Top 10 Celebrity Scandals of 2023
#10: Fox Fires Tucker Carlson
Top 24 Celeb Scandals of Each Year (2000-2023)
Tucker Carlson is no stranger to controversy, but he seemed immune to consequences. Hosting his far-right Fox News show for seven years, Carlson wasn’t above touting any conspiracy theory or excusing any conservative’s poor behavior as long as it demonized the left. Fox showed no signs of keeping Tucker on a leash. Then in April 2023, they finally sent him packing as the network was ordered to pay $787.5 million to Dominion Voting Systems. While Carlson was a prime player in the high-profile defamation case, his firing supposedly had more to do with hate-filled texts and reportedly creating a toxic work environment. Apparently, making offensive comments on the air at Fox News is acceptable, but not behind the scenes (especially if it gets out).
#9: Britney Spears Talks About Justin Timberlake
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When a celebrity couple breaks up, the public tends to take sides, despite rarely knowing all of the details. In the early 2000s, many - including Diane Sawyer - were Team Timberlake following his split with Britney Spears. In recent years, there’s been a reevaluation of how Spears was portrayed in the media. Spears shined a light on the relationship in her 2023 memoir, revealing that she became pregnant. Although Spears was open to starting a family, Timberlake insisted that they weren’t ready. Had it just been her, Spears says that she would’ve kept the baby. Since Timberlake had been adamant, though, Spears made the “agonizing” decision to terminate the pregnancy at home. At one point, Timberlake tried playing guitar to ease the pain. It didn’t help.
#8: Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater: As Long As You’re Mine
Ariana Grande Impressions VS the Actual Person
In “Wicked,” Boq the Munchkin carries a torch for Glinda, although it’s clear that she’ll never reciprocate. It might not have happened over the rainbow, but a relationship would develop behind the emerald curtain. Grande and Slater were cast as Glinda and Boq, respectively, in the two-part film version of “Wicked.” Shortly after it was revealed that Grande’s marriage to Dalton Gomez was ending, news broke that she had entered a relationship with Slater. At the time, Slater was still married to high school sweetheart Lilly Jay, with whom he had recently welcomed a son into the world. By September 2023, Grande and Slater had filed for divorce from their spouses, marking the musical world’s most scandalous romance since Fyerio left Glinda for Elphaba.
#7: Jimmy Fallon, Funnyman or Phony?
Of all the late-night comedians, Jimmy Fallon is the least inclined to tackle anything too controversial, wanting to keep “The Tonight Show” lighthearted. Fallon became the subject of controversy in September 2023 when Rolling Stone released a piece in which 16 associates accused him of unprofessional workplace behavior. Apparently, working on the show took such a toll on some staffers’ mental health that dressing rooms became known as “crying rooms.” A few employees defended Fallon, who apologized over Zoom, but he made no mention of the scandal when “The Tonight Show” returned from the WGA Strike in October. Fallon seems content with moving on, although it’s hard for the internet to let go of an old clip where Martin Short complimented his “phoniness”... jokingly question-mark?
#6: What Did Diddy Do?
Top 10 Biggest Celeb Reveals of 2023
By the end of November 2023, Sean “Diddy” Combs had been confronted with three separate lawsuits regarding sexual assault. One of those lawsuits, involving his ex-partner Cassie Ventura, was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. Then in December, just over a week after Combs resigned as chairman of Revolt TV, a fourth lawsuit was filed. The most recent alleged victim to come forward claims that Combs and two others assaulted her in 2003 when she was in high school. Among the others being accused is Harve Pierre, the former president of Bad Boy Entertainment. Combs denies the claims against him, calling this a case of character assassination. Whatever the authorities uncover, Combs’ connection to those Tupac conspiracy theories suddenly seems like an afterthought.
#5: “Rumors” feat. Lizzo & Bananas
Top 10 Celebrity Reactions to Rumors About Themselves
Lizzo became the poster “big grrrl” for body positivity. After August 2023, however, people began to question if the Grammy winner was truly practicing what she had been preaching. Lizzo and dance captain Shirlene Quigley found themselves at the center of a lawsuit brought on by a trio of former backup dancers. Along with weight shaming, unwarranted firings, and creating an uncomfortable environment, the allegations of harassment against Lizzo ranged from racial, to religious, to sexual. The latter involved asking cast members to touch nude performers and eat bananas out of a personal area. Lizzo called these stories “sensationalized” as a second lawsuit surfaced. While fellow celebs like Beyoncé have shown support, those who felt wronged by Lizzo were left saying, “About damn time.”
#4: Jonathan Majors, The Man Who Almost Conquered Hollywood
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On the heels of acclaimed performances in film festival hits and shows like “Lovecraft Country,” Jonathan Majors landed the role of a lifetime as Kang the Conqueror. Built up as the MCU’s next Thanos, Majors’ road to superstardom seemed assured. But you know what they say. The higher they climb, the harder they fall. Majors’ future in the MCU and Hollywood derailed into uncertainty when the star was arrested for assault and harassment in March 2023. This would be the first of multiple allegations of abuse directed at Majors. In addition to being dropped from various films and ad campaigns, Majors lost his talent manager, Entertainment 360, and PR firm, Lede Company. While some projects could easily recast Majors, Marvel may be another story.
#3: Russell Branded Problematic
Comedian and actor Russell Brand has been a figure of controversy, notably for his promotion of conspiracy theories. In September 2023, Brand faced further challenges when he became the subject of sexual misconduct allegations. Initially, four women accused him of physical and emotional abuse, followed by a fifth woman who alleged that Brand had exposed himself. Among the accusers, one was reported to be a teenager at the time of the alleged incident. Following these allegations, Brand's agency, Tavistock Wood, ceased their representation of him, and YouTube restricted his ability to monetize videos on his channel. Despite these setbacks, Brand has continued to produce and share content on his platform.
#2: Danny Masterson, 30 Years to Life
10 Celebrity Reactions to the Danny Masterson Verdict
90s kids grew up on “That '70s Show.” Fast-forward to 2023, Generation Alpha is growing up on “That '90s Show,” albeit without so much as a mention of Steven Hyde. It was always unlikely that Danny Masterson would reprise his role as Hyde. His career has remained in limbo ever since the allegations of sexual assault arose in 2017. Some remained supportive of Masterson, considering him innocent until proven guilty. Come May 2023, Masterson’s courtroom appearances culminated in a guilty verdict. The Weinstein effect, as the media calls it, has seen several once-revered names face justice. Masterson might be the most prominent example since Harvey Weinstein himself. Where Weinstein is currently serving 39 years, Masterson won’t be able to even seek parole for 25½.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few not-so-honorable mentions.
Drew Barrymore Crosses the Picket Line
To Add Irony to Injury, the WGA Strike Was Resolved Shortly After
Jada Pinkett Smith’s Memoir
Is the Smith Family Still Worthy of Our Attention?
Dwayne Johnson & Oprah Winfrey’s Maui Fund Controversy
Their Hearts Might’ve Been in the Right Place, But Their Wallets Could’ve Dug Deeper
#Scandoval
When Tom Sandoval Allegedly Has an Affair with Raquel Leviss, Hashtags Write Themselves
Cassie Ventura Sues Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
The Lawsuit Was Dismissed, But Two More Followed
#1: Donald Trump, From President to Potential Prisoner
Top 10 Funniest Donald Glover Moments
Over the course of five months, Donald Trump was met with four indictments with the charges ranging from hush money, to mishandling government documents, to conspiracy against the U.S., to trying to overturn an election verdict. The Georgia indictment resulted in Trump’s infamous mugshot, a first for a U.S. president. The most scandalous part of all? Even with these four indictments, Trump has managed to stay ahead of his Republican nominee hopefuls and President Joe Biden in the polls. By 2024, Trump could either be in a jail cell, delivering his election night victory speech, or delivering his election night victory speech from a jail cell. In any case, Trump’s legal troubles in 2023 are just a chapter in a seemingly never ending saga.
Which scandals overtook your news feeds in 2023? Let us know in the comments.
