TV Stars Dropped from Networks Following Old Interview Clips

The digital age has ensured that nothing said on camera ever truly disappears. Television networks and production companies are increasingly holding talent accountable for past statements that resurface years later. A single viral clip or audio recording can dismantle a career that took decades to build. This list explores the actors, hosts, and reality stars who faced immediate consequences after their old interviews came back to haunt them.

Shane Gillis

The comedian was announced as a new cast member for ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 2019 but faced immediate backlash. Clips from his podcast resurfaced where he used racial slurs and offensive language regarding the Asian community. NBC decided to rescind his offer before he even appeared in his first episode. Gillis admitted his comedy pushes boundaries but the network determined the comments were unacceptable.

Billy Bush

The television host was a rising star on the ‘Today’ show when a 2005 tape from ‘Access Hollywood’ leaked in 2016. The audio captured Bush laughing along with Donald Trump during a lewd conversation about women. NBC suspended Bush shortly after the tape went viral and eventually terminated his contract. He spent several years out of the spotlight before returning to television on a different network.

Chris Harrison

The longtime host of ‘The Bachelor’ franchise lost his job after a controversial interview on ‘Extra’ in 2021. Harrison defended a contestant who had attended an Old South plantation-themed party in the past. His comments during the interview with Rachel Lindsay were widely criticized for dismissing racism. He stepped aside temporarily before permanently exiting the franchise he had hosted for nearly two decades.

Paula Deen

The Food Network star saw her culinary empire crumble after a deposition from a discrimination lawsuit was made public in 2013. In the legal transcript she admitted to using racial slurs in the past. The network decided not to renew her contract after the admission caused a media firestorm. Several other corporate sponsors also severed ties with the celebrity chef immediately following the controversy.

Isaiah Washington

The actor was let go from ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ in 2007 following an on-set incident and a subsequent interview. He used a homophobic slur during an argument with a co-star and then denied using the word during a press room interview at the Golden Globes. The denial on live television reignited the controversy and angered executives at ABC. His character was written out of the show at the end of the third season.

Stassi Schroeder

The reality star was a main cast member on ‘Vanderpump Rules’ before being fired by Bravo in 2020. A past podcast interview resurfaced where she bragged about calling the police on a black former co-star for a crime she did not commit. The network acted swiftly after the clip gained traction online. Schroeder apologized for her actions but was not invited back to the series.

Kristen Doute

Doute was fired alongside Stassi Schroeder from ‘Vanderpump Rules’ for the same incident involving the police report. Old interviews and comments revealed her participation in the campaign against her former co-star Faith Stowers. Bravo removed her from the show she had starred in for eight seasons. The network stated they were committed to a zero-tolerance policy regarding racism.

Alec Baldwin

The actor had his late-night talk show on MSNBC cancelled after just five weeks in 2013. A video surfaced of Baldwin shouting a homophobic slur at a photographer on a New York City street. The network suspended him initially but decided to end the program entirely as the backlash grew. Baldwin later published an op-ed claiming he was unaware the term was offensive.

Sharon Osbourne

The co-host of ‘The Talk’ left the CBS daytime show in 2021 after a heated on-air exchange. She defended Piers Morgan’s controversial comments about Meghan Markle which led to a confrontation with co-host Sheryl Underwood. The network conducted an internal review and determined her behavior did not align with their values. Osbourne decided to depart the show following the investigation.

Megyn Kelly

The news anchor had her hour of the ‘Today’ show cancelled by NBC in 2018. During a roundtable discussion segment she questioned why blackface was considered offensive for Halloween costumes. The clip went viral immediately and drew condemnation from her own colleagues at the network. NBC negotiated her exit from the network shortly after the segment aired.

Bill Maher

The comedian hosted ‘Politically Incorrect’ on ABC until the show was cancelled in 2002. Maher made controversial comments on air regarding the 9/11 terrorists and the US military. Sponsors pulled their advertising support rapidly after the episode aired. The network decided not to renew his contract effectively ending the show’s run on broadcast television.

Hulk Hogan

The wrestling legend was terminated by WWE in 2015 after audio from a private sex tape was leaked. The recording featured Hogan using racial slurs and expressing disgust at the idea of his daughter dating a black man. WWE scrubbed his name from their website and removed him from their Hall of Fame temporarily. He was not welcomed back to the organization for several years.

Ron Atkinson

The veteran football commentator resigned from ITV in 2004 after a hot mic incident. He believed the broadcast had ended when he used a racial slur to describe a black player. The audio was heard in some international markets and quickly reported back to the UK network. Atkinson admitted the comment was idiotic and left his broadcasting role immediately.

Don Cherry

The Canadian broadcasting icon was fired by Sportsnet in 2019 after nearly four decades on ‘Coach’s Corner’. During a broadcast he criticized immigrants for not wearing poppies to honor veterans. The clip circulated widely on social media and sparked complaints to the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council. The network announced his departure two days later.

Morgan Wallen

The country music star was suspended from ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 2020 after TikTok videos showed him partying without a mask. He was later invited back but then dropped by radio networks and his label after a video surfaced of him using a racial slur. The second video was captured by a neighbor’s doorbell camera. He was effectively banned from award shows for a year.

PewDiePie

The massive YouTube star lost a lucrative partnership with Disney’s Maker Studios in 2017. Videos resurfaced where he used anti-Semitic imagery and jokes. The Wall Street Journal highlighted the clips which led the media giant to cut ties. He acknowledged the jokes were in poor taste but criticized the media for taking them out of context.

Logan Paul

YouTube suspended this creator’s ad revenue and put his original movie projects on hold in 2018. The decision came after he posted a video showing a deceased person in Japan’s Aokigahara forest. The clip drew global condemnation for its insensitivity to suicide victims. He took a hiatus from posting content and apologized multiple times.

Rush Limbaugh

The conservative radio host resigned from ESPN’s ‘Sunday NFL Countdown’ in 2003. He made comments on air suggesting the media overrated a black quarterback because of his race. The remarks sparked intense criticism from players and the public. ESPN accepted his resignation three days after the broadcast.

Jeffrey Toobin

The legal analyst was fired by The New Yorker and took a long leave from CNN in 2020. He exposed himself during a Zoom video call with colleagues that he believed was audio-only. The incident was widely reported and led to his immediate suspension. CNN eventually welcomed him back for a short period before he left the network permanently.

Kathy Griffin

The comedian was fired from CNN’s New Year’s Eve broadcast in 2017. She posted a video of herself holding a mask that resembled the severed head of the President. The graphic nature of the clip caused an immediate uproar and an investigation by the Secret Service. CNN terminated her decade-long contract to co-host the annual special with Anderson Cooper.

Phaedra Parks

The attorney was fired from ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ in 2017. During the reunion taping it was revealed she had spread a damaging rumor about a co-star planning to drug another cast member. The revelation was captured on camera and shocked the production team. Bravo determined the lie was too malicious to allow her to return to the franchise.

Hannah Brown

The former ‘Bachelorette’ star lost a brand ambassador deal and faced immense criticism in 2020. She used a racial slur while singing along to a song during an Instagram Live broadcast. The clip was saved and shared by viewers leading to immediate backlash. She issued multiple apologies and took time away from the spotlight to educate herself.

Nick Cannon

ViacomCBS severed its decades-long relationship with the host in 2020. He made anti-Semitic comments during an episode of his podcast ‘Cannon’s Class’. The media conglomerate cited the hateful speech and conspiracy theories as the reason for his termination. He was later rehired to host ‘Wild ‘N Out’ after making significant efforts to apologize and learn.

Whoopi Goldberg

The host was suspended from ‘The View’ for two weeks in 2022. During a segment she insisted that the Holocaust was not about race. The clip drew immediate correction from Jewish organizations and historians. ABC News president Kim Godwin announced the suspension to allow her time to reflect on the impact of her comments.

DaBaby

The rapper was dropped from multiple music festivals and events in 2021. Video clips circulated of him making homophobic remarks about HIV/AIDS during a performance at Rolling Loud Miami. The comments were condemned by high-profile celebrities and organizations. He lost opportunities to perform at Lollapalooza and Governors Ball shortly after the footage went viral.

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