Some actors were once cherished and held in high regard for their exceptional talent and contributions to the entertainment industry. They were beloved by fans and respected by their peers, with reputations built on years of dedication to their craft. However, a few of these stars have seen their careers take a dramatic downturn due to scandals that surfaced, tarnishing their once-golden images.
The revelations were shocking, causing a significant shift in public perception. As a result, these actors, who were once celebrated, found themselves isolated, having burned too many bridges and lost the respect and admiration they once had.
1. Michael Richards
After Seinfeld ended, the actor who played Kramer, Michael Richards, did some more TV work before focusing on his stand-up comedy. In 2006, he had an ugly breakdown at a comedy club in LA, where he spewed insults at people in the audience, including some rather strong slurs and other terrible language. Of course, he went back on his words and apologized, but people didn’t think it was enough. After that, Richards pretty much ditched his stand-up career and only showed up in movies and TV every now and then.
2. Amber Heard
We all remember the mess that was the Amber Heard vs Johnny Depp trial, where neither party looked especially favorable. However, it’s safe to say Amber Heard was not the winner in that court. She was accused of abusive behavior and having marital affairs. The jury sided with Depp by awarding him $15 million, while Heard was awarded $2 million. And this only made it worse for her. Afterward, she moved to Spain to escape the scrutiny. However, the public condemnation returned during the release of 2023’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
3. Ezra Miller
In a very brief period, Ezra Miller has had a lot of legal troubles. Miller is, of course, best known for portraying the Flash in DCEU and Credence Barebone in Fantastic Beasts. But things started to go sour in 2020 when a video came out showing Miller getting into a fight with a woman at a bar in Iceland. Unfortunately, this was just the beginning. Soon after, Miller has been accused of harassment, theft, assault, grooming, and other messed up behavior.
4. Kevin Spacey
After winning two Oscars, Kevin Spacey went to Netflix’s House of Cards, which earned him a shiny new Golden Globe award. The success and lavish life were all his to grab, but in 2017, the actor was accused of grabbing the wrong thing. It was Anthony Rapp who accused Spacey of assaulting him when Rapp was a teen, and Spacey’s response was bizarre, to say the least. He said he couldn’t recall the incident, apologized, and then publicly came out as gay, which caused a lot of criticism. He’s faced several more court cases over similar allegations, but thankfully, those had favorable outcomes.
5. Danny Masterson
In 2017, Masterson, who played Hyde in That 70’s Show, was accused of sexual assault by multiple women, which he denied. After a fourth accusation, Netflix decided not to take any risks and cut ties with Masterson, who was both a producer and actor on The Ranch. In 2023, during the retrial, he was found guilty on two of the three charges and was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for his terrible actions.
6. Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Barr was an undeniable gem of her own 90s sitcom and played a crucial part in making the show successful. However, Barr made a huge miscalculation by posting a racist tweet about former political adviser Valerie Jarrett, burying herself even deeper with the controversial follow-up comments. Despite Barr’s apologies and attempts to retract her statement, the modern version of the show got canceled along with Roseanne. Despite these events, she has continued to express skewed opinions and conspiracy theories, even delivering controversial comedy performances.
7. Armie Hammer
Armie Hammer’s acting career took a nosedive right before he was to star in 2022’s Death on the Nile due to some serious accusations. Some of his ex-partners accused him of both physical and emotional abuse, and it really affected the promotion of this upcoming movie. As a result, a lot of companies, fans, agencies, and brands distanced themselves from Hammer. Since then, the actor has kept a low profile, although he has admitted to being emotionally abusive in his past relationships.
8. Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby of The Cosby Show is perhaps the most controversial of all these cases. Initially, rumors of his serious crimes were brushed off, probably due to Cosby’s status, so little happened at first. However, everything changed in 2015 when more and more victims came forward, and their stories made headlines. In 2018, after almost ten years of allegations, Cosby was arrested and given a 3 to 10-year prison sentence. In 2021, his conviction was overturned due to violations of his due process rights. However, this hasn’t restored Cosby’s reputation, especially with ongoing civil cases related to assault.
