In Hollywood, fame can vanish as quickly as a viral trend, especially in our social media-driven world where one wrong move or unearthed controversy can instantly derail a career, leaving many stars questioning if their time in the spotlight has truly ended.
Yet, the narrative isn’t always one of permanent banishment. In the intriguing world of ‘cancel culture,’ some celebrities refuse to stay down, demonstrating remarkable resilience and a determination to reclaim their standing. These journeys are often complex, filled with public apologies, periods of reflection, genuine efforts at change, and sometimes, simply a sheer defiance that allows them to carve out new spaces for their talent.
We’re taking a deep dive into the fascinating paths of several well-known personalities who faced immense public scrutiny and career setbacks. From those who masterfully staged a comeback through heartfelt amends and genuine evolution, to others who found unique ways to thrive outside the conventional Hollywood machine, these are the compelling stories of stars who navigated the treacherous waters of cancellation and emerged with vastly different outcomes.
1. Chrissy Teigen
Chrissy Teigen, once known for her sharp wit on Twitter, faced a harsh reckoning in 2021 when past tweets targeting young celebrities like Courtney Stodden resurfaced, sparking widespread backlash and leading to the loss of significant brand deals with major companies.
Rather than attempting to simply disappear or ride out the storm, Teigen chose a path of introspection and growth. She deliberately stepped away from the relentless glare of social media to reflect on her past behavior and commit to personal development. During this time, she publicly apologized for her actions, sought therapy, and dedicated herself to becoming a better person away from the very public eye that had so heavily scrutinized her.
Today, Chrissy Teigen is gradually rebuilding her career, demonstrating a thoughtful and measured approach to her public life. She has returned to the spotlight with selective brand partnerships and engaging cooking shows, allowing her to reconnect with her audience on her own terms. While her journey back has undeniably been challenging and involved a significant amount of self-correction, many fans have openly appreciated her genuine efforts to change and make amends for her past conduct, signaling a potential path forward for the star.
Her own reflections on the experience offer a candid perspective on the nature of public scrutiny and redemption. As she posted on Instagram, “Cancel club is a fascinating thing and I have learned a whollllle lot.” This honesty, combined with her continued efforts, appears to be working in her favor; her Instagram following has notably increased from about 30 million in July 2020 to over 37 million today, suggesting a degree of public forgiveness and renewed engagement.
2. Mo’Nique
Oscar winner Mo’Nique found herself in an unenviable position, effectively blacklisted from Hollywood after courageously speaking out about systemic pay inequality and unfair treatment within the industry. Her principled refusal to campaign for awards without additional, equitable compensation resulted in years of being deliberately shut out from major projects and prominent roles, a stark consequence for challenging established norms.
Despite the significant professional setbacks and the industry’s attempt to sideline her, the comedy legend never ceased performing. She steadfastly took her formidable talents to smaller venues and engaged in independent projects, ensuring her voice and comedic genius continued to reach audiences. Throughout this period, Mo’Nique maintained her core principles and continued to entertain audiences who deeply appreciated her raw honesty and unparalleled comedic prowess, demonstrating unwavering commitment to her art and her values.
Recently, Netflix provided Mo’Nique with a new and significant platform, allowing her to showcase her incredible talent to a broader, global audience. This opportunity has introduced her to younger audiences who are now discovering her groundbreaking work and powerful performances. Her unwavering persistence in fighting for fair treatment and demanding respect has not only reignited her career but has also served as a profound inspiration for other entertainers to stand up for themselves in an industry often criticized for exploitation and imbalance.
Mo’Nique’s return to the spotlight powerfully highlights the strength found in standing by one’s principles, even when facing immense professional consequences, ultimately leading to a remarkable comeback that proves integrity can indeed lead to triumph.
3. Janet Jackson
The year 2004 marked a pivotal and deeply unfair turning point in Janet Jackson’s mainstream career, following the infamous Super Bowl halftime show incident with Justin Timberlake. While Timberlake seemingly faced minimal professional consequences, Jackson was unequivocally blacklisted from major radio stations and television networks for over a decade, a clear double standard that underscored the biases within the entertainment industry.
Despite this concerted effort to sideline her, Janet Jackson displayed extraordinary resilience and artistic dedication. She continued to create new music and embark on international tours, maintaining a fiercely devoted fanbase who never forgot her incredible contributions to pop culture. Her unwavering commitment to her craft and her steadfast character during this period of unjust treatment solidified her status as a true icon of strength and perseverance in the eyes of her supporters.
In recent years, a renewed appreciation for her artistry, bolstered by revealing documentaries, has worked to deservedly restore her legendary status. A new generation of fans is now discovering her massive influence on modern pop music, recognizing the profound impact she has had on the genre. Crucially, the industry itself has begun to acknowledge the profound injustice she faced after that infamous performance, signaling a long-overdue rectification of her narrative.
Janet Jackson’s journey from being unjustly penalized to regaining her rightful place as a pop culture legend is a powerful testament to her enduring talent and indomitable spirit. Her story highlights how true artistry and resilience can eventually overcome even the most powerful attempts to silence a voice, ultimately proving that time and truth can bring about a deserved reckoning for an unparalleled career.
4. Morgan Wallen
In 2021, Morgan Wallen’s rapidly ascending country music career was temporarily derailed after he was caught on camera using a racial slur. The incident triggered immediate and widespread repercussions: radio stations pulled his songs, prestigious award shows banned him from their events, and his record label, in response to the public outcry, suspended him indefinitely. It appeared as though his burgeoning success might be irreparably damaged by this significant misstep.
In a twist that defied expectations, Morgan Wallen’s album sales actually soared amidst his controversy, a testament to his dedicated fanbase’s unwavering support, while Wallen himself reportedly used the period for personal growth and education regarding racial sensitivity.
His subsequent return to country music has been nothing short of incredibly successful, far exceeding many industry predictions. Wallen has since embarked on sold-out stadium tours and consistently released chart-topping albums, reaffirming his dominant presence in the genre. While some critics and members of the public remain understandably skeptical of the authenticity of his growth, others hold the belief that individuals deserve second chances, especially when they demonstrate genuine effort to change and learn from their mistakes, as Wallen has claimed to do.
Morgan Wallen’s controversial yet highly successful comeback underscores the complex and often divisive nature of public forgiveness and celebrity redemption in the modern era. His story illustrates the powerful, often impenetrable bond between an artist and their core audience, even in the face of significant controversy, making his trajectory a fascinating case study in contemporary celebrity culture.
5. Nick Cannon
Nick Cannon, a prominent media mogul, faced intense public backlash and significant career setbacks after making anti-Semitic comments on his podcast. The controversy resulted in the loss of his long-standing and lucrative relationship with ViacomCBS, along with several other key business partnerships. For a time, it seemed as though the empire he had meticulously built over decades might crumble under the weight of the criticism, leaving his career in serious jeopardy.
Nick Cannon swiftly addressed the controversy by actively engaging with Jewish leaders and organizations to deepen his understanding of anti-Semitism and its impact, participating in educational programs and making public efforts to foster dialogue and bridge cultural divides.
His sincere apology and demonstrable commitment to learning and community outreach played a crucial role in helping him gradually regain some of his lost business relationships and, importantly, a degree of public respect. While in the process of rebuilding his expansive empire, Cannon has transitioned into a prominent advocate for understanding and unity between different communities and cultures, using his platform to promote positive intergroup relations.
Nick Cannon’s journey from public condemnation to active advocacy serves as a powerful example of how accountability and a dedicated commitment to education can facilitate a significant turnaround. His experience highlights the potential for growth and redemption when a public figure genuinely embraces the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and work towards fostering greater understanding and respect.
6. Louis C.K.
Louis C.K. was once considered one of the hottest tickets in the comedy world, renowned for his observational humor and critically acclaimed television series. However, his career imploded following a series of revelations in 2017, when a group of female comics publicly disclosed that he had a pattern of dropping his pants and pleasuring himself in front of them without their consent. Following the publication of an investigative story in the New York Times, the funnyman admitted to the lewd acts, releasing a detailed statement on what he did and offering an apology to the women he had affected.
The scandal led to immediate and severe consequences for C.K.’s professional life. His eagerly anticipated movie “I Love You, Daddy” was scrapped, a lucrative TV deal with FX was terminated, and a string of already-booked performances were swiftly canceled. He was also dropped by his management company and publicist, effectively severing his ties with the traditional Hollywood infrastructure. According to the comedian’s own count, these cancellations cost him an estimated $35 million in earnings.
Despite being ostensibly “canceled” by mainstream Hollywood, Louis C.K. has remarkably continued to perform and thrive, albeit within a self-created bubble. He has persisted with touring, playing to adoring crowds in venues including Madison Square Garden, showcasing an undeniable loyalty from a segment of his fanbase. His resilience in performing has allowed him to maintain a direct connection with his audience, bypassing the traditional gatekeepers of the industry.
Because he took the strategic step of distributing his own material, C.K. has also continued to release new comedy specials, making them directly available for purchase on his personal website. This independent model has proven surprisingly effective. A significant moment of his unconventional comeback occurred earlier this month when he won the 2022 Best Comedy Album Grammy for “Sincerely Louis CK,” sparking a mini-outrage but undeniably cementing his continued success outside the mainstream. While Hollywood producer Gavin Polone notes that C.K. is unlikely to snag Hollywood film work or TV specials anytime soon, acknowledging that he hasn’t been as contrite as others, he concedes, “But he’s fortunate that he can go back to what he’s best at. He’s brilliant. It would be great if Louie could be reclaimed.” This unique trajectory illustrates a controversial figure who found a way to reclaim success on his own terms.”
While Hollywood often craves a comeback story, the path back from ‘cancellation’ can be incredibly challenging, as these stories reveal the precarious nature of celebrity and the lasting impact of public scrutiny in an unforgiving industry.
7. Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey, once an acclaimed, Oscar-winning actor, saw his career utterly decimated after explosive allegations emerged in 2017. “Rent” actor Anthony Rapp accused Spacey of physically “trying to seduce” him in 1986, when Rapp was 14. Spacey, claiming no memory, offered a “sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior,” a statement that failed to quell the storm.
The accusation opened floodgates, leading to over 30 claims of ual misconduct since 1983, including from Richard Dreyfuss’ son Harry and “House of Cards” cast members. While some cases were dropped, the sheer volume of allegations effectively made Spacey persona non grata in Hollywood.
The professional fallout was swift. Spacey was fired from “House of Cards,” his scenes in “All the Money in the World” were famously deleted and reshot, and his Netflix bio of Gore Vidal canceled. He was dropped by his agents at CAA and his publicist. In November 2021, his production companies were ordered to pay $31 million to “House of Cards” producers for violating Netflix’s harassment policy, a monumental financial blow.
Kevin Spacey’s career remains in a precarious state, with his upcoming role in the Italian production ‘The Man Who Drew God’ offering a glimmer of professional activity while legal troubles, including Anthony Rapp’s lawsuit, continue to cast a long shadow over his future.
8. James Franco
James Franco’s once-diverse career, spanning acting, directing, and academia, has been stalled in “self-exile” since ual misconduct allegations surfaced. The first widely publicized incident in 2014 involved an Instagram exchange with a 17-year-old girl, where he inquired about her age and hotel. Franco later admitted to “bad judgment,” stating, “I learned my lesson.”
The controversy deepened in 2018 when five female students from his Studio 4 acting school accused him of ual exploitation. Two women sued him, claims Franco settled last year for $2.23 million. These accusations created an insurmountable barrier to his mainstream Hollywood presence.
Professionally, Franco’s last major project was HBO’s “The Deuce,” concluding in October 2019. He hasn’t appeared on screen since, marking a prolonged absence. Even long-time collaborator Seth Rogen publicly stated the scandal changed their relationship, ending a two-decade partnership with no plans for future work.
While largely absent, Franco appeared on “The Jess Cagle Podcast” in December 2021. He admitted he “slept with students and that was wrong,” attributing it to struggles with alcohol and addiction, and confessing he “cheated on everyone.” He also expressed that Rogen dismissing him was “hurtful.” His current status suggests a challenging path, with no new projects announced.
9. Marilyn Manson
Brian Warner, famously known as Marilyn Manson, has seen his controversial persona eclipsed by severe abuse allegations, leaving his career “mostly sunk but fighting.” In February 2021, actress Evan Rachel Wood, his former fiancée, posted on Instagram: “The name of my abuser is Brian Warner… He started grooming me when I was a teenager and horrifically abused me for years. I was brainwashed and manipulated into submission…” This statement prompted over a dozen other women to come forward.
By late last year, four women, including “Game of Thrones” actress Esmé Bianco, had filed ual assault lawsuits against Manson. The singer has steadfastly denied these claims, fueling a fierce legal battle. Despite his denials, public and professional repercussions were immediate and comprehensive.
Manson’s record label, Loma Vista, severed ties in February 2021. His role in “American Gods” was cut, and a “Creepshow” episode featuring him dropped. His manager parted ways, and CAA no longer represents him, effectively isolating him from key industry support.
Despite ostracization, Manson received a 2022 Grammy nomination for work on Kanye West’s “Donda.” In March 2022, he filed his own lawsuit against Evan Rachel Wood for “malicious falsehood.” Weeks later, HBO released Wood’s documentary, “Phoenix Rising,” detailing her allegations. While his streaming numbers reportedly remain steady, an LA County Sheriff’s search of his home in November 2021 underscores the ongoing severe nature of his legal and public battles.
10. Armie Hammer
Actor Armie Hammer, once a rising star, has largely “disappeared” amidst disturbing allegations of ual misconduct, abuse, and even cannibalistic fantasies. The controversy exploded in March 2021 when former flame Effie Angelnova accused him of violent rape and harboring cannibalistic fantasies. Other ex-partners, including Paige Lorenze, alleged Hammer carved an “A” into her pelvis with a knife and asked for a rib removal for him to eat.
Courtney Vucekovich recounted disturbing alleged incidents involving Armie Hammer, claiming he had unusual desires, while Hammer’s legal team has consistently denied these allegations, asserting that all interactions were consensual and mutually agreed upon after thorough discussion.
The severe claims led to immediate “cancellation” from major projects. Hammer dropped out of the film “Shotgun Wedding” (with Jennifer Lopez), the Paramount+ series “The Offer,” and a Broadway show “The Minutes.” These departures signal a near-complete shutdown of his mainstream Hollywood career.
Hammer’s most recent appearance was in Disney’s “Death on the Nile” (February 2021). An industry source called the film “every publicist’s worst nightmare.” While he completed rehab for , drug, and alcohol issues, and LAPD investigations concluded without charges, his future remains uncertain. Despite a friend’s February 2022 claim that “He will be coming back to his acting career in due course,” no concrete comeback path has materialized, leaving him in professional limbo.
11. DaBaby
Rapper Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, known as DaBaby, saw his skyrocketing career abruptly “dropped” after highly controversial, homophobic remarks at a Miami music festival in 2021. Addressing the crowd, he offensively stated, “[If] you didn’t show up today with HIV/AIDS, or any of them deadly ually transmitted diseases that’ll make you die in two to three weeks, then put a cellphone light in the air.” He compounded his error by adding, “Fellas, if you ain’t sucking d— in the parking lot, put a cellphone light in the air.”
An ill-advised clarification worsened the situation, as he claimed to have gay fans who are disease-free because they are not “nasty gay n—-s or junkies.” These remarks triggered massive outcry from the LGBTQ+ community, with Madonna, Elton John, and Dua Lipa speaking out against him.
Professional repercussions were significant. Fashion brand BoohooMAN ended its deal, and he was removed from the 2022 Lollapalooza tour. A concert in Atlanta was called off amid cancellations, and radio stations “time out”-ed his music, limiting his commercial viability. These actions effectively put his mainstream career on indefinite hold.
In response, DaBaby has paradoxically “embraced his plummeting stock,” declaring himself “cancelled” in a new version of his hit “Whole Lotta Money,” reportedly both sobbing and laughing off his situation. He also shared a tweet with his young daughter, acknowledging his status. It remains to be seen if this self-aware defiance will pave a path for a genuine return, or if his future remains constrained by his controversial remarks.
12. Gina Carano
Gina Carano, an MMA fighter turned “The Mandalorian” star, found her Disney career cut short due to politically charged social media posts. The most damaging comment came in February 2021, when she compared modern American political polarization to the Holocaust. She wrote, “Most people today don’t realize that to get to the point where Nazi soldiers could easily round up thousands of Jews, the government first made their own neighbors hate them simply for being Jews. How is that any different from hating someone for their political views?”
Gina Carano’s controversial social media posts, including remarks on masks, election integrity, and mocking pronoun usage, led to her dismissal from ‘The Mandalorian,’ though she defended her actions as an effort to expose perceived ‘mob bullying.’
The weight of these controversies led to #FireGinaCarano trending. Disney responded decisively, severing all ties. She would not return as Cara Dune in “The Mandalorian” or any “Star Wars” films. Her management company, United Talent Agency, also dropped her, closing access to major Hollywood productions.
Despite this setback, Carano continues her career outside mainstream Hollywood. She’s working on two feature films: “Terror on the Prairie” and “My Son Hunter,” both produced by The Daily Wire, a conservative media company. This signals a shift to an ideologically aligned audience, demonstrating that alternative avenues can still provide work for those navigating career limbo.
**The Lingering Echoes of Cancellation**
The diverse journeys of these celebrities underscore the unpredictable and complex reality of modern cancel culture, where some find redemption through introspection or defiance, while others face lasting professional exile, illustrating the industry’s power to both elevate and sideline careers.
