15 Celebrities Who Singlehandedly Jeopardized Their Careers — 30+ Photos

From shocking allegations and criminal cases to offensive remarks and social media meltdowns, these stars watched momentum unravel in real time.

A series of scandals, criminal cases, and public controversies has derailed, and, in some cases, effectively ended, the careers of some of Hollywood's most recognizable names. From courtroom drama to damaging remarks and outbursts captured on video, the incidents below show how quickly fame can curdle when public trust collapses.

One moment, they were stars lighting up our screens. The next? Public pariahs, disgraced and discarded by the very industry that once celebrated them.

Acquitted, but Abandoned

Once one of Hollywood's most bankable actors, Kevin Spacey saw his career collapse in late 2017 after actor Anthony Rapp accused him of sexual assault in a BuzzFeed interview, allegations dating back to 1986. At the time, Spacey was starring in Netflix's political juggernaut "House of Cards" and was immediately dropped from the series as the scandal erupted.

Though Spacey was later cleared in court, a New York jury found he did not sexually abuse Rapp in 2022, and a London court acquitted him of all charges involving four other men the following year, the damage to his career proved lasting. As Spacey told The Telegraph, Hollywood essentially turned away, even as he quietly continued working with independent filmmakers.

"I literally have no home," Spacey said, describing the toll of years of legal battles and financial strain. "I'm living in hotels, I'm living in Airbnbs, I'm going where the work is. I literally have no home, that's what I'm attempting to explain." His financial situation? "Not great."

A Career Nearly Erased

In 2001, Rebecca Gayheart, then best known as a former Noxzema model and a star of "Beverly Hills, 90210," struck and killed a nine-year-old boy, Jorge Cruz Jr., with her vehicle in Hollywood. Gayheart later settled a wrongful-death lawsuit with the boy's family and pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter.

She paid for the child's hospital and funeral expenses and was sentenced to probation, a suspended driver's license, a fine, and hundreds of hours of community service. Although Gayheart eventually returned to acting in more minor roles and made her Broadway debut in "Steel Magnolias," she later admitted the tragedy nearly ended her career.

One Punch, and a Football Career Lost

NFL running back Ray Rice was captured on surveillance video delivering a brutal punch to his then-fiancée, Janay Palmer, in a casino elevator in 2014. The footage, first published by TMZ, showed Palmer collapsing unconscious as a result of the blow.

The Baltimore Ravens released Rice, and he never played professional football again. Rice later said he did not believe he deserved another chance in the league and has since worked with the NFL on domestic violence education efforts.

One Slur, and a Sudden Hollywood Freeze-Out

Isaiah Washington, a breakout star on "Grey's Anatomy," saw his career unravel after a backstage incident at the 2007 Golden Globe Awards involving an anti-gay slur. Washington later told HuffPost Live that no one in the industry wanted to work with him afterward.

"After the incident at the Golden Globes, everything just fell apart. I lost everything," Washington said, adding that he could no longer afford representation or publicists.

A Billionaire Author Under Fire

In 2020, "Harry Potter" author J. K. Rowling ignited global backlash after posting commentary on sex and gender that critics described as transphobic. The fallout was swift: actors associated with her franchise publicly distanced themselves, awards organizations criticized her views, and even the fictional sport Quidditch rebranded itself amid scrutiny.

Rowling later wrote that she had "been paying the price ever since," describing intense online abuse and condemnation.

Social Media Past Comes Back to Haunt Her

Model and media personality Chrissy Teigen came under fire in 2021 after past online messages surfaced, reportedly showing her harassing Courtney Stodden when Stodden was a minor. Fashion designer Michael Costello later accused Teigen of years-long bullying that he said left him contemplating suicide.

Teigen publicly apologized and addressed the backlash in an essay on Medium, acknowledging the harm caused by her behavior, though reputational damage lingered.

Violent Outburst Ends Emile Hirsch's Momentum

Actor Hirsch pleaded guilty to assault after choking a female film executive during the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. He received jail time, probation, community service, and fines as part of a plea deal. Despite his best-known roles in "Into the Wild" and "Milk," the incident marked a turning point in his career.

Racist Tweet Destroys a Hit Revival

ABC abruptly canceled the hit revival "Roseanne" in 2018 after Roseanne Barr posted racist tweets about former President Obama's aide Valerie Jarrett. Although Barr apologized publicly, network executives condemned the remarks as unacceptable, and the show was swiftly pulled despite massive ratings success.

The Surgery That Made Her Unrecognizable

After the runaway success of "Dirty Dancing," Jennifer Grey made a personal decision that she later said devastated her career: cosmetic surgery.

"I went into the ­operating room a ­celebrity and came out anonymous," Grey said. "It was the nose job from hell. I'll always be this once-famous actress nobody ­recognises because of a nose job."

An Alleged Assault Sparks a Vanishing Act

Matthew Fox, the star of "Lost," was detained in 2011 after allegedly assaulting a female party bus driver in Cleveland. The allegations, combined with public accusations from former co-star Dominic Monaghan, preceded a lengthy break from acting.

From Rising Star to Public Disgrace

Once a rising star on "Empire," Jussie Smollett was accused of staging a hate crime against himself in 2019. Prosecutors alleged Smollett orchestrated the attack, paying two brothers to carry it out.

Though the initial charges were dropped, the scandal ended his run on the show, with creator Lee Daniels stating unequivocally that Smollett would not return.

Her Holocaust Comparison Ends Disney Career

Gina Carano was fired from "The Mandalorian" after posting comparisons online equating modern conservative experiences to the Holocaust. A spokesperson for Lucasfilm called her posts "abhorrent and unacceptable," cutting ties with the actress amid mounting backlash.

Ezra Miller's Arrests and Apologies

Actor Miller faced multiple arrests in 2022 and later announced they were seeking treatment for "complex mental health issues." "I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior," Miller said in a statement, as controversy swirled around the release of "The Flash."

Disturbing Allegations Shatter a Career

Los Angeles police investigated Armie Hammer following rape allegations made by a woman identified as Effie. While denying claims, including lurid online rumors, Hammer acknowledged the damage to his career amid the controversy.

From Breakout to Blacklist

Actor Jason Mitchell, once positioned as a breakout star after "Straight Outta Compton" and "The Chi," was fired from multiple projects following misconduct allegations and later arrested on drug and weapons charges in Mississippi. In rapid succession, Mitchell was dropped by his agent, manager, and lawyer, effectively halting his ascent in Hollywood.

Together, these stories reveal a brutal truth: in today's culture of viral videos and digital trails, one act of poor judgment can undo decades of success. The spotlight may be bright — but for these stars, it also casts long shadows.