Caught on Tape

In the age of the Internet, it's hard to have a private moment or even a semipublic meltdown without it circulating around the planet faster than you can say "TMZ." Which is why it's so shocking that some people still refuse to take basic precautions against media embarrassment. To wit: if you're going to do or say something illegal, embarrassing, or just plain scary, don't do it on an answering machine. This list of worst offenders isn't just filled with legendarily vitriolic actors like Mel Gibson, whose rant at his girlfiend was captured on tape; it also includes, most recently, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Ginni Thomas left a bizarre message for Anita Hill about the accusations of sexual harassment Hill made against her husband nearly 20 years ago. Time and time again, famous people humiliate themselves by leaving crazy voice-mail messages, which inevitably make their way into the media. Drunk dialing or stalking people just doesn't work for famous people—it's a sure way to land an awkward segment on Access Hollywood. It's also a bad move for politicians, especially when their message goes way off message. Here are some examples of public figures who should have known better than to (allegedly) talk crazy on tape. (Warning: some of the audio that follows is for adults only, and definitely not safe for work.)