Hollywood isn’t just about the red carpets, the award trophies, and the star-studded parties—it’s also about the clash of egos, where rivalries simmer in the background for years on end. Celebrity rivalries, be it in the open or in the background, have been the underpinning of many gossip columns, TV shows, and even career paths in the industry. Getting you through this ride from current to past Hollywood history, here are nine of the most epic celebrity wars ever.
9. Florence Pugh and Olivia Wilde (Don’t Worry Darling)
Thought the problems in Don’t Worry Darling were simply part of the plot? Think again. Rumors of tension between director Olivia Wilde and actress Florence Pugh soon dominated headlines. Pugh notably boycotted publicity appearances, like the Venice portion of the film festival’s Q&A series, while Wilde espoused her film’s declarations of feminine empowerment. And when you add in her very public romance with Harry Styles, her very acrimonious breakup with Jason Sudeikis, and hints of a Styles vs. Chris Pine brawl at the film’s premiere, it’s obvious the problems off-screen actually upstaged the film itself.
8. Taylor Swift vs. Kanye West
Few rivalries have been as in-your-face or so enduring as this one. It began in 2009 when Kanye West invaded the MTV VMA stage and interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech to state that Beyoncé was the real winner. The years that followed brought diss tracks, leaked phone conversations, Twitter rants, and endless fan forum debates. Even today, the feud resurfaces in headlines whenever one of them brings it up in music or interviews.
7. Frank Sinatra vs. Marlon Brando
Old Hollywood did not have to be so neat. Sinatra was angry when Brando got the part he coveted in On the Waterfront, and things only became worse on the set of Guys and Dolls. Sinatra taunted Brando as “Mumbles,” while Brando, on purpose, sabotaged takes so Sinatra would have to eat cake over and over. The feud turned even darker when Brando was seen with Sinatra’s wife, Ava Gardner, and afterward accused “goons” of attempting to kidnap him. Whether or not Sinatra himself was involved, Brando remained cautious for years.
6. Bette Davis vs. Joan Crawford
Legend stuff. Davis and Crawford’s feud raged on for decades, from Davis’s movie premiere being upstaged by the news of Crawford’s divorce to Crawford marrying a man Davis loved. Their enmity came to a head on the set of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, where insults and genuine brawls erupted. Davis once joked that Crawford had “slept with every male star at MGM except Lassie.” Even in death, Crawford still had tart things to say, although she came to the defense of her old adversary when she spoke out against adverse portrayals.
5. Debbie Reynolds vs. Elizabeth Taylor
This feud-turned-friendship controlled the tabloids of the late 1950s. Debbie Reynolds and Elizabeth Taylor were friends until Taylor’s husband passed away, and was sent Reynolds’s husband, Eddie Fisher, to console her. That “consoling” turned into an affair, and Fisher left Reynolds for Taylor. Reynolds was portrayed as the injured wife, and Taylor was Hollywood’s homewrecker. Over time, Taylor dated Richard Burton, and Reynolds found love elsewhere. The two women ultimately made peace, fittingly enough, aboard a cruise ship.
4. Dean Martin vs. Jerry Lewis
One of comedy’s most iconic duos ended with bitterness. Martin grew tired of playing the straight man while Lewis took the spotlight, and after 16 hit films, the partnership dissolved. They didn’t speak for two decades until Frank Sinatra orchestrated a reunion during Lewis’s telethon. The audience erupted with a standing ovation, and though they weren’t inseparable afterward, they stayed in touch until Martin’s passing.
3. Olivia de Havilland vs. Joan Fontaine
Sibling rivalries hurt particularly when both sisters are competing for Oscars. Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine fought throughout most of their lives, with tensions simmering in 1942 when both were up for Best Actress. Fontaine took the prize and later confessed that she believed her sister might assault her at the ceremony. Their coldness never really melted away, with de Havilland calling her sister “Dragon-Lady” deep into their advanced age.
2. Orson Welles vs. William Randolph Hearst
When Orson Welles’s Citizen Kane, generally assumed to be about William Randolph Hearst, appeared in theaters, he woke the bear of all bears. Hearst fought back with negative campaigns, intimidation, and political bullying to kill the film. Studios went so far as to try to destroy the film reels. Welles was booed at the Oscars, and the film stayed in exile for years before being celebrated as a work of cinematic genius. The rivalry is still one of Hollywood’s most notorious art vs. power wars.
1. Lady Gaga vs. Madonna
In the world of pop stars, fireworks are always an easy spark away. Lady Gaga frequently bestowed praise on Madonna as an influence, yet when Madonna wrote off Born This Way as “reductive,” fans went to war. The shade continued for years, with both stars subtly throwing jabs in performances and interviews. Madonna has recently attempted to put the kibosh on the rumors, giving a nod to Gaga in a performance and saying that there’s no animosity. Nevertheless, whether they’re really at peace or simply being courteous remains a burning topic of discussion among the fans.
From decades-old resentments to Twitter tantrums, Hollywood feuds are a reminder that drama is not exclusive to the silver screen. In reality, some of the best stories are made when cameras are not rolling. And let’s be real, would Hollywood be nearly as much fun without them?