Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

The Most Unexpected Things People Have Ever Witnessed On Live TV

Man sitting on sofa drinking coffee and watching television
man in white dress shirt holding white ceramic mug
Photo by CardMapr.nl on Unsplash

CW: Accidents and death.

The danger of live television is that you can't go back to the editing room to cut something out.

While most live television is on a five-second or so delay, mostly to edit out bad language, that still doesn't guarantee that audiences won't see something that wasn't intended to be part of the broadcast.

From Ashlee Simpson's infamous lip-synching debacle on Saturday Night Live, to the slap heard (and seen) round the world at the 2022 Academy Awards, there's no planning what may happen on live TV.

And sometimes something going wrong on an awards show or news program is far more exciting or memorable than anything seen on a football or hockey game.


Redditor LittleCheeseBag8 was curious to hear about the most unforgettable moments on live television people have ever witnessed, leading them to ask:
"What is the most unexpected thing you've seen live on tv?"

Not As Cute As He Seemed...

"In the UK a TV personality and her son who is disabled were on a live tv show."

"From what I recall the topic being discussed was online bullying."

"When her son was asked about what to say to these bully's his response was: 'hello you c*nts'."

"Absolute classic British TV right there."- garillar

And This Was Only The Beginning...

"The OJ Simpson Bronco chase."

"They interrupted the NBA playoffs to show it live instead of the game."

"It was surreal."- PaulsRedditUsername

All He Had Hidden, Was A Let Down...

"Al Capone's vault had ........... nothing in it."- MerryBandOfPirates

al capone inmates GIF by History UKGiphy

No Thanksgiving Is Drama Free

"It was Thanksgiving morning in Los Angeles, and a news team went to surprise a family in need with a full Thanksgiving dinner."

"They showed up to the house, and I really think they went to the wrong place."

"The person at the door looked confused by the name the reporter was giving them, but they were live, and I’m sure the reporter was freaking out so she shoved her way into the home with the camera crew and a bunch of people with food."

"They’re all standing in the living room, and the reporter is telling this bewildered woman about what food they brought."

"Then the woman, takes a picture off the mantle, and starts crying, telling the reporter her baby died."

"The reporter was trying to turn the conversation back to the surprise dinner, but the woman only wanted to talk and show pictures of her dead baby."

"It was the cringiest thing I’ve ever seen on live TV."- adventurer84

Some People Just Get Used To It

"The reporter standing at a 45-degree angle, holding onto the street sign for dear life in a wind/rain storm as he was reporting."

"And the two dudes casually walking past, not leaning whatsoever and without difficulty."- Kinky_mofo

An Unforgettable Tragedy

"The Space Shuttle Challenger exploding into the Florida sky."- IfIKnewThen

A Life Threatening Rush...

"A Formula One driver hitting a wall at Imola and attempts being made to resuscitate him on the track."

"They weren't successful."

"Roland Ratzenberger died during Qualifying and things continued to get out of control as crew, drivers and spectators were injured over the weekend and Ayrton Senna died during the race."

"Motor racing is obviously not 100% safe but the number of incidents and two fatalities over the course of a single event was astonishing."

"It really was like the track was cursed."- JMW007

In Case Anyone Missed It...

"I was watching football (soccer) a few years ago and the referee stopped play for a foul."

"The slo-mo replay showed the fouling player grab the other player’s shorts as he stepped across him, and use them to try to stop his momentum."

"The shorts stretched a long way, exposing his penis, which then proceeded to flap around in slo mo, for about 5 seconds, whilst the commentators pretended it wasn’t happening."- Thefdt

Copa America Football GIFGiphy

Boxing Doesn't Involve Teeth

"Mike Tyson biting Evander Holyfield’s ear."- wintermacaw

Everyone Wanted To Look Away, But Couldn't...

"Anderson Silva's leg snapping like a twig."- KeyRageAlert

In Real Time

"Hostage situation during the news."

"The news presenter was talking when an armed man walked in and took them hostage."

"It was wild."- HappyDutchMan

GOOOAAAAL!

"Christian Eriksen legit collapsing and dying on a soccer pitch only to be revived and make the most epic comeback the following season."- True-Expression3378

Going Out on A High

"One time I was flipping through channels and nothing was on."

"Snow mobile freestyle on the winter X Games caught my eye for no good reason."

"Then the guy is in the air either trying to backflip or he just rotates too far on a big jump."

"The snow mobile lands what looks like directly on his chest."

"I’m shocked thinking surely he wasn’t going to survive."

"I can’t recall what the normal announcers were saying or if they cut to something less dramatic."

"But then the sideline reporter type woman said she interviewed the athlete while he was being taken away and he 'felt like he just woke up from the longest dream ever'.”

"So I was optimistic since he was able to speak."

"Maybe even walk off under his own power."

"But I looked it up over the next day or two and he died in the hospital."

"That line from his interview still sticks with me."- FancyPantsHess

There's no going back for a second take when it comes to live television.

So, for better or worse, what happens will potentially be seen by millions of viewers, and most likely never forgotten.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Pam Bondi
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Photo Of Epstein Victims Standing Behind Pam Bondi As She Ignores Them Goes Viral—And It's One For The History Books

Attorney General Pam Bondi's appearance before the House Judiciary Committee will now forever be associated with a viral photo captured by Getty Images photographer Roberto Schmidt showing several victims of the late financier, sex trafficker, and pedophile Jeffrey Epstein raising their hands to signal that Bondi and the Justice Department had ignored their accounts.

Democrats repeatedly pressed Bondi over what they described as her dismissive posture toward the crimes of Epstein and the influential figures named in recently released files.

Keep ReadingShow less
Margot Robbie attends the "Wuthering Heights" Australian Premiere at State Theatre in Sydney, Australia.
Don Arnold/WireImage via Getty Images

Fans Horrified After Margot Robbie Reveals Weight-Shaming 'Gift' She Once Got From Male Costar

Margot Robbie is reflecting on a moment from early in her career that still stings.

The Australian actor and producer appeared on Complex’s GOAT Talk series on February 9, where she sat down with Charli XCX to discuss her career, romance films, and the worst gift she has ever received. What followed was a candid story about a male costar who handed her something that felt less like a present and more like a pointed message.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot from Redditor Bulgingpants' Reddit post
u/Bulgingpants/Reddit

Restaurant Sparks Heated Debate After Adding Mandatory 20% No-Tipping Fee To Diners' Checks

Tipping culture is an incredibly divisive topic, leading people to question if customers and restaurant guests should be made responsible for the livelihood of those who serve them their meals at these establishments.

Redditor Bulgingpants added fuel to the fire when they shared a receipt in the "End Tipping" subReddit from a restaurant called Burdell in Oakland, California, remarking:

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @hackedliving's TikTok video
@hackedliving/TikTok

Viral Video Of Delivery Robot Maneuvering Around Unhoused Man In Miami Is Honestly So Dystopian

Technology is here to make our lives more convenient and successful, but it has a chilling way of calling out problems that we're experiencing.

In a TikTok video recorded by TikToker @hackedliving, an delivery robot named "Akira" was seen rolling down a sidewalk in Miami, eyes blinking as it approached its destination.

Keep ReadingShow less
'Dawson's Creek' cast
Warner Bros./Getty Images

'Dawson's Creek' Stars Lead Poignant Tributes To James Van Der Beek After His Tragic Death At 48

After revealing to the public in November 2025 that he was battling colorectal cancer, James Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at the age of 48.

Fans became concerned last December about the severity of his condition when Van Der Beek was unable to appear at the Dawson's Creek reunion at New York's Richard Rodgers Theatre, due to having multiple illnesses at once because of his weakened immune system.

Keep ReadingShow less