Celebrities whose careers imploded in 2023: Jonathan Majors, more

This year, many celebs have risen and fallen in the court of public opinion. 

Their wrongdoings are not all equal. Their alleged crimes range from legitimate actions that somebody could go to jail for, to simply, “They seemed like a jerk.” 

Not all of these people are canceled, either – for instance, despite becoming infamous for cheating on his girlfriend, Tom Sandoval remains a successful reality TV star. 

Still, all of these stars lost some amount of public respect, and social media channels have been abuzz about them in a bad way in 2023. 

Matt Rife

Comedian Matt Rife, 28, had a fast rise to fame after gaining a huge TikTok following (he currently has 18 million followers). However, public sentiment soon turned against him after his Netflix special, “Natural Selection,” premiered on Nov. 15 and got slammed on social media for his jokes about domestic violence. “Not Matt Rife building his platform on catering to his female audience and then opening his Netflix special with a domestic violence joke,” one fan commented. Following online backlash, Rife put out a statement, directing social media users to a link offering an “apology” if they had ever been offended by a joke he told. The link brought users to a website where they could purchase special needs helmets. In a since-deleted comment, Rife then got in an online scuffle with a child over this comment, which fans criticized him for.

Is he canceled? 

He seems to be doing fine. He still has those 18 million TikTok followers.  

Tom Sandoval

“Vanderpump Rules” star Sandoval, 40, now practically has his name forever associated with “cheating boyfriend,” because his cheating scandal, dubbed “Scandoval,” was a play on his name. In March, the long-running Bravo reality series enjoyed a renewed surge in interest, when news broke that Sandoval cheated on his longtime girlfriend, Ariana Madix, 37, with her ex-best friend, Raquel Leviss, 28, after dating Madix for nearly 10 years. He’s now infamous for his sleazy behavior. Sandoval defended his actions by saying about Leviss, who he is no longer dating, “We were best friends…I was fully in love with her. She’s not just some hot girl. I was a model for 15 years, it’s deeper than that.”

Is he canceled? 

The world thinks he’s a jerk, but he’s still got a slew of TV gigs – including Fox’s “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test,” and more “Vanderpump Rules.” So, he’s doing fine. 

Lizzo

Truth hurts. Singer Lizzo, 35, came under fire in August, when her former dancers accused her of sexual harassment, body-shaming and creating a hostile work environment. Oscar-nominated filmmaker Sophia Nahli Allison, 36, also made a public statement about her experiences with the rapper. “I was treated with such disrespect by her. I witnessed how arrogant, self-centered, and unkind she is.” Lizzo’s former creative director, Quinn Whitney Wilson, and dancer Courtney Hollinquest also came forward and claimed that they experienced similar treatment. “For clarification, I’m not a part of the lawsuit – but this was very much my experience in my time there,” Hollinquest wrote on her Instagram Story. 

Lizzo has formally denied the accusations. “This is the first step of a legal process in which Lizzo and her team will demonstrate that they have always practiced what they’ve preached – whether it comes to promoting body positivity, leading a safe and supportive workplace or protecting individuals from any kind of harassment,” a spokesperson for Lizzo told People. “Any and all claims to the contrary are ridiculous, and we look forward to proving so in a court of law.”

Is she canceled? 

It’s too soon to tell, as there will likely be further developments. But she has lost over 220K Instagram followers. She might not be able to recover from these explosive allegations. 

Julianna Margulies

“The Good Wife” star, 57, landed in hot water over comments she made on the Nov. 20 episode of “The Back Room with Andy Ostroy” podcast, regarding her thoughts about the Israel-Hamas war. Among other comments, she said a “Black lesbian club” at Columbia University “put signs up that said, ‘No Jews allowed,’” for a recent movie screening. “As someone who plays a lesbian journalist on ‘The Morning Show,’ I am more offended by it as a lesbian than I am as a Jew.” She also criticized African Americans supporting Palestine, saying, “The fact that the entire Black community isn’t standing with us to me says either they just don’t know, or they’ve been brainwashed to hate Jews.”

People on X, formerly known as Twitter, slammed her comments as an “unhinged rant,” and called her, “a racist and homophobic pos.” 

Is she canceled? 

It’s too soon to tell. She has since issued an apology. “I am horrified by the fact that statements I made on a recent podcast offended the Black and LGBTQIA+ communities, communities I truly love and respect,” Margulies said in a statement to Deadline.

Diddy

Numerous sexual assault allegations emerged this year about Puff Daddy, aka Sean Combs, aka P. Diddy, 50. In November, ex-girlfriend Cassie (real name: Casandra Ventura) filed a lawsuit accusing him of trafficking, rape and physical abuse multiple times through the years. He settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed sum a day after it was filed. But, the hashtag #SurvivingDiddy was trending on X, with a number of people predicting that more women will come forward with accusations against Combs. Sure enough, just days later, another lawsuit accused him of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 1991, and yet another lawsuit in early December accused him of gang raping a 17-year-old in 2003. So far, he’s denied the accusations and settled. He made a statement through his rep saying, “Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”

However, this likely won’t fade from the public conversation, because 50 Cent’s production company is making a documentary about Diddy’s alleged assaults.  

Is he canceled? 

Too soon to tell, but he did get a Hulu reality series scrapped in December, in the ensuing controversy from the allegations. 

Jonathan Majors 

At the beginning of the year, Jonathan Majors, 34, seemed poised to be the next big thing in Hollywood: the future of the MCU was hinged on his character, Kang; he was a key part of Michael B. Jordan’s “Creed” franchise, and his movie “Magazine Dreams” seemed like award show bait. However, in March, he was accused by his ex-girlfriend, actress Grace Jabbari, of abusing her in the back seat of a chauffeured SUV. This caused a crisis for Disney, his movie “Magazine Dreams” got dropped from the schedule, and he was dropped by his reps in April. He pleaded not guilty in a trial for misdemeanor assault and harassment.

On Dec. 18, he was convicted. He faces up to one year behind bars at his sentencing on Feb. 6, but he is more likely to receive a non-jail sentence of probation. Following his conviction, Marvel officially dumped him.

Is he canceled? 

“I think his career is over,” one longtime Hollywood agent told The Post. Another insider said, “Disney has invested a huge amount of time and resources in Jonathan. He was their ‘it’ boy – now he couldn’t get a job at one of their theme parks!”

David Choe 

Shortly after “Beef” premiered on Netflix starring Ali Wong and Steven Yeun, its positive buzz was marred by scandal: cast member David Choe had a shocking clip resurface and go viral on social media. The clip was from 2014, and showed him discussing sexually assaulting a masseuse at a Los Angeles spa and boasting that he was a “successful rapist” — a story he later claimed he made up. When it vent viral in April, fans threatened to boycott the show. “Four episodes in, but after listening to this, I’ll call it a season,” declared one disillusioned fan. “I can’t support this project. And yes, one person CAN ruin an entire show or experience.”

Is he canceled?

He doesn’t have any other projects coming up, according to IMDb, but he hasn’t faced any legal consequences. 

Colleen Ballinger

In June, YouTuber Adam McIntyre, 20, posted a video title, “My relationship with colleen ballinger,” in which he accused YouTuber Ballinger, 36, of “grooming” him and other teenagers in the 2010s. Ballinger responded with a bizarre viral “apology” video where she sang and played the ukulele while addressing the grooming allegations. “This is the most insanely out of touch ‘apology’ video ever. congrats that’s history made on youtube i guess,” one viewer commented. At least two companies who pay for ads on Ballinger’s podcast severed ties with her after the June video went viral. In July, Ballinger was further accused of using blackface in another resurfaced video. 

Is she canceled? 

She’s back making video content, and apologizing for her earlier conduct. So, too soon to tell. 

Taylor Sheridan 

“Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan, 53, has made a name for himself as a bigger drama queen than his actors. First, he was feuding with his star, Kevin Costner. Rumors flew around that Sheridan had a “god complex” behind the scenes. According to Sheridan, Costner was eager to pivot to working on his epic Western movie, “Horizon,” and matters between the two men got complicated.

“I’ve never had an issue with Kevin that he and I couldn’t work out on the phone,” Sheridan told The Hollywood Reporter in June. “But once lawyers get involved, then people don’t get to talk to each other and start saying things that aren’t true and attempt to shift blame based on how the press or public seem to be reacting…His movie seems to be a great priority to him and he wants to shift focus. I sure hope [the movie is] worth it.” 

Then, in early December, news broke that Bosque Ranch (which Sheridan owns) is suing his other star Cole Hauser’s coffee brand, Free Rein Company. A lawsuit was filed Nov. 21 by the ranch against Free Rein in the Northern District of Texas’ federal court in San Angelo for trademark infringement. It cited unfair competition and false advertising in the filing. The suit claimed that Free Rein uses “a brand mark strikingly similar to Bosque Ranch’s registered trademark, potentially misleading consumers,” according to San Angelo Live.

Whether or not you believe that Sheridan is justified or in the wrong, his fans aren’t too impressed with his feuds with his stars. “What a jerk Taylor Sheridan has turned out to be! He ran off Costner and now Cole!” one fan posted on X, formerly Twitter. “Sooo Taylor Sheridan is fighting w everyone at this pt? Kevin, cole, the cast…. dude ruined a #1 show w bs,” another fan slammed. “Taylor Sheridan is REALLY trying to burn everything to the ground. This guy is absolutely ridiculous,” another fan fumed. 

Is he canceled? 

No, he’s still got his TV empire which includes “Yellowstone,” “1923,” “Special Ops: Lioness,” “Mayor of Kingstown,” “Tulsa King,” “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” and a “Yellowstone” spinoff that will star Matthew McConaughey – if he can avoid feuding with him. 

Drew Barrymore 

As the actors and writers strikes lasted for nearly four months, from July to November, most shows went on hiatus. But, Drew Barrymore, 48, made headlines when she announced that the show would return on Sept. 18 amid the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes. In the ensuing controversy, the National Book Awards dropped her as a host of the event on Sept. 12. After facing backlash, Barrymore changed her tune and a week later announced that she had chosen to “pause” the Season 4 premiere of her talk show.

“I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over,” wrote Barrymore on Instagram. However, her apology clearly didn’t fly with several of her writers, who declined to return to her show after the strikes.

Is she canceled?

No, her show is still on, and she’s a Hollywood mainstay. The controversy seems to be a blip for her.