Hollywood's Award Show Rebels
Award shows are supposed to be glitzy nights full of glamor, applause, and golden statues. But some celebs just couldn’t stick to the script. Whether it was for pranks, protests, or full-on chaos, these 25 stars got themselves banned from the biggest nights in Hollywood.
From mild drama to shocking scandals, we’re counting down the wildest reasons these actors got the boot. Get ready for a ride through red carpet rebellion—one juicy story at a time.
Isaiah Washington
Grey’s Anatomy drama
Isaiah Washington was reportedly disinvited from future NAACP Image Awards events following his highly publicized on-set clash with co-star TR Knight and his use of a homophobic slur. Though he later apologized, the fallout was huge, and award show organizers weren’t having it. The situation cost him not just roles, but also the chance to walk red carpets that once celebrated his work.
Shia LaBeouf
Paper bags and strange behavior
Shia LaBeouf’s bizarre antics, including wearing a paper bag on his head reading "I am not famous anymore" at a Berlin Film Festival premiere, caused waves in Hollywood. His increasingly erratic public image reportedly led to BAFTA distancing itself, especially during the 2014 cycle. While not officially blacklisted, insiders claimed he was “unwelcome” at future ceremonies after multiple strange incidents.
Kathy Griffin
A Trump joke cost her more than just gigs
Kathy Griffin’s controversial photo shoot featuring a mock severed head of then-President Donald Trump got her dropped from numerous appearances—including a long-standing spot at the Creative Arts Emmys. After hosting that event for several years, the Academy chose not to invite her back. The backlash was swift, and Griffin became persona non grata at several industry functions.
Brendan Fraser
A serious accusation
Brendan Fraser alleged in 2018 that former Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) president Philip Berk got handsy with him in 2003. After going public with his story, Fraser claims he was iced out of the Golden Globes. While not “officially” banned, he hasn’t attended the Globes since—and even refused to show up when he was nominated for The Whale, citing lack of accountability from the HFPA.
CeeLo Green
Not an actor, but his Grammy ban still made waves
Though CeeLo Green is primarily known as a musician, he had acting roles in Pitch Perfect and other projects, giving him crossover appeal. After controversial social media comments involving a lack of consent when it came to relations with women, the Grammys banned him from attending their events for several years. His reputation took a major hit across both music and film industries.
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mo'Nique
A feud with Hollywood cost her more than she expected
Mo'Nique won an Oscar for Precious, but after refusing to “campaign” for the award the way studios wanted, she was labeled difficult. She later alleged that she was blackballed and not invited to future awards like the Oscars or Golden Globes. The actress was outspoken about mistreatment, and her absence from red carpets became symbolic of industry retaliation.
Sean Young
Too many scenes off-screen
Sean Young, known for roles in Blade Runner and Wall Street, earned a reputation for erratic behavior. After crashing the Vanity Fair Oscar party in 2012 and reportedly getting into a scuffle, she was arrested and banned from future events. This wasn’t her first controversial moment, but it sealed her red carpet fate for good.
Mickey Rourke
Burned bridges and bad blood
Mickey Rourke has had a rocky relationship with Hollywood. After burning many bridges in the '90s, his comeback in The Wrestler sparked hope. But his bluntness toward the Academy and his feud with co-stars like Sean Penn didn’t help. While not officially banned, it’s widely known that Rourke has been “unwelcome” at several Oscars-related events since.
Tom Cruise
Golden Globes dropped him—literally
In 2021, Tom Cruise returned his three Golden Globe statues in protest of the HFPA's lack of diversity and ethical issues. Shortly after, NBC canceled the broadcast. Cruise wasn’t formally banned, but insiders confirmed he would not be invited back to Golden Globes events until reforms were made. The standoff turned heads and sparked wider industry change.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Alec Baldwin
From backstage to blacklisted
Alec Baldwin's combative behavior has made headlines for decades. After a string of controversies—including an awkward voicemail to his daughter that went public—he was reportedly disinvited from multiple Emmy ceremonies. While some bans were temporary, sources said award shows saw him as a liability, especially in years when he wasn’t nominated.
Rose McGowan
Hollywood's outcast after exposing the machine
Rose McGowan became one of the first to publicly accuse Harvey Weinstein of mistreatment. Her outspokenness helped launch the #MeToo movement but also led to unofficial bans. McGowan says she was iced out of awards like the Golden Globes and SAG Awards due to her whistleblowing and refusal to play the “Hollywood game.”
picture alliance, Getty Images
Will Smith
The slap seen around the world
Will Smith stunned viewers at the 2022 Oscars when he open-hand smacked Chris Rock on live TV. The Academy responded by banning him from all Oscars-related events for 10 years. While he kept his Best Actor win that night, Smith’s career and reputation took a major hit. The ban is one of the most talked-about moments in modern award show history.
Sacha Baron Cohen
Too much Borat
Sacha Baron Cohen is infamous for using award shows to stage comedic chaos. In 2012, he was banned from attending the Oscars in character as General Aladeen from The Dictator. The Academy feared he would disrupt the show. He eventually appeared anyway—on the red carpet—spilling fake ashes on Ryan Seacrest, proving their fears weren’t unfounded.
Björk
That swan dress? Just the tip of the iceberg
Björk’s 2001 Oscars appearance in a now-iconic swan dress made headlines, but it wasn’t just her fashion that caused problems. Her unpredictable behavior and lack of interest in traditional Hollywood norms made her a difficult guest. After rumors of backstage tension, she wasn’t invited back to future Oscars, marking an unofficial but real ban from the event.
Koichi Kamoshida, Getty Images
Jim Carrey
He’s just not that into award shows anymore
Jim Carrey has openly criticized award shows, especially the Golden Globes. After mocking them during a televised appearance and refusing to play along with PR expectations, the HFPA reportedly blacklisted him from future involvement. He later said he stopped attending on purpose—but insiders say the feeling was mutual.
Courtney Love
Too loud, too proud, too banned
Courtney Love made waves in both film (The People vs. Larry Flynt) and rock. But her offbeat red carpet appearances and onstage rants led to her being disinvited from multiple major events, including the Oscars and MTV Movie Awards. Her rebellious behavior was too unpredictable for producers, who opted to keep her out altogether.
Manfred Werner - Tsui, Wikimedia Commons
Ryan Gosling
SNL prank cost him future invites?
This one’s more urban legend, but it’s long been whispered that Ryan Gosling was unofficially banned from hosting or appearing at the Golden Globes after a planned skit during his La La Land year went awry. Sources say producers weren’t thrilled, and Gosling hasn’t been a major award show fixture since. Nothing confirmed—but the rumors are strong.
Madonna
Always pushing the limit—until it pushed back
Madonna has attended Oscars, Grammys, and more—but one shocking performance at the MTV Video Music Awards in the early 2000s (not her Britney kiss) allegedly led to a years-long ban from the show. Her outspokenness and refusal to be censored made her both a pop icon and an award show problem.
Marlon Brando
Refused his Oscar—and got banned for life
Marlon Brando didn’t attend the 1973 Oscars and sent Sacheen Littlefeather in his place to protest Hollywood’s treatment of Native Americans. While his move was iconic, the Academy was not pleased. Brando was quietly banned from future ceremonies, and though his acting legacy endured, he never returned to the Oscars stage.
Charlie Sheen
Winning? Not when it comes to the Emmys
Charlie Sheen’s meltdown during the Two and a Half Men era was one of Hollywood’s biggest trainwrecks. Between his wild interviews, substance misuse, and attacks on showrunners, Sheen was not only fired but also banned from Emmy-related events. His unpredictable behavior made award organizers nervous, and he hasn’t returned to that scene since.
Richard Gere
A political speech got him booted
At the 1993 Oscars, Richard Gere used his presenter slot to speak out against China's occupation of Tibet. The Academy did not appreciate the off-script political moment and banned him from future shows for over a decade. The ban was eventually lifted, but it showed how Hollywood punishes those who speak out when it's not "on brand."
Ariela Ortiz-Barrantes, Wikimedia Commons
Adrien Brody
An unscripted kiss turned into a red carpet nightmare
Adrien Brody shocked the world in 2003 when he kissed Halle Berry without warning while accepting his Best Actor Oscar. The moment sparked backlash, especially in later years as conversations around consent became more mainstream. Though not officially banned, Brody was no longer a welcome guest at many awards. His red carpet appearances dropped off dramatically after that.
Harald Krichel, Wikimedia Commons
Joan Rivers
Too spicy for the Oscars’ taste
Joan Rivers’ sharp tongue was her trademark, but the Academy eventually had enough. After years of roasting stars on the red carpet and making biting jokes, she was banned from official Oscars press credentials. The Academy thought she crossed the line one too many times—but fans missed her zingers every year she wasn’t there.
Roman Polanski
Still wins awards—but can’t attend them
Roman Polanski fled the US in 1978 after pleading guilty to unlawful intimacy with a minor. Despite this, he continued to be nominated—and even won an Oscar for The Pianist in 2003. But he’s banned from entering the US and from attending Oscars and other major shows in person. His continued recognition despite the ban remains one of the most controversial topics in Hollywood history.
Georges Biard, Wikimedia Commons
Harvey Weinstein
Hollywood’s ultimate fall from grace
Once one of the most powerful men in the industry, Harvey Weinstein is now banned from just about every award show imaginable. After dozens of women accused him of non-consensual handsy behavior and misconduct, he was expelled from the Academy, SAG, BAFTA, and more. His downfall helped spark the #MeToo movement and led to a seismic shift in Hollywood’s culture of silence.
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