Shirts, Sprinklers and Stunts: 9 Most Outrageous Red Carpet Moments of 2014

Let’s face it: notable fashion choices aside, 2014 was an odd year on the red carpet — and only two of them can be attributed to notorious prankster Vitalii Sediuk.

Jennifer Lawrence, Wendell Pierce, Shia LaBeouf and Austin Mahone were some of this year’s most memorable pre-show personalities, while props for stunts included a T-shirt, a surfboard, a sprinkler and a marching band. And of course, a paper bag.

Read more The 100 Best Dresses of 2014

The Hollywood Reporter recalls nine of the year’s most spectacular red-carpet moments — for better or worse:

Golden Globes’ Sprinkler Snafu

In January, the Golden Globes got off to a rough (and soggy) start when a sprinkler at the Beverly Hilton, set off by a lighting rig, flooded the red carpet that the stars would walk on later that night. “There is water gushing, literally everywhere in the position of where all of the international press — everyone has moved out of the way,” said host Catt Sadler during E!’s Countdown to the Red Carpet. “Rain was not expected in L.A. today, but we’ve got a little flooding!” The spill was attended to after approximately 15 minutes, with the Beverly Hills Fire Department using air blowers and wet vacuums to clean up the unsightly spill.

Jennifer Lawrence’s Homeland Heartbreak

While Jennifer Lawrence has become notorious for her candid celebrity photobombs (as shown above to Taylor Swift) and even more candid trips, she unexpectedly had one of her favorite shows spoiled while chatting with Access Hollywood at January’s Screen Actors Guild awards, and finding herself just feet away from Homeland’s Damien Lewis. As the two met, a reporter asked Lawrence: “Are you upset that he died?” referring to the death of Lewis’ Nicholas Brody on the season-three finale. Nearly in tears, she said, “What? I can’t process this right now, there’s cameras, I can’t believe you said that. … I’m past mad, it’s this weird other emotion. I feel like my heart just fell out.”

Shia LaBeouf’s Puzzling Paper Bag

At the February premiere of Lars von Trier’s Nymphomaniac in Berlin, the publicly-puzzling actor donned a paper bag over his head that read “I am not famous anymore” written in black paint on it. He had been using the catchphrase repeatedly on his Twitter account for several weeks, and wore the “mask” just hours after abruptly walking out of a press conference for the film after responding to just one question.

America Ferrera’s Unsecured Skirt

Red-carpet crasher Sediuk snuck under the actress’ gown at the world premiere of How to Train Your Dragon 2 in May. Ferrera seemed initially unaware of the intrusion while posing for photographers alongside co-stars Jay Baruchel, Kit Harington, Cate Blanchett and Djimon Hounsouat, but Cannes security quickly dragged Sediuk out and arrested him. Ferrera told THR afterward that the minute it happened, Blanchett was the first to turn around to attempt to push him away, and quickly turned to make sure Ferrera was alright, while most of the cast immediately checked in with her. “They were all so supportive. They all just wanted to know I was okay,” she said.

Brad Pitt’s Odd Crotch Encounter

Later in May, Sediuk also attacked Brad Pitt as the actor was accompanying wife Angelina Jolie to the Los Angeles premiere of her starrer, Maleficent. “I was at the end of the line signing autographs, when out the corner of my eye I saw someone stage-diving over the barrier at me. I took a step back; this guy had latched onto my lapels,” he later recounted of the stunt also pulled on Bradley Cooper at the Golden Globes earlier this year. “I looked down and the nutter was trying to bury his face in my crotch, so I cracked him twice in the back of the head — not too hard — but enough to get his attention, because he did let go. … I don’t mind an exhibitionist, but if this guy keeps it up he’s going to spoil it for the fans who have waited up all night for an autograph or a selfie, because it will make people more wary to approach a crowd.”

Daytime Emmys’ Loud Mouths

June marked the ill-advised Daytime Emmy debuts for a handful of social media stars who were hired to co-host the red carpet — to stars and viewers’ dismay. “What’s it like to be a black man on a soap opera these days?” Jessica Harlow asked Bold and the Beautiful actor Lawrence Saint-Victor, and Brittany Furlan told General Hospital star Ryan Paevey that “we’re going to get you away from us before we rape you.” Their outspoken moments sparked chatter online, with General Hospital actor Brandon Barash tweeting, “Maybe hire some red carpet ‘hosts’ w a little less black and rape jokes next year. These girls have the verbal runs.”

The Janoskians’ Surfboard Stunt

The YouTube comedy troupe, known for their risky displays, attempted to put member Beau Brooks on a mid-air surfboard while crossing the Teen Choice Awards blue carpet in August (as seen in the video above, beginning at the two-minute mark). After posing like a surfer for a few seconds, Brooks then took what appeared to be a hard fall that later put him in a neck brace. However, Brooks tweeted to fans shortly afterward, “My fall today was not as hard as the people who fell for the prank.”

Missed @AustinMahone’s #5TruthorDare entrance on #VMA red carpet? Watch it here. #DareAustin https://t.co/yLVY2Lqxq2

— 5Gum (@5gum) August 26, 2014

Austin Mahone’s Marching Moment

It was a relatively tame entrance for MTV Video Music Awards history, but the notoriously spectacular August event was mostly stunt-free, with the exception of Austin Mahone. The heartthrob and 5 Gum spokesperson asked fans to tweet him a daring arrival idea, which in the end had him appear on the scene with the UCLA marching band in tow.

No Interviews at The Interview

The December premiere of The Interview in Los Angeles was crawling with reporters who couldn’t line the red carpet for questions, as the cyberattack on Sony Pictures continued to unravel and the decision of whether or not to release of the film was still up in the air. “I’d like to thank Amy Pascal for having the balls to make this movie,” Seth Rogen said onstage, standing next to his co-director and producing partner Evan Goldberg before the screening. Having the premiere at all was somewhat of an outrageous moment itself, as the New York premiere was canceled in the wake of Sept. 11-referencing threats.

 

the #ICantBreathe T-shirt jumps from the basketball court to the #Selma red carpet via #WendellPierce and #MichaelKennethWilliams. Photos: @cashleelee #SelmaMovie

A photo posted by Hollywood Reporter (@hollywoodreporter) on Dec 12, 2014 at 3:54pm PST

Selma’s #ICantBreathe Statement

December’s New York City premiere of Selma was held the day after the Millions March, which honored the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. Wendell Pierce and his Wire co-star Michael Kenneth Williams attended and conducted interviews in “I Can’t Breathe” tees, making them the first celebrities to don the statement shirt on the red carpet. And before celebrating at the premiere’s after-party, members of the cast including star David Oyelowo and director Ava DuVernay stood in front of the New York Public Library wearing the shirts.

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