Top 10 Celebs Who Ruined Their Careers in 2022
#10: Ned Fulmer
Top 10 Celebrities Who Ruined Their Careers in 2022 so far
This was one of the most unexpected falls of 2022. Ned Fulmer, most known for his involvement with the Try Guys, was known by fans as a “wife guy” who often sung his partner’s praises. He mentioned her in multiple videos, and seemed genuine about being a family man. However, in September, he was suddenly exposed for cheating on his wife– with one of his own employees. It seemed like the whole Internet was in disbelief over the news— including the rest of the Try Guys. The fallout was severe, with Fulmer fired from the company. It got so big that the group’s response video was parodied by SNL.
#9: Kurt Zouma
The Tragic Life of Kurt Cobain
If there’s one thing the internet will never tolerate, it’s someone mistreating cats. So when videos of French footballer Kurt Zouma abusing his cat surfaced in February, there was a media frenzy. Fans of the sport and animal rights activists came together to condemn the acts, and called for him to receive consequences for his actions. The response was swift – sponsors of both Zouma and the team ended up pulling their support, and the cats were re-homed. Fans of other teams also created chants mocking Zouma and calling him out for the mistreatment. An investigation was launched in March, and by April the athlete had been charged with animal abuse – and was outlawed from owning cats for at least five years.
#8: Cuba Gooding Jr
In April, “Jerry Maguire” star Cuba Gooding Jr pleaded guilty to forcibly touching a woman who worked in a New York nightclub in 2018. It wasn’t the first time he’s faced such allegations. To date, 30 women have accused him of unwanted touching. Fans were shocked, as many had grown up with his movies. He made a plea deal that required that he attend counseling for six months, and after complying, he avoided prison time. But he also faces civil suits for other cases, and it has definitely impacted his reputation.
#7: Fred Savage
“The Wonder Years” actor Fred Savage has faced several misconduct accusations in his career. Previous allegations were contested, with several cast and crew-members of “The Wonder Years” coming to his defense in 1993, and Fox clearing him of wrongdoing on the set of “The Grinder” in 2018. However, in May 2022, an investigation into new accusations led to Savage being fired from his roles as director and executive producer from “The Wonder Years” reboot. They included incidents of “verbal outbursts and inappropriate behavior”. Given that “The Wonder Years” is still what Savage is best known for, it’s a huge blow, and could close a lot of doors.
#6: Will Smith
Top 20 Celebs Who Ruined Their Careers in 2020
The 94th Academy Awards were going smoothly – until it came time for Best Documentary Feature. Called on to present the award, Chris Rock made fun of Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. In the past, she’s been candid about her struggles with alopecia. In response, her husband Will Smith stormed the stage and slapped Rock right across the face. It was a shock to everyone, especially Chris Rock. Smith went on to win the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in “King Richard”. He faced considerable backlash for the slap, and some of his projects have been canceled or put on hold. The Academy banned him from the prestigious awards show for a decade, with Smith later opening up that the past trauma he faced likely contributed to the action, but didn't justify it either.
#5: J. K. Rowling
Top 10 Celebs Who Have Ruined Their Careers in 2020 (So Far)
J. K. Rowling is one of the best known authors of our times thanks to her iconic fantasy series “Harry Potter”. For years, she was looked up to by countless fans, both children and adults. However, public sentiment has begun to change, primarily for her views on transgender people. Even actors from the “Harry Potter series” - most notably, Daniel Radcliffe – have condemned these opinions. In response to the backlash, Rowling published a novel in August titled “The Ink Black Heart” about a woman who is persecuted and killed after being accused of transphobia. The novel was criticized as an instance of self-insertion, further marring her post-Harry Potter reputation.
#4: Alex Jones
While the “InfoWars” host has promoted many conspiracy theories, such as Pizzagate and Donald Trump’s Big Lie about the 2020 election, he’s best known for spreading misinformation about the Sandy Hook tragedy.. As a result of the conspiracy theory, grieving parents have been harassed, threatened, and told that their children never existed. In 2022, he finally went to trial. During the drawn out legal battle, which involved three different trials, Jones’ own lawyers accidentally sent his entire phone to a lawyer for the plaintiffs. Although he tried to hide his assets and frequently lied under oath, judges and juries ultimately awarded the plaintiffs $1.4 billion. Jones has publicly blamed “globalists” who are out to get him.
#3: Ezra Miller
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After a series of high-profile roles, the world was Miller’s oyster. However, in 2020, a video showed Miller choking a woman in Iceland. In 2022, their behavior led to a string of arrests, after they allegedly screamed obscenities at people in a bar, broke into a couple’s bedroom and threatened to burn them, and hurled a chair into a woman’s head. They’ve also been accused of harassing and grooming minors. A Vanity Fair article claimed in September that Miller had declared themselves the next Messiah. Well, after a burglary charge in August, Miller’s team stepped in, and after pleading no-contest to disorderly conduct, Miller began treatment for mental health issues. While their upcoming film “The Flash” is scheduled to release in 2023, it’s anyone guess where Miller will go from here.
#2: Amber Heard
Top 10 Lawyer Moments From The Johnny Depp Amber Heard Trial
The trial between actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard was one of the most talked about events of 2022. Depp sued Heard for defamation, citing an article she had written in 2018 in which she called herself the victim of an abusive relationship. What followed was a lengthy legal battle between the two stars that involved a LOT of dirty laundry. Heard’s testimony during the trial prompted much debate, with some questioning her sincerity. Ultimately, the jury found in Depp’s favor and Heard was fined $15 million, although this was reduced to $350,000 due to a limit imposed by state law. Countless petitions have sprung up calling for her removal from “Aquaman”. Whatever happens, many predict that her career is effectively over.
#1: Kanye West
Top 10 Biggest Kanye West Feuds
While Kanye West has inspired millions of people throughout his long career, he has also courted controversy and made headlines for the wrong reasons. In the late 2010s, he suggested Bill Cosby was innocent, and that slavery was a “choice” made by African-Americans. 2022 saw him harassing Pete Davidson, who was dating his ex-wife Kim Kardashian, wearing a “White Lives Matter” shirt, and posting a series of anti-semitic statements. As a result, he was banned on Twitter and Instagram, but doubled down in interviews. Some of his worst remarks, allegedly including praise for Hitler and Nazis, were edited out and not aired. Several brands, including ADIDAS, dropped him. Many fans are still hoping that he gets help and genuinely apologizes. Several brands, including ADIDAS, subsequently dropped him. He was also banned on social media (including Twitter, twice!), but doubled down in interviews. This included praising Hitler on Alex Jones’s Infowars, where he appeared alongside white supremacist Nick Fuentes, a week after the two had dinner wth Donald Trump.
