Emily
Since red carpets are highly visible spaces, it’s quite uncommon for celebrities to openly snub each other at these events. Usually, they strive to maintain professional conduct and address any tensions behind the scenes to avoid negative press.
However, the situations listed below are clear exceptions. These celebrities have publicly declined hugs, handshakes, or simple interactions, leading to viral memes and reactions from social media users.
Here are 11 examples of tense and awkward celeb interactions that left pop culture enthusiasts shocked.
#1 Amy Schumer’s Dramatic Fall at the 2015 Time 100 Gala
At the 2015 Time 100 Gala, Amy Schumer threw herself onto the ground in front of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, who walked right by her. Schumer thought faking an accidental fall would get their attention, but the couple didn’t even glance her way. Reflecting on the incident, Schumer said, “I saw Kim and Kanye standing there, just owning it, just being short and important. And I think falling is the funniest thing, so I took a dive in front of them. He did not crack a smile at any point. There’s no way that either of them had any idea who I am. So that was comforting.”
#2 Sofía Vergara’s Cool Dismissal of Ex-Fiancé at the 2014 Angel Ball While Sofía Vergara was giving a red carpet interview at the 2014 Angel Ball, her ex-fiancé Nick Loeb snuck up behind her mid-answer. Vergara barely acknowledged him and continued with her interview as if nothing had happened. The actress and model dated Loeb between 2010 and 2014, and clearly, she had no interest in rekindling any connection at that moment.
#3 Lady Gaga’s Brush-Off at the 2013 AMAs At the 2013 American Music Awards, Lady Gaga seemingly ignored Zendaya, who was helping interview her. Zendaya, then 17, had just finished filming her Disney Channel sitcom, “Shake It Up,” and was excited to meet Gaga. Unfortunately, the pop star brushed her off, indicating she didn’t recognize Zendaya.
#4 Margot Robbie’s Snub at the 2023 Babylon Premiere During the Australian premiere of “Babylon” in early 2023, TV personality Nasser Sultan, known from “Married at First Sight,” rushed up to Margot Robbie. Robbie, however, ignored him and chose to interact with fans instead. Sultan has been accused of crashing several high-profile events to boost his popularity.
#5 Jerry Seinfeld’s Refusal at a 2017 Kennedy Center Event During a 2017 event at the Kennedy Center, Kesha interrupted Jerry Seinfeld’s interview to ask for a hug, which he declined. After Seinfeld turned her down multiple times, Kesha later described the experience as both depressing and hilarious.
#6 Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde’s Avoidance at the 2022 Venice Film Festival When “Don’t Worry Darling” premiered at the 2022 Venice International Film Festival, costars Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde, who were reportedly dating at the time, seemed to avoid each other on the red carpet. The tension was attributed to a leaked video of Wilde speaking negatively about the film’s leading actress, Florence Pugh.
#7 Tiffany Haddish’s Persistent Photobombs at the 2023 VMAs At the 2023 VMAs, Tiffany Haddish repeatedly photobombed Shakira, who ignored her. Despite being ignored, Haddish photobombed a selfie with Shakira and a fan. After criticism on social media, Haddish tweeted, “This experience has allowed me to realize how truly popular I am. I appreciate all of your opinions. Thank you.”
#8 Gigi Hadid’s Selective Hugs at the 2015 American Music Awards At the 2015 American Music Awards, Gigi Hadid hugged all the members of One Direction except for Harry Styles, her close friend Taylor Swift’s ex. Some fans speculated that this was due to Styles being Swift’s ex, while others believed there were no hard feelings and that Styles had simply extended his arm for a polite handshake.
#9 Tom Holland’s Group Hug at San Diego Comic-Con 2016 During San Diego Comic-Con 2016, Tom Holland’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming” co-star Laura Harrier linked her arm through his, but he quickly slipped away and put his arms around all his co-stars, asking where his now-girlfriend Zendaya was. This action was seen as a way to treat everyone equally and avoid sparking rumors.
#10 Ryan Seacrest’s “No” to Sacha Baron Cohen at the 2016 Oscars At the 2016 Academy Awards, Ryan Seacrest spotted Sacha Baron Cohen, who had infamously spilled fake ashes on him during a 2012 interview. Seeing Cohen approaching, Seacrest reportedly said “No!” but Cohen didn’t give up and later hugged him during an interview with Lady Gaga.
#11 Vanessa Hudgens’ Avoidance of Ex Austin Butler at the 2023 Oscars At the 2023 Academy Awards, Vanessa Hudgens, working as ABC’s red carpet correspondent, avoided interviewing her ex, Best Actor nominee Austin Butler, who was instead interviewed by her co-host Ashley Graham. Later, as Butler exited the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty, Hudgens kept her eyes on her phone and walked past him, signaling her intention to avoid any interaction. She later addressed social media speculation by promoting a message of peace on Instagram.
These interactions highlight the complexities of celebrity encounters, even in the spotlight of red carpet events.