Top 10 Awkward Celebrity Kisses
#10: Mariah Carey & Nick Cannon
Top 10 Most Diva Mariah Carey Moments
Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon surprised everyone when they announced their relationship in 2008 and got married the very same year. The world became fixated on the couple as they began to showcase their affection for one another in public. During a red carpet appearance at the 2009 TeenNick Halo Awards, the pair shared a lip lock that left us all scratching our heads. When Carey kissed Cannon, she gave him more than he bargained for when she went in a little too strong...Yikes! They kept it (relatively) cool, playing it off easily, but this awkward exchange forever lives on in photos.
#9: Al Gore & Tipper Gore
Top 10 Infamous Celebrity Kisses
While attending the Democratic Convention in the year 2000, former Vice President Al Gore gave everyone something to talk about. As Tipper Gore, his wife at the time, awaited his entrance onto the stage, Al walked right up and planted a massive kiss on her. But the moment didn't end there. Gore kept her in a strong embrace and continued the smooch past something that might be considered strictly chaste. While the kiss only lasted three seconds, its awkwardness made it feel like it lasted a lifetime. Much to everyone’s surprise, Tipper and Al would kiss each other goodbye in 2010, when they decided to separate.
#8: Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello
Top 10 Hilarious Shawn Mendes Moments
Before they split in late 2021, Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello were one of music's hottest couples. As major targets of paparazzi, the pair were often photographed out and about together, which made them largely subject to public criticism. After being called out for looking like they "kiss like fish," Mendes responded by uploading a video to his official Instagram page. What follows is a sloppy, messy ordeal, where the two play quite the competitive game of tonsil hockey. What was intended as a joke certainly backfired, and the two received even more backlash for their strange stunt.
#7: Cardi B & Offset
During their 2019 Grammy appearance, Cardi B and her husband, Offset, arrived looking like the "IT" couple of the evening. Decked out in vintage Mugler Couture, Cardi showed off her jaw-dropping pearl-in-a-clam-shell-inspired look. We’re not sure if the dress' structure proved to be a challenge when the couple attempted to kiss each other but, apparently, they’re a pair of quick problem solvers. The two simply used their tongues instead of their lips. Of course, this got cameras flashing and fans gossiping. It was a pretty weird kiss, but it was brief and they both seemed to get a laugh out of it.
#6: David Gest & Liza Minnelli
Top 10 Reasons We Love David Harbour
It was the most talked-about wedding of the 2000s. When showbiz legend Liza Minnelli married music producer David Gest in a lavish New York City ceremony, it was all anyone could talk about. Their wedding party included Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor, and guests like Martha Stewart, Diana Ross, and Anthony Hopkins. As soon as Gest was told "you may now kiss the bride," the newlyweds locked themselves into one heck of a smooch. With the force of two industrial strength magnets, their aggressive open-mouth kiss shocked the world. The moment became such a hot topic of conversation that it’s still referenced today!
#5: Seth Rogen & James Franco
Top 10 Times Seth Rogen Was Awesome
At one time, Seth Rogen and James Franco weren't just good friends; they were also frequent collaborators. In 2013, "The Interview" actors teamed up to film their own version of one of Kanye West's most talked about music videos, "Bound 2." In the video, West and his wife at the time, Kim Kardashian, ride a motorcycle and things get rather intimate. Rogen and Franco parodied everything, mocking every detail right down to the kiss. Luckily West found the spoof funny and even asked the duo to recreate their performance at his nuptials.
#4: John Travolta & Scarlett Johansson
Top 20 Hilarious John Mulaney Moments
Each year, the Oscars’ red carpet becomes the talk of the town as celebrity after celebrity show off their most glamorous looks. However, in 2015, an awkward encounter between John Travolta and Scarlett Johansson stole the show. Unfortunately, Travolta seems to have become infamous in more recent years for embarrassing Oscar appearances. When photographers eagerly caught the moment, the photo quickly circulated online, where commenters called it "cringe-worthy" and "uncomfortable." Sometime later, the "Black Widow'' actress came to his defense, stating that she didn't think the act was inappropriate and that the whole thing was blown out of proportion.
#3: Madonna & Drake
It was the kiss that rocked Coachella. During his performance at the annual musical festival, Drake brought the Queen of Pop, Madonna, onstage to join him. There’s a moment in the performance where she sat the rapper down and planted a massive kiss on him. But it wasn't the kiss that stunned everyone; it was Drake’s reaction! As soon as their mini makeout ended, he squeezed his eyes and covered his mouth, an expression that many interpreted as disgust. The internet went wild, and eventually, the former "Degrassi" star released a statement on Instagram revealing that he actually did enjoy the kiss. Purportedly, his reaction was acutally due to aftertaste of her lipstick.
#2: Angelina Jolie & James Haven
During Angelina Jolie's rise to fame in the early 2000s, she became one of Hollywood's most talked-about starlets. The "Maleficent" actress brought along her brother, James Haven, on many of her red carpet appearances during this time. On more than one occasion, she shared a full-on mouth-to-mouth kiss with him, which left everyone scratching their heads. Most notable was their peck at a Vanity Fair afterparty following her Oscar win for "Girl, Interrupted." For years, the two defended the controversial kiss, stating that it was purely innocent. No matter how it's labeled, this lip smack ranks high on the ick-factor meter.
#1: Olivier Sarkozy & Mary-Kate Olsen
In 2012, Mary-Kate Olsen shocked fans when she started dating French banker Olivier Sarkozy. After meeting at a party, the couple were spotted all around New York City as their budding romance took off. While on a night out watching the New York Knicks, photos were snapped of Sarkozy holding Olsen's head and kissing her temple. Her deer-in-the-headlights expression turned the picture into a viral sensation. The notoriously private former child star remained mum over what the internet had to say, and the couple went on to marry a few years later before eventually splitting in 2020.
