24 Stars Who Were Famously Canceled

Thanks to social media, even the biggest celebrities can be downgraded from ‘A-list' to ‘canceled' in the blink of an eye. 

The phenomenon is so prevalent that Merriam-Webster dictionary has defined the act of cancellation: “to withdraw one's rsupport for (someone, such as a celebrity, or something, such as a company) publicly and especially on social media.” 

1. Will Smith

The 2022 Oscars was not only the 94th annual live show, it was known for “The Slap Heard ‘Round the World.” After a not-funny-at-all joke from Chris Rock toward Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, regarding her alopecia condition, Will took to the stage to not only yell at Rock but slap him straight across the face. 

Shortly after, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science banned Smith from all its events for ten years. He was an obvious no-show at the 95th show in 2023. 

2. Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss' whimsical rhymes, combined with his unique, colorful cast of characters, including The Cat in the Hat, have been on children's bookshelves since And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street was published in 1937. Seuss', aka Theodore Geisel's, 60 books have sold a whopping 700 million copies since publication, but in 2021, six were pulled from shelves for containing racist images. 

His estate called McElligot's Pool, The Cat's Quizzer, If I Ran the Zoo, On Beyond Zebra, Scrambled Eggs Super!, and … Mulberry Street “hurtful and wrong” in the way people are portrayed and ceased printing them. 

3. Ellen Degeneres

Starting September 8, 2003, The Ellen Degeneres Show brought love and light into our television sets. Part comedy, part lighthearted interviews, it was a breath of fresh air that our Y2K TV screens desperately needed. However, the last show, on May 26, 2023, after 19 seasons of variety, wasn't as happy as the first, thanks to the television and movie star's controversy. 

Due to an uptick of controversies, claims of workplace toxicity, and allegations that Degeneres was not the bubbly comedienne we thought she was, ratings plummeted two years before the show ended, and Ellen called it quits. 

4. Marilyn Manson

Brian Warner, aka Marilyn Manson, has faced controversy since the start of his career. Combining the names of Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson, the Canton, Ohio, born singer's style of uber-white makeup and unusual-colored contacts made him easily stand out.

What truly canceled Manson were the allegations of abuse and assault from women, several of them celebrities. Evan Rachel Wood accused Manson of both in May 2021, and 11 more made their claims known after. Accusing Wood of a conspiracy, Manson filed charges against the actress, and the trial is expected to go forward in May 2024.

5. Amber Heard

Actor Johnny Depp has no problem keeping us glued to our television screens thanks to massive movie hits, including Pirates of the Caribbean, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Cry-Baby. When he played a starring role in a massive court case featuring his ex-wife, Amber Heard, we were grabbing snacks in the kitchen during commercials and hanging on to his every word. 

The toxic relationship played out in court over six weeks from April to June 2022 in Fairfax, Virginia, and with both a lawsuit from Heard and a countersuit from Johnny, Depp came out on top. Soon afterward, Heard moved to Spain with her daughter, Oonagh, to escape the ridicule.

6. Bill Cosby

In the 1980s, Bill Cosby was the all-American dad on The Cosby Show, which gained recognition as the #1 sitcom on television from 1985-1990. Showcasing his colorful sweaters in flashy patterns, Cosby's cheeky grin was one we all looked forward to seeing. 

The smile left his face in 2014 when Judy Huth claimed Cosby assaulted her in 1975 at 16 years old. Since then, over 60 women have accused the actor of similar offenses. In 2021, after a three-year sentence, he was released from prison. 

7. Matt Lauer

Matt Lauer, co-host of NBC's morning program The Today Show, provided timely news segments and serious interviews. His global jaunts in “Where in the World Is Matt Lauer?” showcased his journalistic capabilities. His calming voice entertained and informed us from 1994 until 2017, when he was booted from the show. 

Why was he terminated? In 2014, during the Sochi Winter Olympics, Lauer was accused of inappropriate workplace behavior, and NBC let him go. Afterward, more women detailed their hurtful experiences with Matt, and while he still denies most of the accusations, he did admit some guilt in a released statement. 

8. Mel Gibson

In Lethal Weapon, Mel Gibson's character, Martin Riggs, was as funny as he was disturbed. Riddled with guilt and anger, he was Roger Murtaugh's partner and best buddy. 

Gibson, like Martin Riggs, has seen his share of controversy. 1991's outrage was sparked by homophobic comments and criticism from the LGBTQ+ community with a refusal to apologize. July 2006, though, was the derogatory icing on the proverbial cake when, during an arrest for alleged drunk driving, Gibson's antisemitic statements went viral. This time, he did apologize.

The final nail in the canceled coffin came when his ex-girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva, let us listen to taped conversations where Gibson called her everything but the mother of his child.  

9. Kevin Spacey

Kevin Spacey's acting skills are impressive, no doubt. Works of art, including Seven, starring Brad Pitt, made us wonder where he garnered his believable creepy persona. American Beauty‘s Lester Burnham gave us insight into the mundane world of suburbia. 

He was accused of assaulting women between the years 2001 and 2013, which came to light during the beginning of the #metoo movement in 2017. Denying all accusations, he was acquitted of all charges in 2022 and 2023. 

10. Chrissy Teigen

Before the age of social media, the only bullies to be had were the ones on school playgrounds. Online platforms have given rise to all sorts of cyberbullying, and celebrities are not immune to insults and harassment. Unfortunately, some famous people were perpetrators rather than victims. 

Chrissy Teigen, married to singer John Legend, was accused of cyberbullying and targeting women on Twitter beginning in 2011 when she allegedly wrote to Courtney Stodden, “Go.To.Sleep.Forever.” Next, it was a hit to Lindsay Lohan for sharing her story of self-harm. Compliments of her awful words, both Macy's and Target pulled her “Cravings” cookware line. 

11. Gina Carano

Gina Carano was known for starring in “A Galaxy Far, Far Away,” aka Star Wars. Acting in The Mandalorian series on Disney+ put her in front of 1.1 million unique viewers on the season two finale when reuniting the adorable Grogu with Mando. 

That viewership came to a halt when a Lucasfilm rep stated she wouldn't be coming back for season three compliments of racist remarks on social media, stating her “posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable.” The announcement made us turn off her personal channel faster than Han Solo made the Kessel run in under 12 parsecs. 

12. Terry Crews

For a while, Terry Crews could do no wrong, thanks to his performances on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. His upbeat personality and wicked dance moves helped him land a job as a host of America's Got Talent. 

It wasn't until 2020 that his stocks began to plummet due to a tweet written to shed light on his personal feelings during the height of #blacklivesmatter. The actor was torn apart via social media thanks to a clarification response on Bernice King's following tweet. Later that same year, his lack of compassion for Gabrielle Union's personal story about America's Got Talent put him back in the hot seat. 

13. Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder has been acting since 1986, when she took a supporting role in Lucas. When Beetlejuice hit the big screen in 1988, she became a household name for playing Lydia Deetz thanks to her snarky, witty lines. 

That affection quickly wore off in 2001 when, thanks to security footage, Ryder was caught stealing. At first, she claimed that she was doing research for an upcoming role. The $5,500 shoplifting accusation and being found guilty of grand theft and vandalism for taking designer clothes at a high-end store put her in hot water with both the press and the public. 

14. Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger came into the spotlight for his more-than-Adonis-like physique and bodybuilding skills. His acting career skyrocketed when he starred in The Terminator in 1984. If that wasn't enough to beef up his list of accolades, he became the Governor of California in 2003.

Our love of portmanteaus and the term “Gropegate” was all over the news when Arnold was accused by 25 women of his inappropriate behavior towards women from 1975 through 2000, only days before the election – and he still won. Schwarzenegger issued a public apology on ABC News, which the public felt was only half-hearted. 

15. Lori Loughlin

From 1988 through 1995, Lori Loughlin played the ever-charming Rebecca Donaldson Katsopolis on ABC's Full House. In 2020, Loughlin and her husband were caught in a college admission bribery scandal from 2019. The pair pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud and were sentenced to prison from October to December 2020. 

Called the Varsity Blues scandal, 33 parents of undergraduates paid upwards of $25 million to have their children's exam scores inflated and to bribe college officials, making it easier to be accepted into their choice of universities.

16. J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling found her way into our hearts and heads with her beloved character, Harry Potter. Created while at The Elephant House, a quaint café in Edinburgh, Scotland, and published beginning in 1997, the seven-book series put us through an emotional roller coaster, with the books' namesake not only growing up being the “Boy Who Lived” but also becoming the hero. 

As for Rowling, her downward spiral began in March 2018 when she (according to her) “accidentally” liked a homophobic tweet that called out trans women as “men in dresses.” Just over a year later, Rowling began following transphobe Magdalen Berns and, later that year, defended Maya Forstater, who made anti-trans statements. 

17. Kevin Hart

Thanks to his movie roles, which showcased his comedic timing and acting skills, Kevin Hart was asked to host the 2019 Academy Awards. Nearly ten years before, from 2009-2011, Hart made some homophobic comments via Twitter, particularly one written about breaking a dollhouse over his son's head if he saw him playing with it. 

The comments came back to haunt him when his hosting job was announced. Users retweeted his comments and showed that he'd never apologized for them, causing the Academy to give him an ultimatum: either apologize or don't host. Hart responded by passing on the apology. 

18. Kanye West

Kanye West, or Yeezy, is never out of the public eye. Known for his musical skills, he never keeps his words to himself. While he's been canceled several times (think Taylor Swift), his severe lack of judgment during a fashion show stands out.

In 2023, for Paris Fashion Week, the owner and designer of Yeezy decided to wear a “White Lives Matter” shirt covered with black models, a phrase used by white supremacist groups. With no apology, West ranted on social media, featuring antisemitic talk and hate speech. He was not only canceled by fans and celebrities, but major companies, including Balenciaga, sacked him, too.

19. Laura Dern

Think back to the more-than-memorable 1994 episode of Ellen (the sitcom, not the variety show) when the character comes out as gay. Historic for both television and the celebrity world, Degeneres became a beacon of hope for the LGBTQ+ community. But Laura Dern, on the other hand, became blacklisted by Hollywood for starring in the show. 

Now considered revolutionary, Dern could not get acting work for a year after her role. Laura, considered controversial for “embracing gay themes,” had to take a backseat to acting because of her support of the community. 

20. Armie Hammer

Armie Hammer starred in The Social Network, The Lone Ranger, J. Edgar, and even the television show Gossip Girl, which put him at the forefront of celebritydom. 

Another reason for the spotlight: an anonymous woman came forward claiming she and Hammer had a years-long affair. Her screenshots of discussions with more of Armie's exes added fuel to his hate fire. Calling the attack “vicious and spurious,” Hammer backed out of filming Shotgun Wedding with Jennifer Lopez, and it only got worse from there with screenshots from his secondary Instagram account showcasing disturbing photos.

21. Danny Masterson

Quick-witted Steven Hyde, played by Danny Masterson on That 70's Show, was one that fans of the sitcom enjoyed watching from 1998-2006. He quickly made a name for himself in Hollywood with prominent roles in Face/Off, Yes Man, and The Ranch. 

In 2017, Masterson was accused of violently assaulting women and pleaded not guilty. Friends and co-stars, including Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, quickly supported him on social media and even wrote letters attesting to his good character. They changed their tune when more details were released, though. Danny was found guilty and sentenced to 30 years in a California State Prison in 2023. 

22. Jonah Hill

Jonah Hill's spin on quirky characters had us all laughing. Showcasing his acting skills in movies like Get Him to the Greek provided plenty of quotable lines, but his role as Seth in Superbad has us rolling in the aisles with mouths gaped open. 

In 2023, Hill's ex-girlfriend accused the actor of emotional abuse. His “boundaries” posts demanding that she not post photos in swimsuits or alongside other men caused her to delete images featuring them from her Instagram. Social media users said he was manipulative with his words, while others praised him for setting clear boundaries.

23. Lizzo

Lizzo came to the forefront in 2019 with catchy songs on her third album, “Cuz I Love You.” An advocate for body positivity, her songs like “Tempo” ft. Missy Elliott and “Boys” gave us a reason to get down. 

August 2023 was the month that our positivity for the singer dropped significantly, thanks to her employees' claims of harassment and a toxic work environment. Lizzo's berating of some of her dancers completely contradicts her body-positive image. To top it off, Beyoncé left her name out of “Break My Soul” soon after, which celebrated black women in entertainment. 

24. Justin Timberlake

In 1999, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake fans adored the latest photos showcasing them hand in hand, all smiles. When they broke up in 2002, there were questions about why it occurred, but never a clear answer apart from “conflicting schedules.” Fast forward to 2023, and Britney's memoir, The Woman in Me, hit bookstore shelves.

According to Spears, her allegations of cheating and even demanding to abort their unborn child made Timberlake go from an all-American singer and comedy actor to a no-so-great celebrity. Due to the fallout, Justin canceled himself by halting his early 2024 concerts.