23 Stars Who Lost All Their Fans In Record Time

Dr. Phil built a massive following as daytime TV’s voice of reason, but viewers began questioning whether he was helping guests or exploiting them. One viral moment came when the creator of Bumfights appeared dressed as Dr. Phil and accused the host of profiting off people’s suffering.

His recent activities didn’t help either, with Dr. Phil openly supporting the candidacy of United States President Donald Trump. Recent videos have even shown Dr. Phil joining ICE in their hunt for undocumented immigrants across the United States.

“Gentle reminder, he is not a trained therapist. He did a PhD in a psychology department and got his break in showbiz selecting jury members. Again, he never trained in therapy. He’s a charlatan,” one commenter on Reddit wrote.

Gwyneth Paltrow has long been a lightning rod for criticism, not just for her Hollywood fame, but for the way she seems completely detached from the world most people live in. She once compared the struggles of acting, like her experience with a fat suit, to having an office job. She also caught flak for describing her split from Chris Martin as “conscious uncoupling.”

Her lifestyle brand, Goop, only deepened the divide. From promoting $66 “jade yoni eggs” to “healing stickers” supposedly made from NASA tech, and which NASA quickly denied, Goop has faced accusations of spreading misinformation and pushing overpriced products to the ultra-rich.

Even her well-meaning #FoodBankNYCChallenge attempt backfired when she couldn’t finish it. Later on, her daughter Apple starred in a Gap campaign, which critics quickly labeled as yet another “nepo baby” move. Critics argued that this was proof that Paltrow still doesn’t understand why people feel alienated by her brand of wellness and privilege.

Chris Pratt’s public image has shifted dramatically in recent years, and not in his favor.
Once adored for his goofy charm on Parks and Recreation and his superhero role as Star-lord in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Pratt has faced mounting backlash over his perceived conservative politics, his ties to Hillsong Church’s anti-LBGTQ+ reputation, and his public defense of controversial figures.

Fans also took issue with his comments about feeling underrepresented as a “straight white man,” which many found tone-deaf, given his Hollywood privilege. His decision not to join a virtual fundraiser for Joe Biden in 2020 further fueled speculation about his political leanings.

The backlash deepened after he praised his current wife for giving him a “healthy daughter,” a remark critics saw as insensitive toward his ex-wife, Anna Faris, whose son was born prematurely and required NICU care and surgery for visual and heart conditions. This was, as one commenter summed it up, a “scumbag move.”

Ellen DeGeneres’ downfall might be one of the most shocking on this list. For nearly two decades, she was America’s beloved talk show host, according to Entertainment Weekly. But in 2020, reports surfaced alleging a toxic workplace environment behind the scenes of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Claims of racism, fear, and intimidation ultimately painted a darker picture of the beloved show than fans expected.

DeGeneres apologized on-air in September 2020, acknowledging that "things happened here that never should have happened" and that she took responsibility for the controversy. Still, the show ended soon after, closing the chapter on one of daytime TV’s most dramatic falls from grace.

Sentiments surrounding Ellen were already souring online even before the controversy over her show’s toxic environment. In March 2020, a comedian’s post on X asking for stories about Ellen being “mean” received thousands of responses, many of which detailed negative personal encounters.

Once the cool, experimental pop visionary, Grimes’ reputation took a nosedive after her relationship with Elon Musk. Fans who once admired her for anti-imperialist and progressive ideals found her new tech-elite lifestyle hypocritical.

She had three children with very unconventional names with Musk, which caused even more criticism from netizens. After having three children with the CEO, Grimes ended up in a highly publicized legal battle over the custody of their kids.

Her cryptic posts and philosophical rants didn’t help, as many saw them as self-indulgent or detached from reality. She once floated the idea of inmates fighting in gladiator-style combat, and she has also been accused of engaging with fascist and far-right ideologies online. Fans also criticized her for her disappointing artistic output, which has been beset by delay after delay. 

Jenny McCarthy’s fall from grace was rooted in controversy after she promoted and stood by the debunked theory that vaccines are causing a rise in autism. Though she claimed her activism was fueled by her personal experience with her child, the medical community quickly condemned the misinformation, according to Insider.

McCarthy has barely backed off from her stance either, telling CNBC that she considers being an advocate for children with autism her most important role in her life.

She has become so linked to the anti-vaccine movement that when ABC announced that she was joining The View as a host, it sparked off a firestorm of criticism from doctors, journalists, and others who noted that the show would give her an even bigger platform to spread vaccination-related misinformation. 

Chrissy Teigen’s once-beloved image as social media’s relatable queen came crashing down in 2021 when old X posts and messages resurfaced, exposing a history of online bullying. The most shocking revelation involved then-teenager Courtney Stodden, to whom Teigen allegedly sent cruel direct messages telling them to “take your own life” and “dirt nap.” 

Fans and brands quickly distanced themselves, and Teigen lost several major endorsements amid widespread backlash. In a lengthy public apology, Teigen admitted feeling “ashamed and embarrassed” about her past actions and personally apologized to Stodden, according to a BBC report. Still, many viewed her statements as too little, too late. She briefly left X, describing herself as “cancelled,” and withdrew from the public eye.

Though Teigen has since returned to social media, the scandal continues to shadow her career. The controversy permanently altered her reputation, transforming her from a social media favorite to a cautionary tale of online cruelty.

Once the golden boy of pop, Justin Timberlake’s reputation began unraveling after renewed attention to his treatment of Britney Spears. In early interviews, Timberlake discussed their private life in ways many now see as disrespectful, and his 2002 music video for Cry Me a River appeared to paint Britney as the villain.

Decades later, fans reexamined those moments through a modern lens, notably after Britney revealed in her memoir that Justin had pushed for the termination of their would-be child. The backlash was harsh, with many dubbing Justin a douchebag who used PR to paint his ex in an unfavorable light.
 
More recently, videos of his live performance, such as a concert in Romania, went viral for all the wrong reasons, with fans calling it “embarrassing.” Videos showed Timberlake acting entitled, and seemingly perfuming without much regard for his fans.

Kylie Jenner, once hailed as a beauty mogul and social media queen, saw her image dim when reports claimed she wasn’t paying her factory workers fairly. Though Jenner’s team denied the allegations, the story spread quickly, and public trust took a hit. 

Critics have also stated that Jenner’s beauty and fashion brands lack innovation, pointing to declining quality and recycled ideas. A Forbes report challenging her billionaire status only deepened skepticism. Some analysts now suggest her audience has simply aged out of her aesthetic, leaving younger fans unconvinced.

Beyond her business practices, Kylie Jenner also caught flak for her alleged “mean girl” behavior. After Selena Gomez shared a video about her laminated brows in 2023, Jenner posted what many interpreted as a mocking Instagram story featuring Hailey Bieber. The timing sparked accusations of “mean girl” behavior, causing Jenner to lose hundreds of thousands of followers while Gomez’s follower count surged.

Once praised for her body positivity, Lizzo’s image took a sharp turn after three of her former backup dancers accused her of s**ual harassment, weight-shaming, and creating a hostile work environment.

“The stunning nature of how Lizzo and her management team treated their performers seems to go against everything Lizzo stands for publicly, while privately she weight-shames her dancers and demeans them in ways that are not only illegal but absolutely demoralizing,” her backup dancers’ lawyer, Ron Zambrano, told NBC News.

The lawsuit shocked fans who had viewed her as an advocate for self-love and inclusion. Lizzo, 36, publicly called the claims “false” and “outrageous,” but the damage to her reputation was done. Many fans felt disillusioned, and social media, once filled with praise for the artist, turned skeptical overnight.

Chevy Chase’s fall from grace wasn’t sudden. It was the result of years of bad behavior catching up to him. Once a comedy legend, Chase earned a reputation for being arrogant, volatile, and difficult to work with, leading to frequent clashes with co-stars and colleagues.

His Saturday Night Live tenure was marred by feuds, including a backstage brawl with Bill Murray and a later ban from hosting due to his hostility towards the cast and writers. On Community, things worsened when Chase allegedly made racist remarks toward Donald Glover, leading to his eventual departure from the show.

Beyond his on-set controversies, a string of box-office flops like Memoirs of an Invisible Man and The Chevy Chase Show destroyed his once-bright career. While many stars reinvented themselves, Chase refused to adapt, proudly declaring in 2022, “I don’t give a crap! I am who I am. And I like… who I am,” alienating even more fans.

An Australian actor’s behind-the-scenes account, which was related on Reddit, has cast Rebel Wilson in an unflattering light, describing her as “the most unpleasant person” he’s ever worked with. According to the account, Wilson treats colleagues “like an absolute diva” and frequently cycles through assistants.

The actor recalled one troubling incident involving a body double on a film set. After Wilson lost weight, she reportedly insisted on personally selecting the double to “accurately represent her new body.” When the chosen woman arrived, Wilson allegedly grabbed her hips and stomach in front of the crew and berated staff for bringing “a hippopotamus on set.”

The actor claimed that the atmosphere immediately soured, with crew members stunned into silence. While Wilson has long been known for her comedic talent and outspoken confidence, this alleged behavior has fueled existing rumors in the Australian film industry about her being difficult to work with.

Few authors have experienced a public reversal as swift as J.K. Rowling’s. The Harry Potter creator went from beloved literary icon to one of the most divisive figures online after making comments that have been widely considered anti-transgender, according to Glamour.

As fans who grew up with her books expressed disappointment and pain, Rowling doubled down on her stance instead of stepping back. The fallout was enormous: public figures distanced themselves, fandoms fractured, and once-devoted readers stopped supporting her work.

Rowling has defended her stance by arguing that she is fighting for women’s rights, and she is advocating for facilities that support vulnerable biological women. Most recently, she was involved in a fresh wave of controversy after she criticized Harry Potter star Emma Watson, one of her most ardent critics in recent years, by calling her “ignorant.”