The 25 Most Disliked Black Actors of All Time, Ranked
Black actors have made huge impacts in movies and TV shows throughout the years with their powerful performances and groundbreaking roles. Some of these talented guys have also dealt with serious public backlash because of personal scandals and legal issues that grabbed headlines. People often talk about how their off-screen behavior changed the way fans see them forever. This countdown highlights those stories in a straightforward way.
25. Gary Dourdan
Gary Dourdan started out modeling before landing acting gigs in the early 1990s. He became well known for playing Warrick Brown in ‘CSI: Crime Scene Investigation’ for eight seasons. He faced arrests for drug possession and domestic violence starting around 2008. One incident involved him allegedly breaking his girlfriend’s nose which led to legal proceedings.
24. Omar Epps
Omar Epps kicked off his career as a teenager in films like ‘Juice’ where he played a troubled youth. He later starred as Dr. Eric Foreman in ‘House’ for its entire run. In 2017 a co-star accused him of physical assault on set during a scene. The lawsuit got settled out of court without any admission of wrongdoing from him.
23. Faizon Love
Faison Love got his start in comedy sketches and small film roles in the 1990s. He appeared in ‘Elf’ as the department store manager who interacts with Will Ferrell’s character. He defended Bill Cosby publicly during his legal battles using strong language. He also dealt with assault charges including a felony case in 2025.
22. Taye Diggs
Taye Diggs began on Broadway in the musical ‘Rent’ before moving to TV and films. He starred in ‘The Best Man’ as a charming writer dealing with relationships. He commented on his biracial son’s identity wanting him to embrace both heritages equally. Some people criticized this view as overlooking how society categorizes race in America.
21. LaKeith Stanfield
LaKeith Stanfield started with short films and gained notice in ‘Short Term 12’. He played a key role in ‘Get Out’ as a trapped victim. He participated in an online chat room with anti-Semitic content in 2021. He later apologized for being there and said he was trying to understand the discussion.
20. Jason Mitchell
Jason Mitchell began acting in smaller roles before breaking out in ‘Straight Outta Compton’ as Eazy-E. He appeared in ‘The Chi’ as a young father navigating life in Chicago. Allegations of misconduct toward female co-stars surfaced in 2019. This led to him being dropped from the show and other projects.
19. Terry Crews
Terry Crews transitioned from football to acting with roles in comedies like ‘White Chicks’. He hosted ‘America’s Got Talent’ for several seasons. In 2020 he tweeted about the Black Lives Matter movement suggesting it could turn into something divisive. Some viewed his words as not fully supporting the push for racial justice.
18. Anthony Anderson
Anthony Anderson started in sitcoms like ‘Hang Time’ before creating ‘Black-ish’. He hosted ‘To Tell the Truth’ and earned Emmy nominations for his work. Multiple women accused him of assault over the years starting in 2004. The cases often got dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
17. Will Smith
Will Smith began as a rapper before starring in ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’. He led blockbusters like ‘Independence Day’ and ‘Men in Black’. At the 2022 Oscars he slapped Chris Rock after a joke about his wife. This resulted in a ten-year ban from Academy events.
16. Martin Lawrence
Martin Lawrence gained fame with his sitcom ‘Martin’ in the 1990s. He starred in ‘Bad Boys’ alongside Will Smith. A co-star sued him for sexual harassment claiming a hostile work environment. He also had a public incident where he brandished a firearm during a breakdown.
15. Kevin Hart
Kevin Hart started in stand-up comedy before films like ‘Scary Movie 3’. He voiced characters in ‘The Secret Life of Pets’ and hosted award shows. Old tweets with homophobic jokes resurfaced in 2018. This caused him to step down from hosting the Oscars.
14. Tracy Morgan
Tracy Morgan became known from ‘Saturday Night Live’ sketches. He starred in ’30 Rock’ as a eccentric TV star. In 2011 he made homophobic remarks during a stand-up routine. He later apologized and met with advocacy groups.
13. Nick Cannon
Nick Cannon hosted ‘Wild ‘N Out’ and acted in ‘Drumline’. He created ‘The Masked Singer’ franchise in America. In 2020 he made anti-Semitic comments on his podcast. This led to him being fired temporarily by his network.
12. Tyrese Gibson
Tyrese Gibson modeled before acting in ‘Baby Boy’. He joined the ‘Fast & Furious’ series as Roman Pearce. He had public feuds with co-stars over spin-off films. He posted emotional videos about his custody battle and financial issues.
11. Kanye West
Kanye West produced music before acting in cameos like ‘Anchorman 2’. He created fashion lines and appeared in documentaries about his life. He made statements calling slavery a choice in 2018. He also posted anti-Semitic remarks in 2022 leading to lost partnerships.
10. Orlando Brown
Orlando Brown started as a child actor in ‘Major Payne’. He voiced Sticky Webb in ‘The Proud Family’. He faced multiple arrests for drugs and domestic issues. He made bizarre claims about celebrities in interviews.
9. Wesley Snipes
Wesley Snipes starred in ‘New Jack City’ as a drug lord. He played the lead in the ‘Blade’ trilogy. He got convicted of tax evasion in 2008. He served three years in prison for not filing returns.
8. Isaiah Washington
Isaiah Washington appeared in films like ‘Clockers’ early on. He played Dr. Preston Burke in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’. He used a homophobic slur on set in 2006. He repeated it publicly leading to his firing from the show.
7. Terrence Howard
Terrence Howard earned an Oscar nod for ‘Hustle & Flow’. He played Rhodey in ‘Iron Man’. Multiple ex-wives accused him of domestic violence. He admitted to some incidents in court documents.
6. Jonathan Majors
Jonathan Majors broke out in ‘The Last Black Man in San Francisco’. He played Kang in Marvel films like ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’. He got arrested for assault in 2023. He was convicted of harassment and reckless assault.
5. Cuba Gooding Jr.
Cuba Gooding Jr. won an Oscar for ‘Jerry Maguire’. He starred in ‘Boyz n the Hood’ as a young man in LA. Over thirty women accused him of sexual misconduct. He pleaded guilty to forcible touching in 2022.
4. Chris Brown
Chris Brown acted in ‘Stomp the Yard’ as a dancer. He appeared in ‘Takers’ with a ensemble cast. He assaulted Rihanna in 2009 before an awards show. He pleaded guilty to felony assault.
3. Jussie Smollett
Jussie Smollett starred in ‘The Mighty Ducks’ as a kid. He played Jamal Lyon in ‘Empire’. He reported a hate crime attack in 2019. He got convicted for staging it and lying to police.
2. R. Kelly
R. Kelly acted in his opera ‘Trapped in the Closet’. He appeared in music videos with acting elements. Over twenty women accused him of abuse and trafficking. He received a thirty-year prison sentence in 2021.
1. Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby starred in ‘I Spy’ winning an Emmy. He created ‘The Cosby Show’ portraying a family doctor. Over sixty women accused him of drugging and assaulting them. He got convicted in 2018 though it was later overturned.
Who do you think should be on this list of most disliked black male actors or who would you rank differently? Share your thoughts in the comments.