20 Actors who have faced the public's wrath

Fame and stardom are easy to achieve in Tinseltown. But it is difficult to sustain it throughout a long career spanning decades. Many famous actors and actresses from movies and TV shows have built a loyal fan following but many of them have also faced backlash due to their controversial opinions, character arcs in movies/shows, or, personal behavior. Here are 15 such actors who have faced the public's wrath:

Disclaimer: The list is largely based on social media posts and media reports.

1. Blake Lively

The Gossip Girl actress enjoyed a loyal fan following for many years up until she decided to feature in the movie, It Ends with Us, which is adapted from the hit Collen Hoover book of the same name and deals with themes of domestic violence. Lively received backlash from fans and critics alike for putting the serious topic on the back burner and promoting her hair products, instead.

2. Lena Headey

The talented actress executed her role of the cunning and incestuous Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones so well that viewers began hating the actress for her role in the series and failed to differentiate between the actress and the character. Regardless, the actress gained acclaim for her portrayal.

3. Drew Barrymore

The child actress and famous star has gained a massive fan following through all her years in Hollywood. However, she got into a controversy and received hate from the public when it was reported that she had decided to continue the production of her talk show despite the writers’ strike. Barrymore’s decision has since left many fans dismayed.

4. Mark Wahlberg

The actor is a veteran star in the movie industry but a few allegations from his younger days came to the fore. Fans were dismayed to learn that the actor had allegedly committed hate crimes against two Vietnamese men when he was 16. It was alleged that he physically assaulted them and used racial slurs.

5. Kristen Stewart

The actress was a breakout star when she starred in the Twilight film series and her relationship with co-actor Robert Pattinson received much media attention. The duo became the darling of their young fans but when it was reported that Stewart had allegedly cheated on Pattinson, she was criticized by the public and faced their wrath.

6. Gwyneth Paltrow

The actress has starred in many films over the years and is a respected star in Hollywood. She also started her own brand of wellness products. However, her venture into business led to criticism when she was accused of endorsing pseudo-health information and spreading incorrect facts amongst her fans.

7. Armie Hammer

The actor gained fame for his good looks and breakthrough role in Call Me by Your Name and was touted to be the next big actor in Hollywood. But viewers were dismayed when the actor was accused of assault and cannibalism, which led to massive hatred towards him. The actor has since denied the claims.

8. Anna Gunn

Another case where the viewers failed to differentiate between the actor and the character was when Gunn portrayed the role of Walter White’s wife, Skyler White, in the series Breaking Bad. Viewers deemed Gunn’s character as an obstacle to Walter’s success. The actress was taken aback by the backlash and defended her character.

9. Roseanne Barr

The veteran actress gained popularity in the 1990s with her show, Roseanne which was appreciated for breaking the stereotypes around the perfect sitcom family and for tackling topics like sexuality and race. But fans of the actress were dismayed by her political stance and she was called out for making racist comments.

10. Kevin Spacey

The actor has worked for a long time in Hollywood and is known for taking complex roles head-on and always delivering with his performances. But he received criticism from the public when allegations of him being a sexual predator surfaced. Spacey’s alleged accusations led him to be let go from the show, House of Cards.

11. Isaiah Washington

The actor has acted in various roles on film and TV over the years and is a known face among his fans. But he was criticized when he was accused of using a homophobic slur for a castmate in Grey’s Anatomy and was let go from the show. The actor got further criticism when he allegedly used the slur again.

12. Mel Gibson

The famous actor earned fame during the 1980s and 1990s with movies like Braveheart. However, the actor has since, been embroiled in controversies. He was allegedly involved in a drunk driving incident. He has also been accused of antisemitism.

13. Charlie Sheen

Sheen is known for his acting abilities and has acted in many famous movies and TV shows. But the actor got into controversy when he allegedly had a drug-induced public breakdown. Reportedly, he lost his job on the hit show Two and a Half Men owing to this and faced public scrutiny.

14. Brie Larson

The Captain Marvel actress was one of the few actresses to headline a superhero movie and gained acclaim for her performance. However, she has faced backlash for her political stance in interviews.

15. Drake Bell

The actor gained a fan following after acting in the coming-of-age show, Drake and Josh, and continued to gain viewers with his later work. He got into controversies when it was revealed that the actor had been charged with child endangerment and was sentenced to two years probation.

16. Tom Hiddleston

The British actor has gained a reputation for being a talented actor. He faced criticism from fans and admirers when it was reported that the Loki actor was dating singer Taylor Swift. His loyal fans felt that the singer was not a match for him and hated the actor’s decision to date Swift.

17. Zachary Levi

The actor gained fame for portraying the lead in the superhero film Shazam! and for voicing Flynn Rider in the animated movie Tangled. But viewers turned critical when Levi's controversial political stance and opinions about vaccines came to light.

18. Jodie Whittaker

The talented British actress is known for her compelling roles in series like Broadchurch and enjoys a loyal fan following. But the actress faced backlash when it was reported that she was chosen to play the next Doctor in the Doctor Who series, which has always been portrayed by a male actor.

19. Will Smith

The actor is considered Hollywood royalty. He faced public backlash when videos of him slapping presenter Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars over a controversial joke surfaced. The actor was blacklisted from the ceremony and his reputation has since been negatively struck.

20. Katherine Heigl

The actress starred in several hit rom-coms and gained fame for essaying a role in the hit medical drama, Grey’s Anatomy. But Heigl’s loyal viewers turned against her when it was reported that the actress was difficult to work with and allegedly threw starry tantrums on set. She was also accused and criticized for speaking negatively about the show.