20 Musicians Everyone Lost Respect For

Note - original list was ranked but combo isnt so I put the original titles in blue w/o numbering

20 Musicians Everyone Lost Respect For

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were looking at musical artists whose reputations took major hits

[if any Intros or Criteria are requested on the matrix, insert B-roll for them here]

Katy Perry

Katy Perrys music may have never been highbrow. But at her peak, she made songs so catchy, you could hear them once and theyd be stuck in your head forever. Over time, though, the music got worse, as did her public image. Excitement about a comeback in 2024 was quickly deflated when it was revealed she was re-teaming with controversial producer Dr. Luke. Then, new single Womans World had everyone talking, and not about how much they loved it. After her album flopped, Perry made news for her mystifying live choreography and her participation in Blue Origins all-female spaceflight, which spawned backlash over being tone-deaf. The days of Katy Perry as an artist we adore are feeling more and more like a teenage dream.

Drake

If the song of the summer accuses you of heinous acts and otherwise insults you and your character, its safe to say that your reputation has taken a hit. Watching Drakes rise was genuinely thrilling, as his best work demonstrated both his ear for great hooks and his ability to navigate complex topics. But quantity soon overtook quality, and his heartsick musical persona started to feel less endearing and more grating. In 2024, a feud between the rapper and Kendrick Lamar broke out, and in case you somehow havent heard, Drake did not win. While Drake hasnt fallen out of favor commercially, its hard to imagine him garnering the respect he did in the era of Take Care and Nothing Was the Same.

Kris Wu

Chinese-Canadian rapper and singer Kris Wu first found success as a member of the boy band Exo before embarking on a solo career. Both a music and movie star in China, Wu seemed poised to be recognized around the world. In a way, that happened. But not for good reasons. In 2021, Wu was arrested on sexual assault charges and was convicted and sentenced to 13 years in prison. Upon his eventual release, he is set to be deported from China. This is by no means the only example of an artist allegedly using their fame and power to take advantage of others, as youll see further in this list.

Tim Lambesis

Tim Lambesis found fame as the frontman of metalcore band As I Lay Dying. But no amount of vocal prowess or stage presence could undo hearing about the news that broke in 2013. Lambesis was arrested for trying to hire a hitman to kill his estranged wife. He was convicted and sentenced to six years in prison. He was released in 2016 and has since revived As I Lay Dying, though hes now the only remaining member. He's also remarried and divorced multiple times, with videos of him being abusive towards his third wife, Danielle Norris, leaked online. What's more, after this, a video leaked of Lambesis mistreating a dog, sparking a petition to have him investigated for animal cruelty.

DaBaby

Some artists have their images ruined because of things they said in private that were later leaked. DaBaby, meanwhile, sabotaged his career in a very public fashion. At the 2021 Rolling Loud festival in Florida, the rapper made remarks that were widely condemned for being homophobic. Performances at numerous festivals were subsequently cancelled, and numerous other artists condemned his comments. Multiple apologies werent enough to turn the tide back in his favor, nor was the music released afterward. If ever there was a perfect example of someone needing to think twice before speaking, its DaBaby.

Robin Thicke

If you only know Robin Thicke from Blurred Lines, it may genuinely shock you to learn there was a time when genuinely respected as a musical talent. While he might not have been a household name, he had carved out a solid niche for himself in R&B. While his big pop crossover was certainly successful, it also spawned much criticism for its questionable lyrics and crass video. Thickes appearance at the 2013 VMAs didnt help, nor did the release of Paula, an album written for and about his estranged wife, Paula Patton, that flopped spectacularly upon release. During their subsequent divorce proceedings, Patton accused Thicke of domestic violence, infidelity, and abuse against a minor.

Chuck Berry

Theres arguably no artist on this list who has changed music as we know it quite like Chuck Berry has. So, while Berry's legacy as a musical pioneer is secure, it's significantly complicated by his personal life. Amidst his initial stardom, Berry was arrested and charged with violating the Mann Act. He was sentenced to five years in prison. Other controversies followed his release, including being charged with physical assault of a woman and being sued by multiple women regarding a camera in his restaurant's bathroom. While Berry kept performing even in the years leading up to his death in 2017, his image was still decidedly tarnished by these revelations.

Morrissey

As frontman of the Smiths and through his solo career, Morrissey was renowned for his sensitive, witty lyrics and achingly beautiful voice. Over time, however, he became better known for the words hes spoken than for the ones hes sung. These include insensitive comments on topics such as race, immigration, and sexual assault. While he's long had a reputation as being outspoken, for many, he's since veered into indefensible territory. He also expressed his support for the far-right For Britain Movement. While this doesnt completely undo the quality of his best work, it does make it more difficult to want to revisit them.

Chris Brown

Having your debut single be a number-one hit is no small feat. After the success of "Run It!" and further radio hits, Browns reputation was forever altered in 2009 when he was arrested for domestic violence against his girlfriend at the time, Rihanna. More legal troubles and controversies followed over the years. In May 2025, he was arrested in Manchester on a warrant regarding an alleged 2023 assault incident at a nightclub. Though hes been able to maintain a successful recording and performing career despite all these scandals, Browns bad behavior has eclipsed his music considerably.

Jerry Lee Lewis

Jerry Lee Lewis always caused commotion as an early rock n roll rebel. Incidentally, the wild child went too far by settling down with Myra Gale Brown in 1957. The 22-year-old Lewis publicly lied about his third wifes real age - who was a teenager. She was also his first cousin once removed! Just like that, Lewis publicly went from bad boy to total creep. The subsequent concert cancellations and boycotts devastated his popular appeal. He remained an active musician for the rest of his life, whose influential work is still celebrated. The man himself would never recover from his union with Brown, or its disillusion on grounds of infidelity and abuse. This wasnt Lewiss last scandalous marriage.

Ryan Adams

Prolific singer-songwriter Ryan Adams has enjoyed great acclaim and clout in the music industry. Many fellow musicians counted on him in their own careers. In 2019, seven women told The New York Times that this came with strings attached. They claimed that Adams used promises of professional support to sexually and romantically coerce them. If they resisted, he would use social media to sully their public image. Adams initially denied these allegations, but later took responsibility for his history of abuse. Many didn't buy this formulaic apology and promise of growth. Some say the material hes produced since has also suffered from a tone-deaf tone of self-pity. Whether Ryans is truly remorseful, that music industry clout has dried up.

Ike Turner

In the early days of rock n roll, Ike Turner was a visionary. He really got his big break by helping his wife Tina get hers. The couple revolutionized pop music, but no longer share the same esteem. After filing for divorce in 1976, Tina revealed that her marriage was plagued by physical and psychological abuse. Ikes public image, as well as his finances, were further tarnished by substance use and legal issues. All of this was cemented in pop culture by the biopic Whats Love Got to Do with It. The Turners both stated that the film embellished their dysfunctional relationship. Still, while Tina is immortalized as the Queen of Rock n Roll, the queenmakers legacy is overshadowed by cruelty.

Tekashi 6ix9ine

Daniel Hernandez stands out from a generation of rappers who made their stage name on SoundCloud. Unfortunately, it's not so much because of Tekashi 6ix9ines work with big names in the industry. In 2015, he pled guilty to criminally sexualizing a minor in a music video. Over the next few years, he would be implicated in or admit to a number of violent offenses. He also softened racketeering and firearm convictions in 2018 by ratting on gang associates. Hernandez left prison two years later, but was labeled a snitch in his community and an overall scumbag in the mainstream. He dug himself even deeper with several high-profile feuds. Otherwise, 6ix9ines music is as low-profile as ever.

CeeLo Green

In both hip-hop groups and solo soul, CeeLo Green was a titan of his industry. His reputation first started to bend in the early 2010s, over hostile responses to critics online. It broke after he was accused of sexual battery and charged with assaulting an intoxicated woman. Green maintained his innocence by posting that victims remember the experience. He made so many disturbingly ignorant comments that his account was temporarily shut down. A lackluster apology was insufficient to save one of music's most prolific stars. The scandal cost him gigs and nearly destroyed his career on the screen. Record sales have also suffered. CeeLo manages to stay busy, but now largely outside of public view.

Ian Watkins

Fans were devastated when the Welsh rockers Lostprophets broke up in 2013. The reason why was the most devastating part. The previous year, lead singer Ian Watkins was arrested for possession of drugs and highly obscene materials. He eventually pleaded guilty to 10 counts of sexual activity with minors. Watkinss abuses had been reported to police as early as 2008. The horrific scandal has even besmirched his bandmates' legacies. Lostprophets music and merchandise have been basically blacklisted from the public. Thankfully, most of its members have found success with the band No Devotion and other beloved projects. Watkins, meanwhile, is serving 29 years in prison for his heinous crimes.

Marilyn Manson

Industrial metal pioneer Brian Warner made a career out of shocking the public as Marilyn Manson. His subversive brand would gradually be hidden from the mainstream over several high-profile murders committed by fans. He was a key subject and proponent of discourse following the Columbine High School massacre. In 2021, Manson finally lost his niche group of supporters. Multiple people, including ex-fiancée Evan Rachel Wood, alleged years of abuse and sexual assault. Hes been embroiled in legal battles with his accusers, which have raised concerning testimony against all parties. While there was apparently disturbing evidence suggesting that Mansons horror isnt just for show, and his defenders may since have dwindled, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department ultimately quitted him following a criminal investigation in 2025.

Gary Glitter

Paul Gadd helped broaden glam rocks pop appeal with the flamboyant anthems and live performances of Gary Glitter. Hed still be an icon of the genre if it werent for his shocking criminal history. In 1999, Gadd was convicted of possessing obscene content and registered as a sex offender. His career died on the spot. After prison, Gadd tried starting anew outside of England, only to be deported and banned from several countries for continuing to fraternize. A conviction in Vietnam resulted in deportation to his homeland, where he was convicted of multiple sex crimes in 2015. The Gary Glitter brand has now faded into obscurity, and all thats left is a criminal rejected by the whole world.

Kanye West

Even more astonishing than Kanye Wests renown was his downfall. He first lost mainstream credibility with baffling statements throughout the 2000s. This included poorly phrasing racial concerns after Hurricane Katrina, and hijacking an award acceptance speech by Taylor Swift. West then polarized the Black community by downplaying racism and aligning with right-wing politics through the 2010s. This culminated in a representation of white supremacist culture in the 2020s, especially antisemitic conspiracy theories. That dealt a destructive blow to Wests music career, business brand, and social media presence. Still, he always finds a platform for his outrageous views. Many link the rappers antics to mental illness or mere attention-seeking. But as West continues to dig himself into scandal, he can't even count on public pity.

Diddy

Hes been known by many names: Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, and simply Diddy. But while the man born Sean John Combs was once seen as an aspirational figure for his multi-layered success, hes now viewed as a total villain. Though Combs had faced legal troubles and accusations of unsavory behavior over the years, it was never enough for him to be truly "cancelled." But in 2023, Comb's ex, singer Cassie Ventura, sued him for abuse and other horrific acts. This was followed by the release of surveillance footage of Combs brutally attacking Ventura. More lawsuits followed, with numerous people coming forward with claims of horrific acts committed by Combs. He was then hit with a criminal indictment, with a trial beginning in 2025.

R. Kelly

The one-time King of R&B has gone from one of musics biggest stars to one of its worst pariahs. R. Kellys glamorous image first cracked in 1994, when the 27-year-old briefly married underage singer Aaliyah. His indiscretions were further suggested throughout the 2000s by allegations and a hard-won legal battle. The public was completely divided until the subsequent decades ended their debate. Accusations of sex cults and horrendous abuse led to widespread boycotts before the hit docuseries Surviving R. Kelly killed public sympathy. This inspired a series of trials, leading to convictions on racketeering, trafficking and other crimes. Kelly began his 31-year prison sentence in 2023. Though theres no salvaging the musicians once-celebrated art, his victims have finally received justice.

What musical artist lost your respect and why? Let us know in the comments