We all love the idea of doing good deeds, but sometimes, even the best intentions can backfire in ways we never expect. You try to help, but instead of receiving appreciation, you’re left with one of those face-palm moments that haunt you forever.

These stories prove that even kindness can go hilariously wrong—whether it’s a well-meaning gesture that completely misses the mark or an act of goodwill that turns into a cringe-worthy disaster. Here are 10 times people’s good intentions resulted in unforgettable embarrassment.

Trying to Help on a Plane—Only to Make Things Worse

One passenger on a flight noticed the woman next to him struggling to turn on her seat’s entertainment screen. After five minutes of watching her struggle, he helpfully pressed the power button for her, proudly saying, “This is how you turn it on.”

Two hours later, reality hit him—her screen was already on. The brightness was just too low for him to see it from an angle. What was she actually doing? Browsing through the menus, trying to pick a movie. He had unintentionally shut off her screen just when she was about to watch something.

Talk about trying to be helpful and completely failing.

Holding the Door Open at the Wrong Moment

A man decided to hold the door open for someone in a public restroom, thinking it was a polite gesture. The problem? The guy was still supposed to wash his hands, but he felt awkward and walked out instead.

Realizing his mistake, the man blurted out, “Aren’t you going to wash your hands?” Instantly, the other guy looked embarrassed, mumbled something, and awkwardly turned back toward the sink.

Instead of just being polite, he had accidentally shamed a stranger in the most uncomfortable way possible.

Helping Strangers Push a Car—Without Realizing It Was Being Stolen

A helpful bystander saw two guys struggling to push-start their car late at night in a rough part of town. Being a decent person, he jumped in to help.

For 10 whole minutes, he pushed with all his strength, getting the car moving. Then it dawned on him—the guys weren’t the owners. They were stealing it.

He had unknowingly helped two car thieves get away—and by the time he figured it out, they had already driven off.

Walking Into the Wrong House to Help an Elderly Woman

A woman was asked to help an elderly lady by heating up a TV dinner and making sure she took her medication. When she arrived at the house, the front door was locked, so she went through the back.

She found the woman sitting on the couch, looking surprised. When she asked what she wanted for lunch, the woman hesitated and said, “Umm… whatever you want to make.”

It wasn’t until she started searching for food and medication that the truth hit her—she was in the wrong house. The real elderly lady she was supposed to help lived next door.

The best part? The woman she accidentally visited was too polite to say anything—just sitting there, letting a complete stranger take over her kitchen.

Accidentally Accepting Help—When He Didn’t Need It

An elderly man was visiting America and paused at an intersection to admire a store display across the street. A large woman suddenly grabbed his arm and guided him across the road, murmuring what sounded like comforting words.

He was too embarrassed to say he didn’t need help, so he just went along with it. As soon as she was out of sight, he crossed back over to continue looking at the store display.

The moral of the story? Sometimes, politeness forces you into the weirdest situations.

Trying to Help a Waitress—And Ruining Her Entire Tray

At a restaurant, one diner noticed that the waitress was struggling to balance a large tray of plates. Wanting to help, he reached up to grab his own plate—thinking it would ease her burden.

Big mistake.

She had her own system for balancing the tray, and the moment he grabbed his plate, the entire thing tipped over, sending food crashing onto the floor. The waitress was horrified, the other customers were stunned, and he wanted to disappear forever.

Using a Divider That Was Completely Unnecessary

You know those dividers at grocery store checkout lanes that separate your groceries from the next person’s? One guy, feeling generous, grabbed a divider and placed it down for the person behind him—only to realize they only had one item.

What was it? A single bottle of Sprite.

The two of them locked eyes in awkward silence as he realized how ridiculous his action was. She didn’t need a divider for one bottle.

Holding the Door Open for Someone Who Didn’t Need It

Ever try to be nice and hold the door open for someone, only to realize they weren’t even going in?

That’s exactly what happened to one person who stood holding a store door open, waiting for someone who was actually just walking by.

The confused passerby gave them a weird look and continued on their way, while the door-holder stood there in silent shame.

Offering Coffee—And Making It Super Awkward

A man at a hotel breakfast buffet decided to be polite and hold the coffee pot out for the woman behind him.

One problem—coffee pots only have one handle.

Instead of helping, he just stood there holding out a steaming-hot glass cylinder, expecting her to take it. After a few seconds of awkwardness, she simply said, “Just put it down.”

Lesson learned: Some things don’t need to be complicated.

Giving Someone a Ride—Only for Them to Spread a Terrible Rumor

A man kindly agreed to give a coworker a ride home one evening. Halfway there, she asked to be dropped off at a corner near her house, saying she preferred to walk the rest of the way.

He didn’t think anything of it—until he found out later that she had been telling everyone at work that he had kicked her out of the car.

From then on, he never gave her a ride again.

Sometimes, even when your heart is in the right place, things can still go terribly wrong. Whether it’s a misunderstanding, an overreaction, or just plain bad luck, these embarrassing moments prove that good intentions don’t always lead to good outcomes.

But hey, at least they make for great stories later.