John Plunkett 

Robert Downey Jr walkout: six more times celebrity interviews turned bad

The Iron Man star’s Channel 4 News exit is just the latest in a string of walkouts, from Quentin Tarantino to Russell Crowe
  
  

Robert Downey Jr: just the latest celebrity to walk out of an interview
Robert Downey Jr: just the latest celebrity to walk out of an interview. Photograph: Samir Hussein/Getty Images

Farewell then Robert Downey Jr, the Iron Man becoming the I’m Outta Here Guy when he became irritated with Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru Murthy’s line of questioning.

“You seem OK – it’s just getting a little Diane Sawyer,” the actor told the Channel 4 News man, who had the temerity to ask about something other than the film he was promoting, as he took off his microphone and exited stage left.

Robert Downey Jr walks out of Channel 4 interview

Guru Murthy could be forgiven for a little deja vu here, after film maker Quentin Tarantino memorably told him: “I’m shutting your butt down” after he asked him about movie violence.

Like Downey Jr, what Tarantino really wanted to talk about was his film. “This is a commercial for my movie, make no mistake.”

Quentin Tarantino: ‘I’m shutting your butt down’

While we wait for the Channel 4 News presenter’s next celebrity interview – perhaps they could use Graham Norton’s red chair – here’s another six interview bust-ups and walkouts. Run VT!

1. The Bee Gees

No list of this kind is complete without the Bee Gees, who walked off Clive Anderson Talks Back in 1997 after he brought up their previous band name, Les Tosseurs. It was, as Anderson admitted, a “slightly cheesy introduction” and things went downhill from there.

The Bee Gees walk off Clive Anderson Talks Back

2. Russell Crowe

Radio now, and we were tempted by actor Naomi Watts’s premature exit from her chat with Simon Mayo, but in the end there was no ignoring Russell Crowe’s on-air fallout with Mark Lawson Radio 4’s Front Row.

“You’ve got dead ears, mate!”

 
Russell Crowe walks our of Radio 4

3. Christine O’Donnell

Piers Morgan has had the odd walkout or two, including this one by former Republican party candidate Christine O’Donnell who walked out after being asked about her views on gay marriage.

And to think, she was late for a Republic Women’s Club for this. Still, Morgan’s ratings went up as a result, so it wasn’t all bad.

Christine O’Donnell walks off Piers Morgan’s CNN show

4. Preston

A rare example of the walkout being more famous than the person who walked out, this is occasional musician and sometime reality TV star Preston walking off Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

You can almost feel sorry for him – almost – but as host Simon Amstell told him, “You can’t go on Big Brother and get away with it.”

Preston exits Never Mind the Buzzcocks

5. Huey Morgan

Back to Never Mind the Buzzcocks – but instead of Preston it’s Huey Morgan, Fun Lovin’ Criminals singer turned BBC Radio 6 Music DJ and the only example on this list that is actually a bit disturbing. No, not the mug!

Huey Morgan smashes mug on Never Mind the Buzzcocks

6. Peter Andre

Poor Peter Andre. Boo Kay Burley!

Peter Andre breaks down on Sky News
 

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