10 Stars Whose Personal Lives Overshadowed Their Work

10 Stars Whose Personal Lives Overshadowed Their Work

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Welcome to MsMojo, and today were counting down our picks for the celebrities with the most distracting lives due to personal issues, legal troubles, and/or scandals.

#10: Ellen DeGeneres

When she came out in the 1990s, Ellen DeGeneres became a trailblazer for gay rights in Hollywood. The comedian later helped spread kindness and charity on her talk show. This all came into question after a scandal relating to her backstage persona. Some claimed the host created a negative workplace, with DeGeneres coming off as something less than nice. Both guests, audience members, and workers sounded off about rumors of the celebs diva behavior. She kept her showing going despite these accusations. After the NBC program ended in 2022, the TV personality put out a special and played off the scandal. The focus remained on the controversies instead of her comedy.

#9: O.J. Simpson

Some people only know O.J. Simpson as the guy from the high-profile trial. In the 21st century, the man rarely comes up in conversation for his NFL feats or his work in the Naked Gun films. He is now known best as the defendant in a murder case in the mid-1990s. Simpson became the prime suspect in the deaths of his ex-wife Nicole and Ron Goldman, but he was acquitted of all criminal charges. A civil case and a book release made things even more complicated. If that wasnt enough, Simpson was later sent to prison for his role in a Las Vegas robbery. Following his death, the mans controversial personal life remained the topic of conversation.

#8: Amanda Bynes

In the late 1990s, Amanda Bynes became an influential performer at Nickelodeon. Her talents helped to power All That, her own comedy show, and films like Shes the Man. In the 2010s, her celebrity shifted from young star to troubled adult during her apparent retirement. Bynes became more known for her personal life as her career took a backseat. During the next decade, she faced a DUI charge and dealt with other legal troubles surrounding drugs. A conservatorship was one of many attempts to help her through her mental health struggles. Many audiences have fond memories of her earlier work, but its hard to ignore her setbacks in the last few years.

#7: Russell Brand

In the 2000s, Russell Brand emerged as a brash comedian with a confrontational style. His appearances in movies like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek raised his profile as a star. The comic was known for his troubled past, but he seemed to be on a different path. Many women then came forward in the 2020s with serious allegations about potential sex crimes. The actor spent plenty of time on platforms like YouTube, denying the claims against him and alluding to conspiracy theories. Hes since been unable to escape the stories as UK authorities made formal charges against him.

#6: Armie Hammer

In the early 2010s, Armie Hammer burst onto the scene with films such as The Social Network. His career led up to an acclaimed performance in the drama Call Me by Your Name, but the success took a hit after a personal scandal. He was alleged to have been abusive to ex-partners as well as mentioning cannibalistic fantasies. This effectively made him a pariah in Hollywood and his A-list potential dwindled in a short time. Hammer has not been charged for anything and denies the accusations. Hes trying to return to movies, but the lingering uncertainty of his behavior has taken a toll on his mainstream work.

#5: Charlie Sheen

To say that Charlie Sheen has had a crazy life would be an understatement. He grew up in an acting family and gained attention for his roles in Platoon and Wall Street. He continued to star in successful films and TV shows, but he also had a wilder side. Hes drawn headlines for his addictions, turbulent relationships, and toxic behavior. In the early 2010s, he appeared in an interview that turned heads. His erratic personality made people question his sobriety and overall health. Several years later, he made the surprising admission that hed contracted HIV. He hasnt acted in many high-profile projects in the last decade or so, but he remains a controversial personality for his unfiltered past.

#4: Bill Cosby

At one time, Bill Cosby was known as a family-friendly comedian. He was among the more iconic stand-up comics ever and the star of his own TV show. His reputation forever changed after disturbing allegations surfaced. Many women came forward claiming that Cosby drugged and took advantage of them. After a while, the stories continued and the accusations were impossible to ignore. The actor was sent to prison in 2018 on assault charges. After several years behind bars, he was released after getting his conviction overturned. Despite his return to regular life, his legacy and career havent recovered.

#3: Kanye West

If you grew up on his music, youre probably as confused as we are. Kanye West is a musical maverick thats seen personal highs and lows. After interrupting Taylor Swift at the VMAs, his outspoken and more obnoxious side became famous. People still liked the music, but they became more worried about the state of the artists mental health and beliefs. His marriages to Kim Kardashian and Bianca Censori drew eyes away from his art. He became the fodder for tabloids with his controversial views about politics and slavery. These days, he receives more attention for his misguided references to Nazis. Nobody knows what the future holds for him, but its safe to say that hes ruining his reputation.

#2: Amy Winehouse

During her lifetime, Amy Winehouse developed a reputation as one of the great singers of her generation. She also became known for her substance use disorder. With two acclaimed albums, Winehouse juggled her fame with her own personal setbacks. She even worked her life into songs like the hit single Rehab. You could argue how much she was enabled or ignored by the people around her. Her health deteriorated in the early 2010s, with an eating disorder and depression making things worse. The artist died in 2011 and her tragic story became the subject of documentaries and a feature film.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Kim Kardashian

Her High-Profile Marriages & TV Show Highlight Her Personal Life More Than Anything Else

Lance Armstrong

His Historic Cycling Career Ended in Disgrace after a Doping Scandal

Mel Gibson

The Actor & Director Took a While to Come Back from His Anti-Semitic Rant

Woody Allen

An Abuse Accusation & His Relationship to Soon-Yi Previn Rattled His Career

#1: Diddy

This producer was known for helping Bad Boy Records become a mainstay in the 1990s. By championing artists like Biggie Smalls, Sean Combs became a media mogul. Controversy surrounded him for many years until a recent trial brought information to light. He allegedly conducted an abusive relationship with Cassie Ventura and a video raised even more concerns. Diddy also became infamous for his parties, inviting many others to join in potential criminal activity. The larger impact of his alleged activities have yet to be determined, but its clear that his legacy has been irreparably damaged. Years before, R. Kelly fell from grace following a similar trajectory of awful accusations and legal battles (xref).

Did we forget another case where a celebs life took focus over their professional output?