8. The Toilet Paper Incident
As history shows, when popular entertainer personalities make absurd announcements, like attacking aliens, the public can react poorly. In December 1973, Carson joked about a toilet paper shortage. The public took him at his word and lost their minds imagining they’d have to use the bathroom without paper. Consumers emptied store shelves of toilet paper in some places, creating an actual toilet paper crisis. Grocers had to start rationing sales to buyers until manufacturers could catch up. The next month, Carson officially apologized for the stunt.