10 Most Surprising Celebrity Downfalls of 2025
10 Most Surprising Downfalls of 2025
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at celebrity downfalls that caught us off guard in 2025. While their careers might not be over per se, it could be a long climb back to their former heights.
Katy Perry
Last year, Katy Perry’s album “143” came under fire due to the involvement of Dr. Luke, who was previously accused of sexual abuse. Perry didn’t exactly bring her image back down to Earth in 2025. She joined five other female passengers aboard Blue Origin NS-31. While the all-female space voyage was supposed to send a pro-feminism message, many found it tone-deaf given Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ right-wing ties. Perry, in particular, was accused of using the flight to promote her upcoming Lifetime Tour, making it feel more like an overblown publicity stunt than a declaration of sisterhood. Perry’s presence also seemed to eclipse fellow passengers like Amanda Nguyen, who actually comes from a background at NASA and has been an activist for victims of assault.
Mickey Rourke
Mickey Rourke’s career rebounded in 2008 with his Oscar-nominated performance in “The Wrestler.” Whatever momentum was left in Rourke’s comeback was seemingly depleted in 2025, with his appearance on the U.K.’s “Celebrity Big Brother.” Finding work in reality TV isn’t what earns Rourke a spot on this list. It was his actions on the show. Rourke was troublesome from his debut episode, getting uncomfortably close to co-host AJ Odudu. During his stay, Rourke made derogatory comments towards fellow housemates JoJo Siwa, Chris Hughes, and Ella Rae Wise. Within less than a week, Rourke was ejected from the house. Rourke expressed a desire to sue ITV for £50,000, but if “Big Brother” won’t take him, will anyone else?
Winnie Harlow
It’d be nice to go just one Halloween where a celebrity doesn’t spark online outrage with an ill-advised costume. In 2025, it was fashion model Winnie Harlow, who dressed as the late Whitney Houston. She drew inspiration from the singer’s appearance at the 2001 BET Awards, where she was recognized for Lifetime Achievement. Harlow aimed to honor Houston, calling her “radiant, funny, confident and captivating” on Instagram. Yet, many social media users took offense to Harlow’s costume, as well as her impression of Houston. 2001 was an especially difficult time for Houston, who showed significant weight loss due to substance use. Houston died almost a decade later. For some, this intended tribute to Houston just opened up old wounds, hurting Harlow’s image in the process.
Dean Cain
Best known for his work on “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” Dean Cain’s career was far from controversy-free before 2025. If people still had any respect for the actor, though, it was gone after he criticized James Gunn’s “Superman.” Cain said, via TMZ, that it was a mistake for Gunn to call Superman an “immigrant,” even though that’s been a staple of the character’s origin story going back to the original comics. Nevertheless, Cain questioned how “woke” Hollywood would make Superman. It was also less than heroic when Cain announced that he was joining the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. The Department of Homeland Security noted that Cain would be an “honorary ICE Officer.” It sounds more like Ultraman than Superman.
David Harbour
David Harbour won audiences over as Jim Hopper on “Stranger Things.” He was particularly praised for his chemistry on and off set with co-star Millie Bobby Brown. Although Harbour seemed like a second father to Brown in interviews, 2025 painted a different perception of their dynamic. The Daily Mail reported that Brown had made “pages and pages of accusations” directed at Harbour. Nothing sexual, but Brown reportedly claimed “harassment,” leading to an investigation. Producer Shawn Levy called the report “inaccurate” on a “Stranger Things” red carpet, where Brown and Harbour appeared to be on good terms. Brown even said her bond with Harbour meant “so much” to her. Yet, Harbour also received bad press for his divorce from Lily Allen, who accused him of cheating.
Mike Smith
With or without the glasses, fans of “Trailer Park Boys” will recognize Mike Smith as Bubbles. The bubble might’ve popped in October 2025, when the Halifax Regional Police charged Smith with sexual assault for an altercation that allegedly transpired in 2017. Smith’s arrest occurred several months after it was announced that “Trailer Park Boys” Season 13 was coming. While the season finished shooting and is being eyed for a 2026 release, Smith’s future with the franchise has been called into question. For now, Smith won’t just be stepping away from Bubbles, but also his role as Trailer Park Boys Inc.’s managing director. This wasn’t Smith’s first run-in with the law, having been arrested under domestic battery suspicions in 2016, although those charges were dismissed.
Karla Sofía Gascón
Whether you loved, hated, or really hated “Emilia Pérez,” at least people could agree that Karla Sofía Gascón’s Best Actress-nominated performance was a win for representation, right? Well, shortly after Gascón became the first openly trans person to receive an acting Oscar nomination, people found that she was anything but a role model. A deep dive into her social media history made this painfully evident. These resurfaced comments expressed hate speech towards multiple marginalized groups. Gascón’s attempt to paint herself as the victim didn’t help, making her apology an afterthought. This not only took a toll on Gascón’s blossoming career. It might’ve tanked “Emilia Pérez’s” Oscar odds. Of its thirteen nominations, the film only won two, neither of which was for Gascón.
Jeremy Renner
An Oscar-nominated actor who gained an even wider following as Clint Barton in the MCU, Jeremy Renner took a hiatus after a snowplow accident nearly claimed his life in 2023. By the next year, a recuperating Renner appeared in a Super Bowl commercial with more projects lined up. A scandal that broke in November 2025 would overshadow his inspirational comeback, however. Chinese director Yi Zhou accused Renner of sexual misconduct, which allegedly included inappropriate photos and domestic violence. Zhou also claimed that Renner threatened to “call ICE” on her. Renner’s attorney, Marty Singer, claims that his client only had a “brief consensual encounter” with Zhou. According to one of Renner’s representatives, Zhou’s allegations are “totally inaccurate and untrue,” leading to a cease-and-desist letter.
Sydney Sweeney
From “Euphoria” to “Anyone but You,” Sydney Sweeney seemed poised to reign as the next big thing in Hollywood. Yeah, there was “Madame Web,” but that wasn’t her fault. 2025 is really when people started second-guessing Sydney’s star power, failing to draw audiences to “Eden,” “Americana,” or “Christy.” While Sweeney got solid reviews for her performance in the later film, it wasn’t her most talked-about onscreen appearance in 2025. That would be her American Eagle Outfitters ad campaign. Sweeney promoted the retailer’s jeans while alluding to her genes, as in genetics. It seemed like an innocent pun until somebody online said, “Eugenics.” While claims that the ads promoted white supremacy might’ve been a stretch, it still sparked a media firestorm with Sweeney at the center.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
This royal’s reputation has spiraled since his 2019 “Newsnight” interview, unpacking his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Despite consistently denying any wrongdoing, Elizabeth and Philip’s second son was stripped of multiple honors and reached a settlement with accuser Virginia Giuffre in a 2022 civil lawsuit. With the Epstein case reentering the zeitgeist and Giuffre taking her life before the release of her revealing memoir in 2025, Andrew’s descent continued. His brother, King Charles III, not only called for his removal from the royal mansion. Arrangements were made for his remaining titles to be revoked, including Prince. He may no longer be “Prince” Andrew, although in the line of succession, he could still theoretically become King Andrew someday. Of course, that’s a very theoretical path.
Which celebrity downfall surprised you the most in 2025? Let us know in the comments.
