You’ve all seen Jerry Seinfeld cruelly dismiss poor Kesha for a simple hug. You’ve all seen those fake-but-hilarious Between Two Ferns interviews with Brad Pitt and even Barack Obama.
What you might not have seen, though, is arguably the daddy of all awkward celebrity meetings that occurred just under 23 years ago. In 2003, legendary British chat show host Sir Michael Parkinson had Hollywood and rom-com icon Meg Ryan on his show and cringe ensued.
Ryan was appearing to promote her erotic thriller film In the Cut but all anyone could talk about after was her interaction with Parkinson. She gave curt one word answers to the host, even snapped at one point for him to “Wrap it up.”
Now, as per Sky News, Parkinson has came forward to offer an apology for his part in the infamous encounter, saying that he wished he’d “deal with it in a more courteous manner.” “I wish I hadn’t lost my temper with Meg Ryan,” he told Radio Times. “I wish I’d dealt with it in a more courteous manner. I was quite obviously angry with her and it’s not my business to be angry towards the guests. I came across as kind of pompous and I could have done better.”
When asked what he would say to Ryan if he saw her now, Parkinson was apologetic but bullish: “I’m sorry. But you must understand that you played a part in it, too. Neither of us were on top form, and we were both discomforted.” Considering that he’s called her a “bore” and Ryan’s called him a “nut” previously, this makes for a nice change of tact.
See Parky, this is why Graham Norton gets all of his guests on the sofa at once. If someone’s being rude, it’s usually drowned out. Just look at how a drunk Mark Wahlberg was handled.
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Relive that Meg Ryan interview:
