7 Celebs That Were/Are Banned From Talk Shows

Celebrities have it all – fame, glory, wealth, VIP treatment, recognition, luxury, wealth, wealth, and more wealth. But as the famous saying goes, “There are some things money can’t buy”. Such as a free pass out of being banned.

If you’ve ever wondered why some of your fave celebs haven’t appeared on your favourite talk shows, well, there are solid reasons for that. No, it’s not because their schedules are so tight that they can’t make time to appear on TV. It’s because they’ve most likely been banned from the said talk shows. And yes, talk shows ban guests all the time for various reasons – this includes celebrities. For example, despite Saturday Night Live being a late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show that’s often open to just about any form of humour, even that has boundaries.

And apparently NBC’s “Tonight Show” has gone even farther by saying that celebs who hope to be on Jimmy Fallon’s show can’t appear on any other network, including late night and morning shows. That’s like selling your soul to just that one show and effectively banning yourself from the rest!

But we digress.

Here are some celebrities who have had the banhammer on their asses for misbehaving on talk shows:

1. Hugh Grant

Banned from: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Reason: According to Jon Stewart, Hugh Grant was a less than preferable guest back in 2009 when Stewart interviewed him on his film “Did You Hear About the Morgans?”. The actor reportedly complained over the film clip used by the show that was undoubtedly chosen by the film’s publicist. In addition to his nitpicking, Jon Stewart claims Hugh Grant repeatedly said that he had other priorities to attend to and acted in a generally snotty way. Although Jon Stewart should expect some celebrities, government officials and otherwise high-end guests on the show to act like divas, Hugh Grant simply took it too far.

Tsk tsks.

2. Madonna

Banned from: Piers Morgan Tonight

Reason: Madonna made herself the #1 enemy of talk show host Piers Morgan years ago. Even before his talk show aired on CNN, Piers Morgan announced that he would ban certain guests, beginning with Madonna. Morgan later upped the stakes by tweeting that she wasn’t welcome on his UK talk show either. But Piers Morgan is no stranger to banning people. He has also banned Heather Mills, whom he said he regretted introducing to Paul McCartney be “I realised I’d pushed one of the world’s great gold diggers in the direction of one of my heroes”.

He still holds a grudge against Madonna, of course. When Madonna joined Twitter, he extended a “warm welcome” by letting her know she still makes him mad:

Welcome to Twitter @MadonnaMDNAday – you’re still banned from my show. Love Piers x

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 27, 2012

3. The Kardashians

Banned from: All Anderson Cooper’s shows

Reason: Sure, the Kardashians have a cult following, thanks to their drama-filled reality TV show, but not everyone “follows” them. One such person is popular host Anderson Cooper. He reportedly told “Watch What Happens Live” host Andy Cohen during a game of “Plead the 5th” that Khloe Kardashian and her family have been banned from his daytime talk show, “Anderson”. Quite simply, Cohen presented Cooper with the question of who he’d ban from his show forever and Cooper chose the entire Kardashian clan. To add insult to injury, Anderson Cooper’s declaration came mere minutes after Khloe had tweeted how much she loved the silver-haired newsman.

Oh snap:

I love Anderson Cooper! #SilverFox

— Khloé (@khloekardashian) January 10, 2012

4. Joan Rivers

5. Sinead O’Connor

Banned from: Saturday Night Live

Reason: Singer Sinead O’Connor was never invited back to the show after her controversial decision to perform the Bob Marley song “War” using her own anti-Catholic Church lyrics as protest. During her performance in 1992, she sang about child abuse and memorably tore up a picture of Pope John Paul II. A shocked audience and cast were her witnesses. Her on-air time was cut short and she has since been banned from the show. Though her efforts and belief in her cause are entirely admirable, her antics are unforgivable and “Saturday Night Live” was justified in never allowing her back on since.

Watch:

6. Vince Vaughn

Banned from: The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Reason: Sure, openly homosexual Ellen DeGeneres is one of the best talk show hosts that TV has ever seen, but her sense of humour stops at insults thrown at her personal beliefs. Vince Vaughn is known for comedies and funny films but his film “The Dilemma” featured gay jokes. Clearly pro-gay marriage advocate Ellen DeGeneres banned him from ever coming on her show after he made an off-colour remark about a homosexual scene in “The Dilemma”. To be precise, he said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, electric cars… are gay.  I mean, not homosexual gay, but my-parents-are-chaperoning-me-to-the-dance gay”.

Well, no wonder Ellen banhammered his ass.

7. Adrien Brody

Banned from: Saturday Night Live

Reason: Adrien Brody hosted “Saturday Night Live” back in 2003 and delivered a performance that the show’s producer Lorne Michaels found highly offensive. The actor did not stick to the show’s script, his first major strike that night. Then, when introducing the musical performer Sean Paul, Adrien Brody came on stage in dreadlocks and a horrific Jamaican accent. Though the crowd laughed, he was banned from the show permanently. One cannot help but wonder why his ban came about. Perhaps it was his obviously racist actions against Sean Paul to garner a cheap laugh.

Watch:

Sources: 1, 2, 3.