audiences at a loss for words. Our countdown includes scandals from talk shows “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”, "The View", “Today” and more! Which of these unscripted dramas was the most shocking to you? Let us know in the comments below!
## 10. **Ellen’s “Toxic” Workplace Allegations (2020)**
In 2020, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" faced serious accusations of a toxic work environment, including allegations of harassment and discrimination. The controversy led to a significant shake-up in the show's staff and a public apology from Ellen herself.
## 9. **The Kelly Osbourne Racism Comments on “The View” (2015)**
During a discussion about Donald Trump's comments on immigration, Kelly Osbourne made a controversial remark about Latinos that many deemed racist. The backlash was immediate, and Osbourne quickly apologized for her insensitive comment.
## 8. **Megyn Kelly’s Blackface Comments on “Today” (2018)**
Megyn Kelly faced severe criticism after defending blackface during a segment on "Today." The controversy led to widespread backlash and ultimately resulted in NBC canceling her show. Kelly later apologized for her remarks.
## 7. **Janet Jackson's Wardrobe Malfunction on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (2006)**
In a rare and controversial moment, Janet Jackson opened up about the infamous Super Bowl "wardrobe malfunction" during an interview with Oprah. The incident and its aftermath were widely discussed and scrutinized, leaving a lasting impact on Jackson's career.
## 6. **Dr. Phil’s Controversial Guests and Advice (Ongoing)**
Dr. Phil McGraw has often been criticized for exploiting his guests' personal issues for entertainment. Numerous controversies have arisen from the show's handling of sensitive topics, including allegations of unethical practices and poor advice.
## 5. **R. Kelly’s Explosive Interview on “CBS This Morning” (2019)**
In an intense and emotional interview with Gayle King, R. Kelly vehemently denied the numerous allegations of sexual abuse against him. His aggressive and erratic behavior during the interview left viewers and King herself shocked.
## 4. **The Tom Cruise Couch Jumping Incident on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” (2005)**
Tom Cruise’s over-the-top display of affection for Katie Holmes on Oprah's couch became one of the most memorable and ridiculed moments in talk show history. The bizarre incident significantly impacted Cruise's public image.
## 3. **Rosie O’Donnell vs. Elisabeth Hasselbeck on “The View” (2007)**
A heated political debate between Rosie O’Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck on "The View" escalated into a full-blown argument on live television. The confrontation was intense and led to O'Donnell's departure from the show.
## 2. **Matt Lauer’s Firing from “Today” (2017)**
Matt Lauer was abruptly fired from NBC’s "Today" show after allegations of sexual mi
---
**Gasp!** For this list, we’ll be looking at the most intense controversies from daytime and late-night talk shows that left audiences at a loss for words. Our countdown includes scandals from talk shows “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”, "The View", “Today” and more! Which of these unscripted dramas was the most shocking to you? Let us know in the comments below!
## 10. **Ellen’s “Toxic” Workplace Allegations (2020)**
In 2020, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" faced serious accusations of a toxic work environment, including allegations of harassment and discrimination. The controversy led to a significant shake-up in the show's staff and a public apology from Ellen herself.
## 9. **The Kelly Osbourne Racism Comments on “The View” (2015)**
During a discussion about Donald Trump's comments on immigration, Kelly Osbourne made a controversial remark about Latinos that many deemed racist. The backlash was immediate, and Osbourne quickly apologized for her insensitive comment.
## 8. **Megyn Kelly’s Blackface Comments on “Today” (2018)**
Megyn Kelly faced severe criticism after defending blackface during a segment on "Today." The controversy led to widespread backlash and ultimately resulted in NBC canceling her show. Kelly later apologized for her remarks.
## 7. **Janet Jackson's Wardrobe Malfunction on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (2006)**
In a rare and controversial moment, Janet Jackson opened up about the infamous Super Bowl "wardrobe malfunction" during an interview with Oprah. The incident and its aftermath were widely discussed and scrutinized, leaving a lasting impact on Jackson's career.
## 6. **Dr. Phil’s Controversial Guests and Advice (Ongoing)**
Dr. Phil McGraw has often been criticized for exploiting his guests' personal issues for entertainment. Numerous controversies have arisen from the show's handling of sensitive topics, including allegations of unethical practices and poor advice.
## 5. **R. Kelly’s Explosive Interview on “CBS This Morning” (2019)**
In an intense and emotional interview with Gayle King, R. Kelly vehemently denied the numerous allegations of sexual abuse against him. His aggressive and erratic behavior during the interview left viewers and King herself shocked.
## 4. **The Tom Cruise Couch Jumping Incident on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” (2005)**
Tom Cruise’s over-the-top display of affection for Katie Holmes on Oprah's couch became one of the most memorable and ridiculed moments in talk show history. The bizarre incident significantly impacted Cruise's public image.
## 3. **Rosie O’Donnell vs. Elisabeth Hasselbeck on “The View” (2007)**
A heated political debate between Rosie O’Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck on "The View" escalated into a full-blown argument on live television. The confrontation was intense and led to O'Donnell's departure from the show.
## 2. **Matt Lauer’s Firing from “Today” (2017)**
Matt Lauer was abruptly fired from NBC’s "Today" show after allegations of sexual mi
Transcript
00:00They said that there were what they call good Jimmy Days and what they call bad Jimmy Days,
00:05where his behavior was allegedly erotic and inconsistent.
00:09Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 20 shocking talk
00:15show scandals.
00:15And I will keep trying and I'm so sorry I turned into a sob sister this morning,
00:19please forgive me.
00:20For this list, we're looking at the most intense controversies from daytime and
00:24late night talk shows that left audiences at a loss for words.
00:28Which of these unscripted dramas was the most shocking to you?
00:31Let us know in the comments below.
00:33Number 20.
00:34Whoopi Goldberg defends Bill Cosby.
00:36As one of the co-hosts of the long-running talk show The View,
00:39Whoopi Goldberg's controversial statements have landed her in hot water on more than
00:43one occasion.
00:44In 2015, after the assault allegations against Bill Cosby came to light,
00:48Goldberg's first instinct was seemingly to come to his defense.
00:52When somebody ruins your reputation, it's the same thing.
00:56It's the same thing.
00:57Despite the fact that Cosby had admitted to drugging women in the past,
01:01the EGOT-winning multi-hyphenate still backed him on the talk show panel,
01:04stating that he was innocent until proven guilty.
01:07I know it's a shock, but you actually were innocent until proven guilty.
01:12Needless to say, her comments were not received well by the public.
01:16In light of the apparent evidence against Cosby,
01:18Goldberg eventually flipped her stance,
01:20acknowledging that it all pointed towards guilt.
01:23Gotta say, all of the information that's out there kind of points to guilt.
01:33Before Jerry Springer popularized the trash TV format,
01:36there was The Morton Downey Jr. Show.
01:38But, unlike Springer, who typically tried to quell fights on his set,
01:42Downey was the instigator.
01:44In one of his most famous episodes,
01:46the host brought on an adult entertainer named Kelly Everts,
01:49who claimed to be a performer for God.
01:52Kelly, let me tell you something, pal,
01:53if there's ever a milk strike, I'll know where to go.
01:55Throughout the segment, Downey called her several demeaning names,
01:58and at different points, pushed her with his pelvis.
02:05These were all met with loud cheers from his audience.
02:08Everts later sued Downey for $40 million,
02:11alleging that he had humiliated and physically assaulted her.
02:14It's not quite clear how the lawsuit ended,
02:17but Downey's show was canceled just two years after its premiere.
02:21Next we'll find out.
02:22Next time we'll find out that she's carrying Jesus.
02:29Like many things these days,
02:30it all started with a viral Twitter thread.
02:33In March 2020, comedian Kevin T. Porter's thread opened the floor
02:37to claims that talk show host Ellen DeGeneres was a pretty mean person.
02:41A few months later, BuzzFeed News published reports from former employees,
02:45who detailed years of harassment,
02:47intimidation and racist microaggressions by senior producers of the show.
02:52Ellen is now facing a major PR problem,
02:55following a BuzzFeed article that portrays the queen of nice as the queen of mean.
03:00According to them, this toxic environment was fostered by DeGeneres.
03:04Turns out the be kind lady may not have been keeping to her own words.
03:08An investigation by the production company
03:10led to the dismissal of three executive producers.
03:12Three of the show's senior producers fired.
03:15After accusations, the show created a toxic work culture.
03:18After 19 seasons on the air,
03:20the Ellen DeGeneres show came to an end in 2022.
03:24The truth is, I am that person that you see on TV.
03:27I am also a lot of other things.
03:30The next year, late night talk show host Jimmy Fallon
03:32would also be hit with similar accusations
03:35that The Tonight Show was a toxic workplace environment.
03:38Number 17.
03:39Rosie Perez and Kelly Osbourne on The View
03:42In 2015, Kelly Osbourne appeared as a guest co-host on The View.
03:46While trying to counter then-presidential candidate
03:49Donald Trump's controversial remarks about Mexican immigrants,
03:52Osbourne essentially put her foot in her mouth.
04:01Her fellow co-host Rosie Perez,
04:03who is of Puerto Rican descent,
04:05chimed in quickly and set her straight.
04:07I didn't mean it like that, come on.
04:09Perez, who had already announced her departure from The View
04:12at the end of that season,
04:13was reportedly forced by ABC executives
04:16to apologize to Osbourne during the live broadcast and on Twitter.
04:19Although these claims have been refuted by some insiders,
04:23it's believed that Perez cancelled her final live appearances
04:26on the show as a result of the incident.
04:28My apologies, Kelly Osbourne.
04:30I took your point wrong.
04:31Trump, Latinos, my bad.
04:33Your heart is so pure and righteous, I adore you.
04:36Number 16.
04:37Star Jones' Sudden Departure.
04:39The original lineup of The View consisted of creator Barbara Walters,
04:43Meredith Vieira, Debbie Matinopoulos, Joy Behar, and Star Jones.
04:47Jones remained on the show until 2006,
04:50when, seemingly out of nowhere,
04:51she announced that she would not be returning for the next season.
04:54The show's moving in another direction for its 10th season,
04:58and I will not be returning as co-host next year.
05:01This came as a shock to Walters,
05:03not because of what she said, but rather when it was said.
05:06Jones' departure was slated to be announced on June 29th, 2006,
05:10but the co-host decided to take matters into her own hands
05:12by breaking the news two days early.
05:14This is a surprise that this would come about this way.
05:18We did not expect it.
05:19This kicked off a tense feud between the two women.
05:22However, they appeared to have patched things up
05:24by Jones' next appearance on the show in 2012.
05:27It was a bad emotional time.
05:29Nasty things were being said.
05:31Number 15.
05:32Sharon Osbourne's View of The View.
05:35Nothing brings out the best and sometimes worst in us like competition.
05:39The Talk premiered in 2010,
05:41with a very similar format as that of The View,
05:44kicking off a ratings battle between both shows.
05:47When the ladies of The Talk appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show in 2013,
05:51he wanted to know how the two programs differed from each other.
05:54Just as Julie Chen attempted a diplomatic answer,
05:57Sharon Osbourne interrupted her with a rather blunt opinion.
06:00I love Barbara Walters.
06:02The rest can go f**k themselves.
06:04The incident certainly didn't do Osbourne or The Talk any favors.
06:08A few days later,
06:09she took a moment on the show to apologize for her remarks,
06:12shocking them up to her being a quote,
06:14loose cannon.
06:15Number 14.
06:17Ann Curry's Controversial Dismissal.
06:19Ann Curry had served as a news anchor on The Today Show for years
06:22before she was finally promoted to co-host in 2011.
06:26Curry's short time in the chair was reportedly troubled.
06:31According to some industry insiders,
06:35she was only given the job because the show's producers were unsure
06:38if longtime host Matt Lauer would renew his contract.
06:46Once it became clear that Lauer was staying,
06:48they apparently decided that Curry had to go.
06:51Just about a year after she got the job,
06:53Curry announced in a very emotional appearance that she would be leaving.
06:57Many viewers who were incensed at the controversial departure
07:00turned their backs on the show,
07:02resulting in their competitor Good Morning America taking the number one spot.
07:12Number 13.
07:14The Infamous Geraldo Brawl.
07:16There's a reason why tabloid talk shows quickly became known as trash TV
07:20and it's because of moments like this.
07:22In November 1988,
07:24Geraldo Rivera invited a panel to discuss a provocative topic.
07:32Among the lineup were some white supremacists,
07:35members of the Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice,
07:37as well as the African-American activist Roy Innes.
07:41Things began to escalate when one of the white supremacists
07:44referred to Innes with a derogatory term.
07:48Innes walked over and grabbed him by the neck,
07:51setting off a full-fledged brawl that left Rivera with a fractured nose.
07:55As expected, the incident gave the show a ratings bump,
07:58proving that when it comes to trash TV,
08:00there is no such thing as bad publicity.
08:14Number 12.
08:15Bryant Gumbel's Scathing Memo.
08:17About seven years into his role as the Today Show anchor,
08:20Bryant Gumbel was asked to write an assessment of the program
08:23by executive producer Marty Ryan.
08:25Gumbel did not hold back.
08:27His critiques were notably harsh
08:29and were directed at several of his colleagues,
08:32most notably the jovial weatherman Willard Scott.
08:34In the memo, Gumbel stated that Scott was quote,
08:37holding the show hostage to his assortment of whims,
08:40wishes, birthdays, and bad taste.
08:42He also had equally blunt words for some other staffers on the show.
08:46Unsurprisingly, Gumbel's memo eventually found its way
08:49into the hands of the press.
08:51The resulting fallout between him and Scott
08:53partly contributed to Today dropping to number two in the ratings.
09:01Number 11.
09:02Pat O'Brien's Lewd Voicemails.
09:04When it came to sportscasting,
09:06Pat O'Brien was one of the best in the business.
09:08Through the 80s and 90s,
09:10O'Brien made a name for himself in sports news
09:12and then became a host for the entertainment programs
09:14Access Hollywood and The Insider.
09:16He found himself embroiled in controversy in 2005
09:20when a series of explicit voicemails he sent
09:22to an unidentified woman leaked on the internet.
09:25O'Brien had just checked into rehab for alcohol use disorder
09:28when the messages,
09:29which he sent in a drunken state, became public.
09:39Following the incident,
09:41O'Brien was miraculously able to retain his job on The Insider.
09:45He was, however, fired three years later
09:47after sending out an ill-conceived email
09:49blasting his co-worker, Lara Spencer.
09:54Number 10.
09:55Dr. Phil Drug Scandal.
09:56In 2017, this long-running television program came under fire
10:00after former Survivor contestant Todd Herzog
10:03accused the producers of exploiting his substance use disorder
10:06to generate views.
10:07During his infamous appearance on the show,
10:09Herzog was so intoxicated he could not stand up on his own,
10:13indicating to viewers the seriousness of his condition.
10:16However, according to Herzog,
10:18he was coerced by staff into drinking two bottles of vodka
10:22and given Xanax to, quote,
10:24calm his nerves before filming.
10:28The Dr. Phil show has vehemently denied these claims.
10:31However, an exposé published in 2017
10:34by The Stat and The Boston Globe
10:36exhibited multiple victims making similar claims
10:38against the production.
10:43Number 9.
10:44Rosie O'Donnell vs. Elizabeth Hasselbeck.
10:46The view can sometimes feel like a daytime soap opera.
10:50Of all the scandals this talk show has endured over the years,
10:53the feud between co-hosts Rosie O'Donnell and Elizabeth Hasselbeck
10:57was perhaps the most notorious.
10:59The tension between the two reached its boiling point in 2007
11:03when Hasselbeck referred to Iraq as, quote,
11:06America's enemy,
11:08prompting O'Donnell to argue that the Bush administration
11:10was truly its enemy.
11:12The liberal O'Donnell additionally criticized the media
11:16for their unflattering portrayal of her,
11:18claiming that they favored the conservative Hasselbeck.
11:20Because here's how it gets spun in the media.
11:22Rosie, big, fat, lesbian, loud Rosie,
11:26attacks innocent, pure, Christian Elizabeth.
11:29And I'm not doing it.
11:30Following their heated argument,
11:32O'Donnell left the show,
11:33while Hasselbeck exited five years later.
11:36Number 8.
11:37Alice O'Donnell vs. Elizabeth Hasselbeck.
11:40Number 8.
11:41Alec Baldwin's offensive remarks.
11:44Although Alec Baldwin is one of the most outspoken liberals in showbiz,
11:48his behavior hasn't always lived up to his professed ideals.
11:51In 2013,
11:52the Oscar-nominated actor landed in hot water
11:55when he allegedly directed a gay slur at a paparazzo.
11:59In due course,
12:00Baldwin was suspended from his late-night talk show for two weeks.
12:03While Baldwin initially claimed he was misquoted,
12:06he ultimately described his outburst in an apology as,
12:09quote,
12:10offensive and unacceptable.
12:12However,
12:12the damage was done,
12:14as Up Late with Alec Baldwin was canceled after only five episodes.
12:19It probably didn't help that Baldwin also made homophobic remarks
12:22towards reporter George Stark on Twitter.
12:25Number 7.
12:26Maury Povich's harassment lawsuit.
12:28Maury Povich is no stranger to controversy,
12:31as many critics have accused his tabloid talk show of exploiting serious issues.
12:35Speaking of exploitation,
12:37a $100 million sex harassment lawsuit was filed against Povich
12:41and other members of his staff in 2006.
12:44The allegation stemmed from Bianca Nardi,
12:47a former producer of The Maury Povich Show,
12:49who claimed she had been forced to watch adult material
12:52and make advances at married men in bars while being filmed.
12:55She additionally accused executive producer Paul Fallhaber
12:58of making her wear revealing outfits,
13:00and implied that Povich was having an affair with producer Donna Ingber.
13:05Despite the scandal,
13:06Povich remained on television for years
13:08and is still married to Connie Chung.
13:11Number 6.
13:12Billy Bush fired from Today.
13:14Just when it seemed like the 2016 US presidential election
13:17couldn't get any crazier,
13:19a 2005 hot mic recording surfaced
13:22in which Republican candidate Donald Trump
13:24shared an offensive and potentially incriminating conversation
13:27with Access Hollywood host Billy Bush.
13:30On a bus ride,
13:31Trump not only admitted that he tried and failed to seduce Nancy O'Dell,
13:35but also made some vulgar statements
13:37while discussing actress Ariane Zucker.
13:39The scandal took a drastic toll on Bush's public image,
13:43resulting in his termination from The Today Show.
13:46Meanwhile, Trump continued his campaign
13:48and was elected president almost a month later.
14:01Number 5.
14:02Blackmail attempt against David Letterman.
14:04After a long, hard day,
14:06audiences would typically tune in to Late Show with David Letterman
14:09for a light-hearted laugh.
14:11The talk show took an uncomfortable turn in 2009 though,
14:14when Letterman confessed to having several sexual relationships
14:17with his female staffers.
14:19An extortionist had targeted Letterman,
14:21threatening to write a screenplay about the television host's affairs
14:25unless he coughed up $2 million.
14:32Cooperating with the Manhattan District Attorney's office,
14:35Letterman wrote a fake check
14:37and his blackmailer was arrested shortly after.
14:40While Letterman was met with some negative press
14:42following this shocking announcement,
14:44he eventually moved on from the scandal
14:46and hosted Late Show for six more years
14:48before retiring in 2015.
14:52Number 4.
14:52Oprah Winfrey vs. James Fry.
14:55It's a radical departure,
14:57it's not a classic,
14:58and it is also not fiction.
15:00James Fry hit it big time when his memoir,
15:02A Million Little Pieces,
15:04was selected for Oprah's Book Club in 2005.
15:06Chronicling Fry's history with substance use disorder,
15:09the book became a New York Times bestseller
15:12and a cultural sensation.
15:13If I was going to write a book that was true
15:15and I was going to write a book that was honest,
15:17then I was going to have to write about myself
15:20in very, very negative ways.
15:21Many readers felt cheated however,
15:23when it was revealed that Fry had fabricated information
15:27in his supposed true account.
15:29This didn't reflect well on Oprah,
15:31who invited Fry onto her show
15:32to talk about the controversy.
15:34Oprah didn't let Fry off with a slap on the wrist,
15:36eventually getting him to confess
15:38that he had made up parts of the story.
15:40She also brought on publisher Nan Talese
15:43to set the record straight.
15:45Number 3.
15:46Conan O'Brien vs. Jay Leno.
15:48The original war for late night
15:49can be traced back to 1992
15:52when Jay Leno became Johnny Carson's successor
15:54over David Letterman.
15:56This influenced Letterman to move from NBC to CBS,
15:59while Conan O'Brien was hired
16:01to fill the NBC late night time slot.
16:04History essentially repeated itself
16:05almost two decades later
16:07when Leno exited The Tonight Show
16:09so O'Brien could assume his hosting duties.
16:12Unfortunately, O'Brien's ratings struggled
16:14and the decision to give Leno a primetime talk show
16:17turned out to be a huge miscalculation.
16:20Since pushing back the schedule wasn't an option,
16:23O'Brien was given a $45 million payout
16:26while Leno returned to The Tonight Show in 2010.
16:30Number 2.
16:30Matt Lauer's misconduct allegations.
16:33In rapid succession,
16:35from Bill O'Reilly to Charlie Rose,
16:37media personalities were publicly accused
16:39of sexual harassment in 2017.
16:51However, the sexual misconduct allegations
16:56directed at Matt Lauer
16:58shocked audiences perhaps the most.
17:00A staple of The Today Show for almost 20 years,
17:03Lauer was abruptly fired
17:05after a female NBC employee
17:07accused him of sexually harassing her
17:09three years earlier.
17:14It became clear that this was unlikely
17:16to be an isolated incident
17:18as more women came forward.
17:20In one instance,
17:21Lauer was accused of summoning
17:22a former employee to his office
17:24and sexually assaulting her
17:26behind a locked door.
17:27The fact that Lauer was such a beloved host
17:30only made this more disturbing.
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17:48Number 1.
17:49Jenny Jones Guest Loses His Life
17:55The Jenny Jones Show aired for over a decade,
17:58but it's actually best remembered
18:00for an episode that never even aired.
18:02Entitled Same Sex Secret Crushes,
18:05the episode centered on a guest
18:06named Scott Amador,
18:08who, on the show,
18:09revealed his crush to an acquaintance
18:11named Jonathan Schmitz.
18:12Three days after the episode was taped,
18:14Schmitz reportedly found a suggestive note
18:17from Amador.
18:18Schmitz subsequently purchased a shotgun,
18:20shot Amador two times in the chest,
18:22and alerted the authorities of the crime
18:24he had just committed.
18:26Having a history of mental health issues,
18:28Schmitz was convicted of second-degree murder.
18:31Meanwhile, the Jenny Jones Show
18:33faced a wrongful death lawsuit
18:35and was forced to pay Amador's family
18:37$25 million.