Regardless if there is an issue with Apple Services or not, there was also an issue with your phone and TV. No phone or TV should ever do that, regardless of the state of Apple web services.
That doesn't mean that there isn't anything wrong with your iPhone. There very clearly is.
> understand you're going for the "lawl iPhone sux" kind of thing but it's really not appreciated.
I am doing no such thing.
There is a major UX bug on iOS that showed up today. It is a local bug that exists in local code running on iPhones that causes unpleasant, unexpected, intrusive and possibly scary popups to frequently interrupt users. To deny that is insane. It is a simple fact.