Top 10 Times Actors Lashed Out

Do not under any circumstances cross Tom Cruise on a film set. During the production of a “Mission: Impossible” sequel, members of the crew were caught disobeying strict COVID-19 protocols. This prompted the star and producer to openly scold everyone in a famous rant. Someone managed to snag a secret recording of the speech, complete with all kinds of expletives and stern warnings. Cruise was angry that people were potentially compromising the film during an uncertain time for the industry. You could argue that he was justifiably mad considering that the entire production and everyone’s jobs were potentially on the line.

During his initial fame in the 1980s, Christian Slater started to have run-ins with the law. The star was involved in a DUI in the latter half of the decade. In the 1990s, he got into a violent altercation while under the influence. A night out in 1997 turned brutal as Slater attacked multiple people including his then-girlfriend and the cop attempting to break things up. After taking multiple substances, he hit his partner in one of the darkest episodes of his personal life. He served time for the offense and also spent time in drug treatment. While his reputation in Hollywood took a hit following these events, the performer later bounced back with projects like “Mr. Robot.”

Alec Baldwin’s high-profile marriage with Kim Basinger ended in divorce, with the two parents battling over custody of their daughter Ireland. Baldwin’s case was made infinitely harder after a voicemail leaked to the press. Addressing his child, the actor criticizes her for not answering her phone. The larger rant is a really aggressive message to send to an eleven-year-old. Weakening his relationship with Ireland, the performer eventually offered an apology for his behavior. His run-ins with the paparazzi have further revealed his short temper in a number of other incidents. While he’s been caught up in a much larger predicament since, the call was once the most controversial event in this man’s life.

Jack Nicholson maintains a reputation as being one of the coolest guys in Hollywood. Despite his suave persona, he’s also capable of partaking in a little road rage. When another car allegedly cut him off in LA traffic, he decided to take out a golf club in retaliation. Nicholson smashed the other driver's ride in the resulting confrontation. Thankfully for everyone involved, the golfing equipment only struck the car in this story. The incident was ultimately settled out of court. With then-recent events putting him on edge, the performer acknowledged that he wasn’t in the right mind when he pulled out his 2-iron.

This Oscar winner made a name for himself as a serious actor, but also garnered a reputation for his testy personality. This includes a violent episode where he attacked a film extra on the set of “Colors.” It happened after the person took unsolicited pictures of him, leading to a 60-day jail sentence for the star. This unfortunately wasn’t the first or last time he confronted someone with a camera. In his personal life, Penn also had a tumultuous relationship with Madonna that included alleged abuse. One apparent episode included tying her up in one particularly harrowing moment. She didn't end up pressing charges, but rumors continued to fly long afterward about his supposed rage.

Known to be an extremely dedicated actor, Christian Bale had a difficult time on a certain sci-fi sequel. His work in “Terminator Salvation” is mostly remembered for one particular outburst during the production. The cinematographer Shane Hurlbut distracted Bale during a shot, leading the artist to retaliate with a verbal onslaught. His extended speech was released before the film’s release and arguably had more of an impact than the movie itself. Delivering his words with gravitas, the furious performer packs an auditory punch and offers up a few unintentional catchphrases. The star later apologized for his behavior and mentioned having patched up his working relationship with Hurlbut.

Since his days on Disney Channel, Shia LaBeouf has lived a sometimes-destructive life. He receives rave reviews for dramatic projects and also has frequent encounters with the law. The actor has been arrested for disorderly conduct and public intoxication, notably for interrupting a production of “Cabaret.” Some of his prominent legal problems stem from his issues with addiction. He’s also been accused of assault and other crimes by the artist FKA Twigs. While this case has yet to go to trial, the actor admitted to having regrets about his past behavior. His long-term career remains uncertain in lieu of these violent allegations.

Throughout 2022, Ezra Miller kept making news for a string of bizarre and shocking stories. The “Justice League” actor was arrested at a Hawaii bar for disorderly conduct and harassment. This came after an altercation with other patrons, but it was just the tip of the iceberg. A restraining order was later filed against Miller for an incident where they allegedly stormed into someone’s bedroom to threaten them. Other unrelated events include everything from a second-degree assault allegation to grooming accusations. The performer was also given a burglary charge during their time in Vermont. All of this and more occurred during one year, with the star eventually seeking treatment for their mental health.

In just one performance, your life as a comic can completely change for better or worse. Michael Richards performed at the Laugh Factory one night and his career was forever tainted by the appearance. The “Seinfeld” star turned what could have been normal crowd work into a racially-insensitive confrontation. Yelling at members in the audience, Richards started spouting hateful words in a heated exchange. The comedy set put the actor’s future in jeopardy after video footage made it to media outlets. Receiving condemnation from everywhere, the regretful comedian still hasn’t completely recovered from the initial fallout.

As an actor and filmmaker, Mel Gibson is no stranger to controversy on screen and off. “The Passion of the Christ” director has been admonished several times for his insensitive language. During a DUI stop, the star gave an anti-Semitic response to a police officer. This happened before phone calls were released with ugly things said to his partner Oksana Grigorieva. Containing threats and epithets, these recordings were widely condemned by organizations such as the NAACP. The resulting onslaught of media attention did no favors for his career. Despite the fierce criticism, Gibson is back to acting and directing for the foreseeable future.