The celebrity lifestyle thrives on admiration and, sometimes, respect. While both are, in most cases, hard to earn, they are pretty easy to lose. Some celebrities who were once loved dearly by fans have lost that love and are now ‘canceled.’  

Chris Brown drew the ire of the entertainment world when pictures of his assault on Rihanna began to surface online. It was 2009 and a night before the Grammy Awards. 

Even though the American singer and songwriter expressed his regrets over the incident, the fire seems to never go out. Fourteen years later, the incident has continued to linger in the minds of many people.

For nearly two decades, Ellen DeGeneres anchored The Ellen DeGeneres Show, portraying herself to be an affable and funny talk show host. Everyone taught so until damning revelations of a toxic work environment began to surface. These revelations began what the New York Post termed a “spectacular downfall.”

These reports of a toxic workplace led to a review of Ellen’s “nice” personality. Previous episodes of her show began to come under the spotlight. Maybe Ellen wasn’t as nice as we thought she was or as she taught us to be. We just ignored the signs.

“I’m a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up, I’m going death con 3 on JEWISH people,” read a shocking and largely unexpected Kanye West tweet on October 8, 2022. The tweet was just one among a series of anti-semitic tweets by the rapper and businessman. 

Just a little over two weeks after the billionaire rapper posted the tweets, the popular sporting wear manufacturer, Adidas, pulled the plug on its business partnership with the entertainer. The deal, reportedly worth over $4 billion, had elevated West to the billionaires club, a status he would no longer enjoy.

Many people who witnessed or heard about Roman Polanski’s sexual escapades still haven’t forgiven him for his sins. The then 43-year-old film director was accused of non-consensual sexual intercourse with a minor, sodomy, and perversion, amongst other frightening acts.

In the middle of the trial, while a court granted leave to continue filming a movie, Mr. Polanski was pictured with several young girls. This provocative action convinced the judge to toughen the previously planned light sentence. 

In March 2022, fast-rising Hollywood actor Jussie Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in prison (he served only six days) for staging his assault and lying to law enforcement about it. 

After an embarrassing court session where Smollett screamed at the top of his voice for a minute or two, he also had to part with $100,000 in bail bonds. What began with an outpouring of sympathy from Hollywood colleagues and top politicians eventually ended with anger and disappointment for the actor.

If not for an op-ed Amber Heard wrote for The Washington Post in 2018, no one would have guessed that her relationship/marriage with Johnny Depp was as catastrophic as it was.

Not only did Amber Heard lie about being abused, but new reports also revealed she was, in fact, the abuser. Evidence upon evidence showed that she was trying to turn the tables against Johnny, not minding if she ended his career in the process. Thankfully, the court ruled and awarded the major damages in Johnny’s favor.

For many people, gospel singer Deitrick Haddon wasn’t just a minister of the gospel – he was a role model. But not anymore. A series of scandals have shown that the Preachers of LA star hasn’t been a worthy example of Jesus Christ.

What was left of Deitrick Haddon’s reputation was further flushed down the drain when Wendy Williams, a popular talk show host, got him to admit to yet another case of marital infidelity.

If there were a list of “people who don’t deserve to be celebrities,” R. Kelly would probably clinch the top spot.

It will be almost impossible for the multiple Grammy award-winning singer to win the widespread admiration and respect he once enjoyed. Even his music has been a subject of derision.

If there are any fans the Harry Potter author isn’t scared of losing, it is the left wings. After receiving backlash for referring to transgender women as misogynists, the award-winning British author seems unfazed.

J.K Rowling has been tagged a “trans-exclusionary radical feminist” by the left, a reflection of their displeasure over her anti-trans comments.

When the topic of celebrities who have lost your respect surfaced online, one Reddit user didn’t mince words in calling out a popular talk show host. “I’m surprised no one has mentioned Oprah Winfrey yet. Not only did she give a major platform to Dr. Oz & Dr. Phil…”

In what many see as a last-ditch effort to redeem herself from the anger of her former fans, the billionaire TV personality has supported Mr. Fetterman for a Pennsylvania senate seat. Mr. Fetterman was Dr. Oz’s main rival in the Senate race.

Many people regard Dr. Phil McGrew as an entertainer who calls people to share their life challenges on his show. For others, he is a psychologist who just wants to help people get past challenging phases of their lives.

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has taken the red pill. By red pill, we mean he appears to have pitched his tent with the conservatives, which include the controversial Donald Trump.

Regard for Elon Musk has also diminished in the eyes of those who consider him a terrible boss. On several occasions, he has had run-ins with his employee unions.

Kylie Jenner has been in the eye of the storm for something pretty unexpected — not paying her workers. The ex-billionaire, alongside her sister and business partner, has been accused of owing factory workers who produce their fashion line products.

The respect for Hollywood veteran actor, Kevin Spacey Fowler, has diminished after allegations of improper sexual conduct surfaced. In 2017, the House of Cards actor was accused of sexual impropriety with a minor as far back as 1986.

Just as he was striving to recover from the previous one, yet another allegation came to the fore. This time, it was for indecent assault and battery.

Don Lemon has drawn the anger of many TV viewers and political watchers over a recent misogynistic statement. Don, in his comments on live TV, claimed that female presidential candidate Nikki Haley, who is 51, is past her prime.

In response, CNN has mandated Don to participate in formal training, as well as “listen and learn.” The gay TV personality has also apologized for his sexist comments.

Many of Bill Cosby’s fans took a long time to recover from the shock of the allegations of sexual misconduct against the comedian. Famously dubbed “America’s Dad” for his pleasant performances in The Cosby Show, Bill would have been one of the last people to have been suspected of harming anyone.

Bill Cosby is arguably the biggest example of a celebrity’s fall from grace. Not only did he lose many endorsements and partnerships, but the host of “America’s number one show” has also gotten his numerous awards and accolades stripped from him.