Controversies in the world of fame aren’t new. But there are times when celebrities fail to bounce back, thus, losing their careers for good. Will Smith’s stunt at the 2022 Oscars was unexpected. It shoved him into a deep controversy, with Jada Pinkett Smith at the center of it. While the world empathized with the actress, she also fueled the fire with her interview statements and her book, Worthy.
Even though her debut book climbed the top 3 New York Times Best Sellers list, many weren’t pleased by the minute details provided of their marriage. Despite being separated since 2016, Will Smith has continuously stood up for her unofficial ex-wife.
Pinkett Smith, at the same time, recently insinuated that the slap brought the two closer, according to Watch Mojo. Jada, as a result, has been regularly criticized by fans in recent times. At the same time, she is not the first Hollywood celebrity to be involved in controversies over the past year. Following Pinkett Smith’s example, here are 5 other Hollywood stars who went down a similar path of controversies in 2023.
1. Jonathan Majors
Best known for his work in Loki, Creed III, The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Jonathan Majors rose to prominence with his acting finesse. However, as much as 2023 was a professionally successful year with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Majors was arrested on March 25 for domestic assault allegations from his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari.
As per Variety, Jabbari testified in court with an audio where the 34-year-old actor described himself as being a great man, and required the support of an equally great woman. He expected Jabbari to behave like Michelle Obama or Coretta Scott King, in his own words. Consequently, Majors’ Magazine Dreams was barred from being released due to the assault charges. As per WatchMojo, if convicted, Majors may face up to a year in prison.
2. Lizzo
Melissa Viviane Jefferson, popularly known by her stage name Lizzo found herself entangled in a questionable controversy related to body shaming. Despite having faced body-image issues herself, the pop star was accused of encouraging a toxic work environment within her dance team. Three former dancers took out a lawsuit over sexual and religious harassment in addition to body-shaming of dancers, per Entertainment Weekly.
This nuanced a wide concern on Lizzo’s morality, given her constant advocacy for body positivity. The three-time Grammy winner responded to the matter through an Instagram post, claiming they were false allegations and sensationalized stories. Following the controversy, Lizzo was named as a recipient of the Humanitarian Award from the Black Music Action Coalition, bringing about rumors of it being a PR stunt.
3. Justin Roiland
The iconic Adult Swim animated show, Rick and Morty was co-created and voiced by Justin Roiland. As a result, fans were taken aback after he faced sexual assault allegations and his online relations with underage girls, per Forbes. The new season of Rick and Morty saw new voice actors joining the team, while Roiland was replaced.
The former producer was actively involved in the show’s creation until Season 2, post which he only voiced the characters. Roiland also faced domestic violence charges in 2020, following a case filed by her ex-girlfriend. However, the charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence. The star has persistently denied the allegations made against him and condemned the media for criticizing him. However, his replacement was not much of a big deal for fans as the show continues to run gauging great viewership.
4. Danny Masterson
Famously known for his portrayal of Steven Hyde in That ‘70s Show, Daniel Masterson was a fan-favorite actor in the comedy genre. However, a series of allegations made against him in 2017 pulled him out of the spotlight. According to a report by People, Masterson was charged with rape of three women in 2020. The incidents took place between the timeline of 2001 to 2003.
As per another report by Deadline, Masterson was convicted in May 2023 and shall face up to 30 years in state prison. As a result, his acting career has all but conculded. He was fired from Netflix’s The Ranch and has been living from his residuals of Steven Hyde.
5. Colleen Ballinger
Comedian and YouTube star Colleen Ballinger garnered much attention and fame for Miranda Sings. With several features on Broadway, animated movies, and TV, her rising stardom was attacked after an allegation of inappropriate behavior surfaced in 2020. YouTuber Adam McIntyre accused her of misbehaving with him in the past.
The controversy regained momentum in 2023 after another YouTuber supported the allegations of Ballinger’s inappropriate demeanor. Cody Tyler added fuel to the controversy with his backing for McIntyre’s accusations. Furthermore, the 37-year-old singer also found herself amid racial discrimination rumors. Responding to the spiraling situation, Ballinger pretended to apologize publicly while playing her Ukelele. She derived significant hate and criticism for her insensitive approach to the matter and was bound to cancel her live shows for the whole year.
