People have been freaking out in public since, well, forever. From ancient hominids throwing tantrums over late mammoth meals to modern-day Karens losing it over salty fries, public freakouts are a timeless phenomenon. Thankfully, phone cameras are now around to capture these outbursts, allowing us all to share in the awkwardness and occasional hilarity.
The internet is full of these gems, with countless videos documenting every type of meltdown imaginable. So, buckle up and get ready for a dose of schadenfreude as we dive into ten of the most unforgettable public freakouts ever recorded!
10. We’ll Do it Live!
This is a true classic. Back in the early 90s, a young Bill O’Reilly had a major on-set meltdown. The footage was lost for years, but thanks to the internet, it resurfaced in 2008 and became an instant meme.
During an outro segment, Bill got increasingly frustrated with the teleprompter. Unable to contain his anger, he unleashed a tirade on his coworkers, shouting and even removing his coat in a fit of rage. This outburst gave birth to his iconic catchphrase, “We’ll do it live! F— it! We’ll do it live!”
9. Lisa Nowak, the AstroNut
Lisa Nowak was no ordinary woman. As a Navy Captain, fighter pilot, and NASA astronaut on the space shuttle Discovery, she seemed like the epitome of calm and control. But beneath the surface, jealousy and anger were brewing.
After being dumped by her boyfriend, who then started dating Colleen Shipman, Nowak snapped. In a bizarre turn of events, she donned a diaper, drove 900 miles, pepper-sprayed Shipman, and attempted to kidnap her. Thankfully, Shipman fought back, and Nowak’s plan failed. She was arrested, fired from NASA, and discharged from the Navy, becoming a cautionary tale for the ages.
8. I Have a Platinum!
This Walgreens Karen starts off complaining about a slow line. But things really take off when the person in front of her lets her cut ahead.
For some reason, this act of kindness sets her off. She refuses the clerk’s instructions, yells at other customers, and repeatedly brags about her Amex platinum card while only buying $8 champagne! She then demands to speak to the manager, only to be told, “I am the manager” – a moment of pure satisfaction for any retail worker!
7. Kanye West’s Whole Life
It’s impossible to make a public freakout list without Kanye West. His entire public persona is filled with one meltdown after another. Some of his greatest hits include declaring that slavery was a choice, berating Sway Calloway for not being Ralph Lauren, interrupting Taylor Swift and Beck at the VMAs, his presidential run, and his constant assertion that he’s a god, Steve Jobs, Picasso etc.
Kanye’s outbursts are so frequent and wide-ranging that they’ve become a defining part of his brand. Whether you find them entertaining or exhausting, there’s no denying their impact on pop culture.
6. Naked in Outback
Tina Kindred, 53, went to an Outback Steakhouse with the intent to destroy the bar. She ended up completely naked, standing on the bar, and smashing everything in sight.
Despite causing total chaos, Kindred had no drugs or alcohol in her system. Police tasered and arrested her. She even gave a creepy smile for her mugshot. Take a guess which state this happened in…
5. I want the Manager of the Airport!
“I want the manager of the f— airport here!” is one of the best lines of 2021. Terre Ann Bluse was filmed screaming about airport staff choking her. In reality, she was late for her flight, denied boarding, and tried to rush the doors. She allegedly pushed a staff member, who pushed her back, causing her to trip. She was also intoxicated.
Bluse only received an arrest and mockery. She resisted, going limp and refusing to move, until police dragged her away. Onlookers filmed it, but it didn’t help her.
4. Chicken Sandwich for a Child
Imagine this: It’s 3 a.m. at McDonald’s, you order a Junior Chicken sandwich, and they’re out. What do you do? This woman called the clerk a b—, claimed reverse-sexism, questioned whether sexism exists, claimed that b— is proper English, started a fight, claimed respect is “extra rights”, refused to leave, and told the staff to call the cops, then questioned why they’re calling the cops.
If I had a nickel for every time someone did this, I’d have a lot of nickels.
3. The Ol’ Chinese Meat Fight
For reasons unknown, a fight breaks out at a meat market in Shanghai, China. Instead of using weapons or fists, they use hunks of raw meat.
At first, two women throw cuts of beef. Then the fight grows, and soon a half dozen people start lobbing meat. No context or translation is given, so we’re left to guess why a full cow was wasted.
2. Slap-top
This video starts mid-fight, with a couple arguing on an airplane. The woman screams at the man for looking at another woman and hurls offensive slurs. The argument escalates until a slap is heard, then the woman follows him, smacks him with a laptop, and punches him. The pilot kicks her off the plane, and she replies, “Fine. Whatever.”
This freakout is a prime example of how quickly things can spiral out of control in a confined space.
1. Magic Fool Bus
This video is wild. Mariana Silver uses a tire jack to smash the window of a D.C. city bus. She then runs over the driver with her car and assaults him.
The driver keeps standing in front of her car, and she keeps knocking him over. Despite warnings, he persists until she speeds off, jerking to throw him off. Silver was later caught and charged. The incident started because she illegally passed the bus, side-swiped a car, and refused to give her information. A truly bizarre choice.
These public freakouts are a reminder that everyone has their breaking point. While they can be entertaining to watch, they also highlight the importance of staying calm and respectful in stressful situations, no matter how frustrating they may be!
What’s the craziest public freakout you’ve ever witnessed? Leave your comment below!
