Top 10 Famous People That Ruined Their Career With One Photo
#10: Kate Moss
British supermodel Kate Moss built her career appearing in prestigious fashion campaigns and iconic magazine covers. However, in 2005, Moss made news for all the wrong reasons when the Daily Mirror ran front-page pictures of her engaging in drug use, alongside a damning headline. This publication ignited a major controversy, resulting in Moss being dropped by major fashion brands, including Chanel, Burberry and H&M, with whom she held an estimated £4 million annual contract. She was even investigated by the London Met police, although all charges were eventually dismissed. The damage to her career may have been extensive, but Moss managed to weather the storm, bouncing back to the forefront of the industry in a matter of months.
#9: Chris Lee
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While the damning picture in this case may pale in comparison to the others on the list, it nonetheless marked the end of this politician’s career. In February 2011, a few months after winning reelection in a landslide, New York congressman Chris Lee got ensnared in a scandal when it was revealed that he had solicited a woman on Craigslist. Despite being married, Lee had sent the woman a shirtless photograph of himself flexing his muscles and falsely portrayed himself as a divorced lobbyist. This picture, as well as the messages the two exchanged, eventually got leaked to the website Gawker. Within hours of their release, Lee issued a public apology and resigned his congressional seat.
#8: Bow Wow
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If you ever needed a reminder not to trust everything on social media, this would be it. In May 2017, Bow Wow shared a picture that appeared to capture a typical day in the life of a celebrity. The post showed a luxury car parked beside a private jet on an airport tarmac, suggesting he was about to embark on a lavish trip. Initially, no one thought much of it, until hours later, when another picture emerged showing the rapper seated in economy class on a commercial flight. Eagle-eyed fans quickly traced the original picture to the website of a VIP transport company. The gaffe sparked widespread ridicule on social media, and portrayed Bob Wow as a very dishonest individual.
#7: Ed Miliband
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Throughout history, several politicians have ruined their careers for a variety of shocking reasons – corruption scandals, sex scandals, bigotry. However, for British politician Ed Miliband, his downfall came from a simple act many of us engage in daily: eating a sandwich. Back in 2014, while campaigning for local elections, Miliband, then Labour Party leader, was photographed eating a bacon sandwich. Granted, almost anyone would look awkward if caught mid-bite, but Miliband’s depiction was particularly cringe-worthy and quickly invited widespread ridicule. As the 2015 general election approached, the image resurfaced on the front page of the tabloid The Sun, effectively overshadowing any substantive policies with mockery. Needless to say, Miliband lost the election and resigned as the Labour Party leader shortly after.
#6: Gary Hart
Rarely ever has a promising presidential bid crashed and burned as quickly as Gary Hart’s. Hart was the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988, but his campaign was plagued by rumors of extramarital affairs. He vehemently denied these allegations, even challenging the media to follow him around and prove them. Well, they did, in fact, accept his challenge. The press linked Hart to Donna Rice, a young woman seen spending the night at his house. Even worse, they unearthed a damning picture of Rice sitting on Hart’s lap, with him wearing a shirt referencing a yacht they had partied on, aptly named Monkey Business. It didn’t take long for Hart to suspend his campaign and drop out of the race.
#5: Michael Dukakis
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Following Gary Hart’s withdrawal from the 1988 primaries, Democrats ultimately chose Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis as their nominee. Despite running an impressive primary campaign, Dukakis’ abysmal bid for the White House was met with a resounding defeat. This was due to various shortcomings, notably the now infamous tank photo. Having been portrayed by Republicans as weak on crime and defense issues, Dukakis sought to bolster his tough image by posing in a military tank. However, this backfired spectacularly as the photograph, depicting Dukakis in an oversized helmet with his name splashed across, was exploited by his opponent and widely ridiculed. Today, even Dukakis himself concedes that the tank photo was a huge misstep.
#4: Vanessa Williams
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In September 1983, Vanessa Williams made history as the first African-American to win the Miss America title. She fulfilled her duties gracefully until, just before the end of her reign, it was revealed that explicit images of her would be published in Penthouse magazine. The pictures were taken in 1982 when she worked as an assistant for a photographer, who led her to believe they had been destroyed. Even before their publication, the Miss America Organization pressured Williams to resign, subsequently awarding the title to the first runner-up. Williams faced severe ridicule in the media and, for a while, it seemed her career was over. Nevertheless, she managed to rebound, establishing a successful career as a versatile entertainer.
#3: Al Franken
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He first gained recognition as a comedy writer and cast member on “Saturday Night Live,” but it appears sometimes, Al Franken’s jokes might cross certain boundaries. While serving in the U.S. Senate in 2017, Franken faced accusations of sexual misconduct from radio broadcaster Leeann Tweeden. These allegations gained further traction when a compromising photograph emerged, showing Franken with his hands positioned above Tweeden’s breasts. According to the Senator, this was intended as a joke, but it was apparently an inappropriate one. While the accusations were still being investigated by the Senate Ethics Committee, several Democratic senators called for Franken’s resignation. He ultimately succumbed to pressure and stepped down from the Senate, a decision he now regrets.
#2: Anthony Weiner
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Some people just never learn from their mistakes. Anthony Weiner represented New York's 9th congressional district and was viewed by some as a rising political star. However, in 2011, Weiner dug himself into a hole and never found his way out. The congressman used his public Twitter account to share a link to a suggestive picture of himself, but initially denied responsibility. Faced with insurmountable evidence, he confessed and resigned from office. Yet, this wasn’t the end of Weiner’s troubles. He resurfaced to run for New York City mayor in 2013, but encountered another setback due to yet another sexting scandal. In 2017, he was implicated in a third scandal, ultimately receiving a 21-month prison sentence for engaging in explicit communication with a minor.
#1: Kathy Griffin
Donald Trump has divided public opinion ever since he first announced his presidential candidacy in June 2015. But nearly everyone came together in condemnation of this horrifying stunt. In May 2017, months after Trump’s inauguration, comedian Kathy Griffin posted a graphic image online, in which she held a bloody mask that closely resembled the then-President. The backlash was immediate. Criticism filtered in from both sides of the political divide. As a result, Griffin took the picture down and apologized. But the damage was already done. She lost multiple business deals, was fired by CNN, and had to cancel her upcoming tour dates. Griffin eventually retracted her apology and reposted the controversial photo on the day after the 2020 presidential election. What other career-ending photographs exist out there? Bring them to our attention in the comments below.