Celebs Permanently Banned From Talk Shows

Talk shows thrive on good connections between hosts and guests, making for engaging TV. However, sometimes those interactions fall apart. Most awkward interviews are quickly forgotten, but a few celebrities behave so badly they’re never invited back. Hosts have different reasons for banning stars – from arguments behind the scenes to on-air outbursts or even damaging property. Here’s a look at the celebrities who’ve been permanently unwelcome on popular talk show sets.

Hugh Grant

Jon Stewart once named Hugh Grant as the most difficult guest he ever had on ‘The Daily Show’. During a 2009 visit to promote his movie, Grant apparently treated the show’s staff poorly and constantly complained about the studio. Stewart was so annoyed by Grant’s behavior that he announced to the audience the actor wouldn’t be asked back. Grant later apologized, admitting online that he had acted inappropriately.

Joan Rivers

Joan Rivers regularly filled in for Johnny Carson on ‘The Tonight Show’, but she was excluded from the program for many years. The problem started in 1986 when she agreed to host a competing late-night show on Fox without telling Carson beforehand. Carson felt deeply hurt and stopped speaking to Rivers, and she remained banned for the rest of his career. This continued even after Jay Leno became host, and wasn’t resolved until Jimmy Fallon took over in 2014.

Harmony Korine

Director Harmony Korine was banned for life from ‘The Late Show with David Letterman’ after a strange incident backstage in the late 1990s. David Letterman later shared that he discovered Korine going through Meryl Streep’s purse in the dressing room area. Letterman considered this behavior erratic and rude, and immediately kicked him off the show. Korine, who is known for his unusual artistic approach, was never asked to return after the attempted theft.

Madonna

Piers Morgan has long refused to allow Madonna to appear on any of his talk shows, including ‘Piers Morgan Live’. This stems from an incident where Madonna reportedly made a rude comment to Morgan, after which he publicly said she wasn’t interesting enough to interview. Morgan has consistently confirmed the ban remains in place and won’t be lifted. Despite having access to most other media outlets, Madonna is still prevented from being interviewed by the British broadcaster.

Kathy Griffin

The comedian was effectively barred from several TV shows, including ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ and ‘The View.’ She said Ellen DeGeneres stopped speaking to her in 2006 after Griffin did a stand-up routine making fun of the host, and the two never reconciled. Griffin also claimed Barbara Walters banned her from ‘The View’ after she told jokes about Walters’ family. Her sharp and often provocative comedy frequently clashed with those in charge of daytime television.

Bobcat Goldthwait

The comedian gained a reputation for unpredictable behavior, culminating in a disastrous 1994 appearance on ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’ that led to a lifetime ban. He shocked the audience and crew by climbing onto furniture and setting it ablaze with lighter fluid he’d secretly brought with him. The dangerous act caused widespread panic and could have resulted in legal trouble for the network. Jay Leno and the show’s producers quickly agreed he was too much of a safety hazard to be invited back.

Howard Stern

Howard Stern and Jay Leno had a famously hostile rivalry. Stern often harshly criticized Leno’s jokes and how he ran his show on his own radio program, which resulted in Stern being banned from ‘The Tonight Show.’ Leno reportedly wouldn’t even say Stern’s name on the air. This was especially notable because Stern regularly appeared on David Letterman’s show and had a good relationship with him, despite Letterman being Leno’s competitor.

Vivica A. Fox

Jimmy Kimmel no longer allows the actress to appear on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ after a difficult visit where she tried to steal the show. Sources say Fox executives were unhappy that Star Jones was also a guest and the actress attempted a showy entrance to get more attention. Kimmel called the whole experience a disaster and decided he didn’t want to repeat the backstage conflict. He publicly talked about what happened, making it clear she won’t be invited back.

The Kardashians

As a critic, I found it fascinating to hear that Anderson Cooper flat-out refused to have a certain famous family on his show, ‘Anderson Live.’ He was pretty candid in an interview, explaining that their reality TV world just didn’t mesh with his journalistic approach or the vibe of his program. He even joked that he wasn’t interested in what they were up to! What really struck me was how unusual this was – it wasn’t about a scandal or a specific problem, he simply didn’t want to interview them based on personal preference, which is a pretty rare move for a talk show host.

Gary Busey

Gary Busey is no longer allowed on ‘The Howard Stern Show’ after he became physically aggressive with Howard Stern during an interview. He grabbed Stern in a tight hug that made the host feel unsafe, leading Stern to ban him from the show due to his unpredictable behavior. This ended Busey’s appearances as a guest on the radio program.

Gilbert Gottfried

The comedian, who passed away recently, was a frequent and popular guest on ‘The Howard Stern Show’ for many years before being permanently removed from the program. It’s said this happened because of disagreements over money and Gottfried’s unwillingness to discuss his private life on the air. Stern stopped having him on the show, ending their working relationship. Gottfried was reportedly puzzled and saddened by the abrupt end to his appearances.

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

2026-02-13 23:45