Top 20 Greatest Celebrity Downfalls of All Time
#20: Kanye West
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Over the years, hip-hop mogul Kanye West has been the subject of multiple scandals. But in 2022, his controversial opinions reached a boiling point. West first attracted criticism in October when he made an appearance at the Paris Fashion Week, wearing a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt. Just a few days later, the rapper took to Twitter to make anti-Semitic remarks after he was locked out of his Instagram account. The tweet was met with a swift backlash and he was dropped by multiple brands, such as Adidas, Gap and Balenciaga, that he had worked with for years. As a result, West also lost his billionaire status, and it’s safe to say that things will never remain the same for the once-celebrated rapper.
#19: Milli Vanilli
Originating from Munich, Milli Vanilli saw unprecedented fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Their debut album, which was released in the U.S. as “Girl You Know It’s True,” topped the charts for seven weeks and won them the Grammy for Best New Artist. However, less than a year later, everyone came to realize that things weren’t so true after all. After months of media speculation, it was revealed that the vocals on their album were provided by other singers, while the duo only lip-synced during their live performances. The consequences were monumental. Milli Vanilli was forced to return their Grammy to the Academy, and they were completely erased by their label, Arista Records.
#18: Shia LaBeouf
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Shia LaBeouf first gained prominence on the Disney Channel series “Even Stevens,” before moving on to more mature roles in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Throughout his career, the actor has faced several legal issues, having been arrested on multiple occasions for charges including disorderly conduct, public intoxication and battery. In 2013, he was accused of plagiarizing a comic strip in his short film “Howard Cantour.com.” In response, he released a series of bizarre apologies that were literal copies of other public apologies. LaBeouf, who was once a fixture in Hollywood blockbusters, has seen a steady decline in his bankability and has since struggled to get his career back on track. Shia LaBeouf is not famous anymore? We don’t entirely disagree.
#17: Jared Fogle
As a spokesperson for Subway restaurants, Jared Fogle rose from relative obscurity to becoming a household name in the early 2000s. Fogle appeared in a series of commercials for the company, where he claimed that Subway sandwiches played a part in his rapid weight loss. This partnership proved successful for both parties, as Fogle amassed a net worth of $15 million and Subway sales saw a significant uptick. However, Fogle soon lost his beloved status when he was arrested in 2015 following a lengthy FBI investigation. According to reports, he had engaged in improper relationships with minors and had distributed explicit material that involved children. Fogle was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison, after pleading guilty to multiple criminal charges.
#16: Jerry Lee Lewis
At his peak, Jerry Lee Lewis had a career that arguably rivaled that of Elvis Presley. Regarded as a pioneer of rock ‘n’ roll, Lewis’ wild lifestyle, energetic performances and signature piano style earned him favor around the world. But that favor quickly vanished when it was revealed that he had gotten married to Myra Gale Brown, his 13-year-old cousin once removed. Lewis was in England for his first European tour when the details came to light, resulting in many of his performances being canceled. Back in America, the scandal also had a significant impact, with his appearance fee plummeting from $10,000 to $250 per night. Although he kept playing till his death in 2022, Lewis never shook off the label “cradle robber.”
#15: Tonya Harding
The 2017 film “I, Tonya” starred Margot Robbie as the once celebrated figure skater who falls from grace following a scandal. While the movie is darkly comedic, the real-life story is a lot more serious. In the early ‘90s, Tonya Harding was on a steady rise in the figure skating world, becoming the first American woman to ever execute a triple Axel. Her rivalry with fellow sportswoman Nancy Kerrigan came to a head in 1994 when Kerrigan was whacked in the knee by an assailant. After the incident was traced back to her ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, Harding was implicated for failing to report it to the authorities. Consequently, she received a lifetime ban from the U.S. Figure Skating Association.
#14: Matt Lauer
For twenty years, Matt Lauer was a co-host of NBC’s popular “Today” morning show. During that period, Lauer became a very familiar face, interviewing several high-ranking political figures and covering multiple Olympic Games. In the wake of #MeToo movement, a female coworker brought forward accusations of misconduct against Lauer, resulting in his termination by NBC in November 2017. Over the next few days, more allegations trickled in, with journalist Ronan Farrow claiming that NBC was fully aware of his behavior, but opted to do nothing about it. Lauer released a statement following his termination, in which he apologized and claimed to be embarrassed by the accusations. Since then, he has remained largely absent from the spotlight.
#13: Mel Gibson
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This Hollywood actor, director and producer certainly is no stranger to controversy. Although he enjoyed great success in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Mel Gibson became mired in a string of controversies as the 2000s rolled around. His polarizing 2004 film “The Passion of the Christ” received widespread criticism from the Jewish community who deemed it to be anti-Semitic. Gibson’s relationship with the community, as well as his overall image, was further marred in 2006 after he uttered anti-Semitic remarks at an officer who was arresting him for drunk driving. The incidents caused Gibson to be effectively blacklisted from Hollywood for about a decade. In 2016, Gibson directed the critically acclaimed war film “Hacksaw Ridge,” which many regarded as his comeback.
#12: Chris Brown
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Back in the late 2000s, pop stars Chris Brown and Rihanna were one of music’s most beloved power couples. That made it all the more shocking when, in 2009, the two got into an argument on their way back from a pre-Grammys party that quickly turned physical. This altercation made it into the public space when a picture of Rihanna’s battered face was leaked by TMZ. The “Diamonds” singer was hospitalized as a result and unable to perform at that year’s Grammys ceremony. Brown faced felony charges for the assault and eventually took a guilty plea. He was sentenced to five years probation, community service and mandated to receive domestic violence counseling.
#11: Woody Allen
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One of the most prolific filmmakers of his generation, Woody Allen has earned numerous awards over the course of his decades-long career. But while he has had an undeniable influence in Hollywood, his reputation has been marred by a string of controversies in his personal life. Allen first faced allegations of assault in 1992 by his own adoptive daughter Dylan Farrow, which he vehemently denied. Following an investigation by the Connecticut state prosecutor, he was spared of criminal charges. The famed writer-director raised several eyebrows that same year, when he began a relationship with his ex-wife’s adopted daughter, eventually marrying her in 1997. The scandal received renewed interest in 2014 after Allen was given the Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement.
#10: Paula Deen
Before her controversial actions came to light, Paula Deen enjoyed great success as a celebrity chef and TV personality. The Southern lady built a cooking empire that comprised a chain of restaurants and multiple television shows. That empire crumbled in 2013, when it was revealed that Deen had admitted to using racial slurs in the past. As a result, she was dropped by her longtime home The Food Network, and had multiple other business partnerships terminated. Deen then addressed the scandal on “The Today Show” but her apology fell flat on its face and did little to convince the public of her remorse. She has since attempted a return to the spotlight, but to many, Deen still remains too hard to swallow.
#9: Oscar Pistorius
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Oscar Pistorius became world famous in 2012 when he became the first double-amputee to compete at the Summer Olympics. The South African athlete, who lost both of his legs as a child due to a congenital defect, soon became known as “the fastest man on no legs.” But less than a year after setting a record at the Olympics, Pistorius was arrested for fatally shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his home. Although he claimed to have mistaken her for an intruder, Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide and initially sentenced to five years in prison. This verdict was later overturned and replaced with a murder conviction, which eventually increased his prison sentence to 15 years.
#8: Roseanne Barr
Beginning in the late ‘80s, Roseanne Barr was one of TV’s most beloved actresses with her starring role in her eponymous ABC sitcom. The show earned Barr an Emmy and made her, at one time, second only to Oprah Winfrey among the highest-paid female entertainers. The show’s successful tenth-season revival brought Barr renewed acclaim, but that all came crashing down with a single tweet. After using racially insensitive terms to describe former President Obama’s senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, Barr was fired by ABC and the show was canceled. Soon after, it was brought back as a spinoff series titled “The Conners,” which featured the same cast as its parent show, except Barr.
#7: Kevin Spacey
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The #MeToo wave in Hollywood brought down multiple high-profile individuals in 2017, including Kevin Spacey. The Oscar winner first made headlines after actor Anthony Rapp came forward with allegations that he had assaulted him back in 1986. Spacey responded with a public statement, in which he claimed to not remember the incident but apologized for it nonetheless. He then bizarrely used the opportunity to come out as gay, a move that was decried by many as an attempt to deflect from the allegations. Amid a host of other accusations, Spacey was fired from “House of Cards” and his contract with Netflix was terminated. He was also erased from the then-upcoming film “All the Money in the World” and replaced with Christopher Plummer.
#6: Lance Armstrong
In his ascent to the pinnacle of his field, road racing cyclist Lance Armstrong faced and overcame remarkable challenges in his personal life. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1996, but made a full recovery and went on to win seven consecutive Tour de France titles. Armstrong brought international attention to cycling but soon became a symbol of disgrace for the sport. After denying doping allegations for years, in 2012, Armstrong was found guilty by the United States Anti-Doping Agency of using enhancement drugs, and helping others do the same. He was stripped of all his titles and permanently banned from participating in any sport under the World Anti-Doping Code.
#5: R. Kelly
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Throughout the ‘90s and early 2000s, R. Kelly was one of the most accomplished acts in R&B music, selling millions of records around the world. But no matter how hard he believed, the singer couldn’t fly above all the misconduct allegations that trailed his career. In 1994, Kelly illegally married singer Aaliyah, who was 15 years old at the time. He faced criminal charges in 2002 after a video surfaced that allegedly showed him engaging in obscene acts with a minor. However, he was eventually acquitted of all charges. Kelly’s doom finally came in 2019 following the release of the Lifetime docuseries “Surviving R. Kelly.” He was convicted of multiple criminal charges and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment.
#4: Bill Cosby
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After first gaining prominence as a stand-up comic in the ‘60s, Bill Cosby developed his image as “America’s Dad” on his well-received sitcom “The Cosby Show.” Behind the scenes, however, his career was plagued by assault allegations spanning decades. Then, in an ironic twist of fate, Cosby met his downfall through a 2014 stand-up routine, in which comedian Hannibal Buress referenced the long-standing accusations against him. More women came forward subsequently, with claims that the actor had drugged and assaulted them. In 2018, Cosby was convicted of aggravated indecent assault and sentenced to three to ten years in prison. Although, he was released just three years later after his guilty verdict was overturned due to prosecutorial misconduct.
#3: Phil Spector
Known for developing the “Wall of Sound,” Spector was a highly influential music producer who crafted hits for acts such as the Beatles, Ike & Tina Turner and the Ronettes. As the ‘80s rolled around, Spector largely disappeared from the spotlight, only to resurface in 2003 for all the wrong reasons. The famous producer was arrested for the murder of actress and model Lana Clarkson. Although he claimed that Clarkson had accidentally shot herself, prosecutors thought otherwise and tried him twice for her murder. The first case ended in a mistrial, but the second brought forth a guilty verdict and he was sentenced to nineteen years to life. Spector died in 2021, possibly from complications due to COVID-19.
#2: Harvey Weinstein
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The #MeToo movement has helped draw significant attention to the problem of harassment, particularly in the workplace, and it was this scandal that started it all. In October 2017, prolific Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was accused of harassment and assault by numerous women working in the film industry. The claims were first broken by “The New York Times” with more allegations reported by “The New Yorker” in the following days. Weinstein was completely blacklisted in the aftermath, being expelled from his own production studio and the Motion Picture Academy. He was later brought up on multiple criminal charges related to the assaults and received a 23-year prison sentence in March 2020.
#1: O.J. Simpson
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O. J. Simpson rose to fame as an NFL star, playing for the Buffalo Bills and later, the San Francisco 49ers. He retired in 1979 and forayed into movies and sports broadcasting. His success continued to grow until 1994 when he was arrested for the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. The highly sensationalized trial, which took place over eleven months, ended in Simpson being acquitted of the crimes. However, he was found liable for their deaths in a subsequent civil trial. In a final blow to his image, Simpson was convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping, and was sent to prison, where he remained till he was released in 2017.
