The Most Awkward Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Moments of All Time

In what eventually became an ongoing rivalry, Al Roker and a character in the parade — later dubbed Butter Man — had it out on live TV in 2019. "Get out of here, you butter!" the anchor famously shouted while literally shoving him out of the way. The moment quickly went viral, especially after Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda shared it on Twitter.

Pop singers Rita Ora and John Legend both went viral for their disastrous lip-sync fails on floats back in 2018. They both defended themselves on Twitter after the show, explaining that floats don't have the capability to support live performances. Macy's later blamed it all on technical difficulties.

Laura Benanti's rendition of My Fair Lady's"Wouldn't It Be Loverly" in 2018 got people talking. While singing "Lots of chocolate for me to eat..." she quickly shoved a piece of chocolate into an audience member's mouth. Sure, it seemed planned — but the man's stunned reaction was hilariously awkward nonetheless.

Gwen Stefani's 2017 performance lasted way longer than anyone else's, because she pre-taped her performance — and, instead of singing atop a float, she stood on the Bryant Park Ice Skating Rink. While fun, the new format definitely threw off the usual feel of the parade. "Gwen Stefani is smart. She'll make her escape from Bryant Park and be home before Thanksgiving starts," one Twitter user joked.

When a streetlight ripped open the Barney balloon in 1997, police swarmed the scene and proceeded to stab the character with knives to deflate it safely. Let's hope all those traumatized kids in attendance can laugh about it now.

Anything can happen on live TV. That's what this poor cheerleader learned in 2012, when she fell at the exact moment the camera zoomed in on her. Thankfully she was caught by her fellow squad members, but talk about bad timing.

In 2014, rock band American Authors seemed so caught up in the excitement that they completely missed the starting cue for their own performance. Instead, they waved to the crowd as their song played in the background, and the lead singer *tried* to save the moment by mouthing the words about halfway through.

It was the Twitter beef that everyone couldn't stop talking about come Turkey Day 2018. Macy's re-shared an old Tweet of Chrissy Teigen's, in which she made fun of the event, saying: "I cannot imagine being bored enough to watch a parade on television."

The store also added an announcement that her husband John Legend would be a performer in that year's parade. Judging by the nearly 50,000 likes, parade fans seemed to be Team Macy's all the way.

It's raining...confidential info? In 2012, shredded papers from the Nassau County Police Department — including employee social security numbers, banking information and even undercover detectives' real identities — were found in the parade confetti. As Macy's claimed to use purchased confetti and not shredded paper, how this happened remains a mystery.

In 1957, rain filled up in Popeye's hat and spilled out onto the crowds below. If parade-goers weren't cold before that unfortunate moment, they definitely were after.

You're never too cool for Thanksgiving — but tell that to KISS. The band raised eyebrows in 2014 for performing aboard an empty, bare float. No theme, no color, no excitement...besides their iconic face paint, of course.

The internet was set ablaze following the cast of Moulin Rouge's Herald Square performance in 2021. The sexy dances and risqué costumes led to a massive debate on whether or not the act was too much for a PG-rated parade. Maybe you should watch and decide for yourself?

In 2019, the weather didn't cooperate with most of the performers — including this unlucky marching band member, who lost her baton to the wind. "Me realizing these intense gusts of wind will prove v tricky for the baton twirlers at the parade this year..." Vanity Fair writer Chris Murphy tweeted, sharing the cringey clip.

In 2021, Foreigner rolled up in a dollhouse to sing "I Want to Know What Love Is." The float's choir and dancing dolls and robots confused many, including this Twitter user, who joked, "It doesn't feel like the holidays have started until Foreigner appears in the Macy's Thanksgiving parade...in a dollhouse."

When heavy winds had the Nutcracker flying all around in 2019, a woman can be seen rushing towards the character to help ground it. You can probably guess what happened next: She was flung to the ground. But don't worry; she quickly recovered and kept running after the balloon!

If this parade photo looks different than what you're used to, there's a big reason "floating" around. Due to a helium shortage in 1958, balloons had to be carried on cranes. "Limp and sickly looking, it was not the robust figure children and adults are used to seeing," The New York Times wrote at the time.

Hoda had such an incredibly hard time saying "Kakarot" while introducing the Dragon Ball Z character's balloon in 2019 that she immediately started cracking up, and even needed a second in between lines to collect herself.

In 2019, one onlooker went viral after being caught boogying during a performance. We have to admit, having a front row (and indoor!) view of the parade is dance-worthy.

This unfortunate-yet-hilarious image was another viral moment of the 2019 parade. "Diary of a Wimpy Kid looks like he's about to snatch Miss America up and climb a skyscraper like King Kong," one Twitter user joked.

When South Dakota cattle ranchers expressed their unhappiness with outspoken vegetarian Joan Jett performing aboard their state's float in 2013, the rock legend volunteered to move to another one. The Summer Set performed in her place instead, and the whole thing seemed to be resolved — until two of the band's members were later revealed to also be vegetarians.