This article mentions allegations of sexual abuse and rape.
The subject of celebrities getting canceled has long been a contentious one. Reddit user M0rtissha once asked, “Which celebrity do you think was unfairly cancelled?” prompting a heap of responses. Here are a few:
1. Brendan Fraser
Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic
—KenKaneki94
Context: Brendan was shunned from Hollywood after he alleged that Philip Berk, the former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, had sexually assaulted him. The HFPA found that Berk “inappropriately touched” Fraser, though stated that it was “intended to be taken as a joke and not as a sexual advance.”
2. Eartha Kitt
Scott Gries / Getty Images
—Infinite-Cucumber-70
Context: Eartha, who played Cat Woman in ABC’s 1966 series Batman, was cast out from Hollywood after publicly criticizing the Vietnam War during an appearance at the White House in 1968, where the First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, was present.
3. Corey Feldman
Tiffany Rose / Getty Images for Family Film and TV Awards
—kitjen
Context: Corey, who was a famous child actor, alleged that he’d been sexually abused by powerful figures in the industry. When he publicly discussed the claims during an interview with Barbara Walters, the talk show host said, “You’re damaging an entire industry.”
4. Richard Jewell
DOUG COLLIER / AFP via Getty Images
—BenchGlass7371
Context: Richard was a security guard during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics who famously discovered a bomb. While he was initially deemed a hero for alerting people and evacuating the area before it detonated, the FBI later treated him as a suspect — prompting a wave of intense public scrutiny fueled by the media. He was eventually exonerated when Eric Robert Rudolph confessed to the bombings.
5. Janet Jackson
Charlotte Observer / Tribune News Service via Getty Images
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—Glittering_Airport95
Context: Janet was vilified by the media after Justin Timberlake ripped away part of her costume and accidentally exposed her breast during their 2004 Super Bowl Halftime Show performance.
6. Sinead O’Connor
Rob Ball / Redferns via Getty Images
—SouthernBale81
Context: During a 1992 Saturday Night Live performance, Sinead — who was raised Catholic — tore a photo of Pope John Paul II in protest of child abuse within the Catholic Church.
7. Rose McGowan
NBC / NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
—_PM_ME_YOUR_FORESKIN
Context: Rose’s career took a hit after she publicly accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual abuse and rape.
8. The Dixie Chicks
KMazur / WireImage
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—BadSanna
Context: Back in 2003, the Chicks, formerly known as the Dixie Chicks, criticized then-President George W. Bush’s decision to invade Iraq. They faced immense backlash as a result, with heaps of their country music fans turning on them while their music was blacklisted them from the airwaves.
9. Rebecca Black
Gregg DeGuire / FilmMagic
—AquamarineCheetah
Context: Rebecca’s famous 2011 hit “Friday” was NOT well-received at all, despite the fact that it was written and sung by a then-13-year-old. The track was branded “the worst video ever made,” and Rebecca faced years of mockery.
10. Katherine Heigl
Randy Holmes / Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
—ronpaulisthe1truegod
Context: Katherine faced immense backlash after calling out the working conditions on the Grey’s Anatomy set. At the time, she was branded “difficult” to work with.
11. Mo’Nique
Jason Merritt / Getty Images
—MamaSquash8013
Context: Mo’Nique’s career was hindered after Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry allegedly had her blacklisted from Hollywood; Mo’Nique refused to partake in unpaid promotion for Oprah and Tyler’s 2009 film Precious, for which she ended up winning an Oscar.
12. Kathy Griffin
Lorenzo Bevilaqua / Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
—LoveliestBride
Context: Comedian Kathy faced widespread scrutiny after she posted a controversial photo posing with a bloodied, mock severed head of President Donald Trump in 2017.
13. Tiger Woods
Megan Briggs/TGL / TGL via Getty Images
—PriestPorridge
Context: Back in 2009, Tiger’s career and personal image suffered a huge “fall from grace” after revelations of his infidelity with multiple women came to light. He wound up having to issue a public apology during a press conference as a result of the intense backlash.
14. Colin Kaepernick
Miami Herald / Tribune News Service via Getty Images
—Unknown_BlkSheep
Context: People have theorized that Colin was “blacklisted” from the NFL after he memorably began kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality across the States.
15. Monica Lewinsky
Frazer Harrison / Getty Images
—averyhipopotomus
Context: Monica was publicly vilified following her infamous affair with Bill Clinton.
Can you think of any others? Let us know in the comments.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE, which routes the caller to their nearest sexual assault service provider. You can also search for your local center here.
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