Celebs Permanently Banned From Talk Shows

Talk shows rely heavily on the chemistry between hosts and guests to create entertaining television, but sometimes these interactions go terribly wrong. While most awkward interviews are simply forgotten, some celebrities behave so poorly that they are officially blacklisted from returning. Whether due to backstage altercations, on-air insults, or physical destruction of property, hosts have various reasons for barring specific stars. Here are the celebrities who found themselves permanently unwelcome on popular talk show sets.

Hugh Grant

Jon Stewart publicly named this British actor the worst guest he ever hosted during his time on ‘The Daily Show’. During a 2009 appearance to promote ‘Did You Hear About the Morgans?’, Grant was reportedly rude to the production staff and complained endlessly about the venue. Stewart was so frustrated with the actor’s entitlement that he told an audience Grant would never be invited back. Grant later admitted he was in the wrong, acknowledging on social media that his behavior had been unacceptable.

Joan Rivers

Despite serving as the permanent guest host for Johnny Carson on ‘The Tonight Show’, Joan Rivers was banned from the program for decades. The rift began in 1986 when she accepted a deal to host her own rival late-night show on Fox without informing Carson first. Carson felt personally betrayed by the move and never spoke to her again, maintaining the ban throughout the remainder of his career. The prohibition continued under Jay Leno and was only finally lifted when Jimmy Fallon took over the show in 2014.

Harmony Korine

Filmmaker Harmony Korine was permanently banned from the ‘Late Show with David Letterman’ following a bizarre backstage incident in the late 1990s. David Letterman revealed years later that he personally caught Korine rummaging through Meryl Streep’s purse in the guest dressing rooms. The host found the behavior unstable and disrespectful, leading to an immediate expulsion from the show. Korine, known for his eccentric artistic style, was never invited back to the program after the theft attempt.

Madonna

Piers Morgan has maintained a long-standing ban on the pop icon appearing on any of his talk shows, including ‘Piers Morgan Live’. The feud dates back to an incident where Madonna allegedly insulted Morgan, leading him to claim she is too boring for his interviews. Morgan has repeatedly stated in the press that the ban is active and non-negotiable. While the singer has access to almost every other media platform, she remains strictly prohibited from sitting down with the British broadcaster.

Kathy Griffin

The comedian found herself blacklisted from multiple programs, most notably ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ and ‘The View’. Griffin stated that DeGeneres banned her in 2006 after she performed a stand-up segment that mocked the host, leading to a prolonged silence between them. Similarly, she claimed Barbara Walters banned her from ‘The View’ after Griffin made jokes about the veteran journalist’s family. Her controversial and biting style of humor frequently put her at odds with daytime television producers.

Bobcat Goldthwait

Known for his erratic persona, the comedian was banned from ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’ following a chaotic appearance in 1994. During the interview, Goldthwait stood on his chair and set the furniture on fire using lighter fluid he had concealed. The dangerous stunt caused panic on the set and led to potential legal issues for the network. Leno and the producers immediately decided that the safety risk was too high to ever have him return.

Howard Stern

The shock jock had a notorious and bitter rivalry with Jay Leno, which led to a ban from ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’. Stern frequently berated Leno on his own radio program, criticizing the host’s comedy style and business practices. The animosity was so intense that Leno reportedly refused to even mention Stern’s name on the air. This ban contrasted sharply with Stern’s friendly and frequent relationship with Leno’s late-night rival, David Letterman.

Vivica A. Fox

Jimmy Kimmel banned the actress from ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ after a tense appearance where she attempted to overshadow the host. Fox was reportedly upset that Star Jones was also a guest on the same night and tried to make a grand entrance to upstage her. Kimmel described the situation as a nightmare and decided he did not want to deal with such backstage drama again. The host openly discussed the incident, cementing her exclusion from future episodes.

The Kardashians

Journalist Anderson Cooper explicitly banned the famous family from his daytime talk show, ‘Anderson Live’. Cooper stated during an interview that the family’s reality show content did not align with his journalistic interests or the tone of his program. He jokingly mentioned that he would not interview them because he simply did not care about their exploits. The ban was a rare instance of a host preemptively declining guests based on personal preference rather than a specific bad incident.

Gary Busey

Gary Busey was banned from ‘The Howard Stern Show’ after an incident where he became physically aggressive with the host. During the interview, Busey grabbed Stern in a bear hug that made the host feel genuinely unsafe and uncomfortable. Stern, who typically tolerates a great deal of chaos, drew the line at physical intimidation and decided Busey was too unpredictable to return. This marked the end of Busey’s run as a recurring guest on the popular radio show.

Gilbert Gottfried

The late comedian was eventually banned from ‘The Howard Stern Show’ after years of being a regular and beloved guest. The fallout reportedly stemmed from a combination of financial disputes and Gottfried’s refusal to share personal details on air. Stern eventually stopped inviting him, and the two ceased their on-air relationship entirely. Gottfried often expressed confusion and disappointment regarding the sudden end to his appearances.

Share your thoughts on which celebrity ban you think was the most justified in the comments.