Celebrities Who Were Canceled
Cancel culture occurs when a celebrity or public figure behaves or speaks in a way that is deemed unacceptable or unfavorable by the general public. This usually causes a mass of people to publicly withdraw their support, and the person is ostracized, shunned, fired, or boycotted.
Here’s a list of 22 celebrities who were “canceled” in 2022 and 2023—and what they did to deserve it.
Adam Levine
In 2022, the Maroon 5 front man was publicly shamed after he allegedly cheated on his pregnant wife, Behati Prinsloo, with whom he shared two other children with.
Levine was accused of having an affair with Summer Stroh—who went public with it on TikTok. She also claimed he “manipulated” her into the relationship.
karina3094, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Shia LaBeouf
Transformers star, Shia LaBeouf was canceled in 2022 after his ex-girlfriend accused him of various forms of physical and emotional abuse.
LaBeouf was apparently fired from the thriller, Don’t Worry Darling as a result—but he claims he quit due to scheduling issues.
nicolas genin, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
James Corden
The Late Late Show host James Corden made headlines in October 2022 after he reportedly screamed at waitstaff at New York’s iconic Balthazar restaurant. And word on the street is, this was not his first attack.
iDominick, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
James Corden: Verbal Attack
He is now banned for life from the restaurant, and the owner Keith McNally came forward stating, “James Corden is a Hugely gifted comedian, but a tiny Cretin of a man. And the most abusive customer to my Balthazar servers since the restaurant opened 25 years ago.”
His credibility took a huge hit, of course.
Andy Thornley, UK, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ellen DeGeneres
In 2022, TV talk show personality, Ellen DeGeneres was accused of having a toxic workplace culture. As soon as word got out, the world shunned her and as a result her show ended not long after.
Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ellen DeGeneres: Witness Reports
Greyson Chance, DeGeneres’ former protégé once said he had “never met someone more manipulative, more self-centered and more blatantly opportunistic than her.”
Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ezra Miller
In 2022, the Justice League star was apprehended by authorities several times, on various charges—which included disorderly conduct and felony burglary.
Fans have since called on DC to cancel his upcoming film.
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ezra Miller: Mental Health Help
Miller issued an apology for his reckless behavior and said he would seek mental health treatment. But some fans have claimed he lost them forever.
He has since checked into facilities and programs, and claims to be actively seeking help, and changing his ways.
Dick Thomas Johnson, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Joe Rogan
Podcaster Joe Rogan faced cancellation in 2022 as well after several clips of him dropping a racial slur emerged online.
Rogan referred to the stunt as a “political hit job,” saying “they’re taking all this stuff that I’ve ever said that’s wrong and smooshing it all together.”
Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
Joe Rogan: Misinformation
Apparently, it all started shortly after he started “broadcasting misinformation” during the pandemic.
While he did lose a lot of followers, he still has many who believe his “misinformation” is the exact opposite.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas stepped down from teaching at George Washington University in July of 2022 following backlash from his Roe v. Wade decision.
Earl McDonald, Wikimedia Commons
Clarence Thomas: Resigned
Two days after the Roe v. Wade ruling was released, Thomas’ detractors launched a Change.org petition to remove him as a teacher at the university.
The petition sparked serious controversy, with various forms of attacks ensuing on Thomas—including online slander and various protests.
Steve Petteway, Wikimedia Commons
Bette Midler
Hocus Pocus star Bette Midler was also cancelled in July 2022 after using inappropriate language about the trans community in a tweet.
Her tweet read: “WOMEN OF THE WORLD! We are being stripped of our rights over our bodies, our lives and even of our name. They don’t call us ‘women’ anymore; they call us ‘birthing people’ or ‘menstruators,’ and even ‘people with vaginas!’ Don’t let them erase you! Every human on earth owes you!”
Rob Bogaerts, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bette Midler: Wrong Words
She was immediately slammed online, saying the language used erases members of the trans community.
She fired back, of course, stating that she had no intention of anything exclusionary or transphobic—but the damage was already done.
Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Lady Susan Hussey
Lady Susan Hussey, the former lady-in-waiting, was canceled in November of 2022 after it was revealed that she made a racist remark to Ngozi Fulani, domestic abuse campaigner, while at Buckingham Palace.
Susan Hussey: A Royal Mistake
Fulani said Midler asked her where she was from, and after the activist said she was a British citizen, Hussey said, “Where are your people from?”
The exchange went viral causing Hussey to resign mere hours after the post, and a public apology was made from Buckingham Palace.
Kanye West
Kanye West faced a massive cancelation in 2022 after the rapper unleashed a storm of anti-Semitic remarks.
He was banned from both Instagram and Twitter for spewing hateful remarks.
Not only that, he was dropped by Gap, Balenciaga, and Adidas.
David Shankbone, Wikimedia Commons
Kanye West: Faithful Followers
Faithful fans attempted to rally behind West and set up a GoFundMe in an attempt to get the rapper back to his billionaire status, but the site shut the page down after it only made $5.
Jason Persse, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Balenciaga
Balenciaga, the fashion brand, also suffered a cancelation in 2022 when a major design flaw was slammed online for being “creepy”.
The advertisement featured children alongside bears wearing inappropriate adult bedroom attire.
Online shoppers were infuriated, calling the images “frightening,” “creepy” and “wrong.”
Zoaghram Dumee, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Will Smith
Will Smith’s cancelation made headlines across the globe after he slapped fellow actor and comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars.
Smith apparently slapped Rock after he made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. He joked about her shaven head, asking if she was going to be in “G.I. Jane 2.”
Vanessa Lua, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Will Smith: Divided Support
Some fans stand behind Smith for standing up for his wife, while others stand behind Rock, saying it was nothing more than a joke that should not have been taken so seriously.
Smith apologized to Rock, and to the public, but Rock was not quick to forgive. Smith hasn’t fully come back from this yet, and we aren’t sure if he ever will.
Taís Melillo, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Danny Masterson
Moving on to 2023 now, That 70’s Show star, Danny Masterson, also made global headlines when he was canceled after he was convicted of two counts of heinous acts on women.
Red Carpet Report on Mingle Media, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Danny Masterson: Locked Up
In September 2023, Masterson was sentenced to 30 years behind bars as a result of his monstruous actions 20 years ago, in which the judge told him he “took away another person’s choice and voice.”
Oscar Rohena, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Doja Cat
Doja Cat’s life has always been full of scandal, from berating her own fans to a fashion faux pas, in only a few short months her Instagram follower count dropped by half a million.
Condé Nast, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Doja Cat: Online Controversy
Her latest controversy unfolded in October of 2023 when she posted a photo on Instagram of her wearing a t-shirt showcasing controversial internal comedian Sam Hyde clutching a rifle.
Fans quickly voiced their concerns with her seemingly endorsing a figure notorious for perpetuating racist and sexist perspectives.
LavishRuby, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Jonah Hill
In 2023, actor Jonah Hill’s ex-girlfriend Sarah Brady accused him of being “emotionally abusive,” and a “misogynist narcissist.”
Her allegations prompted Zoey 101 star Alexa Nikolas to come forward with other abuse accusations of Hill.
Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Jonah Hill: Specifics
Nikolas claims Hill allegedly, “slammed her against a door and shoved his tongue down her throat.”
Hill’s lawyers claim the story was a “complete fabrication.”
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Sean “Diddy” Combs
Sean “Diddy” Combs has been accused of many heinous crimes against women. Many women, and on many separate occasions. In fact, the allegations go so far and so deep that women are continuously coming forward, even still.
Reckless Dream Photography, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Sean Combs: Most Recent
His most recent lawsuit involves allegations of his involvement in a group forced defilement on 17-year-old girl back in 2003.
Combs denies all allegations—but it doesn’t matter. He is standing alone as nearly everyone has dropped their support.
Cannes Lions Learnings, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Lizzo
Singer Lizzo, who was once known as a fierce advocate for body positivity, has been sued by her former dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez, accusing her of harassment, body shaming, discrimination, and creating a hostile working environment.
Lizzo lost nearly half of her fans, and has since kept a low profile.
Daniel Benavides, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Justin Timberlake
Another high-profile case of cancel culture involves singer and actor Justin Timberlake.
The former N’Sync member was instantly canceled when his ex, Britney Spears released her memoir, The Woman in Me, in October of 2023.
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Justin Timberlake: Termination Accusations
Inside her book, Spears revealed that during her relationship with Timberlake she fell pregnant and was coerced (by him) into having the pregnancy terminated.
His entire past relationship with Spears has been under scrutiny since, and fans have changed their overall opinion of Timberlake as a result.
Russell Brand
In September of 2023, British actor Russell Brand was accused of heinous acts on women—four women, to be exact. These alleged assaults took place between 2006-2013.
Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Russell Brand: Response
Brand denies the allegations, saying “Amidst this litany of astonishing, rather baroque attacks are some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute.”
He has since been questioned about six further similar allegations.
Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Elon Musk
Elon Musk has been canceled before, and this likely won’t be his last time either.
He was previously canceled for his messy acquisition of X (Twitter), and his mass firing of company staff.
But now, it get’s worse.
The Royal Society, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Elon Musk: Current Cancelation
Musk is now facing cancelation again for appearing to endorse anti-Semitic posts on social media as “the actual truth.”
Musk’s comment received criticism from not only the internet at large, but also Tesla investors and even the White House. Several advertisers like Disney, Warner Bros, and Lionsgate have also said they are pulling advertisements off of X.
Daniel Oberhaus, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye
Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye was criticized on X for his role as an actor and creator on HBO’s The Idol.
Not only do fans believe his acting is “unsalvageable,” but the show itself has been deemed one of the worst ever created. It has been said that the show is sexist and involves controversial dialogue.
Pedro Mora, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Weeknd: Witness Reports
Tesfaye received huge backlash for defending the show after 13 staff members attested to the show’s “toxic” change of direction from a dark satire about the trappings of fame, to transforming into the very topic it initially set out to satirize.
Nicolas Padovani, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Jonathan Majors
Jonathan Majors was apprehended by authorities in March 2023 for assaulting his then girlfriend, Grace Jabbari. Apparently, a heated argument in an SUV occurred and Majors got physical with Jabbari.
He was charged with third degree assault and second-degree aggravated assault, and both Marvel and Disney dropped him.
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