30 Actors Everyone Lost Respect For

Gal Gadot

The woman who once took the world by storm with her extraordinary beauty fell from grace due to her politics. There was a time when her name drew massive crowds to movie theaters, like for the film Wonder Woman. Despite her popularity, though, she was never really recognized as an exceptional actress by critics. She was, however, praised for devoting her time to humanitarian causes like female empowerment. When this advocacy extended to her showing support for the Israel Defense Forces, where she briefly served, many fans turned their backs on her. Still, that didnt stop her from being outspoken about standing with Israel in the IsraeliPalestinian conflict, and that was her undoing.

Chris Noth

Everyone knew Big was a walking red flag, but we didnt think the actor playing him on Sex and the City would turn out to be even worse. Chris Noth had everything going for him until 2021, when several women came forward with allegations of sexual assault against him. With his image in ruins, he lost business deals left and right and was removed from the shows he was working on. In no time, he disappeared from the limelight, despite maintaining his innocence. In his words, the only thing he was guilty of was stepping out on his wife. However, people were having none of it. Naturally, in May 2025, news about his casting in Craig Singers The Block was met with a lukewarm response.

Blake Lively

The movie adaptation of Colleen Hoovers novel It Ends with Us was highly anticipated. However, when the film came out, lead actress Blake Lively appeared to downplay its message against domestic violence, promoting her haircare brand, Blake Brown, instead. Things got worse when journalist Kjersti Flaa released an old clip of herself interviewing Lively, who seemed dismissive toward her. Netizens started digging up more video evidence of the actress being a so-called mean girl, which maligned her reputation. Soon after, it was revealed that Blake had sued her IEWU co-star Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment, while The New York Times accused him of orchestrating a smear campaign against her. Baldoni denied the claims, but both actors took a hit to their popularity.

Jonathan Majors

It didnt take this actor long to achieve critical and commercial success after making himself known through the show When We Rise in 2017. He had an Emmy nomination for Lovecraft Country and was a part of the MCU, playing Kang the Conqueror by 2021. However, his career came to a halt when he was arrested for committing intimate partner violence against his ex, Grace Jabbari. He was later convicted of attacking and harassing her, but managed to date Meagan Good in the meantime, whom he later married. Not only did Jonathans career go downhill, but Good had to face the consequences of his actions, too, as she lost several brand deals just because of her association with him. No wonder her fans are upset.

James Franco

Once a Hollywood golden boy, this Oscar-nominated actor was dragged down from his pedestal after being hit with multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. He admitted to having sexual relations with his acting mentees, who claimed they were exploited with the promise of roles. He was also inappropriately involved with a teenager. What was even more hypocritical was that amid his scandals, he showed up to the 2018 Golden Globes, wearing a Times Up pin. After an extended hiatus, the actor is back in showbiz, with multiple projects in the pipeline. However, hes no longer the media darling he once was.

Shia LaBeouf

Known for his prodigious talent, this former Disney star disappointed countless fans when he repeatedly landed himself in hot water. From substance use to unruly behavior in public, and even going to court for petty larceny, Shia went through several major rough patches. However, the tipping point came when his former girlfriend, performer FKA Twigs, revealed she had faced abuse and non-consensual sexual conduct from him. She brought a lawsuit against the actor, alleging that he had acted similarly with another ex, Karolyn Pho. By this point, his reputation was far beyond repair.

Russell Brand

This entertainment industry veteran had more ups and downs in his career than a rollercoaster ride. From his time as a progressive comedian to acting, and now spreading conspiracy theories and anti-woke rhetoric on YouTube, Russell Brand has been all over the place. However, the fact that he has lasted this long in the spotlight is a shocker. Since 2006, Brand has been accused of sexual assault by multiple women. It was only in 2025 that he was sued at Londons High Court of Justice for his misconduct, and simultaneously in New York, for sexual assault on the set of Arthur. He has denied these allegations and has many supporters, but has undeniably fallen out of favor with the general public.

Stephen Collins

As Eric Camden in 7th Heaven, this actor was one of the most beloved TV dads of all time. So, when it was revealed that he was not only a sexual offender but had been indecent toward minors, it marked a point of no return. He admitted to his wrongdoings and called himself a, quote, flawed person, as if to excuse his behavior. Now, he is said to be living with a woman forty years his junior, as revealed on Investigation Discoverys Hollywood Demons. Needless to say, his acting career is behind him.

Lena Dunham

The Girls creator has been canceled more times than we can count. In her book Not That Kind of Girl, she wrongfully implicated an innocent man in a sexual assault she said she faced. In the same book, she recalled acting inappropriately toward her sibling, likening herself to a sexual predator. There were also racism allegations against her, amplified by her false remarks about Odell Beckham Jr.s disinterest in her at the 2016 Met Gala. She once said she wished she could have experienced a pregnancy termination, just to relate to women who have. The worst case was her supporting Murray Miller, who was accused of sexual assault by Aurora Perrineau. Lena always ends up apologizing, but hasnt really managed to earn forgiveness.

Jussie Smollett

The success this actor achieved through his role as Jamal Lyon in Empire was overshadowed by a messy scandal. In 2019, Jussie Smollett filed a police report, claiming he had been subject to a race and sexuality-based hate crime. However, upon further investigation, it turned out that he had allegedly staged the attack because he wasnt happy with his pay on Empire. Chicago police also alleged that a racist letter he received was actually self-written. Smollett insisted that the attack was not a fabrication despite being found guilty of lying to authorities. In 2024, the judgment was rescinded, and he returned to the entertainment world, writing and directing films. However, with how he was perceived to have manipulated public opinion, he was hardly welcomed back.

Zachary Levi

After making his name as the lead on the show Chuck, Levi hit the big time as the title character in 2019s Shazam!. During an uncertain future of DC films, it was a smash hit. But then came the sequel, 2023s Shazam! Fury of the Gods, which wasnt well received. That same year, Levi began his decline by promoting his anti-vaccine beliefs. Throw in Levi claiming that the film industry is making garbage, criticizing the actors' strike, and endorsing controversial political candidates, and his stock fell significantly. Somehow, it got worse when he claimed She Loves Me co-star Gavin Creels death from cancer was from the COVID-19 vaccine.

Steven Seagal

In the early 90s, Seagal was one of the biggest action stars around, thanks in part to 1992s Under Siege and its sequel Dark Territory. However, after several scandals, including allegations of employment discrimination, harassment, and a tendency to lie, he began to mostly do direct-to-video films. In 2017, several former co-stars and actors who auditioned to be in his films came forward with allegations of harassment and assault, which Seagal denied. Due to California's statute of limitations, they couldnt be investigated. In recent years, Seagal has drawn further ire for his ties to Vladimir Putin, who awarded him Russias Order of Friendship in 2023.

Fatty Arbuckle

In his prime, Roscoe Fatty Arbuckle was as big a silent comedy film star as Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. In 1921, a year after signing a $1 million deal with Paramount, Arbuckles legacy was forever ruined. During a party, actor Virginia Rappe allegedly experienced some form of trauma in Arbuckles hotel suite. A few days later, she passed away. Arbuckle was accused of assaulting Rappe, leading to her demise. As such, he was arrested and tried for murder. After two mistrials, Arbuckle was acquitted and unusually received an apology letter from the jury. Regardless, no one wanted to hire him or show his films. Arbuckle had to use a pseudonym to get work. After a brief comeback in 1933, he passed away.

Ashton Kutcher & Mila Kunis

After finding their acting feet on That '70s Show, Kutcher and Kunis carved out successful careers in Hollywood. They later became one of the industrys biggest power couples. Their shared enterprises include the nonprofit Thorn, which specializes in defending children from abuse. However, in 2023, during the trial of their former colleague and friend, Danny Masterson, the couple were found to have sent a letter to the judge pleading for leniency for his sentence. The backlash only grew upon Kutcher and Kunis releasing an apology video, which many felt was insincere, especially when they stated the letter wasnt supposed to be public. The further controversy from the video forced Kutcher to resign from Thorn.

Felicity Huffman

In 2019, the Varsity Blues scandal broke. The FBI found that several families had paid an organization to bribe or commit fraud by inflating exam results to get students into various US colleges. One of those involved in the scheme was the Emmy-winning Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman. After pleading guilty, she was sentenced to 14 days in jail and a year of supervised release; fined $30,000; and ordered to complete 250 hours of community service. Since then, Huffman has had bit parts in TV shows. Another famous performer involved in the scandal was Full House star Lori Loughlin. After pleading guilty to the charges, Loughlin was sentenced to two months in jail, while husband Mossimo Giannulli got five months.

Mel Gibson

On top of starring in cult franchises like Lethal Weapon and Mad Max, Gibson was the Oscar-winning director of 1995s Braveheart. As such, he was once one of the most in-demand and celebrated performers around. Then, 2006 happened. While being arrested for a DUI, Gibson was recorded going on an anti-Semitic rant. Hollywood wanted nothing to do with him for years. Just as Gibson began working again, in 2010, a threatening, racially-charged voicemail to former partner Oksana Grigorieva was made public. He later pleaded no contest to a battery charge against Grigorieva and got 36 months of probation. Both of these events got him blacklisted from major Hollywood roles.

Will Smith

From rapper to TV star, Smith soon rose to the ranks of Hollywoods most bankable stars with roles in Ali, I, Robot, and many more. At the 2022 Oscars, he was nominated for his work in King Richard. While Smith won his first-ever Oscar, what he did earlier in the event vastly overshadowed this triumph. After presenter Chris Rock made a joke about Smiths wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, the actor went on stage and slapped Rock in the face. Then, sitting back down, Smith yelled threats at Rock. While he apologized and resigned from the Academy, the group banned him from all events for 10 years.

Ellen DeGeneres

After making her name as a standup comic and transitioning into acting, DeGeneres found her true calling as a talk show host with The Ellen DeGeneres Show. For nearly two decades, her show was one of the premier places for celebrities to promote themselves and their work. However, in 2020, former workers on the program came out with allegations about the toxic experience they had on DeGeneress show. The accusations included racist microaggressions, executives harassing female employees, and firing staff for taking medical or bereavement leave. The controversy was so bad that DeGeneres apologized for it on her show. A few months later, it was confirmed that The Ellen DeGeneres Show would end in 2022.

Charlie Sheen

It seemed like Sheen would be the next breakout star in Hollywood after his work in 1986s Platoon and 1987s Wall Street. However, a string of controversies stopped that. By 2003, Sheen was cast in Two and a Half Men, turning him into TVs highest-ever paid actor. However, in 2011, the wheels of his career came off very publicly. After struggling with substance issues and criticizing the show's co-creator Chuck Lorre multiple times, Sheen was fired from Two and a Half Men. The actor then conducted a series of unsettling interviews where he claimed he had tiger blood. Beyond getting his own series in Anger Management, his reputation was further tarnished with accusations of assault against Corey Haim and against Sheen's exes.

Allison Mack

If you were to ask Smallville fans their favorite character, many would've selected Clark Kents BFF Chloe Sullivan. Actress Allison Mack continued to appear in various productions after Smallville ended in 2011. However, in 2018, she was arrested. Twelve years prior, she joined the cult NXIVM, rising up through the ranks of what was publicly a multi-level marketing company. Privately, it indoctrinated and extorted people into being slaves for its founder, Keith Raniere, and other masters. In 2019, Mack pleaded guilty to a series of charges and helped the authorities gather evidence against Raniere. She was ultimately sentenced to three years in jail and was released in 2023.

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 wasnt 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 wifes 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 2022s 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. Hes 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, its 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 2023s 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. Spaceys response didnt help when he claimed he didnt 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 Spaceys 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 isnt 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 shows 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, its less so after what his actor did came to light. In 2017, several women filed sexual assault charges against the actor, who denied the accusations. 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 Americas 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, Cosbys conviction was overturned after it was discovered that his due process rights had been violated. Regardless, this hasnt repaired Cosby's image, especially as hes faced civil cases for assault since.

Do you think any of these actors deserve a second chance? Tell us in the comments down below!