10 Celebrity Couple Breakups That Coincided with Career Downfalls

10 Celeb Couple Breakups That Coincided with Career Downfalls

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at celebrities whose careers took a hit while their relationships fell apart. We’re also including those who’ve managed to claw their way back into the mainstream.

Ryan Phillippe

Most people likely think back to “Cruel Intentions” or his high-profile marriage to Reese Witherspoon when Ryan Phillippe’s name comes up. That era marked his peak in media visibility. During their marriage, Witherspoon shot to the A-list and established a lasting legacy in pop culture. On the other hand, Phillippe’s career was overshadowed by allegations of infidelity that have never been confirmed. While he’s remained consistently active, he hasn’t captured the same spotlight that films like “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “Crash” had brought him. Once a tabloid fixture, Phillippe has remained lowkey ever since he and Witherspoon went their separate ways.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Many expected a heartwarming farewell when “The Terminator” star’s term as governor was nearing its end. Instead, that period is now remembered as the worst time in both his personal and professional life. The revelation of a decade-and-a-half-old affair and a secret child shattered the “Governator” image Schwarzenegger had worked so hard to build. It didn’t take long for the public to link his admission of guilt to his separation from Maria Shriver, announced just days prior. The fallout was swift and brutal, with the scandal effectively destroying his political career. It was only after a prolonged apology and taking full responsibility for his child that Schwarzenegger was able to salvage his reputation. However, his marriage to Shriver was irreparably broken.

Pamela Anderson & Tommy Lee

He gained fame as part of the metal band Mötley Crüe, while “Baywatch” turned her into a mainstream icon. However, Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee’s infamously volatile relationship became a tabloid obsession. A stolen explicit personal tape wreaked further havoc for the pair. Legal battles over its release coincided with the end of their marriage. Despite clear violations of their privacy, a largely unsympathetic public opinion forced them to adapt to save their careers. Both continued in show business, but neither controlled their own narrative anymore. Lee relied on various gimmicks to reshape his personal brand, while Anderson leaned into the provocative persona that the media had slapped her with, only reclaiming her voice over two decades later.

Mel Gibson

Given the many controversies he’s been embroiled in, it’s hard to pinpoint a single turning point in Mel Gibson’s career. His divorce from Robyn Denise Moore coincided with an anti-semitic outburst that turned him into an industry pariah. Just when he was poised for a comeback, a messy breakup with Oksana Grigorieva derailed those plans. Allegations of misconduct and a restraining order barring him from seeing his daughter sent Gibson’s career into another steep decline. Films like “Edge of Darkness” and “The Beaver” bombed at the box office, the latter seen as a direct casualty of his scandals. It would take another hiatus from mainstream cinema – and pleas for forgiveness from friends like Robert Downey Jr. – before Hollywood was ready to welcome Gibson back.

Denise Richards

With bold roles in “Starship Troopers” and “Wild Things” and as a Bond girl in “The World Is Not Enough,” Denise Richards became one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces of the ‘90s. However, her marriage to Charlie Sheen drew the most media attention, especially once it spiralled into a contentious divorce. At the same time, failing to build on early success cost Richards her place in the industry. During her highly publicized split from Sheen, the actress pretty much disappeared from the Hollywood radar. Although she dabbled on both the big screen and TV, Richards’s pre-divorce fame is behind her. She’s since shifted her focus to digital platforms and reality TV, namely “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.”

Tiger Woods

Although Woods’s name is synonymous with golf, he hit his peak in 2008. Rather than confront his professional struggles, he was forced into hiatus after the revelation of his extramarital affair with Rachel Uchitel. Soon after, multiple other women alleged their own affairs with the golfer. It only got worse, as brands like Accenture, AT&T, Gatorade, and Gilette, among many others, all swiftly cut ties with him. The ensuing public humiliation erased any chance of reconciliation with wife Elin Nordegren, who reportedly received a divorce settlement worth over $100 million. Despite regaining his wealth and fame since then, that dark chapter in Woods’s life remains impossible to ignore.

Sonny Bono

While Cher has carved out a remarkable solo career, Sonny Bono’s name is always linked with hers. Breaking through as one half of the Sonny & Cher duo, Bono channeled this momentum into television, co-starring with his then-wife in “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.” However, their divorce led to the show’s cancellation, marking the downfall of his entertainment career. A solo musical attempt failed to gain traction, and occasional appearances in film and TV were a far cry from his earlier fame. Ironically, brief reunions with Cher brought him the most cultural relevance in later years. Bono would eventually find success as a politician, leaving his entertainment legacy forever tied to Cher.

Robin Thicke

There’s nothing blurry about what the high point was for Robin Thicke’s career. The singer became a household name in 2013, and the sky seemed to be the limit. But Thicke’s descent came as quickly as his rise. Accusations of plagiarism marred his success before personal troubles took center stage. Thicke’s image plunged amid allegations of infidelity, erratic behavior, and substance use. His hopes of winning back both love and career backfired with the 2014 album “Paula,” a failed appeal to his estranged wife, Paula Patton. Ultimately, his efforts didn’t take, as Patton filed for divorce, and “Blurred Lines” still remains his biggest brush with mainstream success.

Ben Affleck & Jennifer Lopez

Misfires like “ Gigli” and “Jersey Girl” coincided with the end of their first relationship, and neither Affleck’s nor Lopez’s fortunes took a turn after the breakup. After a decade of floundering results, Affleck regained acclaim as a director but endured a divorce from Jennifer Garner. Meanwhile, Lopez appeared in several poorly received romantic comedies, though her musical career remained her saving grace. Unfortunately, “Bennifer 2.0” mirrored their previous setbacks. By the time of their divorce, Affleck had appeared in “The Flash,” “Hypnotic,” and “Air,” none of which were successful at the box office. J. Lo’s music couldn’t bail her out this time either, and with disappointing album sales for “This Is Me…Now,” she opted to cancel her planned tour and focus on her family.

Johnny Depp & Amber Heard

By 2016, Depp was reeling off flops like “Alice Through the Looking Glass” and “Mortdecai,” while the DCEU was Heard’s primary claim to fame. When their separation was announced, both still had films like “Fantastic Beasts” and “Aquaman” in the pipeline. But by the time legal proceedings were in full swing, their careers were in shambles. Depp found himself blacklisted from mainstream media after Heard’s allegations in an op-ed. Although his lawsuit won back significant public favor, it was years before he would return to Hollywood with “Day Drinker.” Heard mostly stepped away from show business following the intense legal backlash, moving to Spain to be a mother and appear in smaller projects.

Which celeb couple breakup hit you the hardest? Let us know in the comments.