A handshake is supposed to be simple: You just extend your arm with an open palm and connect briefly with the mirror image standing in front of you. Easy enough, right? Wrong. Once the fist bump, high-five, forearm shake, double-hander, and bro-hug were introduced, all bets were off. And that doesn't even account for the times you go in for a shake and the person is unwilling or unaware of the embrace.
Even celebrities fall victim to this nonverbal miscommunication, giving us GIF-able gems of social pleasantries gone awry. Some are real, some are from pop culture, but all are awkward. These are your inductees to the Awkward Handshake Hall of Fame.
Ben Affleck and John Kerry
Ryan Seacrest and this blind American Idol contestant
John Mayer and Kanye West
One Direction
Kobe Bryant and Jeremy Lin
Shailene Woodley and John Oliver
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Stephen Merchant
Kate Middleton and this presenter
Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson
Torii Hunter and Miguel Cabrera
Liz Lemon & Jack Donaghy
Tom Brady and the rest of his team
David Letterman and Jennifer Lawrence
David Letterman and Selena Gomez (Improvement!)
Snoop and Bill Mahr
President Obama and Sen. Mark Kirk
Jimmy Fallon and Donald Glover
Kenny Powers and his neighbor
These NASCAR dudes
These rugby players
These hockey coaches
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