By Mark Gray
5:21am PDT, May 18, 2023
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Whoops! We've all said things under our breath before, and celebrities have as well. The difference? They're often mic'd up. Over the years, celebrities, politicians and especially newscasters have all fallen victim to a hot mic gaffe. Join us as we take a look at some of the worst…
On May 12, 2023, a prominent New York City news anchor was fired after a hot mic allegedly caught him using a four-letter slur to describe his co-anchor. Ken Rosato was "immediately let go" after making the vulgar remark — he called colleague Shirleen Allicot a c*** — that was heard "on an open mic," Page Six reported. Although Ken had been with WABC for two decades, the news business wasn't his first profession: He was once a priest in Hollywood, Florida.
The website of the Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Community indicates that Ken was a pastor there. The now-disgraced journalist's church was started in October 2002 when "a small group of South Florida Catholics wanted to worship in an accepting environment that offered Catholic tradition with valid sacraments, and the parish was born," the church's website says. "While we are independent of the authority of the Roman Catholic Church, we do respect the institution and other such institutions retaining valid Apostolic Succession (members of the Orthodox and Anglican Communions). Worshippers can feel free to attend our masses knowing that they will not be judged for their human frailties."
Keep reading to see who else has had an epic hot mic moment…
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A Billy Bush hot mic moment won't stay hidden forever (sound familiar?)… While hosting "Extra" on Oct. 31, 2022, Billy was speaking about Kendall Jenner's "Toy Story"-inspired Halloween costume. "Kendall goes as Jessie and, believe me, there were a lot of woodies," Billy said, making a quip referencing the animated movie's lead character, Woody. Many unnamed producers laughed. The leak, which occurred on Jan. 6, 2023, was unauthorized.
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Even the "King of All Media" is not immune to a slip-up. During a break in one of his July 2022 Sirius XM shows, Howard Stern — who didn't realize his microphone was still on — let it slip that he's part of Marvel's upcoming "Doctor Doom" project, which had yet to be officially announced. The bombshell dropped as the radio icon spoke with his show's producer about booking potential guests for the show. He then said his schedule was booked solid for the summer. "Are you working this summer?" co-host Robin Quivers asked Howard, to which he replied, "I told you, I'm going to do 'Doctor Doom.'" While this would be a major role for many people, Howard admitted that he's not exactly enjoying the experience. "Believe me, I'm f****** miserable about it," he said.
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President Barack Obama threw shade at Kanye West in a hot mic moment in 2009. During an off-the-record portion of a television interview with CNBC, a reporter asked the POTUS about Kanye's infamous "imma let you finish" interruption of Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Obama muttered, "He's a jacka**." Obama stood by the comment years later. "He is a jacka**," he told Atlantic Monthly in 2012. "But he's talented."
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Justin Bieber had a real issue with a "Today" show cameraman in 2015, and his hot mic comments aired. The singer, it seemed, was fuming at the close camera angles. "The camera's there the whole time, I might as well not even dance," he was caught saying. "What do I even do this for?"
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It's one of the most famous hot mic moments in history, and one that many thought would sink Donald Trump's political aspirations. While running for president in 2016, hot mic audio from a 2005 "Access Hollywood" interview with then-host Billy Bush leaked. In the recording, the businessman and reality TV star bragged about groping and kissing women, saying he would "grab 'em by the p****." He added, "When you're a star, they let you do it." The tape did nothing to slow Trump's momentum, as he went on to become president. In 2023, he doubled down on his words when asked about the claim. "Historically, that's true with stars. If you look over the last million years, that's largely true, unfortunately — or fortunately," he said in a video deposition that was part of writer E. Jean Carroll's civil sex abuse lawsuit against him.
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Savannah Guthrie accidentally uttered a four-letter word live on the "Today" show in 2018. "Oh, s***," she said while reading something, unaware her microphone was on. "Sorry, guys," she noted. Later that day, the newswoman took to Twitter to apologize again. "Check, check – is this thing on? Yeah I guess it is. So sorry guys. Thanks for being kind and understanding," she wrote, hinting that she just may have a potty mouth off camera. "And guess it's good thing I don't wear a mic all day. #ohdarn."
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Ahead of his 2005 wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles — now Queen Consort Camilla — King Charles III unintentionally let it be known that he didn't like the hoopla. While posing for photos with his sons, audio caught him saying, "I hate doing this, bloody people." In telling Prince William to "keep smiling, keep smiling," Charles also called a BBC correspondent "so awful."
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While the majority of hot mic moments are trivial in the grand scheme of things, Robert Durst's moment was far, far different: He seemingly confessed to murder. The millionaire was the subject of HBO's 2015 documentary series "The Jinx," a show that investigated the deaths of three people close to Robert, including his first wife. During a break in filming, the real estate heir went to the restroom and didn't realize that he was still wearing a microphone — or that it was still on. "What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course," he muttered. The comments would help lead to his arrest.
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President Ronald Reagan was preparing for a weekly broadcast at his California ranch in 1984 when his crew asked him for a mic check. Ronnie didn't do the old "testing one, two" thing but rather an ad-libbed a speech of sorts. "My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes," he said. The press got ahold of the hot mic moment and shared it. Russia was NOT pleased.
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Britney Spears could have been on this list several times. Prior to performing at a music festival in Brazil in 2001, the pop star didn't know her microphone was on when she took issue with the production and the lack on entertainment occurring on stage. "Don't tell me they're just letting the audience f****** stand out there like that. Oh my God … Let's hurry y'all, seriously. This is r*******." In that same conversation, she complained about her outfit. "Oh, my pants are too short, I grew… I know, I'm not just going to stand out there, I thought they were going to f****** vamp! OK, thanks. This is r*******." It was all broadcast. On the bright side, at least it wasn't lip-synced! In another moment that took place a few years later, she was caught on tape complaining about her outfit in fairly graphic terms.
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Former MSNBC anchor Chris Matthews couldn't take his gaze off of Melania Trump once, and his viewers found out. While her husband was running for president in 2016, Chris was caught on the mic swooning over Melania. "Did you see her walk?" he said. "Runway walk. My God is that good."
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Christian Bale's temper got the best of him in 2009, and it was all caught on tape. The actor was filming "Terminator Salvation" when the film's cinematographer walked onto the set. Christian unloaded. "I want you off the f****** set, you p****," he screamed. "You are trashing my scene." Christian eventually apologized, insisting he was in character. Still, he said he felt awful and took it too far.
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Say it ain't so, Joe. President Joe Biden had a hot mic moment in January 2022 after a Fox News reporter asked a question about the political ramifications of inflation. "That's a great asset, more inflation," the POTUS said under his breath, not realizing the microphone was picking it up. He then added, "What a stupid son of a b****." He later called the reporter to apologize.
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It was the rant heard around the world! In December 2020, The Sun leaked audio of Tom Cruise laying into crew members on the set of "Mission: Impossible 7" for violating COVID-19 protocols. In the expletive-laced tirade, Tom yelled, "I don't ever want to see it again. Ever! And if you don't do it, you're fired, and I see you do it again, you're f****** gone." The movie star, who's also a producer on the film, noted how important following mitigation rules was from a financial standpoint. "You can tell it to the people who are losing their f****** homes because our industry is shut down. It's not going to put food on their table or pay for their college education. That's what I sleep with every night," he said. "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." When the hot mic moment was brought up months later, Tom stuck to his guns. "I said what I said," he told Empire. "There was a lot at stake at that point … But it wasn't my entire crew. I had the crew leave the set, and it was just select people." Filming "never shut down again" after his rant, Tom said. "And here we are, continuing to film."
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Dr. Anthony Fauci became a household name during the COVID pandemic that kicked off in 2020 — when he was director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases — and was essentially on camera daily. Soon, he became a lightning rod of controversy due to his cautious and science-based approach to the pandemic and because of then-president Donald Trump's attacks against him. During a Senate hearing, Fauci's finances were discussed. Sen. Roger Marshall suggested the physician wasn't being upfront about his money, based solely on the fact that the politician couldn't figure out how much Fauci made. As a government employee, Fauci's salary is public record, as is Sen. Marshall's! "What a moron," a hot mic caught Fauci muttering. "Jesus Christ!"
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While running for president, then-candidate George W. Bush and his running mate were caught on a hot mic ripping a New York Times reporter. The future POTUS called the journalist a "major-league a******." The incoming veep agreed, "Yeah, big time." Later, Bush said he didn't feel the need to back down or apologize. "I said what I said. I'm a plainspoken fellow," he proclaimed.
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Bill O'Reilly became a well-known name due to his time on Fox News, but his hot mic moment — which has gone viral on many occasions — happened while he anchored "Inside Edition." After his teleprompter went down, Bill berated the team around him. "We'll do it live!" he screamed, "I'll write it, and we'll do it live! F****** thing sucks!"
