By Megan Riedlinger
2:18am PDT, Jun 1, 2023
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Many of our favorite talk shows have endured some pretty intense scandals over the years — from battles between co-hosts to affair accusations, allegations of racism, toxic friendships and more. Join us as we take a look at some of the most unforgettable talk show scandals, feuds and controversies, starting with this drama…
In late April 2023, Fox News host Tucker Carlson — who hosted the network's most watched show — was fired in a move that stunned viewers. Though no reason was given, reports soon revealed that the call to oust the controversy-magnet anchor was made by Fox Corp. chair Rupert Murdoch himself following the conservative news channel's failed legal battle and massive settlement with Dominion Voting Systems — and amid a lawsuit from a producer on Tucker's show who alleged she was subjected to a hostile and discriminatory work environment rife with sexist vulgarities and antisemitic jokes.
Then — just two weeks after Tucker was unceremoniously sent packing — he announced he'd found a new home where he planned to launch a new version of his show "Fox News Tonight" — on Twitter. "Amazingly, as of tonight, there aren't many platforms left that allow free speech. The last big one remaining in the world, the only one, is Twitter. Where we are now," Tucker said in a video posted on the social media platform on May 9, 2023. "Starting soon we'll be bringing a new version of the show we've been doing for the last six and a half years to Twitter. We'll be bringing some other things too which we will tell you about, but for now we are just grateful to be here."
Twitter owner and CEO Elon Musk replied to Tucker's tweet to explain how he felt about the news. "On this platform, unlike the one-way street of broadcast, people are able to interact, critique and refute whatever he or anyone may say. And, of course, anything misleading will get @CommunityNotes," Elon wrote. "I also want to be clear that we have not signed a deal of any kind whatsoever. Tucker is subject to the same rules & rewards of all content creators. … I hope that many others, particularly from the left, also choose to be content creators on this platform."
On May 17, 2023, the Drudge Report reported that Fox News had decided on Tucker's replacement: Execs wanted Sean Hannity to take over in the coveted 8 p.m. time slot and would move hosts Jesse Watters and Greg Gutfeld to prime time as well. Fox News declined to confirm the scoop, with a spokesperson telling Mediaite, "No decision has been made on a new primetime line-up and there are multiple scenarios under consideration."
Keep reading for more memorable talk show host scandals, controversies and feuds…
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In May 2023, Rolling Stone published a story full of bombshell claims alleging that the set of singer Kelly Clarkson's eponymous talk show was a toxic workplace. The story quoted a current and 10 former staffers, some of whom said they were "bullied and intimidated," "overworked," "underpaid" and "traumatized" while working for Kelly's producers. The outlet further noted that its sources believed Kelly was unaware of what was going on behind the scenes. "NBC is protecting the show because it's their new money maker, but Kelly has no clue how unhappy her staff is," one person said.
Hours after the allegations were published, Kelly took to Instagram to respond, writing, "In my 20 years in the entertainment industry, I've always led with my heart and what I believed to be right. I love my team at 'The Kelly Clarkson Show,' and to find out that anyone is feeling unheard and or disrespected on this show is unacceptable. I have always been, and will continue to be, committed to creating a safe and healthy environment at 'The Kelly Clarkson Show.'" She continued, "As we prepare for a move to the east coast, I am more committed than ever to not only ensure that our team that is moving, but also our new team in NY, is comprised of the best and kindest in the business. Part of that build will include leadership training for all of the senior staff, including myself. There is always room to grow and ensure we are all being/becoming the best version of ourselves in any business, especially when it comes to leadership, to ensure that any notion of toxicity is eradicated."
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A scandal rocked morning TV in 2017 when multiple women accused "Today" host Matt Lauer of sexual misconduct. NBC fired him on Nov. 29, 2017, after confirming one staffer's story. (Other women's troubling tales soon surfaced.) The disgraced — and then-married — veteran host followed up his quick dismissal with a statement in which he apologized but denied the accuracy of some of the detailed allegations. "There are no words to express my sorrow and regret for the pain I have caused others by words and actions. To the people I have hurt, I am truly sorry," he said. "As I am writing this I realize the depth of the damage and disappointment I have left behind at home and at NBC. Some of what is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized, but there is enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed. I regret that my shame is now shared by the people I cherish dearly." He was replaced by colleague Hoda Kotb.
MORE: Former "Today" show hosts: Where are they now?
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Kelly Ripa — who celebrates 52nd birthday on Oct. 2, 2022 — and Michael Strahan had a pretty dramatic split in 2016 when the former football star announced he'd be leaving their morning program, "Live! With Kelly and Michael," for a lucrative new gig on "Good Morning America" — and only told Kelly minutes before the rest of the world even though they'd been co-hosting "Live!" together since 2012. (According to some reports, Michael and Kelly were anything but amicable behind-the-scenes long before he left.) Michael, who announced his big move to "GMA" in April that year, intended to remain with "Live!" through the summer — instead, he left in May amid mounting tensions. Kelly, who took some unscheduled time away from her show in the wake of Michael's new-job news, told People magazine a few weeks later that she felt blindsided by how everything went down. "I think that all people are deserving of fair treatment in the workplace. People deserve respect," she said. "People should be treated equally and with dignity."
MORE: The most notorious celebrity cheating scandals
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Awkward! One of the most uncomfortable shake-ups on late night television went down in 2009 when Conan O'Brien replaced a retiring Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show." After a few months, Jay decided he wanted his old job back — and NBC actually gave it to him! Ultimately, Conan — who went on to host his own show on TBS — only had seven months in the "Tonight Show" chair before Jay reclaimed his spot. Jay retired for good in 2014, paving the way for Jimmy Fallon to take over the coveted gig. Conan, meanwhile, retired from late night TV in June 2021.
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On Nov. 30, 2022, DailyMail.com published a bombshell story alleging that "Good Morning America" co-hosts Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes — who were both married to other people at the time — had evolved their friendship into a romantic relationship many months earlier. The outlet shared photos of the morning show journalists holding hands in a car, getting close at a New York City bar and touching intimately during an upstate New York getaway. DailyMail.com further claimed that the colleagues' relationship turned romantic in June 2022 when they were in London covering the Queen's Diamond Jubilee for ABC and that both of their marriages — Amy's to former "Melrose Place" actor Andrew Shue, T.J.'s to attorney Marilee Fiebig — ended in August 2022.
"There were rumors they were having an affair about a year ago," a source told People magazine. "A lot of people believed there might have been some truth to it, because you can see there's a mutual affection there. But everyone ultimately chalked it up to friendship because they always said they were both happily married." The following day, People — citing an insider — reported that Amy and T.J. didn't start dating until after they'd separated from their spouses. "This was two consenting adults who were each separated. They both broke up with their spouses in August within weeks of each other. The relationship didn't start until after that," claimed the insider.
In the wake of the scandal, ABC pulled both Amy and T.J. off the air on Dec. 5 while the network's president figured out next steps, and nearly two months later on Jan. 27, 2023, both were let go. "After several productive conversations … about different options, we all agreed it's best for everyone that they move on from ABC News," an ABC News spokesperson said.
Keep reading for more on T.J.'s other alleged affairs…
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On Jan. 19, 2023, DailyMail.com reported that back in 2015 — seven years before he made headlines for his alleged affair with "Good Morning America" co-anchor Amy Robach — T.J. Holmes cheated on his now-estranged wife, Marilee Fiebig, with then-24-year-old ABC script coordinator Jasmin Pettaway, who's 13 years his junior and initially connected with him while seeking opportunities for mentorship. "He was a predator who took full advantage of his position, and he was reckless," a source said. "It was Jasmin's first real job in television, and it was a big deal for her. She was looking for a mentor and she reached out to several people. T.J was someone who was responsive, but he absolutely abused the position of trust."
The source went on to allege that Jasmin and T.J. — who worked as a freelance contributor for ABC News at the time — often went out for drinks together before things between them took a turn. "I don't know how long that had been going on before it got sexual, but I do know the first time it did was in his office, and he was about to go on air in a couple of hours," the source said, adding that the first time T.J. and Jasmin hooked up, there was "an atmosphere shift, almost an expectation that something's going to happen, and it did." Continued the alleged insider, "They had sex and I know she was confused afterwards as to what it meant. That kind of 'Did that just really happen?' feeling. I mean, that's pretty risky behavior on his part." The source also alleged that T.J. once "got handsy" with Jasmin in a public place. "He just didn't seem to care. You know he's wearing his ring. He has a wife, he has a relatively high-profile job, but he wasn't acting like he was concerned about either of those things at the time," the source said.
T.J.'s alleged affair with Jasmin reportedly "fizzled out" after several months. "It didn't last long but you have to wonder if he ever invested in being a mentor at all?" the source speculated. "Jasmin was a beautiful girl and he had it all on his terms. He was interested and then he wasn't. This was a young woman, starting out in a difficult industry, looking for role models and mentors and she got T.J. No one talked about abuse of power back then, but stuff happened … Did he ever want to be professional when it came to Jasmin or just spoil the fruits he'd been given? I don't know. I just know he was always looking to be the guy with the swagger. He didn't seem to care that he was married or that he could be risking his job."
According to multiple DailyMail.com sources, Jasmin wasn't the only young female colleague who caught T.J.'s eye: A woman described as "a young network intern" once alleged that she was left feeling "stressed" and "freaked out" by T.J.'s unwanted advances. DailyMail.com reported that at least one executive producer at ABC News ignored attempts to sound the alarm on T.J.'s "behavioral issues" — the EP replied that he or she "didn't want to know" about what "a huge liability" he'd become. Page Six previously reported that from 2016 to 2019, T.J. had an affair with yet another colleague — then-married "GMA" producer Natasha Singh. He also reportedly cheated with another unnamed "GMA" staffer. It's unclear if the second woman is Jasmine or someone else.
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For nearly a decade, wildly popular morning hosts Katie Couric and Matt Lauer worked side by side leading NBC's "Today" show. Their friendship continued after Katie left in 2006, but it imploded spectacularly after Matt was accused of sexual misconduct and let go from the network in 2017. "We have no relationship [now]," Katie told current co-anchor Savannah Guthrie on an October 2021 episode "Today" while promoting her memoir "Going There." "There was a side of Matt I never really knew," Katie explained. "As I got more information and learned what was going on behind the scenes, it was really upsetting and disturbing. It was really devastating, but also disgusting," she added of his alleged history of sexual harassment and abuse of power in the workplace. Katie said she "tried to understand … why he was so reckless and callous, and honestly abusive to other women" and further shared that Matt "thinks I betrayed him," which makes her "sad." But she too felt betrayed — by what he did — while working on the show they "both loved," she added. In September 2022, RadarOnline claimed that, according to a source, Matt has plans to "get even" with colleagues including Katie in a future tell-all book.
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On "The View" during a Jan. 31, 2022, discussion about a Tennessee school district's ban of the Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel "Maus," which is about a Holocaust survivor, co-host Whoopi Goldberg shocked viewers when she claimed, "The Holocaust isn't about race. … It's about man's inhumanity to man." Whoopi soon apologized on social media, on a late night show and on "The View" the next day, explaining, "My words upset so many people, which was never my intention. I understand why. The information I got was really helpful," she said in part. "I said the Holocaust wasn't about race and was instead about man's inhumanity to man. It is indeed about race because Hitler and the Nazis considered Jews to be the inferior race. Words matter and mine are no exception. I regret my comments and I stand corrected." It wasn't enough for network execs: On Feb. 1, Whoopi was suspended for two weeks over "her wrong and hurtful comments" about the Holocaust. Said Kim Godwin, the president of ABC News, "While Whoopi has apologized, I've asked her to take time to reflect and learn about the impact of her comments. The entire ABC News organization stands in solidarity with our Jewish colleagues, friends, family and communities." Celebrities, meanwhile, took to social media to weigh in on the controversy with most condemning Whoopi's comments and others voicing their support following her apologies.
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James Corden made headlines in mid-2021 when a viral petition accused him of spurring anti-Asian racism with the "Spill Your Guts" segment on "The Late Late Show." Here's the premise: If a guest on the comedian's talk show doesn't want to answer a difficult question, he or she can sample a unique food dish instead. James has called the menu items — many of which are mainstays in different Asian cultures — "really disgusting" and "horrific." Explained the petition starter, "In the wake of the constant Asian hate crimes that have continuously been occurring, not only is this segment incredibly culturally offensive and insensitive, but it also encourages anti-Asian racism. … So many Asian Americans are consistently bullied and mocked for their native foods, and this segment amplifies and encourages it." James later admitted that he and his colleagues "completely understand" the criticism. He also promised to make changes: "It's not for us to determine whether somebody's upset or hurt about something. … All we can do is go, 'All right, we get it. We won't do that,'" he told radio host Howard Stern. "Our show is a show about joy and light and love. We don't want to make a show to upset anybody."
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Jay Leno is no stranger to feuding with his fellow late night hosts. His drama with David Letterman goes back to the early '90s when Jay was chosen over Dave to replace Johnny Carson as the host of "The Tonight Show." Their long-running rivalry — which inspired the non-fiction book "The Late Shift: Letterman, Leno, and the Network Battle for the Night," as well as a 1996 HBO movie based on the book — lasted for decades. Following Jay's drama with Conan O'Brien in 2009 and 2010, Dave even remarked that there are "two kinds of talk show hosts: Jay Leno, and those who have been victimized by Jay Leno."
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2020 wasn't the best year for Ellen DeGeneres. That March, comedian and podcast producer Kevin T. Porter — in an effort to raise money for a local food bank — took to Twitter to encourage people to share stories exposing the superstar and debunking her public image as one of the nicest celebs in Hollywood. Kevin tweeted, "Respond to this with the most insane stories you've heard about Ellen being mean & I'll match every one w/ $2 to @LAFoodBank." He received more than 2,000 responses. Then over the summer, former employees of the comedian's talk show anonymously alleged that the show fostered a culture of meanness and discrimination that saw many subjected to racist remarks, microaggressions and sexual misconduct — in spite of the star's "be kind" mantra. Ellen finally spoke out publicly about the controversy and allegations against her in September. "As you may have heard this summer there were allegations of a toxic work environment at our show, and then there was an investigation," she told her audience while kicking off a new season. "I learned that things happened here that never should have happened. I take that very seriously, and I want to say I'm so sorry to the people who were affected. I know that I'm in a position of privilege and power, and I realize that with that comes responsibility, and I take responsibility for what happens at my show." In 2021, Ellen announced she would step down once her contract ended in 2022, and her final show aired in May. Kelly Clarkson took over Ellen's time slot when her show returned for its fourth season in the fall of 2022.
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"The Real" is done, and one host went looking for a scapegoat. On April 8, 2022, multiple reports claimed the morning talk show had been canceled after eight seasons and a few hours later, panelist Loni Love confirmed that the show was over and pinned its demise on COVID-19. On Instagram, Loni said that the cast and crew did "everything we could to scale the show down … We shot 7-8 shows in 3 days, no audience, made a conference room into a studio, but in my opinion Covid costs killed this show." Critics, however, blamed viewership, not the pandemic: "The Real" traditionally ranked dead last in the ratings when compared to its daytime talk show competitors.
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On March 14, 2021, "The Talk" announced that it was going on a brief hiatus while CBS reviewed a heated exchange between Sharon Osbourne and fellow co-host Sheryl Underwood. Just a few days earlier, the women got into an on-air altercation after Sharon defended Piers Morgan's controversial comments about Duchess Meghan. (He questioned the validity of her mental health struggles and her allegations of racism within the royal family.) Sharon demanded that Sheryl "educate" her on racism and later said that she'd been accused of being racist for backing Piers. After the exchange, Sharon apologized on Twitter. Piers later alleged that "The Talk" producers pressured Sharon to apologize. He then demanded an apology from "The Talk." A few weeks later, CBS said Sharon "has decided to leave 'The Talk.'"
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CBS's "The Talk" clearly has had its fair share of drama behind the scenes. The show, which started in 2010 and is based on the British daily program "Loose Women," originally featured six co-hosts — Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Holly Robinson Peete, Leah Remini and Marissa Jaret Winokur. Leah and Holly were released from the show after just one season in 2011. Leah later took to Twitter to call out Sharon for being instrumental in their firing, writing, "Sharon thought me and Holly were 'ghetto'… we were not funny, awkward, and didn't know ourselves," she tweeted. "She has the power that was given to her." Sharon later tweeted in response, "I had absolutely nothing to do with her departure [from] the show and have no idea why she continues to… spread this false gossip."
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In May 2021, things were getting so tense (and personal) on "The View" that an ABC exec reportedly had to step in. TMZ reported that the president of ABC News held an emergency meeting with "The View" talent and producers to demand that co-hosts Meghan McCain and Joy Behar tone down their increasingly heated verbal sparring. (Around the time, Meghan also made headlines when she snapped at Whoopi Goldberg when the comedian — who serves as the panel's moderator — said they had to cut to a commercial break. "Why are you cutting me off?!" an incensed Meghan yelled.) ABC allegedly had been flooded with calls to fire the show's lone conservative talking head, and the head of ABC indicated that the constant bickering between Meghan and Joy was coming off as "toxic." (The difference of opinion between the two women has been well-chronicled since Meghan joined the show in 2017.) Apparently Meghan didn't take too kindly to the meeting: She reportedly stormed out before it ended because she felt she was being "attacked." Just weeks later, she officially resigned from the panel, attributing her decision to her desire to raise her new daughter in the Washington, D.C., area rather than in New York City, where "The View" films.
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Jimmy Fallon made headlines in May 2020 when an old "Saturday Night Live" sketch from the year 2000 — in which he donned blackface while impersonating Chris Rock — resurfaced on Twitter. Amid the controversy, the "Tonight Show" host took a week-long break from his late night time slot. He returned with an apology: "In 2000, while on 'SNL,' I made a terrible decision to do an impersonation of Chris Rock while in blackface," he wrote on Twitter. "There is no excuse for this. I am very sorry for making this unquestionably offensive decision and thank all of you for holding me accountable." The resurfaced sketch spurred calls to cancel Jimmy — #jimmyfallonisoverparty even trended on Twitter — but Chris actually came to Jimmy's defense. "Hey, man, I'm friends with Jimmy. Jimmy's a great guy. And he didn't mean anything," the "Fargo" actor told The New York Times. "A lot of people want to say intention doesn't matter, but it does. And I don't think Jimmy Fallon intended to hurt me. And he didn't."
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Megyn Kelly had a tumultuous ride at NBC: Her bumpy tenure lasted a little more than a year and ended with a scandal. Early on, reports suggested that the former Fox News personality, who'd inked a three-year deal worth a reported $69 million to $75 million, was rubbing her new NBC co-workers the wrong way. Her morning show — the third hour of "Today," which was dubbed "Megyn Kelly Today" — also lagged in the ratings department. The beginning of the end for Megyn came on Oct. 23, 2018, when she said on her show that it was fair game to wear blackface for Halloween "as long as it's a character." Many of her colleagues disagreed — and they didn't hide their feelings. The following day, as the backlash to her comments grew, Megyn issued a mea culpa: "The country feels so divided and I have no wish to add to that pain and offense. I believe this is a time for more understanding, more love, more sensitivity and honor. … Thank you for listening and for helping me listen too," she said. "It is not OK for that to be part of any costume. Halloween or otherwise. I've never been a PC kind of person, but I do understand the value of being sensitive to our history. Particularly on race and ethnicity." But her apology wasn't enough. Days later, multiple media outlets reported that NBC gave Megyn the boot. She immediately started exit negotiations, which did not go smoothly and lasted for more than two months. (Ultimately, Page Six reported, she left with $30 million — the balance left on her contract with NBC.) Adding to the drama, Megyn parted ways with her longtime talent agency, CAA, around the same time.
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Behind-the-scenes drama on "The View" dates all the way back to its inception. One of the talk show's original hosts, Star Jones, suddenly fell out with co-host and series creator Barbara Walters in 2006 — nearly a decade after "The View" launched in 1997 — when ABC told her (through her agent rather than in person) that her popularity "had dropped" and that they wouldn't be renewing her contract. "I feel like I was fired," she told People magazine at the time. Barbara planned to reveal on-air that Star would be leaving the show on good terms, but instead, the attorney beat her to the punch, making the announcement two days earlier than planned. Barbara later told People magazine she felt "betrayed" and blindsided by the move. A few years later, Star's inexperience on the talk show inspired her book "Satan's Sisters" (tell us how you really feel!) — which in turn inspired a short-lived satirical VH1 series called "Daytime Divas." But that wasn't the end of the drama. In 2019, writer Ramin Setoodeh — who interviewed Star for his book "Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive Inside Story of The View" — alleged that things really soured between Star and Barbara when Star began to suspect that Barbara leaked news of her 2007 gastric bypass surgery to the press.
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In June 2012, Ann Curry's tearful exit from the "Today" show caused major waves and spurred several nasty rumors about the nature of her departure. Brian Stelter's book "Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV" eventually substantiated many of the whispers about what went down. The tell-all alleges that members of the "Today" show staff mistreated Ann and made her life "torture" for her last few months on the show. Reporter Joe Hagan also confirmed the validity of the rumors, sharing that an NBC staff member told him, "Everybody at NBC, everybody at the 'Today' show, everybody understood that Ann was kicked out of her position because Matt [Lauer] didn't want her there. That's why it was so personal between Ann and Matt."
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In November 2013, MSNBC canceled Alec Baldwin's late night talk show, "Up Late with Alec Baldwin," after just five episodes when the Emmy-winning actor made headlines for allegedly using a homophobic slur while talking to paparazzi. He ended up apologizing later, saying, "Words are important. I understand that, and will choose mine with great care going forward. What I said and did this week, as I was trying to protect my family, was offensive and unacceptable." The apology didn't save his show.
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Megyn Kelly irked Jane Fonda when she asked the actress-activist about her plastic surgery and aging during an appearance on a September 2017 episode of "Megyn Kelly Today." The Oscar winner — who was visibly annoyed by the question — clapped back, "We really want to talk about that now?" She then pivoted to discussing the film she was there to promote: "Our Souls at Night." The awkward interaction made headlines for days. After Jane made a joke about it on the "Today" show a few months later, Megyn accused Jane of being "fixated" on the exchange. Megyn also derided what she described as Jane's "'poor me' routine" and denounced the actress for more than three minutes, insinuating that her anti-Vietnam War protests were unpatriotic. "By the way, [Jane] still says she's 'not proud' of America," Megyn said. "So the moral indignation is a little much." Many thought Megyn's rant was a little much too.
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When Natalie Morales left the "Today" show to host "Access Hollywood" in 2016, her abrupt departure sparked questions about the nature of her relationship with Matt Lauer. (Both were married at the time.) According to Page Six, there was speculation she left because "Matt didn't want to work with her" after things took a turn in their relationship. It wasn't the first time the friendly colleagues — who released statements denying the claims — were linked. In 2006, there were rumors that Matt's then-wife, Annette Roque, filed for divorce when she discovered he and Natalie had an alleged affair while covering the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. (Annette ultimately withdrew her petition for divorce that time.)
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Steve Harvey made headlines in 2017 when a memo he sent to the staff of his eponymous talk show surfaced on the internet. The note didn't exactly jive with his friendly on-air persona: It essentially told staffers to stay away from him. Among the commands Steve wrote in the memo? "Do not come to my dressing room unless invited. … Do not approach me while I'm in the makeup chair unless I ask to speak with you directly. … Do not attempt to walk with me [in the hallway]." After the memo went viral, Steve wisely opted to bail on a wrap party for his show.
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Billy Bush didn't last long on the "Today" show. In 2016 — just a few months after he transferred over from "Access Hollywood" — hot mic audio from a 2005 interview he conducted with Donald Trump leaked: Billy could be heard laughing agreeably as the "Apprentice" star made lewd comments about soap star Arianne Zucker and bragged about kissing and groping women. The "Today" show swiftly gave Billy the boot … while Trump went on to become president. "Obviously I'm embarrassed and ashamed," Billy said in a statement after the tape went viral. "It's no excuse, but this happened 11 years ago — I was younger, less mature, and acted foolishly in playing along. I'm very sorry."
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During a 2004 appearance on CNN's "Crossfire" with Tucker Carlson, Jon Stewart accused the show of "hurting America" and called Tucker and co-host Paul Begala "partisan hacks." Said Jon, "You're doing theater when you should be doing debate. What you do is not honest. What you do is partisan hackery." When Tucker — who's now a Fox News star — fired back with insults about "The Daily Show," which Jon hosted at the time, the actor hit back that he does comedy, which is different: "You're on CNN. The show leading into me is puppets making crank phone calls. What is wrong with you?" Jon went on to address his controversial comments on "The Daily Show," though he didn't offer up an apology: "Apparently, when you invite someone on a show called 'Crossfire' and you express your opinion, they don't care for that," he said.
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In 2009, David Letterman fessed up to having affairs with multiple colleague during his time as the host of "Late Show With David Letterman." The confession came after a television producer with knowledge of one of the affairs attempted to extort the comedian for $2 million. David beat him to the punch by sharing the news himself. "I'm terribly sorry," he said while coming clean on his late night show. He added that wife Regina Lasko — whom he'd married earlier that year after more than a decade of coupledom — had "been horribly hurt by my behavior."
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Stephen Colbert bombed while serving as the featured entertainer during the 2006 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. He channeled his conservative "The Colbert Report" alter ego as he delivered a critical monologue focused on President George W. Bush, who was in office at the time, and it just didn't land with the dinner's attendees. A video of the monologue, however, went viral, ultimately contributing to a boom in ratings for his show.
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In July 2020, ViacomCBS fired Nick Cannon over anti-Semitic remarks he made on his "Cannon's Class" podcast. The company said in a statement that Nick — who's long hosted MTV and Nickelodeon shows like "Lip Sync Battle Shorties" and "Wild 'N Out" — had "promoted hateful speech and spread anti-Semitic conspiracy theories." According to Page Six, Nick said he didn't initially apologize because he felt that Black people were "true Hebrews." Nick went on to demand full ownership of "Wild 'N Out" and ViacomCBS released a statement explaining that execs were "deeply troubled that Nick failed to acknowledge or apologize for perpetuating anti-Semitism." The music star and television host eventually issued an apology, telling his "Jewish sisters and brothers" that he was sorry for "the hurtful and divisive words that came out of my mouth… They reinforced the worst stereotypes of a proud and magnificent people and I feel ashamed of the uninformed and naïve place that these words came from…"
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In May 2007, "The View" panelists Rosie O'Donnell — who'd just joined the cast that year — and Elisabeth Hasselbeck — who was into her fifth season at the time — butted heads over a sensitive and timely issue: the war in Iraq. The extremely heated debate played out unedited on live television. The end result of the uncomfortable and intense verbal altercation? ABC announced that contract negotiations with Rosie fell through and that she would not return for a second season of "The View." (She did eventually return in July 2014 — only to leave again in February 2016, calling the move a "personal decision.") More than a decade later, the two women made headlines again when Rosie admitted she once had a crush on Elisabeth and the conservative talking head called the revelation "disturbing."
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Oprah Winfrey landed in hot water when she featured James Frey's alleged memoir "A Million Little Pieces" in her wildly successful book club. It was soon brought to the talk show host's attention that the author fabricated major portions of the "memoir." So the media mogul invited the writer to appear on an early 2006 episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" … during which she went after him hard over his lies. The press dubbed James "the man who conned Oprah" — and her anger was evident during her interview with him. (She later apologized to the author for the intense line of questioning.)
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Former "Access Hollywood" and "The Insider" host Pat O'Brien made headlines in 2005 when he left a string of offensive, expletive-filled voicemails for a woman he'd just met. The graphic nature of his messages — which the woman shared with the press — shocked longtime viewers as they contradicted his then-squeaky-clean image. He promptly checked into rehab for alcoholism. Pat later told Oprah Winfrey that he didn't even remember the calls. "One of the byproducts of alcoholism are blackouts," he said. "I don't remember it." But three years later, Pat was fired from "The Insider" following another scandal! In a leaked email he'd written to co-workers, Pat rudely claimed that footage of colleague Lara Spencer picking out accessories made viewers "want to vomit."
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Jimmy Kimmel enraged Chinese people around the globe when he made an insensitive joke about China on a 2013 episode of his eponymous late night show. During a controversial "Jimmy Kimmel Live" segment, the comedian responded "that's an interesting idea" after a child suggested "killing everyone in China" as a solution to dealing with America's growing debt. The statement enraged Chinese American groups, which demanded an apology. Jimmy ultimately obliged: "I thought it was obvious that I didn't agree with that statement, but apparently it wasn't," he said. "So I just want to say I am sorry. I apologize. It was certainly not my intent to upset anyone. I'm here to turn frowns upside down."
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Sometimes there's even bad blood between talk shows! During a late-2013 appearance on "The Arsenio Hall Show," "The Talk" co-host Sharon Osbourne made some not-so-friendly remarks about rival female-driven daytime show "The View." She noted that although she loved Barbara Walters, the rest of the women who host "The View" could "go f*** themselves." The comment was not well-received, and Sharon eventually issued an apology.
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Elisabeth Hasselbeck was a controversy magnet from the moment she joined "The View" in 2003. She often butted heads with her fellow panelists — namely Rosie O'Donnell — while representing the conservative stance. In 2013, rumors started swirling that ABC was gearing up to fire Elisabeth. The buzz got so bad, Barbara Walters was forced to shut it down, explaining on air that the conservative talking head was not being fired over her political views but rather decided to leave the show of her own volition. In July 2013, Elisabeth exited "The View" to take a job at Fox News.
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Even Barbara Walters isn't a fan of "The View" these days! The legendary TV journalist created the show, which debuted in 1997, but handed over the reins in 2014 after 17 seasons on the air. Ever since, there've been whispers that she's not exactly thrilled with how things turned out. Page Six once reported that Barbara felt executives ruined the series by casting "uninformed child actors" to sit on the panel (see: "Full House" star Candace Cameron Bure and former "The Cosby Show" actress Raven-Symoné) instead of "smart, educated women with strong talent." According to Julie Chen — a former moderator on rival show "The Talk" — that's accurate! "I believed every word I read in Page Six. I do think Barbara Walters is probably like, 'This amazing show I created is now just kind of withering away with a revolving door of hosts that people can't keep straight.' I mean, I should know all the names of the hosts and I don't because it changes so often!" Julie told Bravo's Andy Cohen.
