Hollywood is a dazzling facade, but behind the glitz lies a world where fortunes can change in an instant. Beloved stars can reveal surprising flaws, and a single misstep can lead to a devastating downfall. Here are ten of the most brutal falls from grace in Hollywood history.
10 Kathy Griffin: One Bad Joke
Once a celebrated comedian known for her sharp wit and outsider perspective, Kathy Griffin’s career took a nosedive in May 2017. She posted a controversial image of herself holding a mask resembling Donald Trump’s decapitated head. The public outcry was immediate and widespread.
Even Trump’s critics denounced the image, with some comparing it to terrorist behavior. Griffin was fired from her projects and her tour was canceled. Despite apologies and efforts to revive her career, she never fully recovered from the fallout.
9 Katherine Heigl: A God Complex
Katherine Heigl’s promising career was derailed by her own behavior. After rising to fame in the mid-2000s, she began to publicly criticize the projects that had made her successful. While promoting “Knocked Up,” she called the film “a little sexist,” sparking controversy.
Her diva-like behavior escalated when she withdrew her Emmy nomination for “Grey’s Anatomy,” deeming the material unworthy. This led to her exit from the show and a subsequent blacklisting in Hollywood. Attempts to revive her career have largely failed.
8 R. Kelly: Highway To Hell
R. Kelly redefined R&B in the 90s and early 2000s, achieving massive success and critical acclaim. However, accusations of human trafficking, sexual abuse, and racketeering haunted him for two decades. In 2019, he was indicted on 18 charges, including pedophilia and kidnapping.
The documentary “Surviving R. Kelly” detailed his offenses, revealing a sex cult where he allegedly detained and enslaved underage girls. Incarcerated since July 2019, he has been denied bail and remains in prison.
7 Louis CK: Too Close To The Sun
Louis C.K. was a beloved and successful comedian until the #MeToo movement caught up with him in 2017. He admitted to the sexual misconduct allegations, leading to the cancellation of his Netflix deal, his TV series “Louie,” and his film “I Love You, Daddy.”
He disappeared from the public eye, with comeback attempts receiving poor reception. While he released a self-produced special in 2020, his career never regained its former status.
6 JK Rowling: A Broken Legacy
J.K. Rowling, the author of “Harry Potter,” was once universally beloved. However, controversies arose from her retconning of the Harry Potter story and later, her public stance against the Trans community on Twitter in 2020.
Her comments caused widespread outrage, with many celebrities denouncing her words. The backlash was immense, and she became one of the most disliked personalities globally.
5 Roseanne Barr: Gone In A Blink
Roseanne Barr, whose sitcom “Roseanne” was a hit in the 90s, experienced a swift downfall. The revival of her show was initially successful, but on May 29, 2018, she posted a racist tweet about Barack Obama’s former advisor, Valerie Jarrett.
The tweet led to immediate backlash, and the revival was canceled within hours. Her apology, claiming she was on Ambien, was refuted by the drug’s manufacturer. Her legacy was tarnished overnight.
4 Ellen DeGeneres: A Crack In The Mask
Ellen DeGeneres, known for her brand of kindness, faced accusations of a toxic workplace in 2020. Buzzfeed released testimonies from current and former employees detailing bullying, racism, and sexual harassment. The claims shattered her public image.
Executive producers were fired, and her apology was criticized as insincere. Ratings for her show plummeted, marking a significant decline in her career.
3 Milli Vanilli: A Deal With The Devil
Milli Vanilli, a pop sensation in 1989, achieved immense success, including a Grammy Award. However, they were exposed as a hoax orchestrated by producer Frank Farian, who revealed they had been lip-synching to other vocalists.
The revelation led to lawsuits, the return of their Grammy, and public apologies. Milli Vanilli became a laughing stock, and the fallout contributed to the death of member Robert Pilatus, who died of an overdose after years of struggle.
2 Shane Dawson: The Fallen God of YouTube
Shane Dawson, an original YouTube creator, faced a career-ending controversy in June 2020. Accusations of blackmail, racism, and predatory behavior surfaced within the beauty guru community, implicating Dawson and Jeffree Star.
Tati Westbrook revealed that Dawson and Star had orchestrated much of the drama to monopolize the beauty product business. Dawson’s subsequent meltdown on Instagram, along with a detailed documentary exposing his past behavior, effectively ended his career.
1 Harvey Weinstein: The End Of An Empire
Harvey Weinstein’s downfall sparked the #MeToo movement. As a powerful movie producer, his decades-long abuse was an open secret, but fear kept victims silent. When 87 women came forward together, his fate was sealed.
Weinstein’s empire crumbled, and he was sentenced to 23 years in prison in February 2020. His downfall became a symbol that karma eventually catches up with everyone.
These stories serve as stark reminders of how quickly fortunes can change in Hollywood. What do you think about these dramatic falls from grace? Leave your comment below!
