These celebs have no one to blame but themselves. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be looking at the most notorious controversies that tainted the legacies of prominent celebrities and ultimately led to their downfall. Our countdown of celebrities who suffered career-finishing scandals includes Sean “Diddy” Combs, Jonathan Majors, Danny Masterson, Michael Richards, Matt Lauer, and more! Which of these washed-up celebrities do you think we'll be seeing again? Let us know in the comments.
10. Sean "Diddy" Combs
Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has faced several controversies over the years, including legal issues, allegations of violence, and accusations of toxic workplace behavior. These scandals have impacted his public image and business ventures.
9. Jonathan Majors
Rising star Jonathan Majors faced a major scandal in 2023 when allegations of assault and abuse surfaced. The accusations led to legal troubles and damaged his reputation, potentially affecting his promising acting career.
8. Danny Masterson
Actor Danny Masterson, best known for his role in "That '70s Show," faced multiple allegations of sexual assault, leading to his conviction in 2023. The scandal not only ended his career but also brought attention to the Church of Scientology's handling of abuse claims.
7. Michael Richards
Comedian Michael Richards, famous for playing Kramer on "Seinfeld," saw his career take a nosedive after a racist tirade during a stand-up performance in 2006. The incident severely damaged his public image and led to a significant decline in his career opportunities.
6. Matt Lauer
Once a leading figure on NBC's "Today" show, Matt Lauer's career came crashing down in 2017 when multiple women accused him of sexual harassment and assault. Lauer was fired from NBC, and his reputation was left in tatters.
10. Sean "Diddy" Combs
Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has faced several controversies over the years, including legal issues, allegations of violence, and accusations of toxic workplace behavior. These scandals have impacted his public image and business ventures.
9. Jonathan Majors
Rising star Jonathan Majors faced a major scandal in 2023 when allegations of assault and abuse surfaced. The accusations led to legal troubles and damaged his reputation, potentially affecting his promising acting career.
8. Danny Masterson
Actor Danny Masterson, best known for his role in "That '70s Show," faced multiple allegations of sexual assault, leading to his conviction in 2023. The scandal not only ended his career but also brought attention to the Church of Scientology's handling of abuse claims.
7. Michael Richards
Comedian Michael Richards, famous for playing Kramer on "Seinfeld," saw his career take a nosedive after a racist tirade during a stand-up performance in 2006. The incident severely damaged his public image and led to a significant decline in his career opportunities.
6. Matt Lauer
Once a leading figure on NBC's "Today" show, Matt Lauer's career came crashing down in 2017 when multiple women accused him of sexual harassment and assault. Lauer was fired from NBC, and his reputation was left in tatters.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00These women displayed tremendous strength and bravery by coming forward to law enforcement
00:04and participating directly in two grueling criminal trials."
00:07Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we will be looking at the most notorious controversies
00:12that tainted the legacies of prominent celebrities and ultimately led to their downfall.
00:17With that single inflammatory tweet, Roseanne's rising star imploded today.
00:24Sean Diddy Combs
00:26Throughout his lengthy career, music mogul Sean Diddy Combs has faced several legal issues
00:31ranging from physical assault to weapons violations and sexual harassment.
00:36Surprisingly, none of these cases significantly affected his career until 2023. In November of
00:42that year, Combs' former partner, singer, and actress Cassie filed a lawsuit alleging sexual
00:48assault, sex trafficking, and domestic violence during their decade-long relationship.
00:54This was really big news in the hip-hop space and beyond for a few key reasons. First of all,
01:00the severity of the allegations were utterly shocking."
01:04Although Combs denied the allegations through his attorney,
01:07he swiftly reached a settlement with Cassie the day after the lawsuit was filed.
01:11In the subsequent weeks, additional sexual assault lawsuits emerged,
01:15including one involving a minor. These allegations led to Combs relinquishing
01:19his position as the chairman of the digital cable network Revolt TV.
01:24"...today he is separating himself from one of his business ventures.
01:29Combs stepped down from his position as chairman in the film and television company called
01:34Revolt."
01:34Justin Roiland
01:35Though not the most recognizable celebrity, Justin Roiland gained fame as the co-creator
01:41of the popular adult swim series Rick and Morty.
01:44"...Dad, there's a way we do this now."
01:47"...Morty, would you please accompany me to Forbodulon Prime for Death Crystals?"
01:53"...Well, thank you for asking. Yes, I will do that."
01:56However, his career took a hit in January 2023 when it was reported that he was charged with
02:02felony domestic battery and false imprisonment for a 2020 incident involving his then-girlfriend.
02:08This triggered a cascade of allegations against Roiland, ranging from predatory
02:13behavior towards minors to sexual harassment in the workplace.
02:17In the wake of these allegations, Adult Swim and other companies affiliated with Roiland
02:21severed ties with him. Although Roiland's criminal charges were dismissed in March
02:26due to insufficient evidence, fresh accusations against him had emerged by September.
02:31He, however, denied the claims through his attorney.
02:35Isaiah Washington
02:36Hollywood actor Isaiah Washington is mostly known for one role and one role only.
02:42Dr. Preston Burke on Grey's Anatomy.
02:44"...The honor of performing first surgery is reserved for the intern
02:48that shows the most promise. As I'm running the O.R. today, I get to make that choice.
02:56George O'Malley."
02:57"...Me?"
02:58"...You'll scrub in for an apodectomy this afternoon."
03:00This is because after Washington was fired from the show, his career took a nosedive
03:05and never recovered. Washington's dismissal stemmed from an on-set incident in which he
03:09called his co-star, T.R. Knight, a homophobic slur. Then, after the matter became public,
03:15Washington was questioned about it at the Golden Globes, and went on to repeat the same slur.
03:21"...During this Golden Globes press conference, Washington, standing with the show's cast,
03:26used a homophobic slur in an effort to set the record straight
03:29about an on-set incident with fellow cast member T.R. Knight."
03:33A few months later, he was let go from the series. The media attention around the incident
03:38essentially forced Knight, who reportedly hadn't even disclosed his sexual orientation
03:42to his family yet, to come out publicly.
03:45"...No, no, there's no soul-searching and no apology to T.R. Knight. What I apologize for,
03:49and I will continue to apologize for, for if you're going to be accused of something,
03:53you don't go on the Golden Globes and use the very word that you've been accused of using.
03:57That was a huge mistake."
03:59Ryan Lochte
04:00You know your career is in jeopardy when a scandal adds the infamous
04:04suffix to your name. The incident, known as Lochtegate, unfolded during the 2016
04:10Summer Olympics in Brazil, involving U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte and three teammates.
04:16"...He took our money, he took my wallet, and then..."
04:20"...But he left your cell phone, he left your credential..."
04:22"...He left my cell phone, he left my credential, but he took my wallet,
04:26and he took all the guys' tech."
04:28Lochte initially claimed that they were robbed at a gas station by armed individuals,
04:33impersonating police officers. However, Brazilian authorities conducted an investigation
04:39and found no evidence of such robbery. Instead, they determined that the swimmers had vandalized
04:44the gas station and were made to pay for the damages by the security guards.
04:48Lochte later publicly apologized, admitting that he had exaggerated the incident.
04:53"...I'm human. I made a mistake, and that's something that I'm gonna have to live with."
04:57Consequently, he was suspended for 10 months by USA Swimming
05:01and lost all of his major sponsorships.
05:04Amber Heard
05:05Although the marriage between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp was brief,
05:08it triggered a series of events that would ultimately ruin Heard's career.
05:12"...It was very, very toxic. We were awful to each other. You know, I made a lot of,
05:20lot of mistakes. A lot of mistakes. But I've always told the truth."
05:26During their 2016 divorce proceedings, Heard accused Depp of domestic violence,
05:31a claim she appeared to reiterate in a 2018 article. As a result, Depp sued Heard for
05:37defamation, claiming that he was the actual victim of domestic violence. Heard countersued Depp,
05:43resulting in a trial that was widely watched and received extensive social media coverage,
05:48most of which was critical towards Heard.
05:50"...There's absolutely no question that especially Johnny Depp's lawyers
05:55are playing to the public. There's no question."
05:58Ultimately, the jury dismissed all but one of Heard's claims,
06:02and ruled that she had defamed Depp. This portrayed her as dishonest in the public eye,
06:07and effectively tarnished her reputation in Hollywood.
06:11Jonathan Majors
06:12Ever since his screen debut in 2017, Jonathan Majors had been on a steady rise in Hollywood.
06:17In 2023, he began portraying Kang the Conqueror in the MCU,
06:22a character expected to play a central role in the franchise's sixth phase.
06:26"...You're out of your league, Ant-Man.
06:36Just be glad I need you."
06:38However, that March, Majors faced a series of charges including assault
06:43and aggravated harassment, stemming from an incident with his then-girlfriend.
06:47Subsequently, multiple individuals came forward alleging that he had also assaulted them.
06:52The consequences followed swiftly. Majors was dropped by his management company and PR firm,
06:58and his film, Magazine Dreams, was removed from Disney's release schedule.
07:02A criminal trial for the assault charges began in November 2023,
07:06finding Majors guilty of misdemeanor assault and harassment.
07:10Marvel dropped him from future productions.
07:12Oh, it was colossal that Marvel dropped, you know, Jonathan from future projects. Colossal.
07:18We're talking about the most successful film franchise of all times,
07:21the most visible project that he's been a part of.
07:24Michael Vick
07:25Once the highest-paid NFL player,
07:27Michael Vick enjoyed great success as a star quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons.
07:32Vick steps up, enters the red zone, inside the 15, the 10, turns the corner, dives, touchdown!
07:40The Giants defense, you can't play him in true man-to-man because you're turning your back to
07:45him. It just parts like the Red Sea in front of him.
07:47However, in 2007, his career took a hit when it was revealed that he had operated a venture
07:53called Bad News Kennels, which organized illegal dogfights. Authorities searched Vick's property
08:00in Surrey County, Virginia, and discovered disturbing evidence of animal cruelty.
08:05Consequently, Vick pleaded guilty to federal and state charges related to running the dogfighting
08:10ring, resulting in a 23-month sentence in federal prison.
08:14Best thing for me, that ever happened to me in my life,
08:18was me getting shipped off to Kansas, man. Because other than that, I wasn't going to change.
08:24The scandal prompted the NFL to indefinitely suspend Vick,
08:27and led to the loss of multiple sponsorship deals. Although he eventually made a comeback,
08:32this incident remains a significant stain on Vick's once-pristine career.
08:38Milli Vanilli
08:39For a short period in the late 80s and early 90s, German-French duo
08:44Milli Vanilli were one of the biggest acts in pop music.
08:55They toured the world on the back of their hit debut album, released in the US as
09:00You Know It's True, and won the Grammy for Best New Artist.
09:03We want to say thank you very much, but we want to say there are a lot of artists here in this room,
09:09there are a lot of artists outside in the world who could achieve the same award that we achieved
09:14today.
09:14But their newfound fame vanished almost as quickly as it emerged, when it was revealed
09:19that the two didn't sing on any of their album's tracks. Instead, their producer,
09:24Frank Farian, had hired other vocalists to perform the songs.
09:28While Milli Vanilli only lip-synced.
09:30As a result, the duo were forced to return their Grammy to the Recording Academy,
09:35and were dropped by their label, Arista Records.
09:38The purpose of the event was to announce the pair was returning the Grammy awards they won
09:43for Best New Artist of 1989, but the Recording Academy had already stripped them of the trophies
09:49the day before.
09:50Jeffrey Jones
09:51With roles in iconic 80s movies like Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Beetlejuice,
09:56Jeffrey Jones became one of the most revered character actors in Hollywood.
10:12His career continued to blossom throughout the 90s,
10:14but came to a screeching halt in 2002 when he made headlines for all the wrong reasons.
10:20Jones had been indicted for possession of explicit photographs involving a minor,
10:24and pleaded no contest to the charges.
10:26Although he received no jail time, he was sentenced to five years' probation,
10:30and made to register as a sex offender.
10:33Since then, Jones has managed a few film and TV appearances,
10:36but his career has never remained the same.
10:38"...you ever been beaten, Merrick?"
10:43"...once. When I thought I had the smallpox, Doc Cochran slapped me in the face."
10:50Pete Rose
10:51As a Major League Baseball player, Pete Rose was outstanding.
10:55"...it's the batting stance that he's vulnerable in.
10:57If you have a lump in your throat, you're only human."
11:01Among his plethora of accolades, Rose won Rookie of the Year, MVP, and three World Series rings.
11:08Following a phenomenal career as a player, Rose began managing the Cincinnati Reds,
11:13the same team with which he got his professional start.
11:15In 1988, evidence surfaced showing that Rose had bet on baseball games,
11:20including those on his own team, the Reds.
11:22"...but all I can tell you about that is I did nothing to alter the statistics of baseball."
11:28"...the problem a lot of people still have is,
11:30why would he do it? Why would he bet on baseball? Why risk the integrity of the game?"
11:35Although he initially denied the claims, Rose agreed to a lifetime ban from the sport,
11:40eventually ruling himself ineligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame.
11:44After years of repeated denials, Rose published an autobiography in 2004,
11:49in which he publicly admitted to the gambling allegations.
11:52"...you denied that you bet on baseball for 14 years. Why did you wait so long?"
11:56"...uh, that's a good question."
11:58Danny Masterson
11:59After rising to prominence on the Fox comedy series That 70s Show,
12:03Danny Masterson further established himself with roles in other sitcoms,
12:07like Men at Work and The Ranch.
12:10"...yeah, he just said good job and then I think he felt nauseous and went outside to get some air."
12:14Controversy erupted in 2017, however, when Masterson was accused of sexual assault by
12:19four women. This led Netflix to fire him from The Ranch. The women claimed that Masterson
12:24assaulted them during their time in the Church of Scientology, of which he was also a member.
12:30Additionally, they alleged that other church members harassed them
12:33after they came forward with their allegations. Despite vehemently denying the accusations,
12:38Masterson was charged with three counts of sexual assault and ultimately convicted of two.
12:44He was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison.
12:46"...the three women in this case told the judge that Masterson's crimes had ruined their lives
12:51and asked the judge to give the actor life behind bars."
12:54Anthony Weiner
12:55Former New York Congressman Anthony Weiner earned national attention in 2010
13:00after giving an impassioned speech on the House floor. About a year later,
13:03he found himself in the headlines again, this time for sending lewd photos of himself
13:08to a woman on Twitter, who was not his wife.
13:11The ensuing controversy resulted in him resigning from Congress in June of 2011.
13:16"...unfortunately the distraction that I have created has made that impossible.
13:22So today I am announcing my resignation from Congress."
13:25Following an absence from the spotlight, Weiner resurfaced in 2013,
13:29announcing a bid for mayor of New York City. But yet again,
13:33allegations of even more sexting ran his campaign to the ground. In 2017,
13:37Weiner faced criminal charges after it was revealed that he had exchanged explicit material
13:42with a minor. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison.
13:46"...Weiner was hoping to avoid any jail time, looking for probation,
13:50his lawyers arguing that he's on his way to recovery and would not receive proper therapy
13:55inside prison."
13:56Kevin Spacey
13:57Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey was at the peak of his career in 2017,
14:02when he experienced a dramatic downfall.
14:04"...I imagine that many of you can understand
14:08that there's a lot for me to process after what has just happened today."
14:13It all began with actor Anthony Rapp accusing Spacey of sexually assaulting him when he was
14:18a minor. In response, Spacey publicly apologized to Rapp, then inexplicably decided to use the
14:23opportunity to come out as gay, a move that was met with swift backlash. Rapp's claims were
14:28followed by a wave of other allegations, resulting in Spacey being fired from House of Cards,
14:34dropped by his publicist and talent agency, and quite literally scrubbed out of a film.
14:39Spacey faced multiple criminal sexual assault charges in both the US and UK,
14:44but was ultimately cleared of all of them.
14:47"...and he's been found not guilty of all of these offences. Kevin Spacey will see this
14:52as an opportunity to revive his career, but what played out in court was truly riveting."
14:58Michael Richards
14:59As Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld, Michael Richards was beloved by millions of fans,
15:04who, for years, closely associated him with the eccentric but lovable character.
15:09"...Jerry, I know myself. If I'm out on the street and it starts to go down,
15:14I don't back off until it's finished."
15:18"...Are we finished?"
15:20"...Done."
15:20In 2006, that perception changed dramatically when a recording of Richards' set at the
15:26Laugh Factory was released by TMZ. In the clip, Richards bursts into an expletive-riddled
15:32racist rant after he is heckled by some members of the audience. Days later,
15:37Richards made a virtual appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman,
15:41in which he publicly apologized for his remarks.
15:44"...I'm really busted up over this and I'm very, very sorry to those people in the audience,
15:52uh, the Blacks, the Hispanics, the whites, everyone that was there that took the brunt
15:56of that anger and, and, and, and hate and rage."
16:01Many, including one of the effective audience members, were unconvinced by this apology. In
16:062007, Richards announced he was dropping his mic and retiring from stand-up comedy.
16:11"...But no, no, I, I, I, I, uh, uh, uh, uh, I busted up after that event seven years ago.
16:19It broke me down."
16:20Mark Sulling
16:21Mark Sulling rose to prominence playing football star and bad boy
16:24Noah Puckerman on the Fox musical series Glee.
16:28"...Sweet Caroline."
16:32Sulling lost significant favor in December 2015 when he was arrested based on the suspicion
16:39that he possessed explicit pictures and videos involving minors.
16:43This suspicion was later confirmed after police discovered the unsavory material on his computer
16:48and flash drives. He was brought up on criminal charges the following May,
16:52and eventually pleaded guilty to the crime.
16:55In light of the scandal, the actor was fired from an upcoming project with filmmaker Adi Shankar.
17:00While awaiting sentencing, Sulling took his own life in January of 2018.
17:05"...This is where Sulling's body was discovered near a riverbed in Sunland.
17:10Happened right around 8.50 this morning. TMZ is reporting that Sulling may have taken his own life."
17:15Paula Deen
17:16The one celebrity chef famous for her traditional Southern recipes,
17:20Paula Deen led a successful cooking empire, with multiple restaurants and TV shows.
17:25"...Food is a vehicle that gets you here with me. But look at this. And look at that."
17:33"...That's heaven on earth."
17:34This empire began to crumble, however, when a former employee sued Deen for discrimination.
17:39The lawsuit brought with it a deposition,
17:41during which Deen admitted to having used racial slurs in the past.
17:45According to the deposition, Deen was asked,
17:48"'Have you ever used the n-word yourself?' To which she replies,
17:51"'Yes, of course.' When asked for context, she said it was in a conversation with her husband."
17:55Once the transcript found its way to the public in 2013,
17:59Deen released multiple tearful apologies, pleading for forgiveness.
18:03That did little to stop her from losing several sponsors and her contract with the Food Network.
18:08"...The Food Network's decision has caused a backlash of its own. Many of her angry fans
18:13flooded its Facebook page with comments like,
18:16"'Please bring Paula Deen back and I will no longer watch the Food Network
18:20because of the unjust treatment of Paula.'"
18:23Since then, the Georgia chef has attempted a comeback,
18:26opening even more restaurants and launching her own online food channel.
18:30However, she has yet to attain the same level of success.
18:34Jared Fogle
18:35Beginning in the early 2000s, Jared Fogle became a spokesman for Subway Restaurants
18:40after claiming that their meals played a part in his rapid weight loss.
18:44"...Then I found Subway Restaurants,
18:47and I realized I could enjoy lots of great tasting food without lots of fat."
18:50Fogle began appearing in a series of commercials for the company
18:53and reportedly contributed to significant growth in Subway's sales.
18:57Things took a shocking turn in 2015, however,
19:00when Fogle's home was raided and he was arrested as a result of a lengthy FBI investigation.
19:05A month ago, authorities raided his Indiana home,
19:08confiscating cell phones, hard drives, and cameras.
19:11"...You just wouldn't expect it out of a family like that."
19:13Just hours after that raid, Subway suspended their relationship with Jared.
19:17Apparently, Fogle had engaged in inappropriate relationships with minors
19:21and distributed obscene material involving youth.
19:24He pleaded guilty to multiple criminal charges
19:27and was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison.
19:30"...Jared Fogle expects to go to prison. He will do his time. He expects to get well.
19:37He expects to continue to make amends to those people whose lives he has affected."
19:42Stephen Collins
19:43For more than a decade, Stephen Collins led the TV series
19:467th Heaven, starring as Protestant minister Eric Camden.
19:51"...Welcome everyone.
19:55I'd like to read something from Ecclesiastes,
19:59although most of you may have thought this was from the birds."
20:01He made a number of appearances in films and TV show afterwards,
20:04only to completely disappear from the screen in 2014.
20:08Collins had been embroiled in controversy that year when a tape recording leaked
20:12featuring a man, who sounded like the actor, admitting to assaulting a minor in the past.
20:18"...When did you realize she was wearing a wire?"
20:20"...She took me into a stairwell and she told me there, she revealed that,
20:26she said, I recorded. I was wearing a wire. I recorded that session."
20:32He eventually confessed to the crime, disclosing that he had engaged in
20:35inappropriate sexual conduct with three female minors in 1973, 1982, and 1994.
20:43Although he evaded prosecution reportedly due to the statute of limitations,
20:48Collins was fired from multiple Hollywood projects and has stayed away from the spotlight ever since.
20:53"...Following the October release of the tape, Collins had lost acting jobs
20:57and the show that made him famous has been pulled from syndication."
21:01Lance Armstrong
21:02Once widely regarded as one of the greatest cyclists of all time,
21:05Lance Armstrong brought global attention to the sport.
21:08"...Armstrong wins the Tour de France."
21:10"...For seven straight years, he dominated arguably the hardest sporting event in the world."
21:15Armstrong won seven consecutive Tour de France titles,
21:18a feat made more impressive by the fact that he had beat cancer a few years prior.
21:23Despite all of that acclaim, Armstrong faced allegations of doping for years,
21:27which he continuously denied.
21:29"...It's unfortunate that the yellow jersey of the Tour de France always has to defend drugs.
21:33Extraordinary accusations must be followed up with extraordinary proof."
21:38"...You said that I am the cancer and the cancer is out of remission.
21:41You are not worth the chair that you're sitting on with a statement like that."
21:45It all came to a head in 2012 when the United States Anti-Doping Agency
21:49found him guilty of not only taking enhancement drugs, but also of running a doping syndicate.
21:55Armstrong was stripped of all of his titles and received a lifetime ban from all sports
22:00under the World Anti-Doping Code.
22:02"...The UCI Cycling's governing body at that press conference going on in Switzerland right now,
22:06officially stripping Armstrong, banning him for life, saying, quote,
22:09there is no place in cycling for Lance Armstrong."
22:12Armie Hammer
22:13This actor was on the rise throughout the 2010s,
22:16starring in The Lone Ranger and The Man From U.N.C.L.E.,
22:19before earning critical acclaim as Oliver in Call Me By Your Name.
22:23"...So what do you do around here?"
22:27"...Read books, transcribe music, swim at the river, go out at night, I don't know."
22:34"...Sounds fun."
22:34But everything collapsed in January of 2021.
22:38It was then that text messages that revealed Hammer's violent fantasies were made public.
22:43"...For weeks, I've been trying to process everything that has transpired.
22:47I am shocked, heartbroken, and devastated."
22:50Other women also came forward with additional allegations,
22:53and the woman who leaked the original texts accused Hammer of sexually assaulting her in 2017.
22:59The actor dropped out or was fired from a string of projects
23:02and moved to the Cayman Islands, where he reportedly worked as a timeshare salesman.
23:07"...I'm not responding to these expletive claims,
23:09but in light of the vicious online attacks against me,
23:13I cannot in good conscience now leave my children for four months to shoot a film."
23:17In 2023, the Los Angeles D.A. declined to charge him criminally due to insufficient evidence.
23:24Charlie Sheen
23:25This actor enjoyed decades of success,
23:28with his mainstream popularity spanning back to the late 80s.
23:31"...And your problem is you."
23:33"...Excuse me?"
23:34"...Excuse you."
23:36"...You ought to spend a little more time dealing with yourself.
23:39A little less time worrying about what your brother does.
23:42That's just an opinion."
23:43However, he underwent a very public downfall throughout the 2010s,
23:47owing mainly to his problems with substance use.
23:50Following a stint in rehab, Sheen was fired from Two and a Half Men
23:54for making offensive comments about his boss, Chuck Lorre.
23:58"...The show claimed that you were unable to perform your duties.
24:02They cited erratic behavior and derogatory public comments about the show.
24:06You claim it was wrongful termination.
24:08Is the truth somewhere in the middle there, Charlie?"
24:10"...The derogatory stuff is true."
24:12The termination resulted in a lot of publicity for the actor,
24:15as did his increasingly erratic behavior.
24:17He rode this publicity and found consistent work,
24:20including an FX sitcom called Anger Management that ran for 100 episodes.
24:25"...Guys, this is huge! This is bigger than huge!"
24:28However, Sheen's star had undeniably faded,
24:31and he has only had minimal work in TV or film since 2017.
24:36Matt Lauer
24:37One of the most prominent American newsmen,
24:39Matt Lauer, found great success co-hosting the NBC program Today.
24:44He lasted 20 years on the show, with his tenure spanning from 1997 to 2017.
24:49"...We're very excited to be celebrating you, Matt,
24:52and Al and I were lucky enough to be here when it all started in 1997."
24:57It was in that year that a fellow NBC employee
25:00reported that Lauer had repeatedly harassed her.
25:02Many other allegations were reported throughout the following years,
25:05and according to journalist Ronan Farrow,
25:08NBC was fully aware of Lauer's predatory behavior.
25:11"...The evidence in this book, the documentation and paper trail of settlements,
25:15reveals that there were multiple arrangements to keep women quiet
25:21who had allegations against Matt Lauer years before this one that got him fired."
25:25They only acted following the public accusation and fired Lauer in November 2017.
25:30Lauer and his wife divorced in 2019,
25:33and Lauer has reportedly spent his time writing a tell-all book.
25:37"...It had been a stunning fall from grace for Matt Lauer.
25:40After his firing, his wife divorced him.
25:42He's selling his $44 million Hamptons home and went almost totally dark on social media."
25:48Roseanne Barr
25:49There was once a time when Roseanne Barr was the hottest name in television.
25:53Her eponymous sitcom was a huge success throughout the late 80s and 90s,
25:57running for 10 seasons and earning Barr an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy.
26:03"...Oh, hold it right there.
26:05You were very, very mean to me and hurt my feelings today,
26:08and I'm not sure that I even want to talk to you yet."
26:09The show was revived in 2018, but it only lasted one season,
26:13before Barr's controversial actions got it canceled.
26:16On May 29th of that year, Barr wrote a racist tweet
26:20aimed at former White House senior advisor Valerie Jarrett.
26:23"...within hours, ABC pulled the plug on the show,
26:26saying Roseanne's Twitter statement is abhorrent,
26:29repugnant, and inconsistent with our values, and we've decided to cancel her show."
26:34The reaction was swift and severe, with ABC canceling the show that same day.
26:39A spinoff titled The Conners was made without Barr,
26:41and she disappeared from the television landscape.
26:44"...I know Roseanne would want me to step in and watch over the family."
26:47"...No, it'd kill her.
26:51But she's already dead, so carry on."
26:53Bill O'Reilly
26:54One of the most popular conservative commentators,
26:57Bill O'Reilly, was known for hosting The O'Reilly Factor on Fox News.
27:01"...Hi, I'm Bill O'Reilly. Thanks for watching us tonight.
27:04We'll have the talking points memo a bit later on,
27:06but first, an interview with Donald Trump."
27:08Which ran for 21 seasons between 1996 and 2017.
27:12While the program was an enormous success in the ratings,
27:15it came to a sudden end once settlements against O'Reilly were made known.
27:19The New York Times broke a story and revealed that O'Reilly had been the
27:22target of five sexual harassment lawsuits.
27:26"...The path to O'Reilly's ouster began two weeks ago with a New York Times investigation
27:31revealing that five women, including guests and employees of his show,
27:35had been paid $13 million in settlement."
27:38Both he and Fox News paid millions in settlements to keep them under wraps.
27:42Advertisers dropped their support for The O'Reilly Factor once the news was made public,
27:47and Fox fired their most popular host.
27:50He then started hosting a podcast called No Spin News.
27:53"...Bill O'Reilly here. Welcome to the No Spin News."
27:56Jussie Smollett
27:57Beginning in 2015, ex-Child star Jussie Smollett began starring as Jamal Lyon on Fox's Empire.
28:04"...Is this your idea of a sick joke?
28:08Nah, I mean, you seem kind of jealous of the song I wrote for Mom, so I wrote one for you."
28:13"...Did you know about this?"
28:16The series was an immediate success, garnering several Emmy nominations,
28:20and being named one of the 10 Best Shows of the Year by the American Film Institute.
28:25In January 2019, Smollett fabricated a fake hate crime and was later sued by the city of Chicago.
28:32"...Breaking overnight. A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation
28:36tells NBC News that Chicago police are now looking into whether Empire actor Jussie Smollett
28:42actually paid two men to fake an attack against him."
28:46They filed a lawsuit hoping to reclaim over $130,000 that they had spent fruitlessly
28:51investigating Smollett's tall tale. He was also fired from Empire and hasn't appeared on TV since.
28:58In December of 2021, Smollett was found guilty of five felony counts of disorderly conduct
29:03and sentenced to 150 days in county jail.
29:06"...There are people that are actual, genuine victims of hate crimes that you did damage to.
29:11I don't know how this is going to impact other people, if they're going to be hesitant to come
29:15forward because they're going to think that they're going to be accused of acting like you."
29:19Kanye West
29:20Ever since making his debut as a recording artist in the early 2000s,
29:24Kanye West became one of the most influential figures of the 21st century, in hip-hop and fashion.
29:30Throughout his career, West has been at the center of controversy more than just a handful
29:42of times, but perhaps the most consequential came in 2022. The rapper was first criticized
29:48for wearing a white Lives Matter t-shirt at the Paris Fashion Week.
29:52"...I thought the shirt was a funny shirt. I thought the idea of me wearing it was funny."
29:58Soon after, he tweeted anti-Semitic remarks when he was locked out of his Instagram account.
30:03West faced immediate backlash, resulting in the loss of his billionaire status
30:08and multiple business partnerships with companies like Balenciaga, Gap, and Adidas.
30:13Other brands have made similar moves. Gap is now pulling its Yeezy Gap line from store shelves.
30:19Luxury fashion house Balenciaga and talent agency CAA have dropped him.
30:24A completed documentary about his life has also been shelved.
30:28While West has been said to have mental health issues,
30:31it's clear his career will likely never be the same.
30:35Phil Spector
30:36Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Phil Spector was a highly sought-after music producer,
30:41having worked with acts like The Beatles, The Righteous Brothers, and Ike and Tina Turner.
30:46Over the next few decades, he retreated from the spotlight,
30:49only to make headlines in 2003 for all the wrong reasons.
30:53"...he appeared eccentric, troubled, lonely, a man mired in his own darkness."
30:58On February 3rd of that year, Spector fatally shot
31:01actress Lana Clarkson in his Alhambra, California home.
31:05This led to murder charges, and in 2007, he faced a trial that ended in a mistrial.
31:11A second trial commenced the following year,
31:13ultimately resulting in his conviction and a prison sentence of 19 years to life.
31:18"...but after one mistrial, Spector was convicted in 2009 of second-degree murder."
31:24"...his legacy will forever be that of a convicted murderer who happened to write songs."
31:29In January 2021, while serving his sentence,
31:32Spector died, reportedly from complications of COVID-19.
31:37R. Kelly
31:38A huge star of the 90s, R. Kelly is a multi-Grammy winner,
31:41who has sold over 75 million records.
31:44"...I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky."
31:52However, he was also reportedly accused of sexual misconduct and assault by multiple individuals.
31:58Kelly managed to evade consequences for his behaviour for decades,
32:01until the release of the 2019 Lifetime documentary Surviving R. Kelly,
32:06which chronicled his history of allegations.
32:08"...I felt like my silence allowed it to continue."
32:13"...I worked up the courage to come forward and tell my story."
32:16"...a part of me always felt like maybe I did something for him to treat me that way."
32:21"...I want my story to be heard."
32:23Following his release, the singer was dropped by RCA Records and charged with new crimes.
32:28He was found guilty of racketeering and of violating the MAN Act,
32:32which concerns the transportation of women for illicit activities.
32:36Kelly faced another trial in the state of Illinois and was found guilty,
32:39bringing his total prison sentence to 31 years.
32:43"...and showed no remorse, and in fact seemed to believe that as a music superstar,
32:48he was somehow immune from having to behave lawfully."
32:51Harvey Weinstein
32:52This man was once a powerful figure in Hollywood.
32:55"...Harvey Weinstein was the king of Hollywood, a mogul with 81 Oscars to his name."
33:02The co-founder of both Miramax and The Weinstein Company,
33:05Harvey Weinstein is the Oscar- and Tony-winning producer behind works like Pulp Fiction,
33:11Good Will Hunting, and Shakespeare in Love. However, behind the scenes,
33:15he used his power and influence to sexually harass and assault women.
33:19Things came to a head in October of 2017, when The New York Times and The New Yorker
33:24reported over a dozen allegations against him, sparking the hashtag MeToo movement.
33:30It's been five years since allegations against Harvey Weinstein set in motion a movement
33:35that changed Hollywood and the world, some women still hoping for justice.
33:40In total, over 80 women came forth, accusing Weinstein of harassment and or
33:45assault, including popular actress Rose McGowan.
33:48Weinstein was charged and found guilty of two felonies and sentenced to 23 years in prison.
33:55We have breaking news for you. Harvey Weinstein is heading to prison.
33:58Judge James Burke in New York City just delivered the sentence, 23 years.
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34:18Bill Cosby
34:20While he had been a successful comedian since the 60s,
34:23Bill Cosby is mostly remembered for starring as Cliff Huxtable in the enormously popular The Cosby
34:29Show. He gained a reputation as America's Dad throughout the 1980s, but this changed
34:47dramatically in the 2010s. After comedian Hannibal Buress drew attention to allegations
34:52against Cosby in 2014, numerous women came forward with further accusations of sexual assault,
34:58dating all the way back to the mid-60s. On September 25th, 2018, Cosby was sentenced
35:04to prison for aggravated indecent assault. He remained behind bars for nearly three years,
35:09but his conviction was overturned on June 30th, 2021.
35:13The Philadelphia Supreme Court threw out the conviction,
35:16saying Cosby's due process rights were violated.
35:18While Cosby was released from prison, his career is effectively over.
35:23Which of these washed-up celebrities do you think we'll be seeing again? Let us know in the comments.
35:28Are you sorry you said that? I don't think it matters. You should be.
35:32Absolutely not.
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