Top 10 Unexpected Feuds by Nice Celebs

The late Matthew Perry, known for his lovable portrayal of Chandler Bing on “Friends,” raised quite a few eyebrows when he shaded fellow actor Keanu Reeves in his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.” Perry wrote, “Why is it that the original thinkers like River Phoenix and Heath Ledger die, but Keanu Reeves still walks among us?” The offhand remark was unexpected, particularly given Reeves’ reputation as one of Hollywood’s most down-to-earth celebrities. Fans of the "John Wick" actor, who is seldom tied to industry controversies, quickly rallied to his defense online. Perry later apologized, explaining that he had used Reeves’ name at random and meant no harm.

We can safely say that no one expected the suave star of “Mad Men” to stir up so much drama with a Kardashian! In a 2012 interview with Elle UK, Hamm lamented the rise of celebrity culture, ultimately saying, whether it’s Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian, stupidity is celebrated. Kim K, never one to shy away from defending herself, took to social media to clap back, calling the remarks “careless.” Hamm’s comments were interpreted as elitist by some, while others found them justifiable. Despite the brief feud, both parties seemed to move on without further drama - though it’s unlikely they’ll be exchanging holiday cards anytime soon.

Martha Stewart and Gwyneth Paltrow might seem like kindred spirits given their mutual status as lifestyle gurus with successful brands. But, that’s exactly what sparked their unexpected feud. The drama began in 2013 when Stewart made some pointed comments about Paltrow and her lifestyle brand, Goop. You see, Stewart questioned Paltrow’s authenticity and suggested she was imitating her, even implying that Paltrow wouldn’t have pursued the venture if she were more confident in her acting career. Paltrow fired back, calling Stewart’s perception of her as competition a flattering compliment. The feud escalated from there, with both ladies taking subtle digs at each other – including naming their recipes with shady undertones. Yeesh.

To say Doja Cat and Noah Schnapp’s feud was one of the most unexpected pop culture moments of 2022 would be an understatement. It all started when Doja Cat privately messaged the young “Stranger Things” actor asking if his co-star, Joseph Quinn, was single. Schnapp shared the private messages in a TikTok video, sparking backlash. Many found Doja’s messages innocent and relatable and criticized Schnapp for exposing their private conversation. Doja even called Noah’s actions exploitative. Schnapp, for his part, handled the situation maturely, later apologizing privately to Doja, seemingly smoothing over a messy situation between the two likable stars.

Talk about an awkward misunderstanding! During a chance meeting at a restaurant, Rosie O’Donnell assumed actress and producer Priyanka Chopra was the daughter of author Deepak Chopra and mentioned it in conversation. While Priyanka corrected her, O’Donnell later recounted the encounter in a social media video, calling the situation "embarrassing." Priyanka responded with a firm statement, explaining that assuming someone’s identity based on their last name is not only inaccurate but dismissive of their individuality. And while O’Donnell later apologized for the faux pas, it doesn’t make their brief back-and-forth any less nasty.

Politics can bring out the worst in even the nicest celebrities. Debra Messing and Susan Sarandon’s heated clash began during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Sarandon, a Bernie Sanders supporter, suggested she might vote for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton because she believed Trump’s presidency could inspire a political revolution. Messing, a Hillary Clinton supporter, took to Twitter to criticize Sarandon, calling her comments “insane” and ultimately labeling her irresponsible. More social media disagreements and personal attacks over differing political views followed in the years that followed. To this day, there’s no indication that they’ve buried the hatchet.

It’s said that celebrities don’t get any nicer than Brendan Fraser. And, that’s what makes the actor’s feud with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (or HFPA) so heartbreaking. In 2018, Fraser alleged that he had been sexually assaulted by Philip Berk, a former president of the HFPA, at a 2003 industry luncheon. Fraser’s accusations, coupled with his claim that the incident led to him being blacklisted in Hollywood for years, shocked fans who had long admired the affable actor’s work. The feud not only damaged the reputation of the HFPA and the annual show it hosts, “The Golden Globe Awards,” but also underscored the challenges faced by individuals who hold influential organizations accountable.

Ellen DeGeneres, once considered the epitome of daytime TV niceness, surprised everyone when her seemingly lighthearted banter with actress Dakota Johnson took an uncomfortable turn on her now-defunct talk show. During a 2019 interview on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” Ellen jokingly chastised Dakota for not inviting her to her birthday party. However, Dakota's immediate and firm response to the contrary caught the audience off guard. The actress explained that Ellen had been invited, but she hadn't attended, sparking visible awkwardness. This seemingly minor moment became a defining cultural moment – especially when viewed alongside the years-later accusations about Ellen's alleged problematic behavior behind the scenes.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Ryan Reynolds are both beloved for their charming personas and larger than life personalities. And with both possessing some easy-going humor, it would be reasonable to believe the two would make good industry friends. Unfortunately, that was not the case on the set of Netflix’s 2021 film “Red Notice.” Allegedly, the feud stemmed from Reynolds not being pleased with The Rock’s tardiness. According to details from outlets like The Wrap and TMZ, Reynolds confronted Johnson after he arrived late to set multiple times - as much as eight hours on some occasions. It’s said that the two acting professionals have since resolved their issues, however.

If there were a Mount Rushmore of nice celebrities, Henry Winkler and Tom Hanks would surely be on it. So, when news broke of their behind-the-scenes feud, it was admittedly hard to believe. The tension reportedly began in 1989 on the set of “Turner & Hooch,” where Winkler was hired as director but was fired just 13 days in - allegedly due to creative differences with Hanks. While details remain scarce, Winkler once joked in an interview with People, “I got along better with Hooch than with Turner.” Whether it was a clash of creative visions or egos, this feud remains a truly surprising Hollywood rift.
Which celebrity would you be shocked to see take part in a nasty public spat? Share your thoughts in the comments below.