10 Controversial STAR v. STAR Trials That Stunned the World
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VOICE OVER: Phoebe de Jeu
From heated defamation suits to bitter custody battles, Hollywood's biggest names have taken their disputes to court. Join us as we examine the most dramatic legal showdowns between celebrities, featuring explosive testimonies, multimillion-dollar lawsuits, and career-changing verdicts. Our countdown includes the infamous Depp-Heard trial, Kesha's battle against Dr. Luke, Taylor Swift's symbolic victory, the Kardashians versus Blac Chyna, and many more headline-grabbing cases that captured public attention and changed the entertainment industry landscape.
10 Most Controversial Star v. Star Court Cases
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’ll be looking at the most infamous instances of celebrities who dragged each other to court to settle their disputes.
Nicolas Cage v. Kathleen Turner
The 1986 film “Peggy Sue Got Married” starred Kathleen Turner as a woman on the brink of divorcing her husband, played by Nicolas Cage. While the film was a critical and commercial hit, the working relationship between the two actors was anything but smooth. In her 2008 memoir, Turner claimed that Cage was difficult to work with, alleging that he stole a chihuahua during filming and was arrested twice for drunk driving. Cage denied these accusations and took legal action in London’s High Court, suing Turner and her publishers for defamation, libel and slander. The court ultimately ruled in his favor, ordering Turner to issue a public apology and forcing the book’s publishers to correct the record in subsequent editions.
Radiohead v. Lana Del Rey
In 2018, Lana Del Rey found herself in a copyright dispute over “Get Free,” the closing track from her fifth album “Lust for Life.” Alternative rock band Radiohead apparently claimed that the song closely resembled their 1992 debut single “Creep.” Del Rey revealed on Twitter that Radiohead’s team had taken her to court, demanding full ownership of the song’s publishing rights after rejecting her offer of 40%. However, the band’s label denied both the lawsuit and the claim for 100% ownership. The situation was particularly ironic, as Radiohead had faced a lawsuit in the 1990s over similarities between “Creep” and the 1972 song “The Air That I Breathe.” Eventually, the dispute was resolved out of court, although the songwriting credits for “Get Free” remain unchanged.
Sofia Vergara v. Nick Loeb
Hollywood actors Sofia Vergara and Nick Loeb began dating in 2010 and got engaged two years later. In 2013, while trying to have a child through surrogacy, they underwent in vitro fertilization and had two embryos frozen in a California clinic. After their breakup in 2014, Loeb sought to implant the embryos, but Vergara objected, citing their previous agreement that neither could use them without mutual consent. Loeb sued for custody in California, but later dropped that case and refiled in a court in Louisiana, arguing that the embryos had a right to life. He even named them Emma and Isabella as plaintiffs. However, the case was dismissed by the Louisiana court for lack of jurisdiction, as the embryos were conceived in California.
Blac Chyna v. the Kardashians
Blac Chyna’s reality TV career took off in 2016 when she began dating Rob Kardashian. This led to appearances in “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” and her own spin-off, “Rob & Chyna.” However, their relationship ended after about a year and soon after, “Rob & Chyna” was canceled, despite initially being renewed for a second season. In 2017, Blac Chyna filed a $100 million lawsuit against the Kardashians, accusing them of sabotaging her career by falsely portraying her as violent to network executives and getting her show canceled. The case was further complicated by the fact that Rob Kardashian posted explicit pictures of her after their breakup, which led to a separate lawsuit. After a two-week trial, however, the jury ruled in favor of the Kardashians.
David Mueller v. Taylor Swift
At a 2013 pre-show meet-and-greet in Denver, Colorado, Taylor Swift met with fans and employees of radio station KYGO-FM. According to Swift, while posing for a picture with DJ David Mueller, he reached under her skirt and groped her. After she reported the incident, Mueller was fired from KYGO-FM. In 2015, he sued Swift for defamation, claiming her accusation was false and had ended his career. Swift countersued for sexual assault and battery, seeking only $1 in damages to emphasize that her lawsuit was about standing up for victims rather than financial gain. The week-long trial took place in 2017, shortly before the MeToo movement gained momentum, and included testimony from Swift herself. Ultimately, the jury sided with Swift, awarding her the symbolic $1.
Ashley Judd & Rose McGowan v. Harvey Weinstein
Speaking of the MeToo movement, the bombshell October 2017 article that exposed producer Harvey Weinstein included allegations from actresses Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan. Both women claimed Weinstein sexually harassed and assaulted them, then used his influence to sabotage their careers. In 2018, Judd filed a lawsuit for defamation and sexual harassment, alleging that Weinstein had blacklisted her in Hollywood, ultimately costing her a role in the “Lord of the Rings” franchise. The harassment lawsuit was however dismissed the following year. McGowan, on the other hand, sued Weinstein, his lawyers and a private intelligence firm, accusing them of running a conspiracy to silence and discredit her. This lawsuit was also dismissed after she failed to file the required documents.
Brad Pitt v. Angelina Jolie
Once one of Hollywood’s most beloved power couples, things turned sour between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie after Jolie filed for divorce in September 2016. The two had jointly owned Château Miraval, a winery in France where they got married in 2014, but after their divorce, Jolie sold her share of the business. This led Pitt to sue her for allegedly breaking their agreement to seek each other’s approval before selling. The lawsuit came amid an already contentious custody battle. In response, Jolie countersued, accusing Pitt of domestic violence, including a 2016 plane incident that reportedly led to her decision to file for divorce. In November 2024, a judge denied Jolie’s motion to dismiss Pitt’s suit, allowing the case to proceed to trial.
Blake Lively v. Justin Baldoni
The case between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni had already been dissected in the court of public opinion long before a trial date was set. Lively had filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing Baldoni, her director and co-star, of sexually harassing her during production of 2024’s “It Ends with Us.” After the New York Times reported that Baldoni had orchestrated a smear campaign against her in retaliation, he sued the newspaper for $250 million. This prompted Lively to escalate her complaint to a federal lawsuit which, in turn, led Baldoni to countersue her and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for $400 million. As tensions continue to rise, both parties will have to wait until March 2026 to face each other in court.
Kesha v. Dr. Luke
The music world was rocked in 2014 when singer Kesha sued her longtime producer Dr. Luke for sexual assault, battery and emotional distress. She alleged that he had drugged and assaulted her early on, and subjected her to years of psychological manipulation. As part of the lawsuit, she sought to be released from her contract with his label, Kemosabe Records. However, Dr. Luke denied the allegations and countersued for defamation and breach of agreement, claiming Kesha had fabricated the accusations to escape her contractual obligations. The case sparked intense debate about the treatment of women in the music industry and the power dynamics between producers and young artists. After nearly a decade in the courts, the two eventually reached a confidential settlement in 2023.
Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s marriage officially ended in 2017 without much fanfare. The following year, Heard released an op-ed in which she described herself as a survivor of domestic violence. Although she didn’t mention Depp by name, he sued her for defamation, asserting that Heard actually was the violent one in the marriage. Heard then countersued Depp, setting off one of the most high-profile legal battles in modern history. As the trial was livestreamed, it drew large audiences and led to widespread discussions on social media, with many siding with Depp and viewing Heard as manipulative. In the end, the jury ruled largely in favor of Depp, awarding him $10 million in compensatory damages, while Heard received $2 million for part of her counterclaim.
Which of these legal battles did you follow in real time? Let us know in the comments below.
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’ll be looking at the most infamous instances of celebrities who dragged each other to court to settle their disputes.
Nicolas Cage v. Kathleen Turner
The 1986 film “Peggy Sue Got Married” starred Kathleen Turner as a woman on the brink of divorcing her husband, played by Nicolas Cage. While the film was a critical and commercial hit, the working relationship between the two actors was anything but smooth. In her 2008 memoir, Turner claimed that Cage was difficult to work with, alleging that he stole a chihuahua during filming and was arrested twice for drunk driving. Cage denied these accusations and took legal action in London’s High Court, suing Turner and her publishers for defamation, libel and slander. The court ultimately ruled in his favor, ordering Turner to issue a public apology and forcing the book’s publishers to correct the record in subsequent editions.
Radiohead v. Lana Del Rey
In 2018, Lana Del Rey found herself in a copyright dispute over “Get Free,” the closing track from her fifth album “Lust for Life.” Alternative rock band Radiohead apparently claimed that the song closely resembled their 1992 debut single “Creep.” Del Rey revealed on Twitter that Radiohead’s team had taken her to court, demanding full ownership of the song’s publishing rights after rejecting her offer of 40%. However, the band’s label denied both the lawsuit and the claim for 100% ownership. The situation was particularly ironic, as Radiohead had faced a lawsuit in the 1990s over similarities between “Creep” and the 1972 song “The Air That I Breathe.” Eventually, the dispute was resolved out of court, although the songwriting credits for “Get Free” remain unchanged.
Sofia Vergara v. Nick Loeb
Hollywood actors Sofia Vergara and Nick Loeb began dating in 2010 and got engaged two years later. In 2013, while trying to have a child through surrogacy, they underwent in vitro fertilization and had two embryos frozen in a California clinic. After their breakup in 2014, Loeb sought to implant the embryos, but Vergara objected, citing their previous agreement that neither could use them without mutual consent. Loeb sued for custody in California, but later dropped that case and refiled in a court in Louisiana, arguing that the embryos had a right to life. He even named them Emma and Isabella as plaintiffs. However, the case was dismissed by the Louisiana court for lack of jurisdiction, as the embryos were conceived in California.
Blac Chyna v. the Kardashians
Blac Chyna’s reality TV career took off in 2016 when she began dating Rob Kardashian. This led to appearances in “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” and her own spin-off, “Rob & Chyna.” However, their relationship ended after about a year and soon after, “Rob & Chyna” was canceled, despite initially being renewed for a second season. In 2017, Blac Chyna filed a $100 million lawsuit against the Kardashians, accusing them of sabotaging her career by falsely portraying her as violent to network executives and getting her show canceled. The case was further complicated by the fact that Rob Kardashian posted explicit pictures of her after their breakup, which led to a separate lawsuit. After a two-week trial, however, the jury ruled in favor of the Kardashians.
David Mueller v. Taylor Swift
At a 2013 pre-show meet-and-greet in Denver, Colorado, Taylor Swift met with fans and employees of radio station KYGO-FM. According to Swift, while posing for a picture with DJ David Mueller, he reached under her skirt and groped her. After she reported the incident, Mueller was fired from KYGO-FM. In 2015, he sued Swift for defamation, claiming her accusation was false and had ended his career. Swift countersued for sexual assault and battery, seeking only $1 in damages to emphasize that her lawsuit was about standing up for victims rather than financial gain. The week-long trial took place in 2017, shortly before the MeToo movement gained momentum, and included testimony from Swift herself. Ultimately, the jury sided with Swift, awarding her the symbolic $1.
Ashley Judd & Rose McGowan v. Harvey Weinstein
Speaking of the MeToo movement, the bombshell October 2017 article that exposed producer Harvey Weinstein included allegations from actresses Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan. Both women claimed Weinstein sexually harassed and assaulted them, then used his influence to sabotage their careers. In 2018, Judd filed a lawsuit for defamation and sexual harassment, alleging that Weinstein had blacklisted her in Hollywood, ultimately costing her a role in the “Lord of the Rings” franchise. The harassment lawsuit was however dismissed the following year. McGowan, on the other hand, sued Weinstein, his lawyers and a private intelligence firm, accusing them of running a conspiracy to silence and discredit her. This lawsuit was also dismissed after she failed to file the required documents.
Brad Pitt v. Angelina Jolie
Once one of Hollywood’s most beloved power couples, things turned sour between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie after Jolie filed for divorce in September 2016. The two had jointly owned Château Miraval, a winery in France where they got married in 2014, but after their divorce, Jolie sold her share of the business. This led Pitt to sue her for allegedly breaking their agreement to seek each other’s approval before selling. The lawsuit came amid an already contentious custody battle. In response, Jolie countersued, accusing Pitt of domestic violence, including a 2016 plane incident that reportedly led to her decision to file for divorce. In November 2024, a judge denied Jolie’s motion to dismiss Pitt’s suit, allowing the case to proceed to trial.
Blake Lively v. Justin Baldoni
The case between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni had already been dissected in the court of public opinion long before a trial date was set. Lively had filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing Baldoni, her director and co-star, of sexually harassing her during production of 2024’s “It Ends with Us.” After the New York Times reported that Baldoni had orchestrated a smear campaign against her in retaliation, he sued the newspaper for $250 million. This prompted Lively to escalate her complaint to a federal lawsuit which, in turn, led Baldoni to countersue her and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for $400 million. As tensions continue to rise, both parties will have to wait until March 2026 to face each other in court.
Kesha v. Dr. Luke
The music world was rocked in 2014 when singer Kesha sued her longtime producer Dr. Luke for sexual assault, battery and emotional distress. She alleged that he had drugged and assaulted her early on, and subjected her to years of psychological manipulation. As part of the lawsuit, she sought to be released from her contract with his label, Kemosabe Records. However, Dr. Luke denied the allegations and countersued for defamation and breach of agreement, claiming Kesha had fabricated the accusations to escape her contractual obligations. The case sparked intense debate about the treatment of women in the music industry and the power dynamics between producers and young artists. After nearly a decade in the courts, the two eventually reached a confidential settlement in 2023.
Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s marriage officially ended in 2017 without much fanfare. The following year, Heard released an op-ed in which she described herself as a survivor of domestic violence. Although she didn’t mention Depp by name, he sued her for defamation, asserting that Heard actually was the violent one in the marriage. Heard then countersued Depp, setting off one of the most high-profile legal battles in modern history. As the trial was livestreamed, it drew large audiences and led to widespread discussions on social media, with many siding with Depp and viewing Heard as manipulative. In the end, the jury ruled largely in favor of Depp, awarding him $10 million in compensatory damages, while Heard received $2 million for part of her counterclaim.
Which of these legal battles did you follow in real time? Let us know in the comments below.
