Top 10 Biggest Celeb Scandals of 2022
#10: Matthew Morrison Fired From “So You Think You Can Dance” (2005-)
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Matthew Morrison is well known for singing and dancing on the musical show, “Glee.” He seemed like the perfect fit for the 2022 judges’ panel on “So You Think You Can Dance.” Not long after the first episode aired, audiences learned that Morrison was leaving the show. His press release said he’d broken competition production protocols. Sources at the show indicated that a contestant had been uncomfortable with ‘flirty’ messages he’d sent. Morrison disputed this account and shared the alleged message online, saying that he was trying to connect the contestant to a choreographer that could give her a job. Morrison appeared in the pre-taped shows, but was replaced by Leah Remini for the live episodes.
#9: “Funny Girl” Feud
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Many Broadway fans were surprised when Beanie Feldstein was announced as the lead for the revival of “Funny Girl”. Lea Michele had been campaigning hard for the role. She’d also famously covered Fanny Brice’s songs on the hit show, “Glee”. After lackluster reviews, Feldstein announced her departure. Then, she suddenly moved the date up by two months. Rumors flew that she’d heard they’d already replaced her with Michele. Adding fuel to the fire, Jane Lynch also decided to leave “Funny Girl” early. Was she avoiding an on-stage “Glee” reunion with her notoriously difficult former co-star? Regardless of possible drama, the newest Fanny Brice has been greeted with standing ovations and rave reviews.
#8: Kurt Zouma Mistreats Pets
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Kurt Zouma horrified animal lovers in 2022 when he kicked and slapped his cat around his kitchen. His younger brother thought it would be a good idea to film the incident and post it on Snapchat. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals took the soccer player’s pets and started prosecution. Zouma’s team, West Ham, fined him two week’s salary for the incident. He was booed and jeered at games. Fans of the opposing teams even brought inflatable felines to put on display. Ultimately, Zouma was banned from keeping cats for five years. He also has to perform 180 hours of community service. Although he was not suspended by West Ham, he did lose a sponsorship deal with Adidas.
#7: Shakira Tax Troubles
The ‘Queen of Latin Music’ had topped charts around the world. However, after her name appeared in the infamous Paradise Papers leaked in 2017, the Spanish government started investigating. Another set of leaked documents, the Pandora Papers, revealed applications for offshore companies. Shakira has since been accused of tax evasion in Spain. Prosecutors claim that she hid her income and assets ‘whenever, wherever’ using shell companies. Shakira denies the allegations and has argued that since she was touring and living in the Bahamas, she was not a resident of Spain during the period in question. Prosecutors want to send her to prison for eight years. In 2022, Shakira refused a plea deal, believing she can prove her innocence in court.
#6: Cuba Gooding Jr. Pleads Guilty
Since his Oscar win in 1997, Cuba Gooding Jr. career’s been a series of hits and misses. In 2019, he was indicted on three separate sexual misconduct allegations. These included groping a woman at a nightclub and kissing a waitress in a restaurant. 30 women have since accused him of unwanted touching. In 2022, he made a plea deal that let him avoid jail time in exchange for six months of counseling. There was criticism that this leniency was based on his celebrity status. He isn’t completely out of the woods though, as he faces another lawsuit for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in 2013.
#5: Mason Greenwood Arrested
Mason Greenwood, a soccer player for Manchester United, was arrested in January on suspicion of sexual assault. Audio and images on social media seemed to show the incident and injuries. Greenwood was immediately suspended by the soccer club. They made it clear that he wouldn’t participate in any way until further notice. The video game company EA Sports removed him from the FIFA 22 video game. Nike also made it clear that they would no longer work with him. Greenwood was initially released on bail. After allegedly breaching bail conditions by contacting his accuser, he was returned to custody. His trial date is set for late November in 2023.
#4: The Slap Heard ‘Round the World
Top 10 Celeb Scandals of 2022
Forget the movies. Sadly, it’s this incident that people remember from the “94th Academy Awards”. As Chris Rock prepared to present the award for Best Documentary Feature, he made fun of Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. Pinkett Smith has struggled with alopecia, and decided to embrace a new look. In response to Rock’s joke, her husband Will Smith stormed the stage and slapped the unsuspecting host. Back in his seat, he told the comic to keep his wife’s name out of his mouth. It was a truly stunning moment. He apologized to Rock a few days later and again in July. If his film “Emancipation” leads to an Oscar nomination for Smith, he won’t be able to attend - he’s been banned from the Oscars for 10 years.
#3: Ezra Miller Collects a Long List of Charges
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Ezra Miller is no stranger to controversy. In 2020, a video appeared to show them choking a woman in Iceland. In 2022, the scandals avalanched. In January, Miller posted a video threatening the KKK. A few months later, they were arrested for screaming obscenities at people in a karaoke bar. That same night, they allegedly broke into a couple’s bedroom and threatened to burn them, referring to the woman with a sexual slur. Three weeks later, they were arrested for allegedly throwing a chair into a woman’s head. Burglary charges followed. So have accusations of harassing and grooming minors. With Miller’s upcoming film “The Flash” in jeopardy, a representative apologized and announced that they would undergo treatment for mental health issues.
#2: Depp v. Heard
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During this highly publicized trial, the details of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s relationship were exposed to the world. Depp claimed that Heard’s 2018 op-ed for “The Washington Post”, in which she described herself as a victim of abuse, was false and damaged his career. The live-streamed court case was everywhere in the media, with fans taking strong positions. The jury found that Heard’s published statements were false and had defamed Depp, who was awarded $15 million dollars in damages (reduced to $350,000 by Virginia state law). They also ruled that Depp’s former lawyer had defamed Heard. Depp stated that he hoped the ruling would help men and women in similar situations, while Heard described it as a setback for women.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Fred Savage Gets Fired
He Was Booted from “The Wonder Year” Reboot for Alleged Misconduct
James Corden Banned from Balthazar
The Restaurant Owner Was Outraged at the Actor’s Attitude Towards Staff
Rudy Giuliani Should’ve Kept His Mask On
When the Jack in the Box Was Revealed, Judge Ken Jeong Walked Out
Benjamin Mendy Jailed & Suspended
The Pro Soccer Player Will Not Play After Multiple Assault Charges
“Don’t Worry Darling” Drama
The Personality Clashes & Publicity Misfires Overshadowed the Film
#1: Kanye West’s Controversial Statements
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As usual, Ye has had a lot to say in 2022. During fashion week in Paris he wore a "White Lives Matter" T-shirt, a phrase promoted and embraced by white supremacist organizations. The (then) billionaire continued the controversy by making anti-semtic statements on Instagram, Twitter and in a series of interviews. His social media platforms were locked. Balenciaga, Vogue and Adidas all declared they would no longer work with him. Although Ye has apologized for any grief he may have caused, he has not redacted his statements. In a speech to paparazzi, he explained that the entire situation was God humbling him.
