10 Actors Everyone Lost Respect For

10 Actors Everyone Lost Respect For

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for beloved actors who were well-respected for their craft until a scandal came to light that turned public opinion against them.

James Corden

At one point, James Corden was a respected actor and creator with work on “Gavin & Stacey” and “A League of Their Own.” But when the Brit moved across the pond to take on “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” it wasn’t long until he began falling foul of people. In 2022, Corden was accused of abusive behavior at the New York restaurant Balthazar when staff apparently made his wife’s meal incorrectly. This earned the host a ban from the eatery, which was rescinded when Corden apologized. However, he then flip-flopped on his responsibility, causing the ban to be reinstated. This incident also brought to light other alleged Corden incidents that further tarnished his reputation.

Lea Michele

Whether she was releasing her own music or starring in “Glee,” “Scream Queens,” or popular stage productions, Lea Michele was lapping up nominations and awards all over the place. The sky really seemed the limit for her. But then, 2020 happened. That year, Michele posted in support of the Black Lives Matter movement on social media. In response, several former “Glee” co-stars came forward to shine a light on her hypocrisy and terrible behavior behind the scenes. On top of microaggressions, Michele was accused of racist behavior and being rude to various people on set. This included apparently calling background performers “cockroaches.” While Michele apologized, it was too late. Brands and fans left the actor in droves.

Armie Hammer

After roles in “The Social Network,” “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” and “Call Me by Your Name,” Armie Hammer appeared to be on the cusp of superstardom. After all, he was cast as a lead in 2022’s “Death on the Nile.” However, the publicity for that film was wrecked once the scandal about Hammer came out in 2021. The actor was accused of both physical and emotional abusive behavior with ex-partners. Film companies, fans, agencies, and brands dropped the actor all at once. He’s pretty much vanished from the public eye since, but did go on to admit to being emotionally abusive in his relationships.

Amber Heard

With the end of their marriage, the accusations of abuse, and the numerous court cases, neither party came out of this debacle looking especially favorable. However, it’s safe to say Amber Heard was not the winner of the court of public opinion. She was accused of abusive behavior and having marital affairs. Social media was rife with people mocking the “Aquaman” performer and her legal team during the infamous 2022 defamation trial. The jury sided with Depp by awarding him $15 million, while Heard was awarded $2 million. And this only made it worse for her. Afterward, she moved to Spain to escape the scrutiny. However, the public condemnation returned during the release of 2023’s “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.”

Kevin Spacey

After receiving two Oscar Awards, Kevin Spacey ushered in the Netflix original era with his Golden Globe-winning role in “House of Cards.” Every project he was on seemed to often become a critical hit. Then, in 2017, actor Anthony Rapp accused Spacey of assaulting him when he was a teenager. Spacey’s response didn’t help when he claimed he didn’t remember the encounter, apologized for it happening, and then came out as gay, which drew the ire of many. When the allegations came to light, Spacey was dropped by “House of Cards.” Yet, he continued parodying his character in strange annual YouTube videos. The actor has faced several court cases with further allegations. However, they have ended in Spacey’s favor.

Michael Richards

Due to his role as Kramer on “Seinfeld,” Michael Richards was awarded the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series on three occasions. Once the sitcom ended, he dabbled in TV a little while longer before focussing on his standup routine. In 2006, he was at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles, California, where it all came crumbling down. Richards was recorded going on a vile, slur-filled rant at hecklers. Afterward, he appeared on the “Late Show with David Letterman” to apologize. Suffice to say, this was not really the sort of apology people were looking for. Richards retired from standup and has rarely appeared in film and TV since.

Ezra Miller

There probably isn’t an actor who has had as many legal run-ins in such a short amount of time as Ezra Miller. After being cast in the “Fantastic Beasts” series and as The Flash in the DCEU, they became a household name. Then, 2020 rolled around, and a video surfaced of Miller attacking a woman at a bar in Iceland. This was unfortunately only the beginning. They have been accused of harassing people, theft, assault, and grooming, among some other odd and heinous behavior. In January of 2023, Miller pleaded guilty to misdemeanor unlawful trespass.

Roseanne Barr

As the lead of “Roseanne,” actor and comedian Roseanne Barr played a vital role in turning the show’s first run into a critical success, securing many awards along the way. In 2018, the show was revived after 20 years. However, not long after, Barr messed up massively. After several of her controversial comments came to light, Barr made a racist tweet about former political advisor Valerie Jarrett. While Barr apologized and tried to backtrack, it was too late. “Roseanne” was canceled and replaced by “The Conners,” without Barr. She has, despite all this, continued airing unpleasant thoughts and conspiracies, even doing controversial comedy routines.

Danny Masterson

Before 2017, if you were to ask fans who their favorite character on “That ‘70s Show” was, many would immediately say “Hyde.” Nowadays, it’s less so after what his actor did came to light. In 2017, several women filed sexual assault charges against the actor, who denied the accusationss. After a fourth allegation, however, Netflix fired Masterson, who was a producer and actor on “The Ranch.” He was also dropped by his talent agency. In 2023, at the retrial, he was found guilty on two of the three charges, with the remaining count resulting in a hung jury. Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for his horrific crimes.

Bill Cosby

With the title of “America’s Dad,” Bill Cosby was the biggest name in TV history, mostly known for his work on “The Cosby Show.” However, there were rumors that the actor was responsible for a host of grim crimes, yet there was little traction to them. But that all changed in 2015, when more and more victims began to come forward and the media ran their stories. In 2018, after over a decade of accusations, Cosby was charged with three counts of assault and sentenced to 3 to 10 years in jail. However, in 2021, Cosby’s conviction was overturned after it was discovered that his due process rights had been violated. Regardless, this hasn’t repaired Cosby's image, especially as he’s faced civil cases for assault since.



Which actor has done the opposite of those in this video and gained more respect the longer they’ve been around? Let us know your opinions in the comments below!