# Worst Screw-Ups/Acts of Stupidity in the Public Eye. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 17, 2002, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300 "2002-12-17T10:34:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300/21 "2002-12-17T16:04:40Z")
Funny how a lot of people tend to flame out on Letterman. -The GWB one was painful to watch. Apparently, his handlers told him to show his hip sense of humor by poking fun at Dave’s heart troubles. Not being a comedian, he wasn’t able to let it drop when it became clear the audience (and Dave) were not amused. - Farrah’s bizarre behavior - Anyone see Crispin Glover? After babbling incoherently, he did some sort of weird kung-fu kick at Dave’s head. They quickly went to commerical, and when they came back, he was gone. -Joe Walsh came out and just started rocking in his chair while Dave asked him questions. Pretty much his only response was to occasionally tell Dave “You look really good tonight”. He also brought some little windup toy he wanted to show Dave. It didn’t work right, and he just kept yelling “Come on man, do the move!” Just a bizarre “interview” Of all those though, the GWB was by far the most uncomfortable to watch. I guess the other 3 are kind of supposed to be weird while a presidential candidate isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![BizarroRonJeremy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@BizarroRonJeremy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BizarroRonJeremy)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300/22 "2002-12-17T16:07:24Z")
I was searching the web for more info on Louise Lasser’s breakdown on SNL and I came across this little tidbit about Anton Vettel (??) on SNL [http://www.angelfire.com/stars/antonvettel/vetsnl.html](http://www.angelfire.com/stars/antonvettel/vetsnl.html) Anyone ever hear of this? BRJ ---
**Author:** ![BizarroRonJeremy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@BizarroRonJeremy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BizarroRonJeremy)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300/23 "2002-12-17T16:13:20Z")
Never mind… Sounds like a hoax… Silly me. I thought everything on the Net was true. BRJ ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300/24 "2002-12-17T16:19:25Z")
I had heard recently that Sinead O’Connor’s Pope-pic-tearing episode was in reaction to stories of sexual abuse by catholic priests. Seems unlikely. Revsionism, or no? ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300/25 "2002-12-17T16:30:32Z")
Mike Tyson biting off the Hollifields ear was pretty damn dumb, even for him. I saw a clip of Boris Yeltsin pinching his secretaries ass. Not exactly a huge headline, but it was pretty damn funny. Michael Jackson dangling the kid off the balcony was bizzare. It just verified the fact that he was a nut even to his fans. G.W. not being able to name the General in power in Pakistan. _Reporter_- Can you name him? Yes _Reporter_- Whats his name? General. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300/26 "2002-12-17T16:40:18Z")
Milli Vanilli’s “performance” starting to skip mid-lip synch. I heard they tried to go with it at first, but then basically just ran off stage in tears. ---
**Author:** ![Balduran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Balduran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balduran)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300/27 "2002-12-17T16:51:30Z")
Didn’t Prince Charles once tell Camilla he wanted to be her tampon? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300/28 "2002-12-17T17:10:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by seal\_clubber \* > \*\*I had heard recently that Sinead O’Connor’s Pope-pic-tearing episode was in reaction to stories of sexual abuse by catholic priests. Seems unlikely. Revsionism, or no? \*\* The scandal didn’t come to light for almost a decade, and no one seems to think the Pope was involved. Definitely revisionism. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300/29 "2002-12-17T18:04:58Z")
How about that time **BizarroRonJeremy** said he thought everything on the internet was true? ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300/30 "2002-12-17T18:15:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > \*\*The scandal didn’t come to light for almost a decade, and no one seems to think the Pope was involved. Definitely revisionism. \*\* At the time I remember her saying something about the Catholic church in Ireland supporting child abuse. I don’t recall sexual abuse specifically being mentioned, and I don’t recall what specific acts she was referring to (or if she referred to specific acts). But I do know that at the time, it was something to do with that. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300/31 "2002-12-17T18:17:53Z")
I’m not sure if this was the same Letterman appearance, but GWB also polished his glasses on a staffer’s sweater as she stood at Dave’s desk during commercial. He did it on the sly, but obviously in front of the cameras, so the Late Show ran that clip for at least a week. Hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300/32 "2002-12-17T18:26:03Z")
[This guy:](http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1035775698388&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154) high-level First Nations leader (winner of Order of Canada!) flames out with bizarre pro-Nazi rant… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300/33 "2002-12-17T18:52:48Z")
Al Campanis of the LA Dodgers stating that Blacks wouldn’t make good managers (I think he cited their intelligence or something) on Nightline Jimmy the Greek’s stating that Blacks were “bred” as slaves to be physically superior (or something like that) Jesse Jackson’s infamous calling of NYC “Hymietown” Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300/34 "2002-12-17T19:03:04Z")
That reminds me, baseball player John Rocker’s anti-gay and racists comments about New Yorkers in Sports Illustrated should net him a booby prize. ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300/35 "2002-12-17T19:07:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Legomancer \* > [Re: Sinead O’Connor tearing up a picture of the Pope on SNL] At the time I remember her saying something about the Catholic church in Ireland supporting child abuse. I don’t recall sexual abuse specifically being mentioned, and I don’t recall what specific acts she was referring to (or if she referred to specific acts). But I do know that at the time, it was something to do with that. [Here’s](http://members.tripod.com/dcebe/pope19.txt) the text of a 1992 LA Times article, which contains the O’Connor’s complete letter of explanation. Pertinent passages: > [@](#): > > My name is Sinead O’Connor. I am an Irish woman. And I am an abused child… The cause of my abuse is the history of my people, whose identity and culture were taken away from them by the British with full permission from The “Holy” Roman Empire. Which they gave for money and in the name of Jesus Christ. > [snip] > The Catholic Church have controlled us by controlling education. Through their teachings on sexuality, marriage, birth control and abortion. And most spectacularly through the lies they taught us with their history books. So child abuse _was_ her reason for dissing the Pope, but it appears to me that her complaint is _not_ about abuse of children by priests, nor even about sexual abuse, per se, but rather that the Church creates an atmosphere where abuse is inevitable and tolerated. So it looks like claims tying this in with current sex abuse scandal are revisioninst. (For the record, I’m not agreeing with her, just trying to interpret as best I can what she’s trying to say.) ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300/36 "2002-12-17T19:07:30Z")
[Prince Philip’s every public appearance](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1848553.stm). ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300/37 "2002-12-18T03:13:18Z")
i think that mike tyson thing was just witnessing a nervous breakdown, which doesn’t embarrass me! it amused me! but, i think that i have won the big award for the number 1 embarrassing dumb dork award: the ted danson blackface stunt? ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300/38 "2002-12-18T12:59:32Z")
I hadn’t heard of that Nancy Kerrigan thing, so I did a Yahoo! search, and found it being used as a parable by some fundie site: > [@](#): > > \*\*What Nancy Kerrigan did not realize on this particular night, however, was that she had a microphone attached to here that was turned on. So there she sat, smiling and waving. But as she was smiling, and as she was waving and putting forth an image of ecstatic joy, she was saying in a low voice (she thought to herself), “This is so ridiculous. I feel like a complete idiot. I have never been so humiliated in all my life.” She did not realize that her every word was being broadcast for every single person to hear. You see, she thought that she could just put on a face and that her secret innermost thoughts would never be known. Little did she realize, however, that what she was thinking and saying in her heart was being broadcast for all to hear. > > Friends, it’s the same way with your sin and God. This mark up here can be seen. You see that. Isaiah says that sin stands on your soul like a scarlet stain and no matter what you do to try and hide it and no matter where you go to try to hide it, God sees it. It’s visible. He knows it. He sees the sin in our lives and there is nowhere that you can go that He can’t find it. \*\* So you see it wasn’t a screw-up after all. It was all part of **God’s Plan[sup]tm[/sup]** so we would have a shining example of what not to do at a carnival parade, and sin, and honesty, and the bible or something… ---
**Author:** ![flood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@flood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flood)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300/39 "2002-12-18T14:24:25Z")
POTATO!!!🙂 ---
**Author:** ![auntie\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300/40 "2002-12-18T14:45:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handsomeharry \* > \*\*but, i think that i have won the big award for the number 1 embarrassing dumb dork award: the ted danson blackface stunt? \*\* YES! I was going to come back and post that, but got caught up in (of all things) WORK, so ya beat me to it! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-screw-ups-acts-of-stupidity-in-the-public-eye/143300.md?page=3)