Hollywood can be harsh. When celebrities start getting sassy, insane, strangely obsessed or just downright inappropriate, judgment is just quietly waiting around the corner. Every move of a celebrity is carefully tracked, strategically trolled and snapped by perpetual paparazzi. Often—even the most mundane situation—will be photographed.
Something as simple as a stroll in the park can be picked apart and manipulated to entice fans into reading more, looking deeper and calling judgment. The media picks up on everything and no move is sacred. Then there are the celebrities who really should just not leave their homes because their soon-to-be insane act is not only about to wreak havoc on their career, but it is also about to be plastered all over television sets and social media within seconds.
Our fascination with Hollywood and celebrity antics is always an ongoing source of the media’s pride and drive for more authentic and outrageous stories. At times, they do not even have to look too hard as celebrities serve nervous breakdowns, racial slurs and unacceptable behaviors on silver platters. Over the last several years, we have bore witness to some truly insane celebrity antics. Some celebrities were rightfully and temporarily blacklisted from Hollywood as fans swooped down with angry judgment. Others deserved more of a permanent blacklist status.
20 Bring Her Back: Time Makes Britney Stronger
Britney Spears, our beloved pop singer, had a few not-so-minor setbacks about ten years ago. Her stardom and musical talent first erupted as part of the cast of The All New Mickey Mouse Club. The superstar little girl became a young lady and was poised and fabulous—singing her heart out and wooing the world with her talent.
Then came her erratic behavior which included the epic blonde hair shaving incident on national television and a few stints in rehab—among other impulsive behaviors. The fact remains that this poor girl was clearly crying out for help and needed some mental health treatment. Why punish a talented and well-meaning young woman for her challenged genetic makeup and some foolish choices?
19 Not Deserving Of A Comeback: Cosby Chaos
When a person has that many women accusing him of assault and mistreating them, one has to begin to wonder. Bill Cosby, one of America’s most popular on-screen dads, star of The Cosby Show and the epitome of a true family man, has been accused of assault by over fifty women. The interesting thing is that the pattern in these alleged assaults all involve these women—well-known by Cosby—being slipped illegal substances and then intimately violated.
Even with this 80-year-old man’s wife by his side and the recent loss of their daughter to cancer, there is no way this guy is going to be crossed off the blacklist. Although it is not clear whether Cosby’s accusers will be testifying in the trials, the graphic statements given by the victims will definitely be taken into consideration by the judge.
18 Bring Him Back: Quirky Kirk
We’ve seen crazier from others who have tendered their career based on their Hollywood blacklist status. Kirk Cameron definitely received some heat and caused a ton of controversy and criticism amidst his scandalous comments during Hurricane Irma’s impending storm surge.
Cameron’s religiously-held matter-of-fact explanation of this deadly weather event was concerning to many fans as he basically alluded to the fact that this wasn’t just a Mother Nature coincidence. Cameron spouted out some biblical quotes enraging and estranging his existing fans and making new enemies. Although, this isn’t the first time.
17 Not Deserving Of A Comeback: Gibson Gab
Mel Gibson is not a stranger to the blacklist. Due to his ongoing scandalous and unsettling behavior, he will likely continue to thrive as a blacklisted Hollywood movie star. The interesting thing about this actor is that he is still being cast for jobs, although not without the continued admonition of most Americans.
Gibson has self-identified as being too violent in relationships and has been arrested several times. In addition, he has been specially made famous for his anti-semitic slander during an arrest where he made repeated angry, discriminatory remarks to the arresting officer. While Gibson remains close to some of his Hollywood friends who have stood by him such as Whoopi Goldberg and Jodie Foster, he still lands high on our blacklist due to the fact that he has such a violent and angry history.
16 Bring Her Back: Bye Bye Miss America
Vanessa Williams was named Miss America Pageant winner in 1984 and even more honored as she was the first African American woman to win the crown. Disheartened Williams was then forced to give up her much deserved shiny crown and title after a scandalous situation emerged. It seems that our Vanessa had posed nude a few years before winning the crown and that skeleton popped out of the closet in just enough time to cause her some heartache.
First of all, Penthouse Magazine took it upon itself to publish these birthday suit photos without Williams’ consent. There is nothing like taking a crown away from a woman to make her feel as if she has been put on the blacklist for sure. Williams remained positive, though, and continued to rock like usual.
15 Not Deserving Of A Comeback: Words Can Wound
You can’t just go around slinging anti-gay slurs and calling people names. ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy actor Isaiah Washington--who portrayed Dr. Preston Burke—was fired from his role in 2007 after two incidents of using hateful, anti-gay slurs.
One such incident was backstage at the Golden Globes. Hollywood directors and producers take this kind of accusation very seriously. Despite Washington appealing to his fans and trying to solicit sympathy for his failed career, he surrendered to his admission of losing everything as a result of these two particular incidents.
The first one was actually on set where his anti-gay slur was directed at a co-worker who eventually came out as gay. Evolve already, Isaiah! Even in 2007, it was not cool to be that insensitive. Blacklisted for life, Jenisa Marie Garland, Washington’s loyal wife, has stuck by him through it all.
14 Bring Her Back: Dixie Chick Debacle
Natalie Maines, one of the three talented chicks in the country band Dixie Chicks, made the blacklist when she outwardly confessed her shame in then-President George W. Bush. She expressed her sorrow and sadness that he was also a fellow Texan and that they—all the three members of the band—did not stand by his decision or order to invade Iraq.
She did this as she introduced the band’s newest single Travelin’ Soldier. Since when does a non-violent expression, that clearly represents a freedom of speech situation, get someone blacklisted? Well, it did and caused quite a scandal not only among fans but also among the country music scene with other country musicians expressing their disdain.
13 Not Deserving Of A Comeback: The Juice
OJ Simpson was blacklisted the moment he took off in the white Bronco. Accused and acquitted of the murders of wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, OJ Simpson—also known as The Juice from his NFL career—sadly said goodbye to any potential comeback he could have ever attempted.
In an interview with his book publisher Judith Regan, Simpson—despite everything else he has been through in prison and the legal system—opened up and gave a hypothetical statement. He stated that if he did kill Simpson and Goldman, he would have had an accomplice and then went on to state in detail how he would have “imagined” it would have gone down. Reportedly he shifted between first and third person in his statement to Regan. Creepy to say the least.
12 Bring Her Back: Instagram Insanity
Lindsay Lohan caused a blacklist hit when she openly—in a strange series of Instagram video posts—defended Harry Weinstein, the Hollywood producer accused of a multitude of instances of harassment by a large number of women. Not only did she defend Weinstein, but she also spoke out against his wife Georgina Chapman for announcing that she was filing for divorce against the accused wildly famous Hollywood hubby.
It does make us wonder how so many women saying the same thing could be wrong and what does little ole Lindsay have at stake for defending him? She also adamantly states that he never did anything to her despite having worked with him several times. The strangest part of it all is that she then deleted this series of Instagram videos shortly thereafter. However, it wasn’t before she created a good amount of healthy controversy.
11 Not Deserving Of A Comeback: Shattered Sheen
Charlie Sheen’s attorney is about the only one who thinks he should be given some more chances, but we have seen too much from Sheen already. In the form of abuse, violence, scandals, illegal substance escapades and his own words, Sheen has proven to us to be somewhat of a loose cannon. Shane Bernard, Sheen’s attorney, sees him as a family man with good intentions and believes that everyone can change.
We may want to dance around Sheen’s past indiscretions and forgive him too, however, he is one that will undoubtedly remain on this Hollywood blacklist. He may be a father and now a grandfather, but Sheen is continuously making the news for his bad behavior with allegations of harming the now deceased Corey Haim when he was just a teen.
10 Bring Him Back: Pardon This
Mark Wahlberg has had his time on the Hollywood blacklist for some pretty good reasons. Before becoming a successful rapper, actor and restaurateur, Marky Mark—without his Funky Bunch in tow—was accused of some pretty shady stuff. As a matter of fact, he petitioned the court to seal his past record stating that he has stayed out of trouble and also has gotten his life together while helping at-risk children.
He asked the court to pardon his racially-infused assault and battery charges from his angsty teen years. In addition to this, it appears that this Beantown native has some anger issues that continued to fester. This can be seen when he assaulted a security guard when he was 20. Regardless soon after submitting his pardon application, he withdrew the request.
9 Not Deserving Of A Comeback: Blurred Lines
Robin Thicke has recently been accused of infidelity, substance abuse and physical and emotional misconduct by wife Paula Patton who has now decided to file for divorce and obtain a restraining order. In addition, it is very clear that their son Julian is afraid of his father. In the restraining order, Patton details her fear of Thicke’s punishments toward Julian and believes his “spankings” are too hard.
Thicke also has allegedly admitted to sleeping with other women and having unprotected intercourse. Despite trying to work things out in marriage counseling, Thicke’s true colors continued to show through his arrogance and violent outbursts. No child should be afraid of his father. No person should fear for their life each day and live in a constant state of hypervigilance.
8 Bring Her Back: Griffin Goes Overboard
Comedian Kathy Griffin loves to poke the proverbial bear and boy did she ever with her photograph of a severed bloody head that resembled the President of the United States Donald Trump. Publicity stunt or not, Griffin caused some serious controversy and the heat rose quickly as the country began to roll into a full out uproar.
She did end up issuing a short video apology and appeared sincere even though the very day of the photo release she casually dined out with friend Kris Jenner. No big deal. Just a gory and controversial photo release that was about to change her life and career (she was also fired from CNN’s New Years Eve Broadcast in 2017). Can you please just pass the salt, Kris?
7 Not Deserving Of A Comeback: #MeToo
Harvey Weinstein is definitely not leaving this list. Complete with a list of eighty four accusers who have dominated the #MeToo movement, Weinstein has successfully alienated America. Weinstein is co-founder of Mirimax and a famous Hollywood American movie producer with far too much power.
This pompous producer is accused of a number of allegations including intimate misconduct, attempted misconduct. His very existence in Hollywood is a disgrace and despite growing numbers of accusers with quite similar allegations, Weinstein denies any misconduct. We wouldn't be surprised if Hollywood welcomes him back in a few years, with how close-minded they can be. But here's to hoping he stays blacklisted forever. There's no reason any woman should feel like they need to give up their body in order to be cast in a movie. Shame.
6 Bring Her Back: Saturday Night Sinead Shenanigans
Nothing like a live television appearance to really send a message home—and Saturday Night Live. Sinead O’Connor knows this like no other and her career had definitely been affected by this political and emotional gesture. Sinead ripped a photo of Pope John Paul II in half, live and in front of millions of viewers.
Meant as a deliberate protest against abuse within the Catholic church, O’Connor demonstrates her freedom of expression by not only not alerting the producers of Saturday Night Live of her intention, but she also took a huge leap of faith (no pun intended) by taking such an action. She states she had no regrets and that it was not about the Pope himself, but the institution that failed our children.
5 Not Deserving Of A Comeback: An Unlucky Boy
Paul Reubens, also known as children’s television star Pee Wee Herman, was not so lucky and possibly a little dumb when he entered an adult movie theater in the 1990’s that was subsequently raided. He was arrested for exposing himself in a public place. This is a real issue especially as a children’s television and movie star.
At the time, he was thriving with a show on CBS. The irony, however, was that his character had initially been shown on HBO and was more scandalous than the one that he had redefined on CBS for children. In the HBO show, Pee Wee was seen peeking up womens skirts by slyly using a mirror. Obviously, the more kid-friendly version redefined Pee Wee, but not before he could be caught exposing himself a few years later.
4 Bring Her Back: All Lives Matter
Kendall Jenner signed on with Pepsi to do a commercial that went from trying to project peace and unity to being accused of exploiting the Black Lives Matter movement. The less than three-minute ad showed the 21-year-old handing a police officer a refreshing Pepsi at a multi-racial riot. After this kind gesture, the riot ends.
Ultimately, Pepsi issued and released an apology for the ad—after pulling it—and also expressed regret for having put Jenner in such a predicament. Evolve already, people. Pepsi’s heart was in the right place. Ultimately, this one will go down in history for one of the biggest scandals in 2017.
3 Not Deserving Of A Comeback: Why Tonya? Why?
Poor Nancy Kerrigan. That’s why. Kerrigan screamed this out as an acquaintance of Tonya Harding took a collapsible baton and smashed Kerrigan’s leg several weeks before the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics. As Kerrigan cried out “Why me!? Why?!,” it is alleged that Tonya was an accomplice and knew what was going to happen as the man that hit Kerrigan was a friend of Tonya’s ex-husband.
Ultimately, Harding was Kerrigan’s figure skating rival. Tonya is now remarried and her new last name is Price which she insists on being called. Regardless of her new last name, Tonya Harding will always be who we know and definitely do not like. Even though Harding was somewhat of a rival to Kerrigan, they were both American and that should have counted for something! For that reason she has been officially blacklisted—and for good.
2 Bring Him Back: Martin’s Mighty Mishap
Funny man Martin Lawrence was one of the most prominent African American comedians wooing his fan base with his humor and fancying himself as a sort of role model for all cultures! His career began in the 90’s and he was on the fifth season of his television series when one of his female co-stars, Tisha Campbell, cried out with a misconduct charge complete with a restraining order.
Unlike many of Hollywood’s harassment allegation targets, Lawrence had one alleged instance that assisted in ending his television series on a sour note. Regardless of the facts of the case, there are always two sides to every story. Lawrence’s talent and what he has done for the African American community and provided to audiences in terms of talent and success are priceless.
1 Not Deserving Of A Comeback: The Blacklist Factor
Bill O’Reilly, Fox News host, is another example of harassment at work. O’Reilly has been accused several times of misconduct, harassment and such. His denial of such allegations comes loud and clear after his attorneys work to settle with the accusers.
The latest settlement is hitting the 32 million dollar mark and it’s frightening to realize that even amidst the accusations, Fox had initially asked O’Reilly to extend his contract with them. They eventually fired him after more prominent and well-respected women continued to come forward sharing their stories of how O’Reilly harassed and manipulated them in various ways.
Sources: Fame 10, Ranker, Harper Bazaar, Cheat Sheet, Vanity Fair, US Magazine, Mirror UK, People, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Huffington Post, The Daily Beast, USA Today, NY Daily News
