Hollywood celebrities have often compared fame to a rollercoaster ride—one moment, you’re at the peak of stardom, and the next moment, you’ve become a punching bag among fans. So today, we have a list of 10 celebrities who will be able to relate to this sentiment. After all, they once ruled the industry only to lose it over time.
Neck-deep in controversies, the wrath of cancel culture overturned their career. And sadly, unlike Kanye West and J.K. Rowling, who have repeatedly weathered the storm of cancel culture, these stars weren’t so lucky. From legal troubles to toxic behavior and shocking allegations, these 10 stars faced a brutal downfall.
10. Janet Jackson
Pop icon Janet Jackson, who once had a shining career, faced a significant downfall after the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show. While she was performing live with Justin Timberlake, he accidentally tore off part of her costume, leading to an exposed breast on live television. That’s when the show suddenly took a turn. (via Houston Chronicle).
The singer’s right breast flashed across the screens of millions of viewers before the broadcast cut to another shot. This whole wardrobe malfunction sparked nationwide outrage, with the incident making headlines as a “nipplegate controversy.” While some argued it was an accident, others believed it was a publicity stunt.
In the aftermath, Jackson faced a severe backlash—she was even blacklisted from major broadcasting networks. Meanwhile, Justin Timberlake’s career continued to grow, and Jackson went from being an influential figure in music to being a victim of cancel culture.
9. James Corden
Even the popular talk show host, James Corden, often known for his friendliness on The Late Late Show and the popular “Carpool Karaoke” segment, found himself neck-deep in controversies. Tracing back to 2017, he made headlines for Harvey Weinstein jokes at the amfAR Gala and later witnessed backlash for allegedly portraying gay stereotypes in Ryan Murphy’s The Prom (via The Independent).
However, his main downfall began in 2022 after Keith McNally, the owner of the New York City restaurant Balthazar, accused James Corden of being rude to the staff. McNally called Corden “the most abusive customer” he had ever seen in his 25 years of business. After that, the talk show host faced yet another batch of criticism for stealing Ricky Gervais’ jokes.
A few months after the restaurant scandal, Corden was accused of stealing one of Ricky Gervais’ stand-up jokes, which eventually led to people expressing disappointment in the star. So, over time, Corden’s career eventually came to a standstill, and his late-night show was canceled. The talk show host went from having his own talk show to nothing at all.
8. Danny Masterson
Popularly known for his role as Steven Hyde on That ’70s Show, Danny Masterson faced serious legal troubles and ended up in prison. In 2023, Masterson was found guilty of r*ping two women in the early 2000s, and as per BBC reports, although the star tried to avoid accountability, he was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison.
It all started in 2017 in the wake of the #MeToo movement, when Masterson was initially accused of r*pe. However, the actor seemingly escaped accountability by denying the accusations and claiming that each of the encounters was consensual. But then, in 2022, things took a turn after the two women came forward and filed a case against him.
Thereafter, although the first jury was unable to reach a verdict in 2022, a year later, he was found guilty in May 2023 at a retrial. And now, the disgraceful star has been serving imprisonment.
7. Jonah Hill
Known for his role in comedy films like Superbad and also for sharing the screen with Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street, Jonah Hill faced public scrutiny in 2023. It was when private text messages between him and his ex-girlfriend, Sarah Brady, were leaked.
Although Hill’s career was gradually descending, this particular scandal seemingly fast-forwarded the events and almost destroyed his career. According to Vanity Fair, the messages revealed Jonah Hill setting strict boundaries on Sarah Brady’s behavior and attire, leading to accusations of emotional abuse.
6. Kevin Spacey
Famously known for his appearance in House of Cards, Kevin Spacey, once a revered actor with two Academy Awards to his name, saw his career crumble following allegations of s*xual misconduct from actor Anthony Rapp, which emerged in October 2017. Thereafter, although the star responded to the allegations and claimed to be seeking evaluation and treatment, he was fired from the Netflix show (via Today).
Soon after Netflix cut ties with Kevin Spacey in November 2017, the actor witnessed a barrage of allegations. Following Rapp’s statements, several other people came forward with their respective allegations against Spacey. This led to ongoing legal battles affecting his career until Spacey was charged with four counts of s*xual assault in the UK.
So then, while he faced legal proceedings in both the US and the UK, Spacey was proven not guilty in a London trial and a previous civil lawsuit in New York. However, despite the verdict, the allegations have left a deep mark on his career, leading to his removal from projects and a significant loss of public favor.
5. Jonathan Majors
While Jonathan Majors was just starting to gain popularity in Hollywood for his performances in Lovecraft Country and Creed III, his career faced a sudden setback in 2023. The actor was surprisingly arrested in New York City on assault and harassment charges following a domestic dispute (via People).
A woman, who turned out to be his then-girlfriend Grace Jabbari, suffered minor injuries leading to Majors’ arrest. Soon, a trial began regarding this case, and Jabbari further accused Majors of assaulting her in the back of an SUV. Although the actor consistently denied the allegations, he was later found guilty of misdemeanor assault and harassment charges.
Following the legal verdict, Majors was sentenced to probation and ordered to complete a domestic violence counseling program. Soon, he was dropped by Marvel Studios, ending his role as Kang the Conqueror. Not only that, he also lost his public presence and several other potential roles. However, sadly, after Majors was convicted, Jabbari settled the lawsuit and dropped all charges.
4. Ezra Miller
Following their roles in Fantastic Beasts and a few DC projects, Ezra Miller faced a series of alarming allegations in 2022 and 2023, which eventually led to the heartbreaking downfall of The Flash. According to reports from Rolling Stone, Miller was accused of grooming, abuse, and erratic, disturbing behavior.
These incidents led to multiple arrests and raised concerns about Miller’s mental health and behavior. What initially began with marijuana possession in 2011 snowballed into reports of a serious altercation with a woman at a restaurant, followed by disorderly conduct and harassment at a karaoke bar in Hawaii.
Further, as the actor was accused by multiple parents of grooming their kids and even accused of burglary, the controversies cast a shadow over their career, leading to speculation about their future in major film franchises.
3. Will Smith
Although Will Smith has enjoyed a successful and popular career in Hollywood while establishing his family as picture-perfect—the whole thing came crashing down in March 2022 during the 94th Academy Awards. As the actor took to the stage and shocked audiences worldwide by slapping comedian Chris Rock, Smith seemingly sealed his fate with that public stunt (via The Independent).
The incident occurred after Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, referencing “G.I. Jane,” unaware of her alopecia diagnosis. Smith’s reaction led to widespread debate about violence, comedy, and professionalism, while initially, people were confused about whether the whole thing was scripted or spontaneous. Later on, although Smith won the Oscar, he was subsequently banned from attending the Oscars for ten years.
Soon, his public image suffered significantly, and despite multiple apologies, Will Smith became history for Hollywood, just like that. However, the actor and his family tried staying relevant in the industry through controversial headlines and comments, even that faded after a while.
2. Amber Heard
Amber Heard seemingly had a classic case of the double-edged sword. While her relationship with Johnny Depp earned her global fame, it also ended up becoming the reason why she lost her fame. Following her relationship with Depp as the actress landed multiple blockbuster roles, her tumultuous marriage with the star culminated in a highly publicized defamation trial in 2022.
Depp sued Heard over an op-ed she wrote in The Washington Post, in which she described herself as a victim of domestic abuse. Later on, their televised defamation trial revealed intimate details of their relationship, leading to a divided public opinion. However, eventually, the jury awarded Depp $10 million in damages, while Heard received $2 million for her countersuit (via NBC News).
While the trial significantly impacted Johnny Depp’s career, as he lost his Fantastic Beast role, the real blow was faced by Amber Heard, who had to leave the US and settle in Spain with her daughter. Her career and public image were damaged beyond repair.
1. P Diddy
A titan in the music industry who once rubbed shoulders with Jay-Z and Beyoncé, Sean P Diddy Combs, recently faced a series of legal challenges that dramatically altered his public image. In November 2023, his former partner, Cassie Ventura, filed a lawsuit accusing him of physical and s*xual abuse throughout their decade-long relationship.
Although the case was swiftly settled, it opened the floodgates for additional allegations. From Joi Dickerson-Neal to Rodney Jones, several other anonymous victims came forward, accusing Diddy of s*xual assault and battery. Soon, his late ex-girlfriend Kim Porter’s memoir came into the spotlight, making things worse for the rapper.
In September 2024, P Diddy was eventually arrested and charged for allegedly abusing and threatening people for s*x trafficking. Following his arrest, two dozen lawsuits were filed against him, as per BBC reports. While he’s currently awaiting trial, with proceedings set to begin in May 2025, several celebrities made headlines for their association with the rapper and their attendance at his freak-off parties.
Now, although Diddy is yet to face trial and receive his verdict, the rapper’s career seems to be at an all-time low. Even if he returns vindicated, it might become difficult for him to gain the same level of stardom he once had.
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