Off Camera: Celebrities Who Broke Out Of Their Nice Character
There are a hundred reasons why we like our favorite actors and actresses. It could be purely physical—perhaps they were named the Sexiest Man or Woman Alive before. They could also be the best in singing and in composing songs. Others might have favorites because they have excellent money management skills and are now among the wealthiest celebrities. Not the least, their skills – actors like Tom Hanks are able to make a film worth the watch. Singers like Taylor Swift are trying to make a difference by upsetting the status quo in the music industry by chartering their own paths. Stars like Angelina Jolie are making waves because of their work in charity and for the betterment of the world.
Sometimes, however, what we know about them is filtered, or how they act is different when the camera is turned off. There are Hollywood stars that are not that angelic, even if they might seem to be the kindest when you see them act on TV or the big screen. Maybe they were having a bad day, and someone happened to be unlucky, but listed below are several of the celebrities who were thought to be kind but fell short.
Mariah Carey
There is no doubt that Mariah Carey is a singing diva. She is, after all, the person behind We Belong Together. Reports abound, though, that she has taken her diva-ness to another level by calling Jennifer Lopez and other singers as someone she “has no idea who that is”. That is just mean because they are her fellow artists in the music industry.
Her staff says that Carey had been over the top lately, especially since the lip-sync incident, which was revealed during a failure in her 2017 New Year performance. It can be recalled that on that day, she mouthed the wrong lyrics, and upon realizing this, she stopped and then began pacing the stage. The singer asked the audience to finish the song instead. We credit her quick decision and saying that she was trying to be a sport, but it appears she blamed the staff for this blunder later on.
Dustin Johnson
A player on the PGA Tour, Dustin Johnson has won two major championships so far, at the 2016 US Open and during the 2020 Masters Tournament. However, he still has much to improve when dealing with people and fellow players. He was ranked number 1 in golf back in 2017, but other pro golfers also ranked him number one flirtatious. It appears that he does not respect the sanctity of marriage and goes on to hit on the wives of his colleagues. He has been called out numerous times, but he has also been relentless.
More recently, Johnson has been called out by fans on Twitter as he was seen spitting on the green lawn of the Harbour Town Golf Links on several instances. This is certainly unhygienic and it’s wrong that he does not consider others who might contract an infection. Credit goes to the netizens for calling him out, and hopefully, Johnson changes that behavior.
Julia Roberts
Many would probably be surprised to see Julia Roberts on the list. She is, after all, a crowd darling. The famous actress, however, has her own not-so-classy moments. A Hollywood Golden Girl for years now, Roberts is seen as a drama queen at times. Steven Spielberg even complained about her when they were shooting Peter Pan as she tended to lock herself in the trailer and rest. She would then show up late, and her behavior earned her the nickname “Tinkerhell”.
In another instance, Roger Friedman referred to Roberts’ behavior as “chilling”. This stemmed from her snubbing him during the premiere of Duplicity in 2009. There has been bad blood between the two of them that originated from when Roberts premiered on Broadway back in 2006—but that should not justify rude behavior. It is ironic to a degree because just after Roberts starred in Three Days of Rain, Friedman gave her a rave review.
Pete Rose
For those who are unfamiliar with the name, Pete Rose is a former professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball from 1963 to 1986 while also managing the Cincinnati Reds from 1984 to 1989. Rose has a reputation for fixing games and betting. He denied the betting and gambling though initial investigations done by the Commissioner of Baseball showed he was heavily gambling.
His attorney even filed a lawsuit against the Commissioner, alleging that the latter had pre-judged the case. However, the Dowd Report noted that there was no evidence that Rose was betting against the Reds while also managing them. The two parties eventually settled the matter by Rose accepting permanent disqualification. Others have also depicted him as someone who puts himself first, which is acceptable to a certain extent, but he was on an unhealthy level, according to sources
Conor McGregor
Those who follow MMA would know who Conor McGregor is, but even those who are unfamiliar with the sport would have heard about him. He has been a frequent visitor to the lawyer’s office because of accusations of harassment in Ireland. The MMA fighter was also said to have thrown a dolly at a bus.
He also had to go to jail for breaking a fan’s phone. The phone-breaking incident happened in Miami. McGregor was walking, and fans were in front of him taking selfies. Everything appeared to be alright until a fan’s phone flashed. This probably irritated the fighter, and with a left-hand strike, he was able to bring the phone down. For good measure, he stomped on the phone, picked it up, and then walked away. The fan, Ahmed Abdirzak, was not amused. The ensuing legal battle was then settled out of court.
Phil Mickelson
The American golfer has recently appeared on a new beer commercial, proving that brands still want to make investments in him. In the last few years, however, he has not been very kind and has been criticizing many of his fellow golf players. He is known to sign many autographs, but there are also moments when he gets snobbish and does not sign any. As a psychology graduate, he probably should understand better.
Reports say that he has too many debts due to his habits. This is not good because, in the long term, it could lead him to bankruptcy. While he has a lot of endorsements to date, these are usually not permanent. Burning important bridges by being mean to everyone is not good for a career – in any industry. We hope that Mickelson finds it helpful to scale down a bit.
Katy Couric
Veteran journalist Katy Couric is quite famous for her detailed and intelligent reporting and excellent interviewing skills. There are moments, however, when other people find her too elitist. In recent news, she has made partisan remarks disfavoring the Grand Old Party or GOP. Tim Graham, NewsBusters executive, said that Couric had long retired from being an objective journalist. This would, of course, cause a significant blow to the journalist’s reputation. Others predict that it would somehow affect her future.
Far into the past, fellow journalist Sheila Weller claimed in a book The News Sorority that Couric was fond of trash-talking the way other anchors dress. There is no doubt that the news anchor has a high degree of fashion sense, but it should never be a license to demean how others present themselves. In another video that circulated in 2007, Couric was seen mocking Dan Rather. It was not a pleasant watch.
Aaron Rodgers
If anything, The Bachelorette revealed that Aaron Rodgers is not very well-liked by his family for some odd reasons. Jordan Rodgers, his brother, shared in an episode that if the staff of the show was to visit their family home, they should not expect to see the football player. This gave a degree of hint on the depth of the long-standing family feud. As it were, Rodgers had not been talking to the family since 2014 and has skipped his grandfather’s funeral as well as groomsman duties.
The feud also became apparent on Twitter when he offered $1 million for the California wildfires in 2018. Jordan snippily replied that Rodgers failed to call their mother during that time the wildfires were ravaging California. It was also revealed that the family does not even have his phone number. Whatever the reason for this feud, we hope they talk it out and solve it.
Antonio Brown
A wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Antonio Brown has received positive reception for his football skills. The opposite, however, has happened when it comes to his behavior. When he was still with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the team suffered a setback, he asked to be traded instead of sticking to the team and making improvements. That move was not well accepted by his former team members. To a degree, their dislike was justified.
Brown also got himself booted from the Raiders due to several alleged offenses, including an illegally recorded phone call, an altercation with GM Mike Mayock, and missed practices. His colleagues described his antics as somewhat juvenile. In 2016, he was even seen twerking after a touchdown, but that cost him $24,000 in fines. It is possible he has personal struggles, which is probably why he is acting this way.
Tom Brady
Known for living an extravagant life, Tom Brady just purchased a $6 million yacht which he added to his investment portfolio. He bought it after his win at the Super Bowl. While a widely-renowned football player, Brady has had his share of unkind deeds in the past. One of them was the “deflategate” scandal, where the quarterback was accused of ordering the deflation of the footballs used in the 2014 American Football Conference Game.
Another incident involving Brady’s team was the videotaping of the New York Jets’ defensive coaches’ signals. While taping opponent coaches is not illegal per se, there are designated spaces where such recording could be done. It is unclear what role Brady played in this, but this has also hurt his reputation badly. We hope that he works on improving his interpersonal skills as much as he practices his football skills.
Pierce Brosnan
James Corden, the host of The Late Late Show with James Corden, had an encounter with Pierce Brosnan that he would never forget. While the latter may ooze confidence and class as James Bond, Corden sees him as someone who is rude due to his experience with him at a U2 concert. In an interview during a segment with Khloe Kardashian’s Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts, the late-night TV host spilled the beans and admitted that he was once pushed away by Brosnan during a concert.
The Die Another Day actor failed to apologize and acknowledge what happened, leading Corden to believe that he was drunk. The concert was meant to be a bonding experience for Corden and his wife, but the night turned sour because of the incident. To this date, there has been no confirmation nor apology from the side of the James Bond actor as to what really happened that day. We give Corden credit, though, for being tough and revealing that incident.
Mel Gibson
As a director and actor, no one could argue against Mel Gibson’s stellar performance. He is the one behind many blockbuster films like The Bounty, The Patriot, and Braveheart. However, his spotless record had been cast against negative light when he was arrested in 2006 for drunk driving. Unfortunately, he was not very cooperative at that time, and instead of calling his lawyer right away, he went on to issue racist remarks against the arresting officer. It was definitely uncalled for, and later on, it was revealed that the incident hurt both Gibson’s and the deputy’s career. It was good, however, that the police officer was reinstated later on. The director also issued an apology and described his actions as brought about by moments of insanity.
On another issue, it appears that Gibson does not look too kindly on women. He has been heard saying that women and men are not equal. We hope that the actor-director realizes that each of us was given different talents.
Tom Cruise
We all love Tom Cruise, but he also has his own pitfalls. He is a Scientology fanatic, but the discussions on this topic have caused him to be edgy on numerous occasions. Cruise has been hypercritical of many celebrities and crew members. His latest outburst was when he shouted at the crew of Mission: Impossible 7 for standing too close to each other, in view of the current world situation. While he probably meant well, his method did not sit well with the crew.
The actor has excellent money management skills, evidenced by his net worth, but he appears to be lacking in the interpersonal skills department. He crossed the line when in 2005, he criticized Brooke Shields’ career and blamed her use of medicine for her stunted career growth. He went as far as suggesting that women should take care of themselves through exercise and vitamins instead. This was, by far, the worst of his outbursts.
Charlie Sheen
The Two and a Half Men actor, Charlie Sheen, had a controversial debacle when he was let go from the sitcom. Reports noted that he insulted CBS and the show creator Chuck Lorre after he entered a rehab facility in 2011. He demanded a 50% raise and then publicly lambasted Lorre, which led to him being dismissed from the show. The actor went from being the highest-paid actor, earning $1.8 million per episode, to someone on the brink of declaring bankruptcy.
Sheen only has about $10 million to his name now, and although he will not need any personal loan soon, that amount is low for someone of his caliber. He felt sad that Hollywood had blacklisted him from performing in many aspects of entertainment. Sheen revealed that he finds it difficult to look for a steady job now, which we hope changes since we expect that he has learned from his mistakes.
Serena Williams
At just four years old, Serena Williams was learning about the ins and outs of tennis. With the gift of retrospect, it’s safe to say the training she’s had since then has become quite an investment for her career in the sport. Now regarded as one of the all-time greatest tennis players, Williams has become a proud titleholder of numerous championships, including 23 Grand Slams and four Olympic gold medals. Even so, that doesn’t mean this athlete is not without her shortcomings.
Despite the many achievements she has made throughout her career, Williams also became quite a controversial figure due to a few incidents on the court. These were the times when she’d slam her racket and give unpleasant remarks to the staff, notably the linesperson and the umpire. Of course, this behavior resulted in the tennis player receiving consequences, one of which was the two-year probation she got after a match against Kim Clijsters back in 2009’s US Open’s semifinal round.
Roger Clemens
During his high school years, Roger Clemens showcased a knack for playing sports such as football and basketball. Even so, his skills on the two previously-mentioned games are no match for the degree of expertise he had for baseball. After continuing his career as a college baseball player, Clemens found his way into the big leagues and played for 24 seasons in MLB.
Throughout that 24-season run, the baseball pitcher played for the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees, the Houston Astros, and the Toronto Blue Jays. Although his skills were undoubtedly praised, his attitude, on the other hand, was far from pleasant. Due to his on- and off-court antics, including the time he threw a broken bat at Mike Piazza, Clemens eventually became recognized for the wrong things. In fact, by the end of his career, the pitcher gained recognition for his diva-like behavior – he’d even complain about the fact no one would carry his luggage for him.
Nick Saban
Throughout his years in school, Nick Saban had the chance to play football games as a quarterback. Thanks to the things he learned along the way, he has since taken credit for being one of the best coaches in college football.
Despite this title, however, more than a few fans of the sport think the coach can be a bit harsh when it comes to doing his job. In fact, this explosive demeanor of his has led most – if not all – of his players to be afraid of him. This fear becomes all the more apparent whenever Saban calls them to his office, which is sometimes called “the doghouse.” Even so, behind that aggressive front, there’s still something about him that the players respect. After all, as many of his alumni would admit, if you want to become a better player, Saban will do all that he could to make you the best.
Tiger Woods
Perhaps it’s safe to say that even people who aren’t fans of golf are at least aware of one of its well-known players, Tiger Woods. Before he was even introduced to matters such as student loans, Woods already began his journey into the sport – he was introduced to golf when he was just two years old. Since then, his skills improved, got polished, and improved some more. Now he has multiple victories under his name, 82 of which are from the PGA Tour.
Although he is highly regarded for his skills, there are still many things this player is surely not proud of. Besides his tendency to lose his temper in the middle of a game, Woods also tends to be quite disrespectful and would sometimes throw his golf clubs near the bag, a gesture that made his ex-caddie feel like he was a slave. Plus, whenever he’d miss a putt, Woods would even spit in the hole.
Jennifer Lawrence
During her childhood, Jennifer Lawrence was fond of many things, including softball, cheerleading, horseback riding, and of course, acting. Her first stint on stage was when she was nine years old. She landed an acting credit for a local church play. Not long after, her skills got her a spot under the Hollywood spotlight. Today, Jennifer has become a well-known figure thanks to her role in films such as Silver Linings Playbook, Mother, and the X-Men films.
Of course, due to her fame and recognition, it’s no surprise fans approach the actress whenever she’s spending time away from sets. Sadly, though, if you see her and are thinking of grabbing a picture with her, we suggest that you don’t, because Jennifer would often say no to such requests. When she was interviewed regarding this, the Hunger Games star admitted that she becomes rude when she encounters fans, adding that this is the best way she knows how to defend herself – and her privacy, for sure.
Terrell Owens
More often than not, a journey is triggered by a glint of inspiration. For Terrel Owens, this came during his childhood. Although he enjoyed watching football games, Owens was only allowed to play when he finally reached high school. Well, from that point onward, it’s safe to say he wasted no time making his way into the big leagues.
Throughout his 16-season run in the NFL, Owens played for teams such as the San Francisco 49ers, the Dallas Cowboys, the Buffalo Bills, and the Philadelphia Eagles. Along the way, he became known for his numerous achievements, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t get attention for other reasons. Besides the time he spat on DeAngelo Hall’s face in 2006, Owens was also known for his celebratory antics. After scoring a touchdown in one match back in 2002, Owens took the football, signed it with a pen, hid in his sock, and gave it to his financial advisor – that was just one of his many “celebrations.”
Ellen DeGeneres
Before she made her way into the entertainment industry, Ellen DeGeneres worked a variety of jobs to help pay for her personal loans. These jobs were as a house painter, a bartender, and a waitress. Not long after, Ellen started her run as a stand-up comedian before she landed a spot in show business. Since then, besides her stint on the TV sitcom Ellen, the comedian became known for her work on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Through the years, the show host has been known for entertaining audiences and for her philanthropic work. However, a few people revealed things about Ellen recently that shocked even her fans. Along with her show’s crew complaining about the hostile workplace environment, one of her previous guests also pointed out Ellen’s surprisingly cold and distant behavior. On the bright side, though, Ellen recently apologized for all of this. All that’s left to hope for now is that she keeps her promise and improves herself.
Jennifer Anniston
Through the years, an impressive amount of investment money was spent on the many films and TV shows we know and love today. With that said, one show that has remained iconic to this day would is the sitcom Friends, where Jennifer Aniston had a lead role. Other projects she’s worked on along the way include Marley & Me, Office Space, and our subject for today, Picture Perfect.
1997’s Picture Perfect had Jennifer star alongside actor Jay Mohr. However, after knowing she was sharing the screen with Mohr, the actress wasted no time expressing how much she disliked working with him. On one occasion, she even remarked “no way. You’ve got to be kidding me!” In fact, on his Mohr Stories podcast, the actor said that Jennifer was the hardest to work with, plus she was mean to him throughout production and even made him cry a couple of times.
Richie Incognito
Like many athletes, Richie Incognito began his journey into his sport of choice – football, in this case – during his high school years. By the time he was in college, he had played for the University of Nebraska’s team, and after a while, he finally found his way into the NFL. An offensive guard, Incognito has had the chance to play for teams such as the St. Louis Rams, the Miami Dolphins, and the Las Vegas Raiders.
He may have had many impressive feats to his credit, but Incognito’s skills are often shadowed by his behavior. Like a stereotypical jock you’d find in movies and TV shows, one of Incognito’s earlier incidents was during his years playing for the University of Nebraska. During one training session, he, for no reason, tackled teammate Jack Limbaugh from behind, knocking him to the ground. Since then, the habit remained with Incognito, who was recently reported to have sent threatening messages to Jonathan Martin.
Michael Jordan
Among the many sports out there, it’s safe to say basketball is arguably one of the more famous ones. With that said, one such player who has since garnered a huge degree of praise for his skills on the court is none other than Michael Jordan. Beginning his career as a high school basketball player, followed by another stint during his college years, Jordan played for 15 seasons in the NBA.
Despite the many achievements he’s made for himself and his team, there’s also more than a couple of not-so-nice things the Chicago Bulls player is known for. One such example was the time when he bought fellow player Charles Barkley a $20,000 diamond earring so he wouldn’t get in the Space Jam star’s way. Goes to show that he did just about anything to ensure nothing gets in his path to victory.
Mike Myers
Although his parents had careers away from the spotlight, with his mom being an office supervisor and his father an insurance agent, a life in the entertainment industry wasn’t off-limits to Mike Myers. In fact, at just two years old, he already started appearing in commercials, followed by guest-starring stints in several TV shows. Since then, Myers has become a well-known comedian, regarded for his performance in projects such as Saturday Night Live, Wayne’s World, the Austin Powers movies, and the Shrek franchise.
Behind all the laughs and giggles, however, accounts came from Myers’ colleagues that he was often hard to work with. One notable case was during the production of Cat in the Hat. Besides leaving his co-stars and the crew waiting for prolonged durations, the actor also had an escort accompany him at all times. The escort’s job? Feed him chocolate. Recently, though, it seems like the Wayne’s World star is turning for the better – so here’s hoping!
Gwyneth Paltrow
With her mother being the actress Blythe Danner and her father the filmmaker Bruce Paltrow, it comes as no surprise Gwyneth Paltrow followed suit and pursued a career under the Hollywood spotlight. With that said, Paltrow first garnered praise for her acting credit in films such as Emma, Sliding Doors, and Seven. Nowadays, though, it’s safe to say she’s gained newfound fame for playing the role of Pepper Potts in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Most of the time, she’s seen on red-carpet events and on-screen as what appears to be an overall nice person, but the same can’t be said when the cameras stop rolling. Among her many antics, Paltrow is considered quite a diva, always requesting better lighting so she’ll look better than her co-stars. To top it off, it’s been reported that the actress often demands talent fees that are way higher than what she deserves.
Cameron Diaz
When she was starting in the entertainment industry, Cameron Diaz worked as a model during her teens. A few years after, she took the chance and auditioned for a part in 1994’s The Mask, which eventually became her film debut. Other projects she’s worked on since then include There’s Something About Mary, the original Charlie’s Angels movies, and Being John Malkovich.
Although Hollywood has plenty of nice and likable celebrities, it also has its fair share of stars that don’t seem to interact well with fans. Sadly, the Charlie’s Angels star is one of them. Diaz is known to refuse to give her fans autographs. In fact, to some degree, she even lectures them about how meaningless autographs are. Even so, with her being a loving mother now, perhaps it’s safe to assume she’s mellowed down since then.
Zooey Deschanel
Another star raised by celebrity parents, Zooey Deschanel began her career under the spotlight during her late teens. Her film debut was 1999’s Mumford, followed by her acting credit in Almost Famous, which was released the following year. Since then, the actress has become most known for her quirky on-screen persona in projects such as 500 Days of Summer and New Girl.
Despite coming off as charming and likable, it goes without saying that Zooey also had a couple of bad days. One fan, unfortunately, met her during one of these low points. Although said fan told the New Girl actress how much she adores her and her work, Zooey reportedly just ignored all the praise. To top it off, after she was asked for a picture, Zooey rejected the request and stormed off. By the looks of it, it’s safe to say the fan experienced a severe case of “right place at the wrong time.”
Johnny Depp
With all the films he’s worked on through the years, it would be impossible not to recognize Johnny Depp. His career began in the early 1980s, debuting in A Nightmare on Elm Street. Since then, Depp is often associated with his roles in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Sweeney Todd, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Alice in Wonderland, to name a few. Along the way, he’s also made a couple of investments in other endeavors, including his very own production company, Infinitum Nihil, and his rock band, the Hollywood Vampires. Despite his many talents, however, Depp is still no stranger to controversy. Besides a couple of things we have heard recently, the actor has also been accused of underpaying his bodyguards. Not only that, it was reported that during the production of City of Lies, Depp had hit and insulted a crew member!
Britney Spears
Britney Spears is a well-known pop icon who peaked between the years 1999 and 2007. She first became a pop icon after her 1999 hit “Baby One More Time,” which she quickly followed up with the single “Oops! I Did It Again.” Britney received credit for reviving the teen pop genre during her time, and to date, she has sold over 100 million records worldwide. Furthermore, the Recording Industry Association of America listed her as the eighth top-selling female artist of all time.
Britney’s illustrious career plummeted during the years 2007 and 2008. Some say that Britney’s mental health was getting worse due to the non-stop publicity that surrounded her. In turn, Britney bounced from one ugly incident to another. One of her most infamous incidents was when Britney, who was then bald, attacked a paparazzi’s car. The altercation happened after Britney’s outburst following a plea for privacy.
Katy Perry
Katy Perry is one of the most recognizable stars in Hollywood today. She’s a successful musician, and she’s been able to earn several awards throughout her career. Katy’s resume includes five American Music Awards, four Guinness World Records, a Juno Award, and fourteen People’s Choice Awards. You could say that she’s earned the right to become the “Woman of the Year” back in 2012 for Billboard.
Interestingly, Katy pursued a career in gospel music when she was a teenager. You’d certainly expect her to be polite and courteous because of this. However, in 2014, Katy publicly slammed an Australian paparazzi for following and stalking her while she was having a peaceful walk at the beach. Katy claimed that the paparazzo wasn’t allowing her to have her space, and was continually holding the cameras to her face. It’s safe to say that what she did was necessary at the time, and we give Katy credit for standing up for herself.
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong is a former professional road racing cyclist. He became a sports icon after winning the Tour de France seven consecutive times from 1999 to 2005. Best believe that he was one of the highest-earning athletes in the world during those years. During his peak, he won several competitions and bagged millions of dollars in prize money and endorsements. Without a doubt, Lance’s financial advisor must have been extremely happy with all the money that came in.
Lance Armstrong’s success as a professional road racing cyclist was eventually tarnished by doping allegations. He would eventually be proven guilty of using performance-enhancing substances, which then led to him being stripped of his several Tour de France titles. Today, he’s considered the greatest cheater in sports history. Lance even tried to fool everyone with various charitable acts. Without a doubt, stripping him off of his titles was something that had to be done.
Kanye West
Kanye West is one of the highest regarded rappers in the hip-hop scene today. Kanye is one of the most successful musicians on the planet, with an astounding 21 Grammy wins out of 69 nominations. He’s also a successful record producer, but in recent years, he’s gravitated towards being a fashion designer as well as an entrepreneur.
Besides being known as a successful musician and fashion designer, Kanye West is known for his explosive persona. When paparazzi turned up at Kanye’s house at 4 am back in 2013, the rap star confronted them and shouted “shut the f— up” to the paparazzi. This confrontation wasn’t Kanye’s first run-in with the paparazzi, and it surely wasn’t the last. In the same year, LA prosecutors charged Kanye for physically attacking a paparazzo. Kanye must have a good attorney in his camp as charges have been dropped.
Spike Lee
Spike Lee is one of the most celebrated film directors in Hollywood. Spike started out by founding his own production company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, and it has allowed him to produce over 35 films since 1983. He made his debut as a director in the 1986 film She’s Gotta Have It, and has since then directed notable films such as Jungle Fever, Malcolm X, Clockers, and more. Spike has been able to win several accolades for his work, including two Emmy Awards, an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and many more.
Despite being one of the most decorated directors and producers, Spike Lee does not have the best reputation with the public. He has been known to give out several unenthusiastic speeches at various colleges. Interestingly, Spike would even go as far as belittling the crowd. One of the issues he’s been involved with recently had to do with his credit as a director in the film BlacKkKlansman. Spike thought that already won Best Director, but he actually didn’t. He also didn’t win the best picture, much to his chagrin.
Kevin James
Kevin James is a successful actor and comedian. He’s best known for his credit role as “Doug Heffernan” on the hit CBS sitcom The King of Queens, which aired from 1998 until 2007. Kevin James is also known for appearing in several Adam Sandler-led movies such as I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, Grown Ups, Grown Ups 2, Pixels, and the Hotel Transylvania film series. Without a doubt, he’s one of the most recognizable actors in Hollywood today.
Even though Kevin James portrays lovable characters on screen, some people will disagree that he actually is. One Reddit thread shared that Kevin James treats actors and actresses very poorly, especially if they aren’t stars. Furthermore, James reportedly swatted the hands of several fans away at a meet and greet event, refusing to face them. One time, he also dismissed his security detail on set and told them to stay away from him.
Tobey Maguire
It’s hard not to know who Tobey Maguire is. He’s a famous actor who’s best known for his role as “Peter Parker/Spiderman” in the Spider-Man trilogy that aired from 2002 until 2007. He was also able to star in other film projects such as Pleasantville, The Cider House Rules, Seabiscuit, The Good German, and The Great Gatsby. Maguire boasts several nominations for a Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globes. He also received two Saturn Awards, with one being for Best Actor.
On the screen, Tobey Maguire plays the role of the friendly neighborhood Spiderman. However, in a memoir written by Molly Bloom, she called Maguire the “worst tipper” and the “worst loser.” Maguire reportedly asked her to “bark like a seal who wanted a fish.” We’d give the benefit of the doubt to Tobey as his financial advisor must’ve told him to go easy on the tipping. However, he didn’t have to go to such extreme lengths.
Steven Seagal
Steven Seagal was a well-known action movie star back in the 1980s and 1990s. In fact, Seagal was one of the most sought-after actors when it came to action roles during those years. Besides acting, Seagal was also a martial artist who was a master of Aikido. Interestingly, he’s also an excellent screenwriter, producer, and musician!
Steven Seagal may be an actor who has numerous acting credits to his name, but he also had his fair share of issues and controversies. Indeed, Seagal embodied the strongman persona, but it was his behavior back in the 90s that gave him a bad reputation. Seagal would often give several public interviews to the detriment of those he worked with. To make things worse, Seagal is considered to be the worst host of Saturday Night Live ever after he berated everyone from the cast to the writing staff over the smallest of things.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a former professional boxer. Mayweather competed from 1996 to 2015, and he won fifteen major world titles in over five weight classes. Floyd also retired with an undefeated record, making his inclusion in a conversation about the greatest of all time a no-brainer. He started as an amateur and won a bronze medal in the 1996 Olympics. Without a doubt, he’s one of the best boxers to have ever graced a boxing ring.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. has a reputation for being very cocky. Interestingly, Floyd has a history of legal troubles involving domestic violence. It’s one that’s definitely concerning because he is a professional boxer. Nonetheless, we’re confident that he has an incredibly competent lawyer to represent him in court. Today, he’s retired and goes around flaunting his money, which, of course, can ruffle a few feathers.
Ray Lewis
Ray Lewis was a professional American football player who played linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens his entire career in the NFL. Lewis was undoubtedly the face of the franchise during his 17-year stint with the Ravens, and for good reason. He was able to win several accolades for his exceptional performance as a linebacker. Lewis also managed to get stats that’s allowed him to win 13 Pro Bowl honors and 10 All-Pros.
Despite being one of the best linebackers to ever play, Lewis had his fair share of run-ins with the law. He was once arrested for a felony charge during a Super Bowl party in 2000. Lewis’s lawyer was able to help him get out of the situation through a plea deal. Moreover, Ray Lewis eventually had to pay the settlement to pre-empt the trial.
Hope Solo
Hope Solo is one of the most important figures in American soccer. She’s a former goalkeeper who played for the United States women’s national soccer team from 2000 until 2016. Hope is a world-cup champion, and she’s also a two-time Olympic gold medalist. She’s also been considered one of the top female goalkeepers in the world.
Despite her prestige, Hope is another well-known American athlete who got arrested over a domestic violence incident. Hope is also known to have been extremely tough on her soccer teammates and coaches. She constantly bullies them and has publicly belittled them during her postgame press interviews. As much as we’d like to suggest a good financial advisor for her post-soccer career, we’d also like to suggest a therapist that can help Hope manage her emotions. After all, it is what might get her into trouble in the future.
Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart is one of the biggest names in professional stock car racing. Stewart, who’s nicknamed “Smoke,” is a three-time winner of the NASCAR Cup Series. Stewart won the title in 2002, 2005, and 2011, making him one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history. After his run as a driver, he also found success as a team owner and won in 2014 with Kevin Harvick as his driver.
Despite Tony Stewart’s success, he has had his fair share of controversies. One of the most controversial incidents he was involved with happened on a dirt track. The incident resulted in the untimely passing of Kevin Ward Jr. The incident occurred after Stewart rammed Ward Jr. out of the race. Kevin Ward Jr. then confronted him on the side of the track and Stewart swerved and unfortunately hit him. The incident is an example of why a driver must keep a certain degree of composure while driving.
Tonya Harding
Tonya Harding is a former figure skater who later became a reality television personality. Harding started skating at a young age, and she focused on skating rather than pursue a college degree. She quickly rose through the U.S. Figure Skating Championship ranks, eventually winning it all in the 1989 Skate America competition. There’s certainly no question that Tonya Harding is one of the greatest figure skaters ever as she’s a two-time Olympian and Skate America Champion.
Despite being one of the most awarded figure skaters in history, Tonya’s world-famous story has a dark side that lives in infamy. Tonya’s husband was reportedly instructed to deliberately injure her competitor Nancy Kerrigan so that Harding could win. Because of this, Tonya Harding was banned for life. Harding eventually channeled her rage into boxing during the 2000s, which must have been an excellent way to deal with anger.
Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber is a Canadian-born singer, and he’s one of the biggest recording artists today. He was first discovered by Scooter Braun, who eventually signed him to RBMG Records back in 2008. Justin quickly gained attention and recognition after the release of his debut EP, My World. You could say that Justin became an instant superstar, and he’s managed to sustain his status for more than a decade now.
Justin Bieber has had his fair share of confrontations with the paparazzi throughout his career. One of his most memorable confrontations was back in 2013 when he was in the middle of his “bad boy” phase. Bieber tried to fight a paparazzo in London one day after he collapsed while performing on stage during his Believe Tour. Justin’s lawyer must’ve been extremely happy about the fact that no punches were thrown and that no one was hurt during the altercation
Aaron Hernandez
Aaron Hernandez was a professional American football player. One can argue that he was one of the stars who had a ton of potential during his NFL career. Throughout his career, Aaron Hernandez earned over $11 million from the NFL, which makes us wonder whether he had access to a good financial advisor because he only had $50K at the time of his passing in 2017.
Money and finances were certainly the least of Hernandez’s problems. He was arrested back in 2013 for felony charges involving the untimely passing of two individuals. Due to the arrest, Aaron Hernandez’s NFL career came to an abrupt end. He spent four years locked up until his passing in 2017. Without a doubt, it’s hard to talk about Aaron Hernandez and his unrealized potential as one of the greatest American football players.
Lamar Odom
Lamar Odom is well known NBA player who played for the Los Angeles Lakers between 2004 and 2011. He won won the NBA championship alongside the LA Lakers in 2009 and 2010. In 2011, Odom was named Sixth Man of the Year in the NBA. Odom also played for the United States national team during the 2004 Olympics, winning a bronze medal. In 2010, the national team won the gold medal at the FIBA World Championships.
When it comes to his personal life, Odom has zero-tolerance for people crossing the line. In July 2013, he had a run-in with the law after a confrontation with a paparazzo near his Los Angeles home. At the time, he was still romantically involved with Khloe Kardashian. Odom was accused of grabbing the paparazzo’s camera gear and slamming them on the street. However, the Los Angeles City Attorney later informed the media that no charges were pressed against the NBA star.
Shia LaBeouf
Shia LaBeouf is among the most skilled actors of Hollywood. The actor received a Young Artist Award nomination for his performance in Disney Channel’s series Even Stevens. Eventually, Shia received a Daytime Emmy Award in 2003. Shia’s film debut was in The Christmas Path in 1998, and as a director, he debuted his short film Let’s Love Hate. Over the years, Shia starred in popular movies such as Transformers and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Behind all his success, Shia got his share of personal issues. In 2010, he was caught on tape snatching a photographer’s camera equipment. He’s also showed the dirty finger to several paparazzi. Another incident happened while Shia was filming for the movie Transformers 3. While he was reading a book at a café, he decided to teach a paparazzo a lesson. The actor packed his things and briskly walked towards an older male photographer who started to run. Shia caught up to him and doused the guy’s back shirt. The actor then ran away—surely, the photographer’s attorney had a talk with Shia.
Miley Cyrus
The paparazzi have been sent a warning: Young Hollywood is on the defensive. Miley Cyrus is taking a stance against the prying camera lenses of the celeb-obsessed, just a week after Justin Bieber flipped off the paps (and later apologized).
After spending some time at California Chicken Cafe in West Hollywood, Miley Cyrus and her mother Tish were attempting to get into their car in 2011. Cyrus, who has been outspoken about her dissatisfaction with Hollywood tabloid culture, pushed a cameraman’s barrel out of the way after it nearly hit her mother. She pointed her finger at the guy and said, “You just hit my mom with your camera.” “Never do anything like that again. You’ve just come dangerously close to injuring my mother. For the love of God, don’t even consider it.” Cyrus has expressed her dissatisfaction with photographers chasing her around in the past, claiming that they are an unwelcome credit to her life in the spotlight.
Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin has never been a fan of the paparazzi, but they seem to enjoy being around him despite his behavior toward them. Alec Baldwin isn’t afraid to express his displeasure with the press, as he did after another run-in with them in New York in 2013, shortly after his wife gave birth. Despite the fact that both parties agreed to a physical altercation, none of them contacted their attorneys to file charges.
The photographer, who has not been identified by authorities, said that he did not initiate the war, according to TMZ, which broke the story first. “All I can say is that I was just doing my job and asking him usual questions when he flipped,” he said. “That’s what there is to it.” However, according to a source, the opposite is true. “The photographer was the aggressor,” an ABC News source said. “After the incident, he chased Alec’s wife [Hilaria] into a shop.” According to the website, both sides confessed to pushing each other. The NYPD’s Lt. Karen Anderson told ABC News that “nobody was injured” and that no police report had been filed. Baldwin’s publicist declined to comment.
Chris Martin
Christopher Anthony John Martin is an English philanthropist, musician, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. Coldplay’s lead singer, main songwriter, and co-founder is Chris Martin. Many people may be surprised because Chris Martin’s band, Coldplay, is credited for their heartfelt energy. In 2008, however, the band’s frontman “attacked” paparazzi, snatched the camera, ordered the photographer to “get the f—- off,” and threatened to drive away with it.
Gwyneth Paltrow was accosted by paparazzi when she left a New York City hospital in January 2008. Chris Martin, the always-emotional Coldplay frontman, was enraged by the invasion of Paltrow’s privacy and wrestled the photographer taking photos of her to the ground and snatched his camera. “You have to show some respect!” Martin snarls angrily. That is unarguable. That wasn’t the first time he’d flared up at prying paparazzi. Martin was charged in Australia in 2003 with breaking a photographer’s windshield.
Sean Penn
Sean Justin Penn is an actor, director, screenwriter, and producer from the United States. For his roles in the mystery drama Mystic River and the biopic Milk, he has received two Academy Awards. Sean Penn brought his dislike of paparazzi to a new level. For his aggressive outburst towards a photographer on a film set in mid-1987, the Oscar winner served 33 days of his 66-day sentence behind bars.
He had many run-ins with photographers and a movie extra in the 1980s, culminating in a brief prison sentence. Penn was accused of assaulting two photographers in Nashville in 1987, according to one of the cases. He entered a not guilty plea and was given a suspended sentence. In the same year, he was sentenced to 60 days in prison for punching an extra on the set of Colors. He was on probation at the time for assaulting a man whom he said wanted to kiss his then-wife, Madonna. The incident had a negative impact on his well-documented marriage to Madonna at the time. Madonna also contacted lawyers and lodged a lawsuit against him, alleging that he physically abused her.