10 Nicest Celebs Who Ruined Their Reputations

Top-10-Nicest-Celebs-Who-Ruined-Their-Reputations

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for times famous faces with kind auras tarnished their reputations with a shocking scandal.

#10: Chris Pratt

Going from loveable Andy Dwyer in “Parks and Recreation” to quirky and ripped Star-Lord in “Guardians of the Galaxy,” Pratt could seemingly do no wrong as his stock in Hollywood rose. But then, he became the “Worst Chris.” In 2019, Pratt was reportedly attending Zoe Church, an organization linked to the Hillsong Church, which has been accused of promoting anti-LGBTQIA+ messages. While Pratt denied his church was homophobic, this didn’t stop calls to recast him in the MCU. Another issue was divorcing Anna Faris and marrying Katherine Schwarzenegger. In 2021, Pratt posted an Instagram message praising Schwarzenegger for providing them with a healthy daughter. Some people took this as a thinly veiled shot at Faris since their son had health problems.

#9: Lori Loughlin

In 2019, the Varsity Blues scandal came to light, which showed parents paying for their children to get inflated exam results and bribing officials to get into top colleges. One of those involved was “Full House” and “Fuller House” star Loughlin. She allegedly spent around $500,000 to get her two daughters into the University of Southern California under the illusion they were prospective athletes. In 2020, Loughlin was sentenced to two months in jail, fined $150,000, and had to complete 100 hours of community service. Another major player in the college scandal was “Desperate Housewives” star Felicity Huffman. She was sentenced to 14 days imprisonment, fined $30,000, and had to finish 250 hours of community service.

#8: Phillip Schofield

In his presenting prime, Schofield was a beloved UK celebrity and often referred to as a "silver fox." He hosted some of the country’s most popular shows and regularly received awards. That drastically changed in 2023, as rumors of a falling out with close friend and “This Morning” co-host Holly Willoughby spread. Schofield then suddenly resigned from the program. Days later, he admitted to an affair with an ITV employee after lying to everyone. In 2020, Schofield came out as gay and announced he had separated from his wife. However, the affair had happened before the official split. On top of this, the employee first met Schofield when he was a teenager, bringing out accusations that something illegal may have happened, which Schofield denied.

#7: Paula Deen

Her tasty Southern cooking made Deen a favorite celebrity grandmother for many. However, in 2013, while being sued by the manager of one of her restaurants, the famous chef admitted in the deposition that she had uttered racial slurs several times over her life. Sponsors quickly began dropping from Deen’s shows, causing the Food Network to cancel “Paula's Home Cooking.” Dean then conducted a “Today” interview, denying she was racist. Not once in the segment did she apologize. To make it worse, in 2015, Dean posted on social media a photo of her and her son cosplaying “I Love Lucy,” with him wearing “brownface.” Dean has since returned to TV, but her popularity has diminished.

#6: Ashton Kutcher & Mila Kunis

In 2012, Kutcher co-founded Thorn, an NGO against human trafficking and exploitation of children. He regularly appeared for the group to promote their vital work. When Kunis and Kutcher got together, she also joined the board. With that history, it made their actions during Danny Masterson’s trial, their fellow “That ‘70s Show” star, even more perplexing. After he was convicted of assault, news broke in 2023 that the couple had sent a letter to the judge supporting Masterson. Kutcher and Kunis then released an apology video. However, that was criticized for being insincere, especially as they made the point they didn’t expect their letter to be released. This backlash forced the couple to resign from Thorn.

#5: Matt Lauer

After decades in the public eye, many people saw Matt Lauer as one of the most trustworthy and competent journalists on TV. However, that perception was seemingly not the case at all in reality. In 2017, the long-time “Today” host was fired after NBC investigated accusations of Lauer’s misconduct towards a colleague at the 2014 Winter Olympics. This announcement sparked more allegations that he had used his power to take advantage of co-workers over the years. In 2019, the various allegations caused Lauer’s wife, Annette Roque, to divorce him.

#4: Ellen DeGeneres

If you wanted light, fluffy, and funny incidents with celebrities, for nearly 20 years, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” was the place to go. Her jokes, kindness, and charisma made DeGeneres one of the most beloved talk show hosts on TV. Then, 2020 happened, which completely changed her image. Several production staff came forward about the toxic culture on the show. They claimed there were microaggressions and racist comments, as well as executives being allowed to harass staff. On top of some executives being fired for their roles, DeGeneres apologized during an episode. However, the scandal caused the ratings to plummet. In 2021, it was announced that “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” would finish in 2022.

#3: J.K. Rowling

For many, she was a vital part of their childhoods, thanks to the “Harry Potter” novels and their beloved film adaptations. Beyond that, Rowling also founded the charity Lumos, focusing on children in orphanages. But all that goodwill was thrown out the window when Rowling targeted the transgender community with inflammatory language and refused to use preferred pronouns. Several groups and people, including members of the “Harry Potter” cast, have condemned Rowling’s opinions. Even the controversial Elon Musk has criticized her fixation. Due to Rowling’s views destroying her once-acclaimed reputation, some fans of the magical world have hung up their wands and walked away from the fandom.

#2: Will Smith

From music to TV to the silver screen, Smith built his reputation as one of the best actors around by leading some of the biggest films. While his personal life and relationship with Jade Pinkett Smith were murky, it wasn’t enough to derail his career…until 2022’s “94th Academy Awards,” that is. After host Chris Rock referenced his wife, Smith yelled objections, then shocked Hollywood by slapping him on stage. While Smith apologized in his acceptance speech for Best Actor, the damage was done. After resigning from the Academy, he was banned from any of their events for 10 years, causing several of his productions to be halted. In 2024, reportedly the Will And Jada Smith Family Foundation was closing due to a drop in donations.

#1: Lance Armstrong

After battling cancer and becoming one of the most successful cyclists ever, Armstrong was hailed as one of the greatest athletes in history. He also created the Livestrong Foundation to support those with cancer, gaining a lot of success with their iconic yellow wristbands. Even allegations of doping over the years didn’t hinder Armstrong. But in 2012, the United States Anti-Doping Agency found evidence that he had used substances to boost his performance. Armstrong was banned from competitive sport and had his achievements since 1998 stripped, including his record-breaking Tour de France wins. While he initially denied it, in 2013, he broke those remaining supporters’ hearts by admitting to doping in an interview with Oprah Winfrey.


What other seemingly nice celebrity’s downfall hit you the most? Allison Mack? Lizzo? Michael Richards? Martha Stewart? Or someone else? Let us know below.