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VOICE OVER: Kirsten Ria Squibb WRITTEN BY: Don Ekama
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most notable instances in which celebrities defended their co-stars against rude, awkward or downright inappropriate interview questions and comments. Which of these Hollywood stars earned your respect for their defensive skills? Let us know in the comments below.
#10: Josh Hutcherson
Back in August 2014, Hollywood was rocked by a hacking scandal that saw private pictures of several female celebrities being leaked online. One of the biggest names affected was Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence. When asked about the leak in an interview with ET Canada, Lawrence’s “Hunger Games” co-star Josh Hutcherson immediately came to her defense. Hutcherson slammed the scandal as “ridiculous,” saying that such a breach of privacy was totally unfair to her and the other victims. Having experienced a photo leak of his own the previous year, Hutcherson knew exactly how it felt and stressed that celebrities still have a right to privacy, even if they’re in the public eye.
#9: Zoe Saldaña
Today, she is one of Hollywood’s highest-grossing actors, famous for starring in some of the biggest blockbusters of all time. But back in the day, Zoe Saldaña got a major career boost acting opposite Britney Spears in the 2002 comedy drama “Crossroads.” Over a decade later, Saldaña still had her former co-star’s back when she appeared on Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live.” When a fan called in with a snarky question about a leaked recording of Spears singing without auto-tune, Saldaña didn’t miss a beat. She called out the question as mean, reminding everyone that many singers also use vocal enhancements. She went on to praise Spears for her humility, describing her as someone she deeply admires and respects.
#8: Tyler Perry
By the time “Why Did I Get Married?” hit theaters, it had been three years since Janet Jackson’s infamous wardrobe malfunction at the 2004 Super Bowl. Being her first film appearance in nearly a decade, Jackson seemed excited to talk about her experience on set. However, news anchor Mark S. Allen couldn’t resist slipping in questions about the controversy. Jackson’s co-star Tyler Perry immediately jumped in, deflecting the awkward questions and steering the conversation back to their film. Allen persisted though, forcing Perry to bluntly tell him to focus on the movie and drop the halftime show topic. This relentless grilling annoyed viewers, who bombarded Allen with over 19,000 emails condemning his behavior. He eventually issued a public apology.
#7: Samuel L. Jackson
2019’s “Captain Marvel” made waves as the first female-led project in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But even before its release, the internet trolls were out in full force, flooding its online pages with thousands of negative comments. In 2023, Samuel L. Jackson, who starred alongside Brie Larson in the film, was asked about the online hate the actress faced during that period. Jackson, who was not only Larson’s co-star but also her close friend, confidently assured everyone that she was tough enough to handle anything thrown her way. Describing Larson as a “stronger person than people give her credit for,” Jackson emphasized that not even the nastiest fans could “destroy her.”
#6: Robert Downey Jr.
Sexism is still a major problem in Hollywood, often creeping up in the most unexpected ways. Case in point: this 2012 London press conference for the Marvel film “The Avengers.” During the session, a reporter took the microphone and directed questions at co-stars Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson. While Downey was asked a thought-provoking question about his character’s emotional progression, Johansson was hit with one regarding dieting. In response, Downey playfully highlighted the absurdity of the statement, and gave Johansson the space to tackle the query herself. In an apparent gesture of solidarity, he even reached over and held her.
#5: Mila Kunis
Justin Timberlake skyrocketed to fame as a member of the boyband NSYNC, and later as a solo pop sensation. However, in the late 2000s, Timberlake put a hold on his music career and transitioned into movies, starring opposite Mila Kunis in the 2011 rom-com “Friends with Benefits.” During a promotional event in Russia, a reporter quizzed Timberlake about his shift to acting. Kunis, who was born in Ukraine and speaks fluent Russian, did not take kindly to the question and swiftly shut it down with style. Her takedown of the reporter was noteworthy, not only because it was impressive to hear Kunis effortlessly switch languages, but it also left Timberlake looking like a deer in headlights.
#4: Benedict Wong
The 2022 Marvel flick “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” introduced America Chavez, a teenage superhero played by relative newcomer Xochitl Gomez. Before its release, the film sparked some controversy when Saudi Arabia decided not to screen it due to America being a lesbian character with two moms. When asked about this, Gomez was thrilled that Disney refused to cut out the LGBTQ references. She went on to acknowledge the potential hate this could bring her way, but found a champion in co-star Benedict Wong. Wong didn’t hesitate to slam the trolls, stressing how unfair it was to target a young actor who was simply doing her job. Besides Saudi Arabia, the film was also banned in Kuwait, Qatar and Egypt.
#3: Benedict Cumberbatch
Speaking of Doctor Strange, two years before he first donned the red cloak, Benedict Cumberbatch portrayed famed mathematician Alan Turing in “The Imitation Game.” In September 2014, he and co-star Keira Knightley attended the Toronto International Film Festival to promote the film. While both actors were being prepped for an interview, the journalist made a snide remark about Knightley’s appearance. Without even missing a beat, Cumberbatch jumped to her defense, chiding the unseen reporter for his not-so-nice comment. This wasn’t the first time Cumberbatch had stood up for Knightley. According to the actress, he once jokingly punched a journalist in the arm for calling her acting skills into question.
#2: Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore go way back, having both starred in “Charlie’s Angels” and its sequel. Diaz was even the maid of honor at Barrymore’s wedding in 2012. So when a radio host badmouthed Barrymore, Diaz didn’t take it lightly. In 2014, while promoting her film “Sex Tape” on Australia’s “The Kyle and Jackie O Show,” the hosts mentioned that Diaz’s on-screen child looked like a young Barrymore. Diaz agreed, but then co-host Kyle Sandilands made an off-handed reference to Barrymore’s troubled childhood, which put Diaz off. She fired back with a sarcastic dig at Sandilands’ own personal life. Despite attempts to get back on track, Diaz was done. She cut the call shortly after, ending the interview on an awkward note.
#1: Robin Williams
The 1996 comedy “The Birdcage” featured Robin Williams and Nathan Lane as a gay couple living it up in South Beach, Florida. At the time, Lane hadn’t come out publicly and wasn’t keen on discussing his sexuality with the media. When both actors appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” he confided in Williams about his reluctance to talk about it. So, when Oprah Winfrey veered the conversation towards Lane’s personal life, Williams immediately jumped in and changed the topic, sparing Lane from having to answer. Although he doesn’t believe Winfrey was intentionally trying to out him, Lane still felt protected by Williams, whom he fondly remembers as “a beautiful, sensitive soul.”
