- 2 hours ago
Even the biggest stars have their vulnerable moments. Join us as we explore those raw, unfiltered instances when celebrities couldn't hold back their emotions on live television! From emotional award acceptances to heartbreaking tributes, these powerful moments remind us that behind the fame and fortune are real human beings with real feelings. Which celebrity breakdown hit you hardest?
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00:00I want you to know that if you too can have the strength to just
00:05Get to your feet and go to the light
00:08Good things will happen
00:10Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're looking at instances where
00:15Celebrities couldn't hold it together and broke down in real time on television
00:18We'll be including some broad
00:20Podcasts that were recorded live to tape
00:22Special extra thanks to my mom and
00:25My dad and my mother-in-law Mickey
00:27My kids getting Kevin my cousin
00:30My sister
00:31Kelly Clarkson
00:33With a very emotional
00:35Song called Peace by Peace
00:37Please welcome Kelly Clarkson
00:40Kelly Clarkson's 2016 performance on American Idol
00:45Became one of the most emotional moments in the show's history
00:48Returning as a guest performer while pregnant
00:50With her son Clarkson sang the deeply personal ballad piece by piece
00:54The song touched
00:55On her father's abandonment and the stability she found with her then husband Brandon Blackstalk
01:00And I didn't have anything you needed so I was
01:05Worthless
01:07Peace
01:09Peace
01:10When she reached the verse about walking away Clarkson visibly lost composure
01:15And the live cameras captured her wiping tears as she attempted to press on
01:19He'll never
01:20Walk
01:21He'll never walk
01:24He'll never walk
01:25He'll take care of things
01:30The judges grew emotional while the audience stood in support.
01:35Heck, even Ryan Seacrest rushed in to steady her when the song ended.
01:39Serena Williams
01:40What began as a farewell turned into a flood of 27 years of emotion, yep, when the un-
01:45undisputed GOAT of tennis decided to hang up her racket for good, things got overly emotional.
01:50And her U.S. Open
01:55Farewell interview further amplified that emotion.
01:58Despite losing to Alja, Tom Jones
02:00Conovic, Serena still walked away a winner, earning the utmost respect of tennis fans
02:05worldwide.
02:06These are happy tears, I guess.
02:08I don't know.
02:09This wasn't just
02:10a goodbye speech.
02:11It was one of the greatest athletes to ever step foot on a tennis court.
02:15And especially since we were facing the end of a legendary chapter.
02:164.
02:17Holly Berry
02:18Godt thief
02:19When Holly Berry won best actress at the seventh.
02:20fourth academy awards for her role in monster ball the energy in the then kodak theater shifted
02:25instantly please little darling
02:27have you got it
02:30a cigarette yeah
02:35look to me like you don't really need to be smoking as the first black woman to ever win the category
02:40barry became overwhelmed the moment her name was called her heartfelt acceptance speech became
02:45palpable as she thanked the women who paved the way the likes of dorothy dandridge
02:50lena horn and diane carroll and shouted out the broader community her win represented every
02:55one knew they were witnessing history as barry's emotional breakdown wasn't simply celebratory
03:00it was the release of decades of hollywood barriers hoda kotby during
03:05the 2020 today show segment host hoda kotby interviewed new orleans saints quarterback drew
03:10about his five million dollar donation to support louisiana during the covet 19 pandemic
03:15a lot of people don't know the need for food in new orleans i mean the numbers are
03:18have always been staggering
03:20but one in six louisiana households struggle to put food on the table one in four seniors
03:25um are hungry one in four children
03:28but because kotby became her journalist
03:30his awesome career in new orleans the discussion hit very close to home as breeze explained his motivation
03:35hoda suddenly struggled to continue her voice cracked and tears welled in her eyes
03:39as she
03:40she whispered i'm sorry all while wiping her face
03:45even breeze appeared moved the live tv moment
03:50highlighted just how deeply a host can connect to a story it's a lot i know where your heart is
03:55my dear i do christiano renaldo even one of the world's most decorated footballers
04:00can be reduced to raw vulnerability you see during portugal's euro 2024 round
04:05of 16 match against slovenia christiano renaldo saw his extra time penalty say
04:10by jan o black a stunning miss in a match with massive stakes
04:15as the cameras cut to the stand
04:20his mother was seen crying and when renaldo glanced up and met her eyes the moment
04:25visibly broke him
04:26visibly broke him
04:30visibly broke him
04:31visibly broke him
04:32visibly broke him
04:33visibly broke him
04:34visibly broke him
04:35visibly broke him
04:36visibly broke him
04:37visibly broke him
04:38visibly broke him
04:39visibly broke him
04:40visibly broke him
04:41visibly broke him
04:42visibly broke him
04:43visibly broke him
04:44visibly broke him
04:45visibly broke him
04:46visibly broke him
04:47visibly broke him
04:48visibly broke him
04:49visibly broke him
04:50visibly broke him
04:51visibly broke him
04:52visibly broke him
04:54visibly broke him
04:55visibly broke him
04:56visibly broke him
04:57visibly broke him
04:58visibly broke him
04:59One of the things you might have noticed today is that there's an
05:04empty chair. Williams explained that it was reserved for
05:09Martin Head, a 29-year-old from the UK who had spent two years saving up for his dream trip
05:14to New York, including tickets to two tapings of her show.
05:17Tragically, Het was one of the victims of
05:19the Manchester Arena attack.
05:20He was supposed to be in our Wendy audience yesterday.
05:24And today, he saved friends.
05:29For two years to have a fabulous time in New York and come to our show.
05:34Williams shared his story and paid a heartfelt tribute live on her show.
05:39Leaving the seat open in his honor.
05:41So Martin, in honor of you.
05:44We're keeping that chair open.
05:46And our thoughts and prayers go out.
05:49To you and your family.
05:52Ric Flair.
05:53After 11 years.
05:54Legendary decades-long career.
05:55Ric Flair's retirement tribute on the March 31, 2008
05:59episode of WWE Raw delivered a, well, Raw moment of pure emotion.
06:04Do you think that the millions of people watching this show
06:09watching on TV are the only ones that want to say thank you?
06:14Yes!
06:15Thanks!
06:19Well, there we go.
06:24And my friend, you've got another thing coming.
06:29After his would-be retirement match at WrestleMania 24 against Shawn Michaels, Flair entered
06:33the arena.
06:34As he thanked fans and his colleagues, Rick became completely
06:39overwhelmed.
06:40Fellow wrestlers joined him on stage, many visibly emotional themselves.
06:44As Flair embraced them one by one, while Flair would end up wrestling again, this
06:49live send-off gave viewers a glimpse of the personal weight behind what the industry meant
06:53to one of the...
06:54True Greats.
06:59Tracy Morgan.
07:01Tracy Morgan is with us now exclusively along with...
07:04This is attorney, Benedict Morelli.
07:05Good morning to both of you.
07:06Good morning.
07:07Tracy Morgan's first live interview on the...
07:09Today Show in June 2015 came nearly a year after the tragic highway crash.
07:14That killed his friend and fellow comedian James McNair and left him severely injured.
07:18Sitting with hosts...
07:19Matt Lauer.
07:20Morgan reflected on waking from his coma and relearning basic functions.
07:24All while dealing with the overwhelming trauma.
07:26You know, I have my wife, Megan...
07:29We're about to be married.
07:30And my daughter, my son, so they keep my spirits up and then I have...
07:34Ben and Matt Frost and Mark Landsman and all these people that helped me get my...
07:39spirits up and...
07:40Tina Fey and all the people calling me.
07:41Tina Fey and all the people calling me.
07:42This is helping me get my spirits up.
07:43I mean...
07:44The case is settled.
07:45But the pain is always gonna be there.
07:47As he spoke about McNair, the celebration...
07:49funny man broke down in tears.
07:51Talking about how his friend was a good man.
07:53He was a good man.
07:54It just hurt for me to see that he's gone.
07:57That's it.
07:59Can I ask you to take me back to June of last year, Tracy, and that accident?
08:04I...
08:05Did you...
08:06I don't remember the accident.
08:07The broadcast captured Morgan's deep vulnerability.
08:09Showing a man still processing grief and survival in real time.
08:13Tamara Mowry...
08:14During its run, the real never shied away from honest emotion.
08:18And few moments...
08:19Were as heartbreakingly real as Tamara Mowry Housley's return.
08:22Following the Thousand Oaks show.
08:24Tragically, the incident claimed the life of her niece, Elena Housley.
08:27If she would want me...
08:28If she would want me...
08:29Oh, sweet Elena.
08:33To move forward, I don't...
08:34I don't like to say move on.
08:35Because I don't think I'll ever move on with the fact that she's not here with me.
08:39Or with our family.
08:40Mowry Housley understandably stepped away from the show to grieve with her family.
08:44But when she finally returned, the pain was still palpable.
08:47Fighting through tears, she paid tribute...
08:49To Elena with deeply heartfelt words.
08:51Using her platform to call for kindness.
08:53And to honor...
08:54To honor her niece's memory in a way that left a lasting impact on the live viewers.
08:58That's sweet 18.
08:59You're...
08:59To honor her old girl impacted people in such a positive way.
09:03Mm-hmm.
09:04And that's how we've been able to...
09:08Move on.
09:09The love.
09:10Whoopi Goldberg.
09:11In 2014, the host of The View honored director Mike...
09:14Nichols shortly after news of his passing.
09:16And as you might imagine, things got emotional.
09:19When Whoopi Goldberg attempted to share the announcement, she became overwhelmed before she could finish...
09:24her sentence, prompting her co-host to step in.
09:27This morning...
09:29This morning news broke that...
09:30This morning news broke that...
09:34Entertainment pioneer Mike Nichols died suddenly...
09:36Her reaction was especially heartfelt as Nichols was...
09:39He wasn't just a legendary filmmaker.
09:40He was a close friend and a person who gave Goldberg the career-defining breakdown...
09:44that launched her into stardom.
09:45Whoopi has a hard time putting into words, which is why I'm doing it for her.
09:49But this man meant the world to her.
09:51Mike Nichols is the one who first saw Whoopi performing and said...
09:54You got something kid.
09:55Even if you weren't familiar with Nichols' work, the raw response from...
09:59Goldberg and those in the room made it clear just how extraordinary he was.
10:04For her entire beginning of her career and recognized her brilliance before anyone asked...
10:14Rachel Maddow
10:15It's not often that a news story breaks the anchor delivering it...
10:19That's exactly what happened in this instance.
10:21Trump administration officials have been sending babies...
10:24And other young children...
10:25Oh.
10:26Hold on.
10:27Hold on.
10:28On...
10:29June 19, 2018, during a live MSNBC broadcast, Rachel Maddow...
10:34All attempted to report that migrant infants and toddlers were being housed in so-called...
10:38tender age...
10:39shelters in Texas.
10:40As Maddow read the story, she abruptly stopped.
10:43She attempted to report that...
10:44multiple times to regain composure and even tried to throw up a graphic to hide a reaction.
10:49Can I get the graphic of this?
10:51Do we have it?
10:52No.
10:53Maddow's visible...
10:54struggle, rarely seen from normally poised host, became a widely discussed live news moment.
10:59Three tender age shelters in South Texas.
11:02Lawyers and medical providers.
11:04Just...
11:05I think I'm gonna have to hand this off.
11:08Nick Cannon.
11:09Today is a special one, y'all.
11:11It's like...
11:12Um...
11:13For many reasons...
11:14But it's not gonna be an easy one.
11:15Losing a child is a tragedy no parent should ever face.
11:18Yet, it's a hard...
11:19heartbreaking reality Nick Cannon had tragically endured.
11:22In December 2021, Cannon...
11:24Cannon shared on his now defunct talk show that he and his partner had lost their five-month-old
11:27son to a rare and aggressive...
11:29muscle form of brain cancer.
11:30He explained that doctors had discovered a malignant tumor that began working...
11:34worsening rapidly over the Thanksgiving holiday.
11:36As Cannon recounted his final days, he naturally...
11:39struggled to hold himself together, breaking down multiple times while speaking directly
11:43to viewers.
11:44This week...
11:44You know, I made a valid effort to...
11:47You know, I made a valid effort to..
11:49to spend the most quality.
11:54It was one of daytime TV's most unguarded and deeply raw moments.
11:59R. Kelly
12:00R. Kelly's 2019 infamous sit-down with Gayle King for CBS
12:04became one of the most volatile live-to-tape interviews in modern TV history.
12:07Confronted with allegations
12:09of abuse and misconduct following the release of surviving R. Kelly,
12:12the singer initially tried to
12:14remain composed.
12:15But when King pressed him on the accusations and his legal battles, his demeanor unwrapped
12:19to travel dramatically.
12:20How stupid would it be for me to, with my-
12:24Crazy passing what I've been through.
12:27Oh, right now I just think I need-
12:29Kelly to be a monster and hold girls against their wheelchair-
12:32Kelly leapt from his chair and pounded-
12:34his chest.
12:35The meltdown became instantly viral.
12:37It exposed how emotionally unmoored Kelly
12:39he had become in the face of mounting legal pressure and public scrutiny.
12:43And it was all captured on camera.
12:4430 years in my career, and y'all trying to kill me!
12:49You're killing me, man!
12:52This ain't not about music!
12:54I'm trying to have a relationship with my kids!
12:57Megan McCain.
12:58We are happy to...
12:59to welcome back our Megan McCain.
13:04When Megan McCain returned to The View in October of 2018,
13:07following the death of her father, Senator...
13:09John McCain,
13:10the live moment became instantly emotional.
13:12Megan opened by sincerely...
13:14thanking everyone.
13:15This after she received a warm welcome from the live audience and her View colleagues.
13:19I have missed all of you so much.
13:21Thank you so much.
13:23Whoopi!
13:24I missed all of you ladies so much.
13:27However, several times she had to pause.
13:29Fighting back tears as her voice wavered.
13:31I just want to start with you, Whoopi.
13:33My father loves...
13:34He loved you.
13:35He loved you.
13:36He really loved you.
13:38I'm sorry.
13:39No, no.
13:40It's okay, baby.
13:41Take your time.
13:42While co-hosts reached over in support, the cameras captured...
13:44every emotion.
13:45McCain's return and public mourning of her father created one of the most heartfelt
13:49openings in the View's history, and that's saying something.
13:52None of us agree at this table on...
13:54very much when it comes to politics in the world, but we are all sisters here supporting
13:58each other.
13:59Justin Bieber
14:00Sometimes the comeback performance hits harder than expected.
14:03Just ask Justin Bieber.
14:04You see, his 2015 MTV VMA performance marked his first...
14:09major stage appearance after years of public scrutiny and controversy.
14:12Following his high energy...
14:14suddenly, Bieber bent over, placed his hand on his knees, and began to tear up.
14:18All while he received...
14:19a standing ovation.
14:24Bieber later...
14:25a standing ovation.
14:26Bieber later...
14:27a standing ovation.
14:28Bieber later...
14:29Bieber later...
14:30explained that the overwhelming relief of being accepted again by fans triggered the
14:33emotional outburst.
14:34For Justin, the performance was a moment of personal and public redemption.
14:39Bieber later...
14:40Bieber later...
14:41Bieber later...
14:42Bieber later...
14:43Bieber later...
14:44Bieber later...
14:45Bieber later...
14:46Bieber later...
14:47Bieber later...
14:48Bieber later...
14:49Bieber later...
14:50Bieber later...
14:51Bieber later...
14:52Bieber later...
14:53Bieber later...
14:54Bieber later...
14:55Bieber later...
14:56Bieber later...
14:57Bieber later...
14:58Bieber later...
14:59Bieber later...
15:00Bieber...
15:01Bieber...
15:02Bieber...
15:03Bieber...
15:04Bieber...
15:05Bieber...
15:06Bieber...
15:07Bieber...
15:08Jones and the Temple of Doom and the Goonies, openly recounting how Hollywood's lack of roles
15:12pushed them out.
15:13Out of the industry for decades.
15:14I felt so very lucky to have been chosen.
15:18As I grew older, I started to wonder if that was it.
15:23If, if that was just luck.
15:25He'd think directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Sch-
15:28and I for giving him a second chance.
15:30Thankfully, more than-
15:33And then 30 years later, two guys thought-
15:38out of me.
15:39They remembered that kid.
15:43And they gave me an opportunity to try again.
15:47It was the-
15:48ultimate celebration of perseverance and triumph.
15:50The one person that never stopped-
15:53not believing in me.
15:54My wife, Echo, I love you with all my heart.
15:56Thank you so-
15:58Thank you so much.
16:02Kesha.
16:08Oh
16:13At the 2018 Grammy Awards pop star Keshe
16:18perform praying a song title her personal struggles not to mention highly publicized legal
16:23battles with producer dr. Luke because the flames and you put me through hell
16:28I had to learn not to fight for myself and we both know
16:33all the truth I could tell I'll just say this as I wish you farewell
16:38However, she wasn't alone the singer songwriter was surrounded by fellow female artists
16:43including Cyndi Lauper Julia Michaels Camilla Cabello and Andra Day
16:48As Keshe reached the song's climatic moments she began crying stepping back briefly
16:53as the emotion overwhelmed her
16:54On your knees
16:58Oh
17:00Oh
17:02Oh
17:03Oh
17:06oh
17:06It cemented the performance as one of the nice
17:08most powerful and inspiring statements, one that Kesha felt inside and out, Jimmy Kimmel.
17:13Jimmy Kimmel is no stranger to getting emotional on his late-night talk show, but perhaps no instance
17:18hit harder than this one. Less than two weeks after his newborn son Billy's emergency heart
17:23surgery, Jimmy Kimmel returned to Jimmy Kimmel Live to recount the ordeal.
17:28Jimmy Kimmel had an echocardiogram, which is a sonogram of the heart, and found that Billy
17:31was born with a...
17:33a heart disease.
17:36As you might imagine, the whole...
17:38He almost repeatedly broke down, struggling through long pauses as he thanked all the
17:41doctors and nurses.
17:43My dad and my mother-in-law, Mickey, my kids, Katie and Kevin, my cousins...
17:48As he recounted the terrifying moments in the hospital and the relief that followed.
17:53Jimmy blended personal grief with deep gratitude, and the live-to-tape broadcast became one of
17:57the most...
17:58emotional moments in late-night history.
17:59Poor kid, not only did he get a bad heart, he got my face.
18:03He was in Cooper.
18:04We think it's important that you hear their names.
18:05We think it's important that you hear their names.
18:06On June 13, 2016, the day...
18:08After the post-nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, Anderson Cooper opened CNN's live
18:12cover...
18:13He worked at a travel agency that catered...
18:18to the gay community.
18:19His family says he was witty, charming.
18:23He spoke.
18:24His usual steady voice cracked repeatedly.
18:26The season hopes paused multiple times...
18:28fought back tears, and got incredibly choked up.
18:31Akira Monet-Marie, she recently graduated...
18:33from high school, was planning to go to Mercyhurst University and play basketball.
18:38She was just...
18:39She was just...
18:40Making the moment even more heartfelt was...
18:43Cooper's decision to focus entirely on honoring the victims, refusing to mention the shooter.
18:47It's no wonder...
18:48After that, the live broadcast became one of the most emotionally powerful moments of
18:51his career.
18:53He was on ground...
18:54Was a captain and he...
18:55Excuse me...
18:56Excuse me...
18:57Phew...
18:58Was a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve...
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19:16Brandon Frazier.
19:17Hey!
19:18And the critic's choice is...
19:21Brendan Frazier!
19:23Talk about an emotional combat.
19:27Brendan Frazier...
19:28The actor's Best Actor win at the 2023 Critics' Choice Awards...
19:31Became one of the most talked about speeches...
19:33in award show history.
19:34I'm sure glad you woke up for me!
19:35I'm sure glad you woke up for me!
19:36I'm sure glad you woke up for me!
19:38Already teary as he took the stage for his role in The Well...
19:41Frazier thanked his fellow cast...
19:43and crew...
19:44before reflecting on years of career setbacks and personal struggles.
19:47He openly saw...
19:48while encouraging others who feel broken...
19:50to keep fighting.
19:51I was in the wilderness...
19:53and...
19:54I probably should have left a trail of breadcrumbs...
19:57shown...
19:58But you found me?
20:01The live broadcast captured it all...
20:03as the acceptance speech became a raw testament of resilience...
20:06redemption...
20:07and the emotional...
20:08of reclaiming a long-awaited moment.
20:10I want you to know...
20:11that if you too...
20:13can have the strength to just...
20:15get to your feet...
20:16and go to the light!
20:18Good things will happen!
20:20Which live celebrity breakdown hit you right at...
20:23in the fields?
20:24Let us know in the comments down below...
20:25and don't forget to like and subscribe...
20:26for more WatchMojo videos!
20:28Thank you!
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