Let’s face it—Hollywood’s not all about the glow of red carpet appearances and carefully coiffed sit-downs. Behind the glitz, it is a ruthless industry where one bad move can topple an entire career. The last few years have witnessed some of television’s most recognized faces go from adored by millions to being cautionary figures, owing to scandals that blew up quicker than a trending hashtag. Some ended suddenly in a firestorm of scandal, while others gradually dwindled under the weight of infamy. Here’s a countdown in reverse of 10 of TV’s biggest scandals that brought once-emerging stars to a complete standstill.
10. Taylor Momsen – The Gossip Girl Rebel Without a Script
Taylor Momsen was a star household name as Jenny Humphrey on Gossip Girl, but off-screen life began to reflect television when her behavior off-camera became as dramatic as that of her on-camera character. Tales were heard of her coming to the set without being prepared, forgetting lines, and generally checking out of the acting routine. Producers cut back on her role throughout season four, and before long, she was written out virtually entirely. But when everyone thought her career was self-destructing, Momsen had already embarked on a musical career. With her group, The Pretty Reckless, not only did she reinvent herself all over again, but she also became the first female-led group to top the Mainstream Rock Chart. Leaving TV for her was not the end; it was a beginning.
9. Thomas Gibson – Criminal Minds and a Set-Side Showdown
Thomas Gibson watched stern profiler Aaron Hotchner on Criminal Minds for over a decade. But in 2016, his on-set temper got the attention it was seeking. In the middle of one of the episodes he was directing, Gibson reportedly had a screaming argument with a producer that got physical. This was not the first time, however—he’d fought years earlier with an assistant director and even attended anger management. The network severed ties after this second outburst. His character was written out, and fans were left shocked. Turns out, even the most serious TV gumshoes can’t avoid the backlash for their own tantrums.
8. Shannen Doherty – A Career of Feuds and Firings
For a long time, Shannen Doherty was known to be one of the most difficult people to work with in Hollywood. While shooting Beverly Hills, 90210, she was constantly at odds with co-stars, was always late for work, and even had a physical altercation with Jennie Garth. After that, she was off the show. The same thing happened to her on Charmed, where her disputes with Alyssa Milano got so angry that she was out again. Though she was certainly a talented actress, her stay was as much a saga of off-stage as on-stage drama. At a minimum, Doherty did as much as to show that the fame of being twice publicly sacked can be as enduring as the acting one.
7. Columbus Short – A Real-Life Scandal on Scandal
Columbus Short played the role of Harrison Wright on Scandal, but his life outside the camera took such a turn that even Shonda Rhimes couldn’t have imagined. In 2014, stories of domestic violence, restraining orders, and addiction came out. While he was accumulating scandals off-stage, the show was quietly getting rid of him. For the audience, it was a hard lesson that sometimes the backstage drama that happens can be more intense than even the most exaggerated on-screen plot twists.
6. Jussie Smollett – Empire’s Collapse
Jussie Smollett’s acting career went down one of the most scandal-ridden ways, in the most widely reported lies of the past decade. At the beginning, the Empire artist claimed that he had been a victim of abuse due to his orientation, and, as a result, the whole country was on his side and supported him. But, very soon, officials accused the co-stars of the series of helping Smollett stage the whole thing, and the whole country of being in the wrong for sympathizing with him. The outcry was loud and immediate: his participation was stopped, and the former promising actor was stained with the lack of truth forever. As if the scandal was not already overshadowing the Empire, it then turned out to be bigger than the show.
5. Isaiah Washington – Words That Cost a Career
Isaiah Washington was undoubtedly a great choice as Dr. Preston Burke on Grey’s Anatomy, but everything turned upside down in 2006 when it was rumored that he used a homophobic slur during a heated argument with Patrick Dempsey. The victim of the incident was co-star T.R. Knight, who was the one Washington allegedly insulted. Washington accepted responsibility and regretted what happened, yet the resulting uproar intensified instead. By the fourth season, he was no longer there, completely removed from the program. A lesson to be learned is that talk is powerful in show business—and here, a single careless utterance wiped out all he had accomplished.
4. Roseanne Barr – From Revival to Ruin in One Tweet
Roseanne’s comeback in 2018 seemed to be a big deal, with many people being excited to have the sitcom queen back in the crew. Unfortunately, everything took a turn for the worse when she posted a tweet that contained a racist jab at former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett. The situation only escalated when she deleted the tweet, apologized for the medication she was taking at the time, and yet, the damage was already done. Consequently, the network that aired the show at the time uprooted it, rapidly shutting down the series and rebranding it under a new name without her. In the Twitter era, her mishap was a career-ending blow that came in less than 280 characters.
3. Kevin Spacey – House of Cards Despite Fracturing
Spacey was one of the main reasons that the Netflix series was so successful, and his performance as Frank Underwood was truly great, but his career just could not survive the pressure of a series of serious allegations. In 2017, during a public interaction, actor Anthony Rapp accused Spacey of making sensual advances towards him when he was 14 years old. Following this, many others filed similar accusations. The streaming service and production company parted ways with him immediately, and he was removed from the last season by force. On top of that, they filed a lawsuit against him for compensation. For the star of the Spacey-led TV empire, it was a fall from heaven to earth, much worse than the character he portrayed in the show.
2. Charlie Sheen – From Sitcom King to Career Disaster
Charlie Sheen was the highest-earning actor on television at the time of his magnificent career, making a lot of money on the show Two and a Half Men. However, off-camera areas of his life were a drug carnival, crazy interviews, and fights with the show’s creator, Chuck Lorre. His “tiger blood” and “winning” monologues were just mockery by comedians of late-night shows, and after all, Warner Bros. pulled the plug on him. Ashton Kutcher came in and saved the show, but Sheen never regained his career afterward. Sheen, who was always full of hot air, ended up being a lesson to all about how ego and excess can still make the fall of even the most marketable actor.
1. Ellen DeGeneres – The Fall of “The Queen of Nice”
Ellen DeGeneres was once the entertainment world’s most beloved personality, but her kingdom fell apart amidst swirling controversies. It began with cringeworthy viral moments, including the awkward Dakota Johnson interview, but escalated when she was seen taking time out with George W. Bush and instigated blowback in the LGBTQ+ community. The real breakdown took place during the pandemic, with news of low-paid and mistreated workers. Then followed up with allegations of a toxic work environment and abuse. Ratings plummeted and, after 19 years, The Ellen DeGeneres Show ended. Ellen would later admit that the scandals took a toll on her self-esteem, and although she’s tried to return through stand-up, her once-unshakeable brand never regained its footing.
Tinseltown loves redemption stories, but what these stories show is that fame is fleeting and the higher the rise, the greater the fall. For these stars, the spotlight didn’t just fade away—instead, it exploded dazzlingly.