Top 20 Celebrity Racist Comments

Celebrities hold a lot of influence, so when they say something offensive about race, it hits hard and spreads fast. We’ve all seen how one offhand remark can unravel a career built over decades, turning fans against their idols overnight. These moments expose the ugly side of fame, where pressure and privilege sometimes lead to words that hurt entire communities.

From TV hosts to musicians, no one’s immune to making a mistake that crosses the line. The fallout often includes apologies, lost jobs, and endless debates about forgiveness. Here are 20 times stars let racist comments slip out, showing just how real the consequences can be.

Gina Rodriguez

Gina Rodriguez shared an Instagram story in 2019 where she rapped along to The Fugees track Ready or Not and sang the n-word multiple times. Fans quickly called her out for using a slur she has no claim to, especially since she advocates for Latinx representation in media. She deleted the video within hours and posted an apology video, admitting she got carried away with the lyrics.

The backlash grew on Twitter, with users pointing to her past comments on cultural sensitivity as a contradiction. Rodriguez followed up with another statement, vowing to educate herself on the word’s painful history in Black communities. The incident prompted discussions about accountability for allies in Hollywood.

Justin Bieber

Back in 2014, old home videos surfaced of a teenage Justin Bieber using the n-word repeatedly while freestyling over a beat with friends. The clips showed him laughing as he dropped the slur over a dozen times, which shocked fans who grew up with his clean-cut image. Bieber responded with a lengthy Instagram post, calling his younger self ignorant and promising to grow from the mistake.

The videos came from when he was around 14, recorded in his Ontario bedroom, and quickly went viral after a TMZ report. He met with the NAACP later that year to discuss racial issues and donated to related causes. The event marked an early lesson in how past actions can haunt public figures.

Madonna

Madonna posted an Instagram photo in 2014 of her then-14-year-old son Rocco with the caption that included the n-word as a term of endearment. The image showed him with friends in Miami, and the comment drew immediate fire from followers who saw it as casual racism from a global icon. She removed the post soon after and explained in a statement that she meant it affectionately, like how some use it in hip-hop.

The singer faced petitions and boycotts from fans upset over her history of cultural appropriation in music videos. Madonna apologized publicly, saying she failed to consider the word’s weight outside her circle. It led to broader talks about white artists borrowing from Black culture without respect.

Andy Dick

Comedian Andy Dick shouted the n-word at a Los Angeles comedy club audience in 2006 during a stand-up set. He later claimed he was imitating Michael Richards’ infamous meltdown at the Laugh Factory, but the crowd didn’t buy it and booed him off stage. The incident got covered in entertainment news, highlighting his pattern of boundary-pushing humor gone wrong.

Dick had a history of controversies, including sexual harassment allegations, and this added to his reputation as unpredictable. He issued a half-hearted apology on his website, joking about the backlash, which only fueled more criticism. The event contributed to his fading from mainstream comedy circuits.

Chelsea Handler

Chelsea Handler tweeted a photo of a grape soda can to Nick Cannon in 2015 amid their online feud, captioning it as something he should drink to calm down. The image played into stereotypes about Black people’s supposed love for the drink, sparking accusations of casual racism from her 5 million followers. She deleted the tweet and explained it as a joke about his E! show, not race.

Handler had built a career on edgy comedy, but this crossed a line for many, leading to calls for her to step down from her Netflix deal. She later reflected on the mistake in interviews, admitting she overlooked the implication. The spat ended their public friendship and prompted her to hire a sensitivity consultant.

Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton told a British tabloid in 2006 that she avoids dating Black men because she finds them gross and would never touch one. The quote came from an interview promoting her reality show, and it stunned readers given her party-girl persona that seemed open-minded. The story spread worldwide, damaging her brand endorsements with diverse companies.

Hilton’s team tried to spin it as a misquote, but she never directly addressed it publicly. The remark fit into rumors of her family’s conservative views, including past associations with white supremacist events. It lingered as a stain on her image, resurfacing during her DJ comeback years later.

Azealia Banks

Rapper Azealia Banks went on a Twitter tirade in 2016 against Zayn Malik, calling him a sand n-word and mocking his Pakistani heritage with slurs like hairy curry b*t*h. The posts stemmed from a dispute over a leaked track, but escalated into ethnic attacks that got her account suspended temporarily. Fans of both artists condemned her, seeing it as unprovoked hate.

Banks doubled down at first, then deleted the tweets and claimed emotional distress from industry pressures. The incident added to her list of feuds, including with other celebrities, and hurt her album sales. It sparked conversations about mental health intersecting with online toxicity in hip-hop.

Stacey Dash

Stacey Dash labeled actor Jesse Williams a plantation slave on Twitter in 2016 after his passionate BET Awards speech on Black Lives Matter. She accused him of faking activism for attention, using the term to imply disloyalty to his biracial heritage. The comment drew backlash from civil rights groups who saw it as internalized racism from a Black conservative.

Dash, known for her role in Clueless, had shifted to Fox News commentary, often criticizing progressive causes. She stood by the tweet initially, then clarified it as a metaphor for Hollywood exploitation. The exchange highlighted divisions within Black celebrity circles on political issues.

Steve Harvey

Steve Harvey joked about Asian men on his daytime show in 2015 while holding up a book on dating white women, saying the guide needed just one page with a rejection line. He mimicked a woman’s voice dismissing the idea and added that he doesn’t even like Chinese food because it doesn’t stick. The bit aired to a live audience that laughed, but clips online ignited outrage over perpetuating stereotypes.

Harvey’s team edited the segment for reruns, and he addressed it on air, saying comedy sometimes misses the mark. As a host with a massive following, the incident led to boycotts from Asian American organizations. It contrasted with his philanthropy work in Black communities.

Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille O’Neal mocked Yao Ming on a TNT broadcast in 2002 by bowing and saying ching chong yang wah ah so in a mock Chinese accent. The Lakers star did it during a playoff game commentary, drawing laughs from co-hosts but swift complaints from viewers. NBA officials investigated, and Shaq apologized on air, calling it locker room ribbing gone public.

Yao responded gracefully, saying he understood the intent as playful, but advocacy groups pushed for sensitivity training. The moment underscored tensions in the league’s growing international roster. Shaq’s Hall of Fame career continued, but it became a footnote in his media persona.

John Mayer

John Mayer told Playboy in 2010 that his p*n*s acts like a white supremacist and compared it to David Duke while claiming a hood pass from Black fans. The interview covered his music but veered into racial territory, shocking readers with the casual bigotry. Sales of his Battle Studies album dipped as radio stations pulled tracks.

Mayer canceled shows and tweeted an apology, admitting the words came from insecurity and alcohol. He stepped back from Twitter for months to reflect. The scandal shifted focus from his guitar skills to his privilege, influencing how he approached interviews later.

Duane ‘Dog’ Chapman

Duane Dog the Bounty Hunter left a voicemail in 2007 using the n-word repeatedly while ranting to his son about dating a Black woman. The recording leaked to the National Enquirer, leading A&E to suspend his reality show mid-season. Chapman claimed it was private frustration, not his true beliefs, and begged for forgiveness on TV.

The bounty hunter grew up in a segregated Kentucky, which he cited in explanations, but lost sponsorships and faced protests. He underwent rehab and issued public apologies to Black leaders. The family show returned after a year, but with toned-down content.

Michael Richards

Michael Richards, known for playing Kramer on ‘Seinfeld’, unleashed a racist rant at the Laugh Factory in 2006, shouting the n-word at Black audience members who heckled his stand-up act. He used the slur multiple times, paired with references to lynching, which stunned the crowd and led to walkouts. The incident was recorded on a phone and spread rapidly online, effectively halting his comedy career.

Richards apologized on the Late Show with David Letterman, claiming the outburst came from frustration and not personal beliefs. He sought counseling and met with civil rights leaders to address the damage, but the backlash persisted, with clubs refusing to book him. The event sparked debates about comedy’s boundaries and accountability for public figures.

Tila Tequila

Tila Tequila posted neo-Nazi symbols and rants about hunting Mexican immigrants on social media in 2013, proudly declaring herself a member of the group. The former reality star shared images of Hitler and used slurs freely, shocking fans from her A Shot at Love days. Platforms banned her accounts, and brands cut ties immediately.

She later blamed a mental health breakdown for the posts, entering treatment and disavowing the ideology. The episode erased her from mainstream entertainment, limiting her to fringe online spaces. It raised awareness about extremism infiltrating pop culture.

Bill Maher

Bill Maher used the n-word on HBO’s Real Time in 2017 while discussing the historical term house n-word for compliant slaves. He meant it educationally but said the full slur live, prompting guest Senator Al Franken to call him out on air. Viewers flooded HBO with complaints, demanding his firing over the prime-time mistake.

Maher apologized the next day, inviting civil rights activist Michael Eric Dyson for a discussion on the word’s power. The network stood by him after sensitivity training. It fueled debates on comedy’s limits with race, affecting his guest bookings.

Hulk Hogan

Wrestler Hulk Hogan unleashed a tirade with over 100 uses of the n-word on a 2015 sex tape leaked by Gawker. He ranted about his daughter dating Black men, using slurs and stereotypes in the private conversation. WWE fired him, scrubbed his name from Hall of Fame, and lawsuits followed from fans.

Hogan settled with Gawker for $31 million and issued apologies, attributing it to anger from personal betrayal. He returned to wrestling promotions years later after public pressure eased. The scandal exposed racism in sports entertainment’s bro culture.

Paula Deen

Paula Deen admitted in a 2013 deposition to using the n-word after a bank robbery and planning a plantation-themed wedding with Black servers in costumes. Former employees sued her for racial harassment, detailing slurs and segregation at her restaurants. Food Network canceled her shows, and publishers dropped her cookbooks.

Deen tearfully denied being racist on the Today show, blaming Southern upbringing for the language. She rebuilt with a new network after legal settlements. The case spotlighted workplace discrimination in the culinary world.

Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson raged at police in a 2006 DUI arrest, calling a Latina officer a wetback and blaming Jews for all wars in America. The audio leaked, leading to boycotts of his films and a public apology tour. His next movie Apocalypto faced protests over its indigenous portrayal.

Gibson entered rehab and sought forgiveness from Jewish leaders, citing alcohol as the trigger. Hollywood distanced itself, but he directed hits like Hacksaw Ridge later. The rants revealed a pattern from earlier incidents with his ex-partner.

Kanye West

Kanye West declared on TMZ Live in 2018 that slavery sounded like a choice for Black people held captive for 400 years. The comment came during a discussion on his MAGA hat support, stunning co-hosts and sparking viral memes. Fans and peers like John Legend urged him to read history books.

West doubled down in interviews before apologizing on Twitter, calling it a flawed analogy from his thought process. The backlash hurt his Yeezy brand deals temporarily. It tied into his pattern of controversial race takes, like defending George Floyd’s killer later.

Roseanne Barr

Roseanne Barr tweeted in 2018 comparing Obama aide Valerie Jarrett to an ape merged with the Muslim Brotherhood’s founder. The post went viral within minutes, prompting ABC to cancel her rebooted sitcom and fire her from the lead role. Advertisers pulled out, citing the overt racism.

Barr claimed Ambien caused the tweet and apologized to Jarrett privately, but defended it publicly as political satire. The network replaced her with a Black lead for the spinoff. The incident revived scrutiny of her past Islamophobic remarks.

What are your reactions to these celebrity moments, and which one surprised you the most? Share in the comments below.