Top 10 Celebrities Who Called Out Famous People in Their Memoirs

In the 1980s, TV actor John Stamos had a whirlwind romance with actress and model Teri Copley. However, according to Stamos’ 2023 memoir “If You Would Have Told Me,” things took a heartbreaking turn when he allegedly caught Copley cheating on him. In his book, Stamos recounts going to Copley’s house to discuss their struggling relationship, only to find her in bed with “Who’s the Boss?” actor Tony Danza. He describes seeing “four feet protruding from the shabby chic, floral print duvet that once kept me warm,” labeling it his “worst nightmare”. This revelation was shocking, not only to readers, but to Copley herself, who contends that she and Stamos had already ended their relationship before Danza entered the picture.

For 10 years, Clinton Kelly and Stacy London worked together as co-hosts on TLC’s makeover show “What Not to Wear”. Although it concluded in 2013, many assumed their long-running TV camaraderie continued well after the show. But in January 2017, Kelly’s memoir “I Hate Everyone, Except You” surprised readers with hints of behind-the-scenes tension between the co-hosts. Kelly revealed that when it came to London, he “adored her or despised her and never anything in between”. Months after the book was released, London blocked Kelly on Twitter. However, the two were eventually able to hash out their differences, bringing an end to their decade-long feud. In 2023, they reunited on the “Today” show, where they addressed their complicated relationship.

In 1983, Barbra Streisand ventured into directing with the musical drama “Yentl,” about a girl who dresses up as a man to pursue a religious education. The film also starred Mandy Patinkin who, it appears, seemed interested in a more personal relationship with Streisand off-screen. In her 2023 memoir “My Name is Barbra,” Streisand claims that Patinkin, who was already married at the time, propositioned her for an affair. She, however, rejected his advances and threatened to fire him if his unprofessional behavior continued. Streisand recounts this weird dynamic with Patinkin driving her to scrap a planned sex scene between their characters. She explains that she couldn’t fathom being intimate with him as she was “not that good an actress”.

Jessica Simpson’s 2020 memoir “Open Book” addressed various aspects of her personal life, including contending with substance use disorder and body image issues. The book provides a detailed exploration of past relationships, most notably her on-again, off-again romance with singer-songwriter John Mayer. Simpson disclosed that Mayer was “obsessed” with her and would dump her, only to come crawling back afterwards. This rollercoaster affair reportedly worsened her anxiety, leading her to seek solace in alcohol. She also addressed his 2010 comments, where he infamously referred to Simpson as “sexual napalm,” calling it the final straw in their relationship. Additionally, Simpson had some choice words for ex-husband Nick Lachey who, she contends, moved on rather quickly after their split.

The 2007 sports comedy “Blades of Glory” was a major success, grossing nearly $150 million worldwide. However, it soon faced controversy regarding the origin of its plot. In her 2018 memoir “This Will Only Hurt a Little,” actress Busy Philipps revealed that she had conceived the initial idea and collaborated on the screenplay with her then-boyfriend Craig Cox and his brother Jeff. Despite her significant contribution, the Cox brothers downplayed her role, claiming that they had written the script all on their own. They also reportedly dismissed her request for proper credit, labeling her as crazy. Although she eventually received a story credit, in her memoir, Philipps highlighted the danger of such incidents, and how they historically served to erase women and their contributions.

Hollywood actors Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher began dating in 2003 and got married two years later when she was 42 and he was 27. They remained together for six years before deciding to separate in 2011, amid speculation of infidelity. Those speculations were seemingly confirmed by Moore in her 2019 memoir “Inside Out”. In the book, Moore shared details about participating in threesomes with Kutcher, a fantasy of his that left her feeling ashamed. She also revealed that Kutcher had cheated on her in their own home while she was away, and reportedly encouraged her to break her 20-year sobriety streak. All of these caused irreparable cracks in their marriage and led to its eventual dissolution in 2013.

American model Emily Ratajkowski gained widespread recognition after appearing in the music video for the 2013 hit single “Blurred Lines”. The song initially generated controversy for its problematic lyrics and for its unrated video, which featured Ratajkowski and two other models in varying degrees of nudity. Ratajkowski reflected on her experience shooting the clip in her 2021 essay collection “My Body”. She alleged that while on set, singer Robin Thicke had groped her without her consent. These allegations were later confirmed by director Diane Martel, who had reportedly called off the shoot until Thicke apologized for his inappropriate behavior. Ratajkowski used the incident to shed light on the challenges women face in asserting their autonomy, particularly within the entertainment industry.

In her 2016 memoir “Sorry Not Sorry: Dreams, Mistakes, and Growing Up,” the late actress Naya Rivera candidly discussed her relationship with ex-fiancé Big Sean. Notably, she hinted that the rapper had initiated his romance with a popular singer while still engaged to her. Rivera recounted an incident in which she went over to Big Sean’s house, let herself in, and stumbled upon the famous lady, whose name apparently rhymes with Smariana Schmande. Of course, following their breakup, Big Sean would go on to date a totally unrelated artist named Ariana Grande. The memoir also addressed Rivera’s apparent feud with her “Glee” co-star Lea Michele, and laid the foundation for the infamous conspiracy theory about her reading abilities (xref).

Things, it appears, aren’t very courteous in Buckingham Palace. Prince Harry decided to get (maybe a bit too) honest in his best-selling 2023 memoir “Spare”. The British royal revealed several explosive claims in the book, including some about his older brother, Prince William. Harry claims that it was William, alongside his future wife Kate, who encouraged him to wear a Nazi uniform to a costume party in 2005, which sparked significant controversy. Additionally, the memoir recounts a 2019 incident where William confronted Harry about his marriage to Meghan Markle and allegedly referred to her as “difficult,” “rude” and “abrasive”. The confrontation soon turned physical, as William reportedly knocked Harry to the floor, injuring him in the process.

There were quite a few startling revelations about Justin Timberlake in Britney Spears’ 2023 memoir “The Woman in Me”. The two pop stars, who started dating in 1999, experienced a highly publicized breakup in 2002, amid allegations of Spears’ infidelity. In the book, Spears acknowledged her affair with dancer Wade Robson, but alleged that Timberlake also cheated on her. In addition, she claimed that he pressured her into having an abortion when she got pregnant, and ultimately ended their relationship via text message. By Spears’ own account, Timberlake attempted to integrate with black artists but ended up trying too hard. She described an uncomfortable encounter with R&B singer Ginuwine where Timberlake adopted a blaccent and used words that have now become infamous.

What other celebrity memoirs have spilled the tea on their fellow stars? Let us know in the comments below.