10 Celebs Who Ruined Their Careers TWICE
advertisement
VOICE OVER: Patrick Mealey
From Hollywood stars to music icons, these celebrities managed to bounce back from career-destroying scandals, only to throw it all away again. Join us as we explore the shocking falls from grace featuring controversial moments, public meltdowns, and criminal charges that left reputations in ruins. Our countdown includes Charlie Sheen's explosive TV exit, Mel Gibson's repeated controversies, Britney Spears' ongoing struggles, Kanye West's controversial statements, and more! Which celebrity's double downfall surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments!
WM-Celeb-10-Celebs-Who-Ruined-Their-Careers-TWICE_X3S2I1
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at stars who got second chances after shocking scandals and setbacks - only to squander their career resurgence yet again.
Charlie Sheen
Consistently making headlines for heavy substance use, wild partying, and brushes with the law, it’s easy to see why Charlie Sheen is often considered Hollywood’s original bad boy. But, despite his troubles, Sheen managed to revive his career with a string of commercial hits, including a successful switch to television on “Spin City” and the massively successful “Two and a Half Men.” However, Charlie found himself in a second career downfall when he was fired from his hit show after a series of erratic rants. And while he’s stayed out of trouble in recent years following the reveal that he is HIV positive, Charlie’s stormy past remains quite the cautionary tale.
Mel Gibson
Once a beloved A-lister with films like “Mad Max” and “Braveheart” to his name, Mel Gibson’s career came to a standstill in 2006 after he was arrested for a DUI and his anti-Semitic tirade against the arresting officers was leaked to the public. The backlash was swift, and he found himself ostracized from mainstream Hollywood. Just when the negativity surrounding Mel looked to be simmering down, he faced a second blow to his career. In 2010, shocking recordings of Gibson making vile and hate-filled threats against his then-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva surfaced. It was back to square one for the actor, and, despite a gradual resurgence, his reputation has never fully recovered.
Britney Spears
Pop princess Britney Spears has had a tumultuous career. She also had one of the most public meltdowns in history. In an infamous pop culture moment in February, 2007, Britney shaved her head and attacked a paparazzi’s car. The incident, combined with other troubling and erratic behavior, led to Spears being placed under a controversial conservatorship controlled by her father. Years later, the #FreeBritney movement successfully pushed for her release with fans rejoicing at her newfound freedom. However, post-conservatorship, Britney’s disturbing social media behavior has raised concerns once again. With bizarre claims, such as saying she is “turning 5-years-old,” Spears is once more facing controversy head-on.
Chevy Chase
Without question, Chevy Chase is a comedy legend - this despite a notorious reputation for being abrasive and difficult to work with. Heck, accusations of unruly behind-the-scenes behavior has haunted his career since his early days on “Saturday Night Live.” Following a successful run of films in the 80s and 90s, his purported swollen ego made him something of a Hollywood pariah. That was until Chevy managed to make a surprising comeback with “Community,” a hit sitcom that introduced him to a new generation. Sadly, history repeated itself as Chase’s behind-the-scenes clashes led to his high-profile exit from the show and public feud with creator Dan Harmon.
Vince McMahon
Former WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon is no stranger to controversy. There was the infamous steroid trial of the ‘90s (in which he was acquitted) and various accusations of misconduct – one such involving a female referee. Yet, Vince weathered the storms and continued building WWE into a global empire. Heck, he even incorporated his unlawful reputation into storylines. However, his most recent scandal may prove too much to overcome. After being hit with serious allegations from former WWE employee Janelle Grant, McMahon stepped away from the company he built. His once-unshakable reputation in wrestling is now being tested more than ever, leaving quite the hill for Vince to climb.
Kanye West
To say Kanye West’s career has been a rollercoaster of genius and self-destruction would be a wee bit of an understatement. And while the rapper faced plenty of early career backlash, including storming the stage during Taylor Swift’s 2009 VMA win, he managed to continue with his craft - all the while persisting with his erratic behavior and contentious statements (too numerous to list here). Some say his true career implosion began in the 2020s when he began making a series of hate-based comments, causing major brands to drop him. His reputation worsened as he faced further accusations of misconduct and abhorrent rhetoric. Kanye's career might just be on its final leg.
Roseanne Barr
Once America’s sitcom queen, Roseanne’s unpredictable and often brash behavior undoubtedly damaged her career. From mental health struggles to shocking photo shoots, Roseanne’s controversies seemingly left her glory days long in the past. However, the comedian managed to get a second chance with the revival of her sitcom in 2018 - only to lose it… again. Roseanne faced severe backlash due to her perceived racist comments about Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett on social media, leading to a public firing from ABC. But, while Barr's reputation suffered with one segment of the audience, she swiftly found support from another, and continues to push buttons to this day.
R. Kelly
It’s a wonder R. Kelly’s music career thrived for as long as it did, seeing as how the singer faced deeply disturbing allegations. In December 2000, the Chicago Sun-Times reported shocking allegations against R. Kelly involving a youth. Fourteen months later, a similar scandal emerged, resulting in serious criminal charges that damaged his reputation – to say the least. However, due to the alleged victim's refusal to testify, Kelly was ultimately acquitted. While he dodged that conviction, the #MeToo movement brought renewed attention. In 2021 and 2022, Kelly was convicted on several charges, leading to a multiple-decades-long prison sentence. His career collapsed once again - and this time, it’s likely the end of it.
Sean “Diddy” Combs
Sean Combs has become one of the most reviled figures in Hollywood – full stop. With a long history of controversies and high-profile feuds, Diddy’s contentious track record has often hinted at a “shady” side. And while he has faced accusations of involvement in Tupac’s death, it was his part in a 1999 nightclub shooting alongside then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez that initially tarnished his reputation. The incident resulted in years of legal battles and public scrutiny. Despite recovering and achieving much success, by 2024, the onslaught of unlawful allegations levied against him – many involving youths – completely sunk his career. This stunning second downfall has left his reputation in ruins.
O.J. Simpson
O.J. Simpson went from mega star to the most infamous man in America. After being accused of the 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, O.J. Simpson became the center of the "trial of the century." While he was acquitted in the criminal case, a civil suit found him liable. O.J., however, floundered in the public eye for some time after this - even offering up a book titled “If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer.” Simpson found himself back in legal trouble in 2007 when he was convicted of armed robbery in Las Vegas. This second fall from grace prior to his passing cemented him as one of the most disgraced public figures in history.
Which celebrity were you surprised to see derail their career on more than one occasion? Let us know in the comments down below.
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at stars who got second chances after shocking scandals and setbacks - only to squander their career resurgence yet again.
Charlie Sheen
Consistently making headlines for heavy substance use, wild partying, and brushes with the law, it’s easy to see why Charlie Sheen is often considered Hollywood’s original bad boy. But, despite his troubles, Sheen managed to revive his career with a string of commercial hits, including a successful switch to television on “Spin City” and the massively successful “Two and a Half Men.” However, Charlie found himself in a second career downfall when he was fired from his hit show after a series of erratic rants. And while he’s stayed out of trouble in recent years following the reveal that he is HIV positive, Charlie’s stormy past remains quite the cautionary tale.
Mel Gibson
Once a beloved A-lister with films like “Mad Max” and “Braveheart” to his name, Mel Gibson’s career came to a standstill in 2006 after he was arrested for a DUI and his anti-Semitic tirade against the arresting officers was leaked to the public. The backlash was swift, and he found himself ostracized from mainstream Hollywood. Just when the negativity surrounding Mel looked to be simmering down, he faced a second blow to his career. In 2010, shocking recordings of Gibson making vile and hate-filled threats against his then-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva surfaced. It was back to square one for the actor, and, despite a gradual resurgence, his reputation has never fully recovered.
Britney Spears
Pop princess Britney Spears has had a tumultuous career. She also had one of the most public meltdowns in history. In an infamous pop culture moment in February, 2007, Britney shaved her head and attacked a paparazzi’s car. The incident, combined with other troubling and erratic behavior, led to Spears being placed under a controversial conservatorship controlled by her father. Years later, the #FreeBritney movement successfully pushed for her release with fans rejoicing at her newfound freedom. However, post-conservatorship, Britney’s disturbing social media behavior has raised concerns once again. With bizarre claims, such as saying she is “turning 5-years-old,” Spears is once more facing controversy head-on.
Chevy Chase
Without question, Chevy Chase is a comedy legend - this despite a notorious reputation for being abrasive and difficult to work with. Heck, accusations of unruly behind-the-scenes behavior has haunted his career since his early days on “Saturday Night Live.” Following a successful run of films in the 80s and 90s, his purported swollen ego made him something of a Hollywood pariah. That was until Chevy managed to make a surprising comeback with “Community,” a hit sitcom that introduced him to a new generation. Sadly, history repeated itself as Chase’s behind-the-scenes clashes led to his high-profile exit from the show and public feud with creator Dan Harmon.
Vince McMahon
Former WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon is no stranger to controversy. There was the infamous steroid trial of the ‘90s (in which he was acquitted) and various accusations of misconduct – one such involving a female referee. Yet, Vince weathered the storms and continued building WWE into a global empire. Heck, he even incorporated his unlawful reputation into storylines. However, his most recent scandal may prove too much to overcome. After being hit with serious allegations from former WWE employee Janelle Grant, McMahon stepped away from the company he built. His once-unshakable reputation in wrestling is now being tested more than ever, leaving quite the hill for Vince to climb.
Kanye West
To say Kanye West’s career has been a rollercoaster of genius and self-destruction would be a wee bit of an understatement. And while the rapper faced plenty of early career backlash, including storming the stage during Taylor Swift’s 2009 VMA win, he managed to continue with his craft - all the while persisting with his erratic behavior and contentious statements (too numerous to list here). Some say his true career implosion began in the 2020s when he began making a series of hate-based comments, causing major brands to drop him. His reputation worsened as he faced further accusations of misconduct and abhorrent rhetoric. Kanye's career might just be on its final leg.
Roseanne Barr
Once America’s sitcom queen, Roseanne’s unpredictable and often brash behavior undoubtedly damaged her career. From mental health struggles to shocking photo shoots, Roseanne’s controversies seemingly left her glory days long in the past. However, the comedian managed to get a second chance with the revival of her sitcom in 2018 - only to lose it… again. Roseanne faced severe backlash due to her perceived racist comments about Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett on social media, leading to a public firing from ABC. But, while Barr's reputation suffered with one segment of the audience, she swiftly found support from another, and continues to push buttons to this day.
R. Kelly
It’s a wonder R. Kelly’s music career thrived for as long as it did, seeing as how the singer faced deeply disturbing allegations. In December 2000, the Chicago Sun-Times reported shocking allegations against R. Kelly involving a youth. Fourteen months later, a similar scandal emerged, resulting in serious criminal charges that damaged his reputation – to say the least. However, due to the alleged victim's refusal to testify, Kelly was ultimately acquitted. While he dodged that conviction, the #MeToo movement brought renewed attention. In 2021 and 2022, Kelly was convicted on several charges, leading to a multiple-decades-long prison sentence. His career collapsed once again - and this time, it’s likely the end of it.
Sean “Diddy” Combs
Sean Combs has become one of the most reviled figures in Hollywood – full stop. With a long history of controversies and high-profile feuds, Diddy’s contentious track record has often hinted at a “shady” side. And while he has faced accusations of involvement in Tupac’s death, it was his part in a 1999 nightclub shooting alongside then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez that initially tarnished his reputation. The incident resulted in years of legal battles and public scrutiny. Despite recovering and achieving much success, by 2024, the onslaught of unlawful allegations levied against him – many involving youths – completely sunk his career. This stunning second downfall has left his reputation in ruins.
O.J. Simpson
O.J. Simpson went from mega star to the most infamous man in America. After being accused of the 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, O.J. Simpson became the center of the "trial of the century." While he was acquitted in the criminal case, a civil suit found him liable. O.J., however, floundered in the public eye for some time after this - even offering up a book titled “If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer.” Simpson found himself back in legal trouble in 2007 when he was convicted of armed robbery in Las Vegas. This second fall from grace prior to his passing cemented him as one of the most disgraced public figures in history.
Which celebrity were you surprised to see derail their career on more than one occasion? Let us know in the comments down below.
