As much as the red carpet events and big paychecks are huge bonuses when it comes to being a celebrity, we have to admit that the job likely also comes with a few downsides — and quite a bit of pressure. Knowing how difficult it must be to live in the spotlight, is it really any wonder that so many celebrities have had total meltdowns while on camera or in public? Really, the question we should be asking is, "Why haven't more celebrities had public freak-outs?"
But it's always the meltdowns that keep people talking for weeks (if not months or sometimes even years) afterwards — just ask Will Smith and Britney Spears, who have both experienced this firsthand. It's hard to maintain your composure 100% of the time, and unfortunately for some citizens of Hollywood, that meltdown moment comes at the least opportune time.
Here are 15 celebrities who have totally lost their cool in public. While some of the rants have earned the celebs a bad name, many of them were likely also having personal struggles that those of us watching at home had no idea about.
Will Smith
At the 2022 Oscars, Will Smith walked onstage and slapped Chris Rock after the comedian made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's hair loss, which is due to alopecia. Will then continued to yell at Chris from his seat in the audience, and though he later went on to win an Oscar for best actor and explain that he was defending his wife, this action has had far-reaching consequences for the King Richard star. Not only were the projects he was working on at the time put on hold, but he also resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which later banned him from attending the awards ceremony for the next 10 years.
Nick Lachey
In March 2022, Nick Lachey was caught on camera verbally attacking a photographer before attempting to snatch her phone through a car window. As TMZ reported at the time, Nick and his wife, Vanessa, were on their way home when they were being followed by a female paparazzo. Later, Nick apologized on Twitter, admitting that he had "overreacted." Nonetheless, it wasn't a good look for the former 98 Degrees singer.
Britney Spears
February 2007 was a rough time for Britney Spears. All in the same month, she famously shaved her head and attacked a paparazzo's car after she was being followed.
"I noticed her hair was gone. I remember asking her, 'Why did you shave your head?' And her answer was a bit weird," tattoo artist Emily Wynee-Hughes said in a 2019 documentary, via The Sun. "It was, you know, 'I just don't want anybody, anybody touching my head. I don't want anyone touching my hair. I'm sick of people touching my hair.'"
Kanye West
Shortly before news went public that he and Kim Kardashian were divorcing, Kanye West ranted about his family on Twitter and at a campaign rally for his failed 2020 presidential campaign. Not only did he share that he considered aborting Kim's pregnancy with oldest daughter North, but he also accused Kim and her family (including Kim's mom, Kris Jenner) of trying to "lock him up" for his mental health.
Charlie Sheen
Perhaps one of the biggest public meltdowns in celebrity history belongs to Charlie Sheen. In 2011, he was fired from Two and a Half Men after calling out showrunner Chuck Lorre (and publicly giving out his phone number) on the radio. Charlie would go on to become famous for his rants about "tiger blood" and "winning."
Justin Bieber
After struggling with his mental health, in 2016, Justin abruptly canceled all of the meet and greets with fans for the rest of his Purpose tour because taking in their energy was becoming too much for him.
"I enjoy meeting such incredible people, but I end up filled with so much of other people's spiritual energy that I end up so drained and unhappy," he wrote on Instagram at the time.
Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson has certainly had his share of meltdowns in the past, but one was made especially public. In 2010, audio leaked of Mel arguing with then-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, making racist and sexist comments about her that were impossible to walk back.
Christian Bale
In 2009, Christian Bale was caught on camera going on an expletive-ridden rant on the set of Terminator: Salvation. He ended up cussing out cinematographer Shane Hurlbut, yelling, "Am I going to walk around and rip your f—ing lights down, in the middle of a scene? Then why the f— are you walking right through — ah-da-da-dah, like this — in the background? What the f— is it with you? What don't you f—ing understand?"
Alec Baldwin
Here's another example of a time that leaked audio ended up almost costing someone their career. In 2007, a voicemail made its way online of Alec Baldwin calling his oldest daughter, Ireland (who was 11 at the time), a "rude, thoughtless little pig" when she didn't answer the phone.
Reese Witherspoon
In 2013, Reese Witherspoon's arrest (along with husband Jim Toth) was caught on film, including her words shared with the police officer. At one point, Reese (who happened to be under the influence of alcohol at the time), tried to use her fame to get her out of the situation, even saying things like, "Do you know my name? You better not arrest me."
Solange Knowles
The world was stunned when footage emerged of Solange Knowles hitting and kicking Jay-Z — her brother-in-law and husband to her sister, Beyoncé — in an elevator at the Met Gala in 2014. That shocking incident has never been fully explained, so the mystery lives on.
Winona Ryder
In 2001, Winona Ryder was arrested after shoplifting more than $5,000 worth of merchandise from Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills. Winona then had to stand trial, at which point she was sentenced to probation, fines, counseling, and community service.
Chris Brown
In 2011, Chris Brown stormed off the set of Good Morning America after Robin Roberts asked him about the domestic violence incident he was part of that involved Rihanna. According to ABC News, after he stormed offstage, it was discovered that he had broken a window in his dressing room before leaving the studio.
Mischa Barton
In 2017, TMZ obtained video of actress Mischa Barton yelling incoherently at her neighbors from what appeared to be her backyard. Some of her words were unintelligible, and after the police were called to her house, she was taken in for a psych evaluation.
Mariah Carey
Fans had a lot of questions for Mariah Carey during her 2017 New Year's Eve performance in New York's Times Square. Bizarrely, she appeared to have forgotten the words to her own song, and what she did sing wasn't her best work. Fortunately, it seems like Mariah has been OK since then.
