Here are 25 awkward and embarrassing moments that were unexpectedly caught on live television, leaving viewers stunned, amused, or secondhand embarrassed. 

It all starts with agolfer who manages to hit the same spectator twice with a ball during a tournament—an unfortunate and rare incident that instantly went viral. In another shocking moment, a woman appears on camera wearing only a t-shirt during a live news report, clearly unaware she was being filmed. Things got even more uncomfortable when a man behaved inappropriately on air, forcing the broadcast team to cut the segment short and escort him off the set immediately. 

Then there’s the classic wardrobe mishap: someone forgets to button their shirt, leaving it noticeably open for the entire segment. In a more serious and alarming moment, a newly inaugurated bridge collapses while the cameras are still rolling. Meanwhile, in a lighter (but still painful) scenario, a woman leans in to kiss her boyfriend on camera, only for him to pull away and reject her affection in front of everyone watching. 

One truly bizarre moment occurs when afart interrupts a live sports broadcast, leaving commentators speechless and the internet in stitches. In another cringe-worthy scene, a man enthusiastically tries to high-five a blind person, not realizing the situation, making it one of the most awkward gestures ever televised. A German football coach behaves oddly, scratching himself and then smelling his hand, an act caught in high definition and forever preserved in internet history. Equally mortifying is a moment when a man forgets to mute his mic during a bathroom break, broadcasting sounds that were never meant to be heard. 

Slapstick live TV continues with a man falling off his chair mid-interview, completely derailing the broadcast. And in one of the most unexpected mix-ups, a BBC job candidate is accidentally interviewed on air, clearly confused but trying to play along until the mistake is corrected. The world of video games gave us another classic: a game developer, overwhelmed with excitement,loudly shouts “Peggle 2!” with dramatic flair, leading to an awkward silence and puzzled looks from the audience. 

During a weather forecast, a weatherman makes an inappropriate joke to his colleague on air, which doesn’t land well, while elsewhere, a woman is heard on a hot mic calling someone a “crybaby,” unaware that her mic was still live. Then there’s the infamous three-man handshake fail, where the coordination goes terribly wrong and becomes a viral gif. 

In another awkward scenario, a man visibly and repeatedly rejects a woman’s attempt to hug him, creating one of the most tension-filled moments on live television. Things get worse in a live workout segment when a wardrobe malfunction leaves the host scrambling for composure. And finally, during a fan meeting, a woman, clearly overwhelmed, bows deeply and dramatically when meeting Mike Shinoda from Linkin Park—an overly intense gesture that left viewers both amused and bewildered.