10 Celebs Who RUINED Their Career with One Joke

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Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at times high profile individuals severely damaged their star status with just one joke.

#10: Kyle Gass

One-half of the comedy rock duo Tenacious D, Kyle Gass found himself in plenty of hot water following a joke he made about Donald Trump. While celebrities taking aim at Trump is nothing out of the ordinary, the joke in question pertained to the assassination attempt on the divisive political figure. Performing at the ICC Sydney Theatre on the very day a bullet grazed Trump’s ear at a campaign rally, Gass quipped “don’t miss Trump next time” in response to his birthday wish. Many condemned the line as both inappropriate and dangerous, with Jack Black noting that he was blindsided by his bandmate’s remark – immediately canceling their tour in the process.

#9: Giuliana Rancic

“Fashion Police” host Giuliana Rancic made headlines for all the wrong reasons during E!’s coverage of the 2015 Oscars red carpet. Upon seeing actress Zendaya sporting dreadlocks, Rancic joked that she looked like she smelled of “patchouli oil or weed.” The comment was quickly denounced as racist and culturally insensitive, prompting a surge of online criticism – including those in the industry. For her part, Rancic apologized for the remark, but the damage was done. Her reputation took a severe hit, and her role at E! was significantly diminished.

#8: Charles Rocket

Charles Rocket was infamously hired for “Saturday Night Live” during the 1980-1981 season as a replacement for OG cast members Bill Murray and Chevy Chase. Talk about big shoes to fill! Unfortunately, things never panned out for Rocket, this thanks to a single one-liner in the final moments of an episode. In a parody of “Dallas’” Who Shot J.R.?, Rocket ad-libbed the forbidden four-letter F-word. While it got shocked laughs from the audience, the profanity (and behind the scenes dissatisfaction with his performance) ultimately led to his outing. While Rocket’s starring days were over, he was still able to land steady work in the years following.

#7: Dani Mathers

As a Playboy Playmate, Dani Mathers once symbolized sensual beauty. That all changed following a poor social media joke, as she quickly took on the symbol of a cruel bully. Mathers’ woes began when she posted a photo on Snapchat of a nude elderly woman in a gym shower area. It was accompanied with the caption, “If I can’t unsee this, then you can’t either.” The post was widely condemned for its body-shaming, not to mention violation of privacy. In fact, the model was later charged with invasion of privacy, resulting in community service and probation. Unsurprisingly, the scandal effectively ended Mathers’ modeling career.

#6: Dina Hashem

New York City comedian Dina Hashem found herself at the center of controversy after making a joke about the death of rapper XXXTentacion. Occuring during a Comedy Central set, Hasham mused about how his death could have been “a commercial for Venmo,” this because he was on his way to buy a car with $50,000 in cash and somebody shot him, taking the money. The bit not only angered XXXTentacion’s fans, but also the rapper’s family. The incident led to a widespread call for boycotts and even death threats. The clip was pulled by Comedy Central and, despite apologizing, Hashem faced significant professional setbacks.

#5: Shane Gillis

In 2019, Shane Gillis got the news so many comedians dream of – he was going to be a cast member on “Saturday Night Live.” Unfortunately, the excitement was short-lived. Soon after the public announcement, clips resurfaced of Gillis making racist and homophobic jokes on the online show, “Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast.” The criticism was swift, with Gillis being fired from the gig days later. While the controversy overshadowed his talents and derailed his mainstream career at the time, Gillis has since found some success. Ironically, this included a hosting stint on “SNL.” The appearance was well received, making it unfortunate that he blew his chance at being a weekly fixture on the sketch comedy series.

#4: Gilbert Gottfried

Gilbert Gottfried, known for his distinctive voice, was no stranger to edgy humor – this despite having significant roles in family-friendly films and TV series. And while many of Gottfried’s jokes have been accused of crossing the line, it was his quip about the 2011 Japanese tsunami on Twitter that caused the most backlash. The widely condemned jokes were seen as overly insensitive. So much so that they cost him his long-standing role as the voice of the “Aflac duck.” The high-profile axing was a heavy blow against Gottfried’s reputation, but he continued to perform in the years following - using the incident to bolster his status as a controversial comedian.

#3: Kathy Griffin

The joke that sparked the most outrage against actress and comedian Kathy Griffin was not one that she spoke, but rather one that she posed for. Yep, in a controversial 2017 photoshoot, the comic held a prop resembling the severed head of then-President Donald Trump. Many at the time failed to see the humor in the image and it was quickly deemed violent and inappropriate. As a result, Griffin lost numerous gigs, faced an investigation by the Secret Service, and endured a significant public and professional fallout. Griffin’s rise back to her previous status has been cumbersome and is still ongoing.

#2: Michael Richards

It was the year 2006 and Michael Richards was still basking in the public adoration for his role as Kramer on “Seinfeld.” However, that all changed in the blink of an eye during a standup routine at The Laugh Factory. Following some heckles from the audience, Richards went on a racist tirade, making offensive jokes and insults that incorporated a heavy use of racial slurs. The incident, which was caught on camera, quickly went viral – shocking the public. Richards apologized but struggled to rebuild his career. During a 2024 media tour for his memoir, “Entrances and Exits,” the actor further opened up about the incident, noting that he “canceled himself.”

#1: Roseanne Barr

Just when Roseanne Barr's career was enjoying a renaissance in 2018, it quickly came to a screeching halt. The outspoken comedian had taken to social media and tweeted a joke that was widely viewed as racist. It was aimed at Valerie Jarrett, the former advisor to President Obama. In the post, Barr compared Jarrett to an ape. With that, ABC swiftly canceled the reboot of her hit TV show “Roseanne,” and Barr faced widespread condemnation from fans, colleagues, and the public. While the incident marked a dramatic fall from grace, Barr has since pushed back and found some semblance of a comeback amongst Conservative audiences.

Which of these ill-conceived jokes from celebrities shocked you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments below.