20 Celebrities Notorious for All the Wrong Reasons

Some famous names became fixtures in headlines for court cases, criminal convictions, or public scandals rather than creative work. This list focuses on concrete events such as charges, verdicts, sentences, and measurable professional fallout so readers can understand what actually happened and what changed as a result.

The entries span different industries and eras and center on verifiable milestones like arrest dates, plea agreements, prison terms, civil judgments, and contract terminations. Each profile summarizes key case facts and outlines career consequences such as lost roles, scrapped projects, or severed business partnerships.

Harvey Weinstein

In 2020 a New York jury found Harvey Weinstein guilty of criminal sexual act in the first degree and third degree rape and he received a 23 year sentence. In 2022 a Los Angeles jury convicted him of rape and other charges related to a 2013 assault and he received a 16 year sentence that kept him incarcerated.

In April 2024 New York’s highest court overturned the 2020 New York conviction because of trial errors and prosecutors moved toward a retrial. The Los Angeles conviction and sentence remained intact which meant he continued to serve time while New York proceedings were reevaluated.

Bill Cosby

In 2018 Bill Cosby was convicted in Pennsylvania of aggravated indecent assault and received a sentence of three to ten years. In 2021 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court vacated the conviction based on a due process ruling and Cosby was released.

In 2022 a California jury in a civil case found Cosby liable for sexually assaulting Judy Huth in the mid 1970s and awarded damages. Multiple additional civil suits were filed in later years under state revival laws and those actions proceeded separately from the criminal matter.

R. Kelly

In 2021 a federal jury in New York convicted R. Kelly on racketeering and sex trafficking counts and he received a 30 year prison sentence. In 2022 a federal jury in Chicago convicted him of child pornography and enticement offenses and the judge imposed a 20 year sentence with a portion ordered to run consecutive to the New York term.

His master recordings and publishing rights drew legal attention as victims pursued restitution and judgments. Touring and recording activities ceased and label relationships ended after the federal convictions.

O. J. Simpson

O. J. Simpson was acquitted of murder charges in 1995 in California. In 1997 a civil jury found him liable for wrongful death and awarded damages to the families.

In 2008 a Nevada jury convicted Simpson of armed robbery and kidnapping related to a Las Vegas memorabilia incident and he received a sentence of nine to thirty three years before being paroled in 2017. Simpson died in April 2024 and the unresolved civil judgment remained part of the public record at the time of his death.

Danny Masterson

In 2023 a Los Angeles jury convicted Danny Masterson on two counts of rape involving incidents from the early 2000s and the judge imposed a sentence of thirty years to life in prison. The court denied motions for a new trial and set the matter for appeal according to standard procedure.

Following the verdict his representatives and unions processed membership and employment consequences under existing policies. His scenes were removed or altered in some platforms and residual payments and credits were reviewed based on contractual terms.

Roman Polanski

In 1977 Roman Polanski pleaded guilty in Los Angeles to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and fled the United States before sentencing. He has remained outside the country while U.S. authorities have sought his return for decades.

Several European courts considered extradition requests and rulings varied by jurisdiction. Awards and festival invitations periodically triggered public objections and policy reviews about honoring filmmakers with unresolved U.S. criminal matters.

Jared Fogle

In 2015 Jared Fogle pleaded guilty in federal court to child pornography and traveling to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and received a sentence of more than fifteen years in prison. He also agreed to pay restitution to identified victims.

His endorsement contracts were terminated and prior advertising was withdrawn from circulation. Civil suits followed the criminal case and the corporate partners issued statements that outlined compliance steps and victim support contributions.

Chris Brown

In 2009 Chris Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault of Rihanna after a widely reported incident and received probation community labor and counseling requirements. Court filings documented compliance checks violations and adjustments during the probation period.

International travel restrictions and visa scrutiny affected touring schedules in several countries in the years that followed. Sponsorship decisions and broadcast programming choices referenced the 2009 conviction when determining appearances and promotional placements.

Kanye West

In October 2022 Adidas ended its partnership with Kanye West after antisemitic statements that drew widespread condemnation. Additional business partners and talent agencies cut ties and product distribution under the Yeezy brand paused or was reconfigured.

Music chart activity continued on digital platforms while major retail collaborations and fashion shows were halted for extended periods. Public events and social media accounts experienced suspensions or limitations based on platform policies after the remarks.

Mel Gibson

In 2006 Mel Gibson was arrested for driving under the influence and his comments during the arrest included antisemitic slurs that he later addressed publicly. In 2011 he entered a plea to a misdemeanor battery charge involving Oksana Grigorieva and completed probation counseling and community service.

Studios and unions evaluated his participation in projects and award campaigns in the years after these events. Some work proceeded independently or with international financing while large franchise opportunities paused during the most intense period of fallout.

Lori Loughlin

In 2019 Lori Loughlin was charged in the college admissions case for paying to fraudulently improve her children’s admissions prospects. In 2020 she pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and received a two month prison term a fine and community service.

Her roles in ‘Full House’ related properties and other productions were suspended or recast during the case. After release she completed court ordered service and gradually returned to limited acting and philanthropic events noted in industry updates.

Felicity Huffman

In 2019 Felicity Huffman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud in the college admissions case. She received a sentence of fourteen days in prison along with a fine supervised release and community service and she served the custodial portion that year.

Projects paused during the legal process and resumed later with smaller stage and television appearances. Her prior work on ‘Desperate Housewives’ continued in syndication while studios managed publicity around the legal resolution.

Jussie Smollett

In December 2021 a Chicago jury convicted Jussie Smollett of disorderly conduct for making false reports to police about a staged attack. In March 2022 a judge imposed a sentence that included jail time probation and restitution and Smollett began serving before release pending appeal.

Appellate proceedings continued and briefing schedules extended into subsequent years. Production on ‘Empire’ ended in 2020 and Smollett’s character did not return after the charges and conviction which affected his acting and directing slate.

Mike Tyson

In 1992 Mike Tyson was convicted of rape in Indiana and received a six year sentence and he served about three years before parole. He returned to boxing after release and later filed for bankruptcy in 2003 as financial obligations grew.

Licensing decisions and event sanctions were subject to athletic commission reviews in multiple states. Tyson’s later media appearances and business ventures were documented alongside the enduring record of the 1992 conviction.

Kevin Spacey

From 2017 onward Kevin Spacey faced multiple investigations and lawsuits. In 2019 Massachusetts prosecutors dismissed a criminal case after the complaining witness declined to testify and in 2022 a New York civil jury found him not liable in a case brought by Anthony Rapp.

In 2023 a London jury acquitted Spacey of sexual offense charges on all counts. He nevertheless lost his lead role in ‘House of Cards’ during the early allegations period and producers reworked the final season without him and pursued damages in separate litigation.

Jonathan Majors

In December 2023 Jonathan Majors was convicted in New York of misdemeanor assault and harassment in a case arising from a March 2023 incident. In April 2024 the court imposed a sentence that included probation and domestic violence counseling.

Studios and brands removed him from upcoming projects and promotional campaigns after the conviction. His representation changed as agencies updated client rosters and roles that had been announced earlier were reassigned or canceled.

Tory Lanez

In 2022 a Los Angeles jury convicted Tory Lanez for charges related to the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion in 2020. In 2023 the judge sentenced him to ten years in prison and denied a motion for a new trial.

Recording schedules and tour plans were canceled after the verdict and sentencing. Distribution and earnings were affected by incarceration as label deals handled catalog exploitation under existing contracts while legal appeals proceeded.

Tekashi 6ix9ine

In 2018 federal agents arrested Daniel Hernandez known as Tekashi 6ix9ine on racketeering and firearms charges tied to the Nine Trey gang. He pleaded guilty in 2019 and cooperated with prosecutors and he was released to home confinement in 2020 due to health considerations during the pandemic.

The case altered his public image and security needs and live performance opportunities were limited by safety planning and venue policies. Music releases continued online while legal restrictions and probation terms shaped travel and appearance decisions.

Martha Stewart

In 2004 Martha Stewart was convicted of conspiracy obstruction and making false statements in a case tied to a stock sale and she served five months in federal prison followed by home confinement. She also paid fines and completed all terms of supervised release.

Her television and merchandising ventures paused during incarceration and relaunched afterward with revised agreements and co host formats. Licensing partners updated compliance provisions and disclosures in new contracts after the conviction.

Phil Spector

In 2009 music producer Phil Spector was convicted of second degree murder for the 2003 death of Lana Clarkson and received a sentence of nineteen years to life. His first trial in 2007 ended in a mistrial and the second trial produced the guilty verdict.

He remained incarcerated until his death in 2021 and his catalog and royalty streams were administered through estate and rights management entities. The case prompted renewed reviews of workplace safety and artist protection practices in entertainment venues.

Share which entries you think the list is missing in the comments.