Old Celebrity Interviews We Should've Taken Seriously

0:00 The biggest scandals in Hollywood didn't come from nowhere. They came from years of warning signs that were dismissed, ignored, or simply missed. These are the clips that were clues hiding in plain sight the whole time. And had we noticed them, we could have saved some of the industry's victims. By 2017, Hollywood's abuse was front-page news. But the people inside it had been aware for much longer. And Courtney Love was one of the few willing to say something on camera as far back as 2005. >> Harvey Weinstein, do you have any advice for young girls looking to Hollywood? >> Um I'll get libel out of that. >> If Harvey Weinstein invites you to a private party in the Four Seasons Hotel >> She later clarified she was not among the victims, but that one interview alone had permanently got her fired from the industry.

0:45 >> There are a lot of parents out here who want to put their kids in this in this business. They Their kids are cute. They're great actors. Da da da. What would you say to a parent who just has the best of intentions, who's coming here with their child? >> Corey Feldman and those around him were among the people most directly harmed by the abuse culture that ran through Hollywood for decades. In 2013, he used a public interview to deliver one of the most sobering warnings ever directed at parents of children who wanted to pursue an acting career. >> I'm saying that there are people that were the people that did this to both me and Corey that are still working. They're still out there and they're some of the richest, most powerful people in this business. >> And they are predators and they are still >> me saying what I'm saying right now. >> Are you saying that they're >> Yes. >> And that they're still in this business? >> Yes. >> Uh nobody's Nobody You're legendary for

1:32 the parties that you throw. You throw a great party. >> I'm a legend, baby, for a whole bunch of things. >> Yes. >> Huh? >> [screaming] >> You're a a killer party. What's the ingredient What is What What do you do to make just an amazing killer party? >> This what you need to do. >> The music industry has its own version of this pattern, and Diddy sits at the center of it. Looking back at old interviews now, the signs were impossible to miss. >> Okay. Now, we need um alcohols. >> Right. Alcohols. >> Right. >> Not just one alcohol. >> Alcohols. >> If you don't have what they need, they're going to leave. >> Right. >> Got to keep them there. >> Right. >> You need locks on the doors. >> [laughter] >> Okay, this is sounding kind of dangerous now. >> It's a little kinky, but >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Rockery, but just check it out. You need

2:18 um a lot of heat. A lot of heat. >> Yeah. >> Heat? You mean that physically the place has to be hot? >> You don't have no air conditioning. >> No air conditioning? Why is that? >> Heat affects the alcohol, and it also affects like um you know, everybody gets a little bit more comfortable and loose. Builds up a nice little sweat. >> That just sounds disgusting. >> What you doing? >> [laughter] >> Depends on the way you look at it. >> Depends Oh, people start getting kind of gets kind of sexy, is that what you're saying? >> There you sexy, new word for you. >> [cheering] >> One clip that stands out is a young Justin Bieber partway through describing what his time with Diddy was like, being silenced abruptly before he could say anything more. >> Got me a Lamborghini. I just >> Yeah. Oh, well, that's nice. >> I haven't gotten it yet, though. >> Yeah, I know. When is that coming, that Lamborghini? We talked about this last time. >> Lamborghini for a day or two, and he had

3:05 access to the house, and he knows better than me talking about the things that he does with Big Brother Puff on national television. >> Going all the way back to 1999, footage exists of him describing his own downfall before it ever arrived, basically implying that he knew what he was doing was wrong. >> They won't even give me a permit for the parties, man. They don't want me to throw the parties no more. But we we ain't going to stop. We're going to keep on having fun, bringing people together from all walks of life. You're going to hear about my parties. They're going to be shutting them down. They're going to probably be arresting me, doing all types of crazy things just cuz we want to have a good time, you know. >> And my next guest is in his seventh season playing Hyde on the Fox sitcom That '70s Show. Please welcome Danny Masterson. >> [cheering and music] >> Danny Masterson's 2023 conviction for

3:51 harassing two women came with a 30-year to life sentence. Shortly after a 2004 clip from the Conan O'Brien show resurfaced and watching it now, it was clear that the people in the industry knew what he was doing. >> Like my friend Bodhi Elfman, he always teases me and he says, "Hi, my name is Danny Masterson. Would you like to touch my balls?" You know, bad imitation of me. >> Because certain words just came out of your mouth. So, why are you asking people to do that? That's the more important question. >> I mean, you got them. >> Um I've heard about you. Uh And you'll be caught soon. I know you will. >> I will. >> Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis backing Masterson at his trial was a choice that backfired. Internet users brought back old footage of Ashton into circulation. Footage that painted a picture of its own, showing that he was not very different from Masterson. >> What's some of bet you made with Danny

4:37 about our first kiss? >> No, it wasn't the first kiss. This was like a second or third kiss. >> It was the first It was like the first week. >> No, it was not the first week. >> Whatever. Then Danny goes and goes, "Dude, I'll give you $10 if you French kiss her." What would he stick my Stick your tongue in my mouth or some What? >> No, no, no, no, no. >> For $10. >> You're making it sound like it was like really Okay, Dan, we had a little side bet, don't we? >> And then a second clip reappeared showing Ashton directing a wholly inappropriate remark toward a 15-year-old Hilary Duff. >> Hilary Duff is in Lizzie McGuire. She also has an album out. She's going to be in a movie called Cheaper by the Dozen. And she's one of the girls that we're all waiting for to turn 18. Along with the Olsens. >> When The Proposal came out with a half-nude scene involving Sandra

5:23 Bullock, Matt Lauer's interview priorities made it clear that the movie itself was not what he was there to discuss at all. >> Sandra Bullock, good morning. Welcome back. >> Thank you. >> It's been 2 years since you've been here. >> Has it? >> It has been. March, I think, 15th, the Ides of March. I am. It's been hard. It's been hard. The major thing that's changed since you were here last >> Yes. >> I have now seen you naked. >> [laughter] >> I have seen you >> so sorry about that. Were you able to sleep afterwards? Why are you looking down? >> It's now my screensaver. >> Why [laughter] did you look down? You said >> I was looking at my notes. >> Not your notes. They're not over here. >> No, no, no, they're right there. >> For a moment, the interview recovered before Matt brought it back to exactly the inappropriate place it had been. >> Did I mention you have a nude scene in this movie? >> Pretty much from the time you opened your mouth. Yeah. >> Sandra Bullock, come back more often.

6:09 >> No, not after this interview. >> [laughter] >> You're out of here, I know. >> The full picture only emerged when multiple women came forward publicly to describe what Lauer was like behind the curtains when the cameras weren't on him. >> Just moments ago, NBC News Chairman Andy Lack sent the following note to our organization. Dear colleagues, on Monday night we received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer. >> In hindsight, what Katie Couric had said about Matt was never really a joke. It just took years and multiple accusations for everyone else to understand. >> You co-hosted the Today show with Matt Lauer for 15 years. What is Matt's most annoying habit? >> He pinches me on the ass a lot.

6:54 >> In 2016, Melissa Benoist appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and described what she framed as an unfortunate accident. >> I was going down steps and I slipped and fell and hit my eye on a potted plant. And tore my iris. >> What she revealed 3 years later changed how that entire interview reads. She had been living with domestic violence and the accident story was the cover she had needed at the time to protect her ex. >> I am a survivor of domestic violence or IPV intimate partner violence, which is something I never in my life expected I would say, let alone be broadcasting into the ether. The first time it happened, he threw a smoothie at my face. It smacked my cheek and exploded all over the floor and the sofa. I ran to

7:40 grab paper towels, rushing back because I was so worried about cleaning the couch. Then the fact that it was all over my face, my hair, my clothes, and that my cheek was painful painfully throbbing. I just fooled myself into believing I could help him. I thought that I could love him enough to make him see a way of life where violence was not the way you handled emotions. So, I consciously diluted myself into thinking that forgiveness would heal him enough to make it stop. >> A fascinating interview we found from 1991. Bill Cosby was on CNN promoting a book. He tells an interesting story. Take a look. >> Numerous allegations against Bill Cosby involve a consistent claim that he tampered with victims' drinks before taking advantage of them. A 1991 clip was resurfaced where he described

8:25 exactly that casually to a national audience. >> Spanish fly was the thing that all boys at from age 11 on up to death. We will still be searching for Spanish fly. And and and what was the old the old story was if you took a little drop it was on the head of a >> pin >> pin. >> That's right. You drop it in a Coca-Cola. >> Don't matter. >> It didn't make it and the girl would drink it and she sure >> Hello, America. >> The 2020 accusations against Chris D'Elia, which included claims he solicited explicit photos from girls via Snapchat, came alongside the resurfacing of a podcast clip where he was discussing a teacher caught sending inappropriate images to students. At one moment, he realized he could easily be

9:11 next and his face wasn't hiding it. >> Yeah, well that's weird. Yeah. >> see your body. Let me Dude, if I'm 15 >> That's amazing. >> and this history teacher sends me those tits >> This is the moment where he realized that photos and text messages on Snapchat could be saved and that all he had been doing might be secretly stacking up as evidence. >> The boy's mother ended up finding it. >> Finding it? What do you mean? It It does Snapchat goes was right? How they >> He probably saved it. You can screen record, take screenshots. >> Wow. >> You got to know that that's going to happen. Some people do some crazy >> But we do begin tonight with singer R. Kelly sentenced to 30 years behind bars after his conviction on racketeering and trafficking charges. >> R. Kelly is spending more time in prison after being sentenced federally for

9:58 and enticement of person. >> Looking back through R. Kelly's archive changes the uncertainty of his past trial. One simple question that should have had an easy answer turned into an incredibly uncomfortable moment. >> I'm wondering about you. Do you like teenage girls? >> When you say teenage, how are we talking? >> Girls who are teenagers. >> 19? >> 19 and younger. >> I have some 19-year-old friends. But I don't like anybody illegal if that's what we're talking about, underage. >> Uh-huh. >> Pushing guests for answers is standard practice on a talk show. What Ellen DeGeneres did to Mariah Carey in this exchange sits well past that boundary and it confirms everything that has

10:44 since been said about her behind the scenes. >> And then >> [applause] >> the other thing is that people are saying that that you're pregnant. There there's rumors Um >> The discomfort on Mariah's face was never subtle, yet Ellen found a way to use alcohol to back her into an uncomfortable corner publicly and with millions watching. >> That's not champagne cuz you can't have that. >> Is it really? >> Yeah, you want to you want to taste it? >> I can't believe you did this to me, Ellen. >> What? >> Are you trying to >> I'm not going to ask you if you're pregnant. This is peer >> Do you see what Ellen is doing? This is peer pressure. >> No. Let's toast to you not being pregnant. If you're not pregnant, then we should >> Oh my goodness. >> [cheering] >> Yeah. >> [applause]

11:29 >> You're pregnant. You're pregnant. >> [cheering] >> You are pregnant. >> And once you factor in Mariah's long struggle with fertility, the whole situation becomes even harder to process. >> Let me take some of the vodka next to me. >> Why aren't you answering? >> Ellen did that to me and tried to put me on the spot >> All right. >> with some alcohol. >> Okay. I'm not trying >> Lindsay Lohan came to this interview still navigating alcohol addiction and a series of rehab stays, visibly relieved to be back doing press. She had no idea what direction Letterman was planning to take the conversation. >> Well, you look remarkably well. Now, aren't you supposed to aren't you supposed to be in rehab now? And how long will you be in rehab?

12:16 >> Uh 3 months. >> How many times have you been in rehab? >> Several. >> And what what how will this time be different? What are they rehabbing, first of all? What what is on their list? What are what are they going to work on when you walk through the door? Is it uh like alcohol? Do you drink too much? >> We've discussed this in the past. >> We did we really? When did we discuss >> Well, because we >> I'm the one who's having the blackouts. What is so so now um uh when you when you go to the rehab, what do they do? >> let's let's this is we have to work here for a movie. >> We have to what? >> Let's stay on the positive. >> Oh, what did I bring >> Like aside from that side of the positive. >> Yeah. All right. >> Come on now. >> No, okay. We'll talk about the movie so >> I've been here since I was 7. >> Before public accountability, before any real consequences for this kind of conduct, 1991 was a very different environment and moments like this were

13:03 far from unusual. The reporter made her discomfort obvious throughout, but Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers ignored it completely. >> Except that you have the added pressure of the whole world watching every move that you're making. >> Back off, baby. >> It's getting a little kissy >> no, no, no, no, no. This kiss >> besides >> Oh god. >> All right. This is a little kiss. >> You know, people are watching this. You're making me blush. >> The tension >> never left and eventually the interviewer was left with no option but to end things early. >> When's the last time I did that to Margot Robbie's shoes? >> Okay, we're going to end this interview now because you're causing big trouble. I will >> was just repeating the question. I was just repeating the question. >> my whole life to do that to end an interview because fans have misbehaved

13:49 and you've given me the absolute opportunity. >> No, I'm a perfect gentleman. >> Yeah, you are. >> Drake has faced no official charges, but the claims regarding inappropriate relationships with underage girls have accumulated significantly over time. Kendrick Lamar put it on record in one of his tracks. >> Say Drake I hear you like them young. >> But Shane Gillis had already talked about this on one of his podcasts before the conversation ever reached the level it eventually did. >> That reminds me, I do want to say this. I want to be on the record. Drake Drake's going to be he's on that R. Kelly tip. >> You think so? >> Drizzy Drake likes them young. >> What? >> He does. This is somewhat known already, but it This is one of those things where I want to you know, you got to say something. Like remember Louis, that whole thing? >> Yeah. >> we knew about that. >> Yeah. >> And we were just like I don't know. Drake Drizzy Drake's into the young

14:35 ones. He's going to get got in the next 5 years. >> Oh. >> Unfortunately. Love me some Drizzy Drake dude. >> This Vin Diesel interview is one of the more striking examples of a moment going somewhere it absolutely shouldn't have. >> So I found out that your real name is Mark. >> What? The guys, say something. Someone say something. >> Never heard of it. >> What? What happened there? >> Marco Marco Marco Vincenzo Marco Vincenzo >> Within minutes, the conversation stopped being about anything professional and became very personal very quickly. >> My god, she's so beautiful, man. Am I right or wrong? Look at her. >> Thank you. >> How am I supposed to do this interview? Look at this woman. >> Tell me your story. >> She's so beautiful, Gonyo, man. Talk to

15:20 me baby. Tell me your story. Tell me your Let's get out of here. Let's go Let's Let's go have lunch. My god, I love her. Look how beautiful she is. >> Thank you. >> God, wow. Man, >> So Tom Hanks >> wow. >> The interviewer's attempts to redirect things were futile. He kept pressing on. >> I found out that you are a nerd like me. You love the Jews and Dragons. >> I'm anything like you cuz I love you. >> [laughter] >> But >> I'm anything like you cuz I love you. Guys, really? Look how beautiful she is. You guys think this is a joke? How am I supposed to sit over here when I'm looking at such beauty? Come on, guys. >> She's beautiful. >> She's so beautiful. I'm in love. I'm in love with the interviewer. >> [laughter] >> And just when it seemed like it had reached its most uncomfortable point, it

16:06 hadn't. >> What's wrong? Am I the only one that's saying it? Look at her. She's so beautiful. It's like you can't even do an interview with her cuz you're just like Right or wrong? Oh my god. All right, guys. Someone save me. When did this turn into beautiful world? >> The idea that achieving fame in Hollywood comes with a specific kind of price has moved well past the territory of conspiracy theory for many people. >> These people are not powerful. Satan can't create anything. That includes blessings for his people. That's why [music] Do you know what the number one job of somebody that sold their soul in Hollywood is? >> What? >> Is to act like it didn't happen. They all do the same job. >> One claim that resurfaces consistently

16:51 in conversations about Hollywood is that black actors are required to participate in a humiliation ritual as a condition of their rise. And that ritual is wearing a dress. >> Dave Chappelle, another great comedian, said that, you know, in the industry, they tried to make him wear a dress. Have you ever ran into that with with scripts saying and is that something that, you know, you wouldn't do, you know for >> Uh Definitely have a into into putting on the dress. I mean, you know, you have to have you have to have boundaries. You have to have limits that you refuse to cross. >> Here's what Katt had to say about Kevin Hart's so-called boundaries. >> Kevin told you he won't go wear no dress until they offered him the dress and then he put it on. And what did he say after he wore it? >> [music] >> I made my own decision. Duh.

17:37 But you didn't make it before they brought it up, did you? >> It's okay. It's all right. >> The new pope is 9-year-old Oscar nominee, >> [laughter] >> Taraji P. Henson and Wallace. >> [applause and cheering] >> Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. >> Going back to 2006, Dave Chappelle was already putting this on record. >> I'm a conspiracy theorist to a degree. Like when I connect dots that maybe shouldn't be connected, I don't know. But certain dots like when I see that they put every black man in the movies in a dress at some point in their career. I'll be connecting that and then I'm like, "Why all these brothers got to wear a dress?" That's happened to me. I'm doing a movie with Martin. >> Yeah. >> The movie's going good. So I walk in a trailer.

18:22 I'm like, "Man, this must be the wrong trailer cuz there's a dress in here." They come in. The writer comes in. I think he's the writer. He's like, "Dave, listen. We got this hilarious scene where Martin's sneaking out of jail. So he disguises you as a And you put this dress on and it Huh? Martin is positive. No, I'm not doing it. I don't feel comfortable with it. That shouldn't have been in the discussion. >> But as it turns out, he eventually joined the dark side as well. >> Hey Robin, what's the matter with you? You have a cold? >> As a matter of fact, I do. >> Really? That's probably a chest cold. >> [laughter] >> Hey Robin, did you take your temperature? >> Thanks for watching.