10 Female Celebs Who Became Tabloid Punching Bags
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VOICE OVER: Phoebe de Jeu
From relentless paparazzi pursuit to cruel headlines, these women faced unprecedented media scrutiny and harassment. Join us as we examine how tabloid culture ruthlessly targeted female celebrities, turning their personal struggles into public spectacle while ignoring the human cost of their sensationalized coverage. Our list includes stars like Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, Meghan Markle, and Amy Winehouse, whose lives were dramatically impacted by invasive media attention. From relationship drama to personal struggles, these stories reveal the dark side of fame and the media's double standards.
10 Female Celebs Who Became Tabloid Punching Bags
Welcome to MsMojo, and today well be looking at the most outrageous instances of female celebrities who were ruthlessly targeted by the tabloid press.
Katy Perry
Katy Perry was once widely beloved, but that began to change in 2017. After years of dominating the charts, her fifth album Witness was released to underwhelming sales. The media quickly latched onto this stumble, with headlines prematurely declaring her career over. The following year, Perry joined American Idol as a judge, and her appearance sparked constant critiques, from her fashion choices to her interaction with contestants. Things didnt exactly improve from there. In 2024, her much-touted comeback album 143 was met with backlash, both for its dated sound and her collaboration with Dr. Luke. Then in 2025, Perrys participation in the infamous Blue Origin spaceflight lit the match for another media bonfire, with everyone from her fellow celebrities to even fast food chain Wendys piling on her.
Jennifer Aniston
During her time on Friends, Jennifer Aniston was regarded as Americas sweetheart. But her love affair with the public soured when she became entangled in a love triangle with her then-husband Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. As fans were split into Team Jolie and Team Aniston, the media began to portray Aniston as the heartbroken, perpetually scorned ex-wife. Tabloids fixated on her every move, speculating about her emotional state and her supposed desire for children, now left unfulfilled following the divorce. Even after Brangelina officially became an item, the media didnt let go of Aniston. Every new relationship she entered was seen as a PR stunt or a calculated move to spite Pitt. The coverage was invasive, often dehumanizing, and denied Aniston the privacy and dignity to mourn her marriage in peace.
Yoko Ono
The 1970 breakup of the Beatles was due to several factors, including the death of their manager and the increasing disunity among the band members. Nevertheless, many fans blamed one person: Yoko Ono. After marrying John Lennon in 1969, Ono became a constant presence in his life, and almost overnight, she turned into the scapegoat for the bands dissolution. This narrative was fueled by the tabloids, which framed her as a manipulative outsider; a portrayal that was also laced with racism and misogyny. When she and Lennon began making music as the Plastic Ono Band, the press refused to regard her as an equal partner, despite her significant artistic contributions. Although public opinion has evolved over time, some corners of the media still dismiss Ono as a pretentious charlatan.
Amanda Bynes
By age 26, Amanda Bynes had already spent more than half her life in the spotlight. She got her breakthrough on The Amanda Show, a sketch comedy series that opened the door to several adult roles in Hollywood. But things then took a sharp downturn. In 2010, Bynes announced her retirement from acting, following which she began racking up legal troubles. For the tabloid press, this was gold. They pounced on every strange tweet, public outburst and arrest, broadcasting them to millions with zero concern for her well-being, even though she clearly needed help. Thankfully, Bynes now appears to be on a healthier path. She earned a degree from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, and seems to be building a career in the fashion industry.
Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouses experience with substance use disorder was no secret. She laid it all bare in her music, most notably on Rehab. But while she received acclaim from music critics, the tabloids seemed more interested in her troubles than her talent. Front pages were splashed with headlines about substance use, accompanied by invasive pictures of Winehouse at her most vulnerable. Even as her condition visibly worsened, there was little compassion for her, as stories of her personal life were sensationalized to feed public curiosity. Eventually, the outcome many had feared came to pass. In July 2011, Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning. And just like that, the same outlets that had ridiculed her suddenly celebrated her legacy, as if her brilliance only became visible once she was gone.
Meghan Markle
Even before Meghan Markle married Prince Harry, the British tabloid press had already launched a relentless campaign of scrutiny against her. And it only got worse afterwards. Unlike the respectful distance typically extended to other royal figures, Markle was treated as fair game. Her family background and trivial things like her fashion choices were obsessively analyzed, often with racial undertones. They even went as far as fabricating stories about her treatment of staff and frequently pitting her against Kate Middleton. This relentless coverage was not unfamiliar to Prince Harry, whose mother, Princess Diana, had endured similar treatment. Ultimately, it played a major role in the couples unprecedented decision to step back from royal duties and leave the UK altogether.
Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton became a household name thanks to the reality TV show The Simple Life. But long before the series began airing, Hilton was already a magnet for the tabloid press in New York City. So when she attained global fame, it was no surprise that the cameras showed up wherever she was. The height of Hiltons infamy came in 2007, when she was arrested for driving with a suspended license and sentenced to 45 days in jail. The media had a field day with her courtroom appearances; her emotional outbursts were widely mocked and she was portrayed as a dangerous role model for young women. It was as if the tabloids, which had helped her build this very image, took pleasure in tearing it down.
Janet Jackson
It all began at the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show when a so-called wardrobe malfunction exposed Janet Jacksons breast on live television for a split second. The incident also involved Justin Timberlake, but when the fallout hit, it was Jackson who bore the brunt of the outrage. The tabloids went after her with relentless intensity, framing her as reckless and indecent, with her morality being called into question. All the while, Timberlake was portrayed as an innocent bystander. On top of that, Jackson was mocked endlessly by late-night show hosts and her music was blacklisted by major industry players. If anyone ever needed proof of the glaring double standards in the medias treatment of men and women, they need look no further.
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan practically grew up in front of the camera. Audiences watched her transform from a child star into a teen idol, but just as she crossed into adulthood, they also got to witness her highly publicized downward spiral. In 2007 alone, Lohan was arrested twice: first in May for a DUI, then again in July for the same offense plus drug possession. And every time, the press was there to capture it all. The media frenzy was vicious, with headlines branding Lohan as a party girl and a has-been, before she even hit 25. Its no wonder she struggled for years to rebuild her career; when your reputation has been run over by the tabloid train, its not so easy to bounce back.
Britney Spears
In the 2000s, the media seemed to take pleasure in watching women who were deemed glamorous break down in public. No one did that as infamously as Britney Spears. Spears had been a tabloid target since her teen idol days, but things hit a fever pitch in the late 2000s when she experienced a series of personal setbacks. As Spears struggled to cope, the media circled like vultures, capturing her at her lowest for the world to see. What she clearly needed was support, but the press seemed to push her further and further into turmoil, causing her to lash out at them in frustration. After years of performing for our entertainment, the world couldnt even offer Spears the privacy she needed to pull herself together.
Do you think the tabloids have learned their lesson? Or are we still watching the same story unfold with new faces? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Welcome to MsMojo, and today well be looking at the most outrageous instances of female celebrities who were ruthlessly targeted by the tabloid press.
Katy Perry
Katy Perry was once widely beloved, but that began to change in 2017. After years of dominating the charts, her fifth album Witness was released to underwhelming sales. The media quickly latched onto this stumble, with headlines prematurely declaring her career over. The following year, Perry joined American Idol as a judge, and her appearance sparked constant critiques, from her fashion choices to her interaction with contestants. Things didnt exactly improve from there. In 2024, her much-touted comeback album 143 was met with backlash, both for its dated sound and her collaboration with Dr. Luke. Then in 2025, Perrys participation in the infamous Blue Origin spaceflight lit the match for another media bonfire, with everyone from her fellow celebrities to even fast food chain Wendys piling on her.
Jennifer Aniston
During her time on Friends, Jennifer Aniston was regarded as Americas sweetheart. But her love affair with the public soured when she became entangled in a love triangle with her then-husband Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. As fans were split into Team Jolie and Team Aniston, the media began to portray Aniston as the heartbroken, perpetually scorned ex-wife. Tabloids fixated on her every move, speculating about her emotional state and her supposed desire for children, now left unfulfilled following the divorce. Even after Brangelina officially became an item, the media didnt let go of Aniston. Every new relationship she entered was seen as a PR stunt or a calculated move to spite Pitt. The coverage was invasive, often dehumanizing, and denied Aniston the privacy and dignity to mourn her marriage in peace.
Yoko Ono
The 1970 breakup of the Beatles was due to several factors, including the death of their manager and the increasing disunity among the band members. Nevertheless, many fans blamed one person: Yoko Ono. After marrying John Lennon in 1969, Ono became a constant presence in his life, and almost overnight, she turned into the scapegoat for the bands dissolution. This narrative was fueled by the tabloids, which framed her as a manipulative outsider; a portrayal that was also laced with racism and misogyny. When she and Lennon began making music as the Plastic Ono Band, the press refused to regard her as an equal partner, despite her significant artistic contributions. Although public opinion has evolved over time, some corners of the media still dismiss Ono as a pretentious charlatan.
Amanda Bynes
By age 26, Amanda Bynes had already spent more than half her life in the spotlight. She got her breakthrough on The Amanda Show, a sketch comedy series that opened the door to several adult roles in Hollywood. But things then took a sharp downturn. In 2010, Bynes announced her retirement from acting, following which she began racking up legal troubles. For the tabloid press, this was gold. They pounced on every strange tweet, public outburst and arrest, broadcasting them to millions with zero concern for her well-being, even though she clearly needed help. Thankfully, Bynes now appears to be on a healthier path. She earned a degree from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, and seems to be building a career in the fashion industry.
Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouses experience with substance use disorder was no secret. She laid it all bare in her music, most notably on Rehab. But while she received acclaim from music critics, the tabloids seemed more interested in her troubles than her talent. Front pages were splashed with headlines about substance use, accompanied by invasive pictures of Winehouse at her most vulnerable. Even as her condition visibly worsened, there was little compassion for her, as stories of her personal life were sensationalized to feed public curiosity. Eventually, the outcome many had feared came to pass. In July 2011, Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning. And just like that, the same outlets that had ridiculed her suddenly celebrated her legacy, as if her brilliance only became visible once she was gone.
Meghan Markle
Even before Meghan Markle married Prince Harry, the British tabloid press had already launched a relentless campaign of scrutiny against her. And it only got worse afterwards. Unlike the respectful distance typically extended to other royal figures, Markle was treated as fair game. Her family background and trivial things like her fashion choices were obsessively analyzed, often with racial undertones. They even went as far as fabricating stories about her treatment of staff and frequently pitting her against Kate Middleton. This relentless coverage was not unfamiliar to Prince Harry, whose mother, Princess Diana, had endured similar treatment. Ultimately, it played a major role in the couples unprecedented decision to step back from royal duties and leave the UK altogether.
Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton became a household name thanks to the reality TV show The Simple Life. But long before the series began airing, Hilton was already a magnet for the tabloid press in New York City. So when she attained global fame, it was no surprise that the cameras showed up wherever she was. The height of Hiltons infamy came in 2007, when she was arrested for driving with a suspended license and sentenced to 45 days in jail. The media had a field day with her courtroom appearances; her emotional outbursts were widely mocked and she was portrayed as a dangerous role model for young women. It was as if the tabloids, which had helped her build this very image, took pleasure in tearing it down.
Janet Jackson
It all began at the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show when a so-called wardrobe malfunction exposed Janet Jacksons breast on live television for a split second. The incident also involved Justin Timberlake, but when the fallout hit, it was Jackson who bore the brunt of the outrage. The tabloids went after her with relentless intensity, framing her as reckless and indecent, with her morality being called into question. All the while, Timberlake was portrayed as an innocent bystander. On top of that, Jackson was mocked endlessly by late-night show hosts and her music was blacklisted by major industry players. If anyone ever needed proof of the glaring double standards in the medias treatment of men and women, they need look no further.
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan practically grew up in front of the camera. Audiences watched her transform from a child star into a teen idol, but just as she crossed into adulthood, they also got to witness her highly publicized downward spiral. In 2007 alone, Lohan was arrested twice: first in May for a DUI, then again in July for the same offense plus drug possession. And every time, the press was there to capture it all. The media frenzy was vicious, with headlines branding Lohan as a party girl and a has-been, before she even hit 25. Its no wonder she struggled for years to rebuild her career; when your reputation has been run over by the tabloid train, its not so easy to bounce back.
Britney Spears
In the 2000s, the media seemed to take pleasure in watching women who were deemed glamorous break down in public. No one did that as infamously as Britney Spears. Spears had been a tabloid target since her teen idol days, but things hit a fever pitch in the late 2000s when she experienced a series of personal setbacks. As Spears struggled to cope, the media circled like vultures, capturing her at her lowest for the world to see. What she clearly needed was support, but the press seemed to push her further and further into turmoil, causing her to lash out at them in frustration. After years of performing for our entertainment, the world couldnt even offer Spears the privacy she needed to pull herself together.
Do you think the tabloids have learned their lesson? Or are we still watching the same story unfold with new faces? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
