Skip to main content

The best selfie fails: 10 self-portraits gone awry

Last year, a British study reported that selfies are one of the most popular genres of photography. Surprised? We’ve all at least seen a few of those self-indulgent self-portraits in front of a souped-up Acura or bathroom mirror before. The shots are everywhere these days, giving us the impression that we have control over our digital identity. The phenomenon (or, is it obsession?) has become so intense that some attempts to take the perfect self-portrait have resulted in harm or even death.

Nonetheless, every so often a selfie can capture a spontaneous moment, whether the photo was intentional or merely a victim of precise timing. That’s when things get interesting. Here are 10 selfies that went awry the moment the shutter opened.

Recommended Videos

#1: Cat selfie — Felines may be a tad cliche in 2014, but few have eyes that scream “murder” quite like this one.

bad cat selfie
via derpycats.com Image used with permission by copyright holder

#2: Another cat selfie — Somehow all family portraits devolve into this.

bad cat selfie 3
via derpycats.com Image used with permission by copyright holder

#3: Funeral selfie — Sad, but true. Check out the subtle photobomb.

funeral selfie
via selfiesatfunerals.tumblr.com Image used with permission by copyright holder

#4: Stolen dress selfie  Needless to say, the cops arrived shortly after.

stolen dress selfie
Image used with permission by copyright holder

 #5: Running of the bulls selfie — How do you say “selfie” in Spanish?

bull-run selfie
via USA Today Image used with permission by copyright holder

#6: Intentional selfie on fire — Is this really what it takes to go viral? Seems like a fire hazard to us.

on fire selfie
image: Wired Image used with permission by copyright holder

#7: Bad-guy selfie — This is what pre-gaming looks like in the 21st century, regardless if you have plans to meet at the closest bar or rob a convenience store.

robber selfie
via Huffington Post Image used with permission by copyright holder

#8: Camel selfie — She never saw it coming. That’s why we’ve seen it everywhere.

camel selfie
via reddit Image used with permission by copyright holder

#9: Hot dog-leg selfie — Human thighs or dual hot dogs? You decide.

via hotdogleg.tumblr.com
via hotdogleg.tumblr.com Image used with permission by copyright holder

#10: Contractions selfie — This guy might be in the running for the most obnoxious student ever, given his teacher is having contractions. Still, you gotta give him credit.

selfie with teacher
via Malik Image used with permission by copyright holder

[Header image courtesy of ArtFamily/Shutterstock]

Joe Donovan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Joe Donovan is an editorial assistant for Digital Trends who covers a variety of general assignments throughout the…
Phone cameras are so good, they’ve finally replaced my camera for work
Close up of the camera on the iPhone 16 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro.

For almost two decades, I’ve carried more than twenty pounds of electronics in my backpack for the slightest chance of needing to capture content for my professional life. My backpack usually contained my MacBook, a full-frame camera with a big lens, a tripod, and an assortment of video and audio gear that I always deemed essential.

As it turns out, over the past two years, many of these items were rendered obsolete, as many companies launched new products that were quickly able to replace technology that I previously considered irreplaceable.

Read more
This is what happens ‘when you get two uber-geeks in space at the same time’
NASA's Don Pettit on the space station.



During NASA’s first-ever Twitch livestream from the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday, current station inhabitant Don Pettit and recent returnee Matthew Dominick talked about what it’s like to live and work in a satellite 250 miles up.

Read more
The GoPro Hero 13 Creator Edition is $100 off, but not for long
A person holding the GoPro HERO13 Creator Edition in front of the ocean.

Outdoor enthusiasts who want to buy a new action camera should go for the brand that popularized the product and look for GoPro deals. Best Buy has an offer that's going to be hard to refuse, as it features the GoPro Hero 13 Creator Edition. From its original price of $600, it's down to just $500 as part of the retailer's Presidents' Day Sale. There are still a few days remaining before the $100 discount ends on February 17, but we highly recommend completing your purchase as soon as possible because stocks may run out before then.

Why you should buy the GoPro Hero 13 Creator Edition
The star of the GoPro Hero 13 Creator Edition is the GoPro Hero 13 Black, which is the latest version of the brand's popular line of action cameras. It's capable of recording video at up to 5.3K resolution, and you can grab photos of up to 24.7MP from your footage using the GoPro Quick app. The GoPro Hero 13 Black can also take videos that are slowed down by 13 times the normal speed, and it can last more than 5 hours on a single charge. The front and rear LCD screens will let you frame your shots perfectly, and the built-in buttons enable easy controls for lengthy sessions.

Read more