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Home / Entertainment

Five celebrity pranks that went too far

By Ethan Sills
Herald online·
30 Jun, 2015 04:00 AM4 mins to read

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The moment Chuop Rolin crushed a young girl's dreams

The moment Chuop Rolin crushed a young girl's dreams

Paris Hilton has become the latest celebrity to be involved in a prank that went a step too far.

Hilton was unexpectedly caught up in Ramez in Control, an Egyptian prank show hosted by Ramez Galal. The 42-year-old prankster has earned a reputation in Egypt for his yearly pranks that air nightly throughout Ramadan.

For 2015, Galal invited celebrities to a hotel opening in Dubai, where they would then be asked to take part in a scenic flight. Once in the air, the plane goes into freefall and the passengers start screaming, leading the celebrity to believe they are about to die.

Read More:
• Paris Hilton pranked with fake plane crash
• Timberlake gets Punk'd and Swift gets scared - the best celeb pranks

Galal has been accused of going too far with his latest prank, but he's not the only one. Here are five of the most infamous pranks from reality TV history.

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1. The Dictator hijacks E! Oscar coverage

Sacha Baron Cohen in character as General Aladeen
Sacha Baron Cohen in character as General Aladeen

Sacha Baron Cohen is known for his outrageous characters, and for staying in character throughout the publicity tours for his movies. In 2012, several months before The Dictator hit cinemas, Cohen walked the red carpet at the Academy Awards dressed up as General Aladeen and carrying an urn he claimed was full of Kim Jong-Il's ashes. As he was interviewed by the E! Network's Ryan Seacrest, Cohen spilled the 'ashes' over the host before being escorted away by security.

2. Ben Boyce gets arrested for airport attempt

Ben Boyce (Photo / Neville Marriner)
Ben Boyce (Photo / Neville Marriner)

Whether it's Pulp Sport or Jono and Ben, Ben Boyce has been associated with pranking throughout his career. They always seemed to go off without a hitch until 2011, when an airport sketch for WannaBen led to Boyce and two colleagues getting arrested. Radio DJ Bryce Casey was to dress up as a pilot and attempt to get into a secure area without ID as part of the show. Boyce, Casey and four others were arrested and charged under the Civil Aviation Act, but were later let off without prison sentences.

3. Rogue reporter announces The Queen's death

Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II

Fake deaths have become commonplace on social media, with dozens of celebrities apparently dying over the past few years when really they are alive and well. But it's easy to take these for fact when a proper reporter is starting the rumour. Last month, BBC reporter Ahmen Khawaja tweeted "BREAKING: Queen Elizabeth is being treated at King Edward 7th Hospital in London. Statement due shortly: @BBCWorld." This came after Khawaja misinterpreted information sent out while the BBC was doing a dry run for when The Queen does die. Khawaja later called it a "silly prank", but was let go from the corporation, while Buckingham Palace was forced to confirm The Queen was really alive.

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4. Cambodian variety show tricks 13-year-old.

The moment Chuop Rolin crushed a young girl's dreams
The moment Chuop Rolin crushed a young girl's dreams

Cambodian TV show Like it or Not made international headlines in May after they tricked a young girl into believing they would reunite her with her mother. Autumn Allen, 13, appeared on the show for Mother's Day, having been told her mother, who she had not seen for several years, would appear on stage with her. However, after much build up, her 'mother' turned out to be a local game show host Chuop Rolin in drag. While Allen handled it well, a social media backlash forced the show to apologise for their prank.

5. Zach Braff beats up child on television

Actor Zach Braff
Actor Zach Braff

MTV prank show Punk'd quickly earned a reputation for pulling hilarious pranks on un-expecting celebrities. Most were good-natured about it and took their punishments on the chin. However, a small minority reacted badly to the humiliation. Most notably is Scrubs star Zach Braff. In 2005, Braff walks out of a liquor store to discover his Porsche being grafittied by a group of children. They run and he chases after them, eventually catching one who he begins beating up. The fight was edited out of the show and the extra appeared to walk away unscathed.

Bonus prank:

While it may not have happened yet, George Clooney believes his latest prank will cross the line. Speaking on

The Graham Norton Show

Discover more

Entertainment

Chris Evans pranks ScarJo

01 May 06:00 AM
World

The Queen is NOT in hospital

03 Jun 06:09 PM
Entertainment

Timberlake gets Punk'd and Swift gets scared - the best celeb pranks

20 Jun 01:07 AM
Entertainment

This prank is so mean

28 Jun 11:50 PM

last month, Clooney told the chat show host that he expects the prank he is currently pulling on Brad Pitt will get him arrested, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

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