Celebs have been busy this year, and it’s not all good press — controversies, scandals, and backlash have had the whole world talking, from public feuds and getting canceled to jokes about inappropriate topics and legal disputes. Here are the biggest celebrity scandals that made headlines in 2025.
1. J.K. Rowling attacking Emma Watson
Rowling, who is known for making controversial comments, said that Watson has “so little experience of real life she’s ignorant of how ignorant she is.” She called the actor guilty of “trashing women’s rights” after Watson said on a podcast episode that she disagreed with Rowling’s views on transgender rights. Watson added, “I just don’t want to say anything that continues to weaponize a really toxic debate and conversation, which is maybe why I don’t comment, or continue to comment.”
2. Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively’s insane legal battle
After they filmed “It Ends With Us,” there were allegations that Blake Lively challenged Justin Baldoni’s leadership on the show. The conflict escalated when Lively accused Baldoni of misconduct on set and of attempting a smear campaign. He accused her of pressuring him to rewrite scenes; she accused him of harassment and a “hostile work environment.” It ended in lawsuits that reportedly cost hundreds of millions of dollars. It was an epic (and expensive) feud, resulting in Justin’s case being dismissed.
3. Erika Kirk’s “inappropriate” hug
At an event where Erika introduced Vice President J.D. Vance, their hug was a little too intimate for the public’s liking, and the photo soon went viral, showing Erika touching the back of Vance’s head as he touched her waist. It was quickly dubbed inappropriate, given that he’s a married man, and it was made worse by Kirk saying on stage, “No one will ever replace my husband, but I do see some similarities with my husband in JD. I do. And that’s why I am so blessed to be able to introduce him tonight.”
4. The Sydney Sweeney American Eagle ad
What could have been a lucrative brand partnership turned into a PR crisis for Sweeney, who was accused of promoting racist ideas of genetic superiority, as it was seen as a play on the words “jeans” and “genes” in the phrase: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color. My jeans are blue.” She later came out with a lukewarm statement months after the fact.
5. Kanye West’s strange betrayal list
West is no stranger to controversy… he’s made comments about the Kardashians trafficking their kids and insulted Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s kids. He also arranged for his daughter, North, to meet Andrew Tate. In September, he posted a “betrayal” list on X, including his own daughter and ex Kim Kardashian. Other names included Diddy, Trump, LeBron James, Pete Davidson, and even cartoon characters, in a confusing twist of events.
6. Kristen Bell’s tone-deaf anniversary post
Bell wrote a post that tried to be funny but was accused of normalizing domestic violence. It read, “Happy 12th wedding anniversary to the man who once said to me: ‘I would never kll you. A lot of men have klled their wives at a certain point. Even though I’m heavily incentivized to k*ll you, I never would.’ ❤️” While some found it funny, others thought it was distasteful to joke about domestic violence. She refused to apologize for the post.
7. The demise of Britney Spears via social media videos
Several videos of this former pop princess looking disheveled in an unhygienic house filled with dog excrement had the public concerned for her. She posted videos of herself dancing with knives in one and covered in bruises in another, leading to speculation about her mental health. Even sadder is the fact that Britney’s inner circle reportedly isn’t encouraging her to get help.
8. JoJo Siwa had a realization about her orientation — and a new partner
Siwa faced backlash after she started dating her “Celebrity Big Brother” housemate after years of identifying as a lesbian. After rising to fame on “Dance Moms,” she came out as a lesbian but then said she was still figuring out her identity. She’s been accused of being a trad wife and faking being LGBTQ+, even though she’s said, “You can’t really help who you fall in love with.”
9. Millie Bobby Brown adopted a baby at 21
Despite being just 21 and newly married to Jake Bongiovi, Brown reportedly decided to adopt an infant. She kept the name private and always covers the baby’s face in public, writing on IG, “We are beyond excited to embark on this beautiful next chapter of parenthood in both peace and privacy.” Many criticized the couple for being too young to be parents.
10. Lily Allen and David Harbour’s bitter breakup
After four years of marriage, actor David Harbour and singer Lily Allen split after Allen reportedly discovered her husband was cheating on her. In response, she wrote a whole breakup album called “West Side Girl,” her first album in seven years. In one of the songs titled “Pu**y Palace,” there are lyrics about how she kicked a partner out of her house after discovering letters written by “brokenhearted women” and finding sex toys in their other apartment.
11. The “Snow White” remake flopped and was dubbed “woke”
This movie pulled in a 2.2/10 IMDb rating, and the box office earnings were also abysmal. The live-action remake was shrouded in scandal due to a perfect storm. Many people were upset that a Latina actor was cast for a “white as snow” character, and the outrage was compounded when the lead, Rachel Zegler, called the original movie problematic and “extremely dated,” calling the prince a stalker. The movie was also under fire for using CGI dwarves instead of hiring actors with dwarfism, setting back the movie’s supposed progressiveness.
