Top 10 Worst Celebrity Role Models

Some celebrities are shining examples to young people everywhere; these next few however, not so much. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Celebrities Who Are Bad Influences on Kids.

For this list, we’re counting down those people in the public eye who have controversial track records and off-putting personalities, and who typically engage in what the general public considers to be bad or objectionable behavior. Essentially, these are the people you wouldn’t want your kids looking up to or becoming.

With facial tattoos and golden grills, this hip-hop icon definitely has a unique look. The diamond-toothed rapper is someone parents have tried to keep their kids from listening to, as his lyrics are often incredibly explicit and sexual in nature. He is also known for frequently promoting both drug use and gangster culture in his songs. Plus, he seems completely unaware, or at least indifferent, about his controversial choice of song lyrics and the effect they might have on kids, as evidenced by an interview he did with Nightline.

He was once considered the greatest golfer in the world and a shining example to all kids, but a string of bad decisions caused this man's fall from grace. Being arrested for driving under the influence and multiple accusations of cheating would bring anyone down, but these allegations are especially damaging when you’re a star athlete. Woods lost everything- his sponsorships, his dominance over the game of golf, his family, and his status as an impeccable role model.

Danielle Bregoli was a troubled teen when she guested on Dr. Phil in 2016, for a segment called “I Want to Give Up My Car-Stealing, Knife-Wielding, Twerking 13-Year-Old Daughter Who Tried to Frame Me for a Crime.” With one confrontational catchphrase, she became a meme. That meme somehow translated to a record deal. And now, the Cash Me Ousside girl – otherwise known as Bhad Bhabie – has been rewarded with a rap career – a record-breaking rap career, actually, as she was the youngest female rap artist to debut on the Billboard Hot 100. Some say her popularity is due to her “refreshing honesty;” others just think she’s a baaaad influence.

The mid 2000s were littered with once prolific celebrities cracking under the pressure, and this Mean Girl is no exception. From 2007 onward, this allegedly cocaine addicted star not only jeopardized her career, but also tarnished her once squeaky-clean image, chalking up a long list of arrests and rehab visits. After violating parole, frequently “exposing herself” to paparazzi and racking up more than $500,000 in bail costs, this ex-Disney celeb has proven once again that if kids are going to pick a role model, they should probably steer clear of child stars.

Sweet, innocent and adorable are words that USED TO describe this young pop star, but these days he’s anything but according to critics. The Canadian singer went from being an inoffensive 14 year old to a young man known by many of his haters as an irresponsible adult who allegedly spits on his fans and makes insensitive comments about Anne Frank. Not to mention he has an attitude and a criminal record for driving under the influence. We can only hope this good boy gone bad can eventually return to his old ways. Well, at least he said sorry.

While his music persona is that of a soft-hearted pretty boy, the things he is accused of suggest the opposite. Widely known as a questionable example for young men around the world, Chris Brown frequently gets into fights and has had many legal issues, but one of the worst off these allegations is his assault of his former girlfriend, Rihanna. Holding him up as a role model may teach boys that it’s okay to be violent towards others. Yet despite all this, the Grammys still had him back to perform a couple of years after the incident. Is it any wonder some celebrities have some choice words to say about him?

She’s confrontational, her raps are incredibly sexual, and she has one of the most controversial derrieres in show business. With lyrics that raise the eyebrows of many parents, Minaj is a supposed unsavory influence on young women, with a multitude of people believing she is teaching them that it’s okay to be promiscuous, antagonistic, and to enhance your body using plastic surgery. In a world where the idea of embracing your own personal beauty is becoming the norm, Minaj’s lessons seem shallow and distressing in comparison. And what’s up with that English accent?

There’s no doubt that this model, app creator and reality TV star has a huge influence on the girls of today and women of tomorrow, but some viewers might not see her as the greatest role model. Kardashian is deemed by many as the epitome of someone who is “famous for being famous”, a trait that seems to run in the family. Parents of the many young girls watching her show probably hope their daughters know better than to act overly dramatic for attention. However, Kim’s not really setting the best example. And the sex tape didn’t really help either…

What do you get when you combine a love of the spotlight, a huge amount of self-confidence and, in Jake’s case, tons of ex-Disney star money? Two terrible role models, apparently. Many people consider Jake Paul and his older brother Logan to be disruptive YouTubers with many young, impressionable fans. Between the two of them, these ex-Vine stars have a long laundry list of purported objectionable behavior that includes being casually racist, emotionally abusing an ex girlfriend, bullying, revealing the addresses of other celebrities online, harassing neighbors, laughing at suicide victims and tasering dead rats. It seems with these guys it really is everyday, bro.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- The Jackass Crew
- Bella Thorne

He was Time’s 2016 Person of the Year, but if his critics are to be believed, it’s for all the wrong reasons. From controversial views on Mexicans and Muslims to his remarks about his treatment of women to accusations that he’s anti-LGBTQ+, the businessman turned POTUS is viewed by many to be an unsavory role model for the kids of America. The office of the President is one of the most influential positions on the planet, but hopefully kids understand that they don’t always have to agree with or act like the leader of the free world.