Reportedly witnessed embarrassing display of emotion (5)
I believe the answer is:
scene
'embarrassing display of emotion' is the definition.
(as in making a scene)
'reportedly witnessed' is the wordplay.
'reportedly' shows a homophone (sound like).
'witnessed' becomes 'seen' (similar in meaning).
'seen' sounds like 'SCENE'.
(Other definitions for scene that I've seen before include "Vista or stage setting" , "Place of an event - of the crime?" , "Landscape; public display of anger" , "Part of act in play" , "View, landscape" .)