15 Celebrities Who Bounced Back Strong After Major Scandals
Careers in the spotlight can change in an instant when headlines turn negative. Some stars step away, lose deals, or face legal and professional fallout that would end most public lives. Yet a handful find a way to rebuild with patience, consistent work, and the kind of projects that move the focus back to what they do best.
This list looks at well known names who faced serious setbacks and then returned to major stages, box offices, charts, and boardrooms. Each entry highlights the issue that derailed momentum and the concrete milestones that marked a real comeback, from awards and chart positions to high profile roles and leadership jobs.
Robert Downey Jr.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s he faced multiple arrests and probation violations that led to jail time and studio insurance hurdles that kept him from steady work. Several productions replaced him or refused to hire him because completion bonds were difficult to secure and policy costs climbed.
His career relaunched in 2008 when he took the lead in ‘Iron Man’ and helped launch a modern film franchise that dominated global box offices for more than a decade. He capped the resurgence with a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for ‘Oppenheimer’ in 2024 after years of headline roles that included ‘Avengers: Endgame’.
Winona Ryder
She was arrested in 2001 for shoplifting and was convicted the following year, receiving probation, community service, and fines that coincided with a slowdown in major casting. Brand partnerships and prestige roles largely disappeared while legal obligations and public scrutiny continued.
In 2016 she returned to mainstream prominence with the Netflix series ‘Stranger Things’, which quickly became a global hit and ran for multiple seasons. The show brought awards attention for its ensemble and restored her to steady work that included film and campaign appearances alongside continued seasons of ‘Stranger Things’.
Martha Stewart
She was convicted in 2004 of lying to federal investigators in a case tied to a stock sale and served five months in prison followed by five months of home confinement. The conviction caused advertisers and partners to reevaluate relationships and produced a sharp short term decline in media opportunities.
After her release she rebuilt with new television projects including ‘The Martha Stewart Show’ and later the VH1 series ‘Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party’. She expanded licensing and publishing while regaining cultural relevance, and in 2023 she appeared on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover, which underscored a fully restored public profile.
Tiger Woods
In 2009 his private life became a global story that cost him sponsorships and led to time away from the PGA Tour. Injuries compounded the break and required surgeries that kept him from competing at his previous pace for several seasons.
He returned to the top of the sport by winning the 2019 Masters, his first major title in eleven years. The victory led to renewed endorsements and appearances while confirming a competitive comeback that included additional PGA Tour events and international exhibitions.
Mel Gibson
He was arrested for driving under the influence in 2006 and made anti Jewish remarks that were widely reported, leading to industry backlash and stalled projects. Additional controversies in the following years reinforced a perception problem that kept him away from major studio directing jobs.
He reestablished himself as a director with ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ in 2016, a film that earned multiple Academy Award nominations and two wins in technical categories. Acting and producing opportunities followed, and he returned to visible roles while working both inside and outside the studio system.
Kesha
She became embroiled in prolonged litigation in 2014 involving producer Lukasz Gottwald, and the dispute affected her release schedule and touring. Court rulings and appeals stretched across years and created uncertainty about when and how she could put out new music.
Her 2017 album Rainbow debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and earned Grammy nominations, signaling a full scale return to recording and performing. Subsequent releases and tours, including the 2023 album Gag Order, kept her active on the road and on charts in North America and abroad.
Louis C.K.
In 2017 he acknowledged sexual misconduct after multiple women came forward, and networks and streaming services canceled projects and ended overall deals. The fallout included the removal of content from platforms and a pause in public appearances.
He resumed touring and began self releasing stand up specials directly to fans, rebuilding his audience city by city. In 2022 he won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album, and he continued to fill theaters on international dates while distributing new work independently.
Kevin Hart
Old tweets resurfaced in late 2018 and led him to step down from hosting the 2019 Academy Awards. The incident brought intense public scrutiny and changed his near term press and appearance plans while studios monitored audience reaction.
He maintained a high output of film and television work, including the hit sequel ‘Jumanji: The Next Level’ and the action caper ‘Lift’. He also returned to stand up with large scale arena dates under the Reality Check banner and expanded his production footprint through partnerships and a growing media company.
Johnny Depp
He spent years in contentious legal battles that included a 2022 defamation case in Virginia that produced a mixed verdict with damages awarded to both parties. The disputes coincided with stalled franchise plans and a reduction in major studio casting.
He returned to festival red carpets with ‘Jeanne du Barry’ opening Cannes in 2023 and resumed high profile brand work through a renewed fragrance deal. He also toured internationally with his band and lined up European film roles that marked a shift back to steady feature work.
Brendan Fraser
A combination of physical injuries, surgical recovery, and limited opportunities led to a long period with fewer visible roles. He also reported a 2003 incident involving a former awards group leader that he said contributed to his retreat from public events.
His lead performance in ‘The Whale’ in 2022 earned widespread recognition and culminated in a Best Actor Academy Award in 2023. He followed with supporting turns in major films such as ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ and reentered top tier casting conversations across genres.
Janet Jackson
The 2004 Super Bowl halftime incident resulted in heavy fines and broadcast restrictions that affected radio play and television exposure. The controversy shaped industry behavior toward her releases in the years immediately after the event.
She delivered a number one debut on the Billboard 200 with the album Unbreakable in 2015 and returned to arenas with tours in 2017 and again beginning in 2023. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019 and has continued to announce new tour legs that draw strong ticket demand.
Lindsay Lohan
From 2007 to 2013 she faced multiple legal issues that included DUI arrests, probation violations, and court ordered programs. The combination of court dates and insurance concerns made it difficult for studios to cast her in lead roles.
She restarted her film career with the Netflix holiday feature ‘Falling for Christmas’ in 2022 and followed with the romantic comedy ‘Irish Wish’ in 2024. Additional projects, podcasting, and brand partnerships kept her visible while she returned to regular on screen work.
Will Smith
On March 27, 2022 he struck Chris Rock on stage at the Academy Awards and later received a ten year ban from Academy events. Several projects paused or shifted timelines while he issued public statements and stepped back from appearances.
He returned to theaters with ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ in 2024, which opened at number one domestically and sustained a broad international run. He also continued developing film and television projects as a producer while making select talk show and event appearances.
James Gunn
In 2018 old tweets resurfaced and led to his removal from ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ by Disney, halting work on the sequel. The decision prompted public statements from cast and industry figures while the studio evaluated next steps.
He was rehired in 2019 and later completed ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ for release in 2023. He also wrote and directed ‘The Suicide Squad’ in 2021 and created the series ‘Peacemaker’ in 2022, and in 2022 he became co chair of DC Studios with responsibility for a new film slate that includes a new Superman title.
Justin Bieber
Between 2013 and 2014 he faced several legal and public behavior incidents that included arrests and civil cases that drew significant media attention. The issues affected endorsements and public image while he paused touring plans.
He returned to the top of global charts with new singles and a world tour supporting the album Purpose in 2015 and 2016. Subsequent releases and collaborations kept him among the most streamed artists, and he resumed arena touring before shifting schedules for health reasons while remaining active in recording and fashion.
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