Top 10 Celebs Who Ruined Their Careers with One Video

Top 10 Celebs Who Ruined Their Careers with One Video

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the worst videos to surface that severely damaged the image and career of the celebrity involved.

#10: Haley Kalil

In 2024, Haley Kalil, AKA “haleyybaylee” on TikTok, posted a video to celebrate the Met Gala. Dressed in an elaborate gown and headdress, she used an audio clip from the 2006 film “Marie Antoinette,” with the infamous “let them eat cake” line. With the quote being known for dismissing the plights of the lower class and the Met Gala also coming under fire for its grand displays of wealth during sociopolitical unrest and a cost-of-living crisis, the video was read as tone-deaf. While Kalil apologized, the incident became the starting point for a celebrity blockout on social media.

#9: Michael Richards

In his heyday, Michael Richards was one of the biggest actors in the industry, leading to him collecting three Emmys. But, in 2006, a video of him ranting at a stand-up gig saw his career collapse in controversy. While at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood, California, Richards responded to apparent heckling by going off on a racist, slur-filled tirade. Understandably, the outrage was huge. Supported by Jerry Seinfeld, Richards appeared on the “Late Show with David Letterman” to apologize, which… didn’t land, to say the least. Due to the backlash, he retired from stand-up and has only had a handful of TV and film castings since.

#8: Michelle Shocked

In 2013, Michelle Shocked performed at Yoshi’s Jazz Club in San Francisco, California. On top of the folky songs, the audience was in for an unpleasant surprise. Shocked, despite the city she was in, launched into homophobic hate speech, using her religion as a shield. After some confused or possibly uncomfortable laughter, the audience protested her dire views. Some walked out altogether and the venue shut down her show. She tried defending herself, but when the audio came out, there was nowhere to hide. Her career was already taking a hit by this point but her reputation was permanently damaged after she appeared on “Piers Morgan Live”, when she bore an attitude of condescension and tried to skip around accusations of being homophobic.

#7: Mason Greenwood

In 2022, the Manchester United and England forward was expected to be a leading figure for his team and nation in football. Then, it all fell apart in an instant. On Instagram, Greenwood’s partner released videos and photos showing the abuse she’d allegedly sustained from him. One post involved audio of Greenwood threatening her with assault. After his arrest, Greenwood was suspended by United, and various sponsors cut ties. However, in 2023, the charges were dropped after witnesses withdrew from the case as well as the discovery of “new material.” Public backlash kept Manchester United from recruiting him anew but, for the 2023-24 season, Greenwood joined Spain’s Getafe on loan.

#6: Ray Rice

In 2014, a year after winning the Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens, Ray Rice’s NFL career came to an abrupt end when he was arrested. CCTV footage at the Revel Casino in Atlantic City showed Rice and his now wife, Janay Palmer, arguing. In the elevator, the running back struck Palmer, causing her to hit her head and pass out. He then attempted to drag her away. The shocking video led Rice to be charged with assault and dismissed from the Ravens. Rice agreed to have the charges dropped in exchange for attending counseling. No one else wanted to sign Rice after this, and he retired in disgrace.

#5: Matt Hancock

During the pandemic, various rules and guidelines to help reduce the spread of Covid-19 were drilled into the people of the UK. And then, in 2021, Matt Hancock, the UK health secretary, was shown to be a massive hypocrite. Leaked CCTV footage from his office showed the Member of Parliament having an affair with a department advisor, Gina Coladangelo, breaking many of the rules he had implemented in the process. Hancock apologized, and the then-prime minister, Boris Johnson, declared the matter “closed”. However, the public outrage caused Hancock to resign from his position. He later tried to boost his reputation by appearing on reality TV but you can guess how well that went.

#4: Ezra Miller

Previously, Miller was seen as a quirky actor who had the potential to be one of Hollywood’s greats. Then, 2020 happened. That year, Miller was in a bar in Reykjavík, Iceland. Footage came out of the actor being approached by a woman with a playful attitude, and they responded by grabbing her throat, pushing her to the ground, and continuing to choke her. As the woman involved later explained, she’d made a joke to Miller that she could take them in a fight and things derailed from there. After this, Miller experienced a bout of scandals and legal issues, which severely dented their reputation and seems to have wrecked their career.

#3: Billy Bush

Part of a famous and influential family that has two former US presidents among them, Bush made his name as a TV and radio host, most famously working with “Access Hollywood” and “Today.” Then, in 2016, a video was released that turned his career upside down. The footage revealed a 2005 conversation between Bush and Donald Trump, neither of whom realized their mics were on. The former president was making lewd and sexist comments about women. Throughout, Bush laughed along. Public backlash was swift, eventually resulting in Bush being dropped by “Today.” It took nearly three years until he returned as part of “Extra.”

#2: Zac Stacy

If it wasn’t for injuries, Zac Stacy likely would’ve had a long career in the NFL. However, that perception was dismissed following what he did in 2021. While visiting his ex-partner, Stacy attacked her. What made it more eerie, on top of Stacy’s voice being subdued throughout, was he did this in front of their infant son. It was all captured on the house’s security cameras and Stacy was quickly dropped from an ambassador role with the Music City Bowl. To make matters worse, when he was tracked down by police and arrested, he tried to claim it was staged by his ex. In 2023, the former running back pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months in jail and a year of probation.

#1: Sean Combs

Known by a few monikers including P. Diddy, Combs was one of the biggest rappers and producers around, collecting many accolades during his illustrious vocation. However, in 2023, his career and reputation were wrecked with many filed disputes citing severe misconduct and trafficking over the years, one of which was from former partner Cassie Ventura. Combs denied all the allegations publicly. However, in 2024, footage was released of Combs and Ventura at a hotel in 2016. In it, the rapper, dressed in a towel, chased down Ventura in the hotel’s hallway, and violently attacked her before trying to drag her back to the room. Combs admitted to the 2016 assault and released an apology. In addition to public fury, several celebrities also ruthlessly condemned Combs.



What other career-damaging video did we miss? Let us know in the comment section.