A List of the Most Controversial Celebrities in the Last Few Decades

Here is a list of the most controversial celebrities of the past few decades. Celebrities often attract controversy and scandal, making headlines for various negative reasons like sex tapes, public feuds, personal troubles, and legal issues. While some celebrities can move on from the spotlight, others find themselves plagued by problematic headlines that tarnish their reputation and make them targets of “cancel culture.”

Kim Kardashian

This Kardashian gained fame after her sex tape with ex-boyfriend Ray J was leaked, which sparked the first of Kim’s many controversies. Since then, she has been involved in numerous fashion mistakes and had a short-lived marriage to Kris Humphries, lasting only 72 days. She later entered into a relationship with Kanye West but divorced him in 2020.

Kim’s life has been filled with ups and downs. She has been engaged in public feuds with Drake and Taylor Swift. She shared nude photos that caused a sensation on the internet. Also, she pursued a law degree. And consistently surprised us with bold and revealing fashion choices.

Rihanna

RiRi, often called the ‘good girl gone bad’, grabbed attention when she transformed into a more provocative star. However, it was Rihanna’s relationship with her first love Chris Brown that initiated an ongoing scandal for the singer from Barbados.

Since their troubled relationship ended in 2009 with a brutal attack, Rihanna has remained a hot topic. She gave Chris Brown a second chance. She fearlessly displayed her birthday suit. And openly discussed her drug use. Rihanna hasn’t shied away from creating controversy in pop culture.

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus has left her Disney days in the past and made a name for herself with provocative actions. She raised eyebrows with tongue-wagging twerking at the VMA. Smoking marijuana on stage. And appearing naked while swinging on a wrecking ball. She also had a public feud with Nicki Minaj. Also, these feuds only added to her popularity further. 

Apart from these notable moments, Miley went through a public divorce after an eight-month marriage with Liam Hemsworth. She openly discussed dating girls as well. After all, she is a raging bisexual. 

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga is known for her attention-grabbing outfits. Such as her meat dress and hatching out of an egg. However, her most controversial moments include covering herself with fake blood during a 2009 VMA performance. And engaging in a vomit performance with a model in 2014.

But now, the singer-turned-actress has transitioned from her controversial days and continues to impress us with award-winning performances in movies like A Star is Born and House of Gucci, giving us more reasons to admire her. Also, she is a powerhouse of talent. We love her simply for even existing. 

Kanye West

Kanye West has never been shy about expressing his true self to fans. He has been involved in various controversies, including making public outbursts about slavery and Nazis, engaging in Twitter rants about Pete Davidson, and even running for presidency.

While being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and attributing some of his behavior to sleep deprivation, Kanye has found solace in forming his own spiritual Sunday church. However, recently he has been involved in more embarrassing incidents, leading to a divorce from Kim Kardashian, being dropped by Adidas, Gap, and Balenciaga, and even being removed from social media.

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber experienced the challenges of fame at a young age, which made it difficult for him to make any mistake without attracting media attention. As a result, he has had several encounters with the paparazzi, including an incident where he accidentally hit one with his car.

Among his other controversies, Bieber infamously egged his neighbor’s house and there were reports of him spitting on fans. He also faced legal trouble when he was arrested for drunk driving. However, in recent years, the singer of the album “Changes” has transformed himself and now avoids any public disputes.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift has faced various challenges throughout her career, including her ongoing feud with Katy Perry over John Mayer and writing breakup songs about her ex-partners. She also had a disagreement with Nicki Minaj regarding award nominations.

However, Kanye West is another celebrity with whom Taylor has had arguments. When he interrupted her acceptance speech at the VMA Awards, they publicly feuded. Despite seemingly resolving their issues, a new dispute arose when Kanye released lyrics in his song “Famous” that Taylor had not approved.

Kylie Jenner

Kylie Jenner is a highly popular celebrity who has achieved immense fame and is known for almost earning more than the rest of the Kardashian family. However, her journey to fame and the title of “World’s Youngest Self-Made Billionaire” has faced significant criticism. Some argue that her family’s influence played a crucial role in building her beauty empire, while others admire her success.

Many stories surround her. Some of them are about taking injections even as a child. This is no shocker. Most of these stories are actually true. Kylie also squabbles with celebrities from time to time. And this shows no signs of improvement. 

Chris Brown

If you’ve been a fan of Chris Brown since the beginning, you’ll remember the physical altercation he had with his then-girlfriend, Rihanna. It was a significant moment that impacted both their lives and careers. Since that infamous scandal, Chris Brown has been labeled a ‘bad boy’ and has faced numerous legal issues. He has performed community service, been expelled from rehab, and served time in jail.

Chris has many problems. He tried to reform himself. He also believed his bad boy image was a thing of the past. But something happened in Paris a few years back. A minor accused Chris of rape. This is a serious accusation. Authorities immediately jailed the singer. They also released him later. Chris continues to make songs. Not much has changed since then. 

Cardi B

Cardi B is no stranger to controversies. She maintains a constant public presence. Also, she gets into nasty squabbles from time to time. Her online rants are as famous as her rocky relationships and fights with Nicky Minaj. What’s more, she was recently in hot water for her sexual track WAP. Many people consider it highly inappropriate. But hey, Cardi B doesn’t listen to anyone but her own heart. 

Nicki Minaj

Now, this is the biggest name in the world of female hip hop stars. Nicki Minaj has some extremely hit songs. But at the same time, she performed an exorcism on stage. Also, she frequently disses famous people. What’s more, she once claimed she was going to marry Drake in a hall full of people. Nicki’s life is one of scandal and controversy. And the singer is not going to back down anytime soon. Let us see if she simmers down in the future. 

Britney Spears

Plenty of allegations followed this celebrity sensation from her early days. Some said Britney Spears mimes in her live shows. Some others claim she deliberately sabotages all her relationships. However, she endured all the scandals to emerge as one of the defining pop stars of our time. Her most recent controversy was around her ongoing conservatorship with her father. He lost the battle, if you remember. Let us hope Britney finds her career and life back. 

Michael Jackson

This is the King of Pop. Michael Jackson had a colorful life on and off stage. But controversy also surrounded him. There were many accusations. Most of them were about sexual misconduct. His family later also tried to disprove it. A documentary came out elaborating why he was innocent. 

Also read: What is the Status of Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott relationship now?