Celebrity fanbases are not as loyal as publicists would like to believe. Social media has made it faster than ever for public opinion to shift, and when it does, the fall can be steep. In Hollywood, one misstep, one tone-deaf quote, or one viral controversy can turn a beloved star into a persona non grata. What’s striking about recent years is how varied the reasons are. Legal scandals, political statements, off-screen behavior, and simple press-tour blunders have all done significant damage. Here are seven actors whose fanbases have visibly shrunk, and the specific reasons why.
Blake Lively: A Press Tour That Backfired
The decline in Blake Lively’s popularity began, ironically, during the promotion of what could have been a career-changing film. During the press tour for the 2024 movie “It Ends With Us,” the internet seemed to catch on to a pattern of shady behavior from Lively during interviews. Many fans had already criticized Lively’s lighthearted tone in interviews when discussing the story’s themes of domestic violence and emotional abuse.
In December 2024, Lively filed a lawsuit against director Justin Baldoni, accusing him of orchestrating a media smear campaign against her in retaliation for her complaints about sexual harassment on set. Baldoni then countersued Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for $400 million on claims of civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. According to analysts at QR Code Generator, Lively’s fan base on social media plummeted by over 1.2 million, with her drama with Baldoni widely blamed. Following a 2025 dominated by very public legal friction with former co-stars, Lively attempted to move entirely behind the camera as a producer, a shift seen by many as a strategic retreat to avoid the critical gaze of the acting world while her reputation cools off.
Ezra Miller: Talent Swallowed by Turmoil
Miller’s career began with standout roles in films like “We Need to Talk About Kevin” and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” Their breakout role as Barry Allen in DC’s Justice League further cemented their status as a rising star, and for many, Miller was seen as one of the most promising actors of their generation. That promise unraveled fast.
Between 2020 and 2023, Miller was arrested and charged multiple times, with incidents reported in Hawaii, Vermont, and Massachusetts for disorderly conduct, harassment, and burglary. In Hawaii, Miller was involved in altercations at bars, while in Vermont, they faced burglary charges after allegedly entering a neighbor’s home and taking bottles of alcohol, raising questions about personal well-being and responsibility. As of April 2025, Miller is free with no active legal cases, and their Vermont probation ended in January 2024. Still, Miller’s career remains in limbo, with DC Studios showing no clear word on their role in the rebooted DC Universe, and they are not currently attached to new projects.
Ellen DeGeneres: The “Be Kind” Brand That Broke Down
Ellen DeGeneres hosted “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” from 2003 to 2022, earning 15 Emmys for its blend of humor and heart. Her voice role as Dory in “Finding Nemo” and “Finding Dory” added to her fame, and she also hosted the Oscars and Grammys, solidifying her cultural status. The gap between that public persona and what emerged behind the scenes proved damaging.
Allegations of mistreating employees led to a ratings drop and her show’s cancellation in 2022, and in 2025, the public still viewed her as insincere, with the workplace scandal overshadowing her comedic legacy. Former employees criticized her response to the backlash, accusing her of downplaying their experiences and reframing herself as a victim of media scrutiny, a view much of the public shared. The contrast between her on-screen warmth and her reported off-screen conduct proved too wide to bridge.
Ashton Kutcher: A Letter That Changed Everything
Ashton Kutcher was celebrated for his comedic roles and his extensive work as a venture capitalist and philanthropist. He faced a wave of social media criticism after it was revealed he wrote a letter of support for a former cast member during a criminal trial, and the public backlash was swift, leading to him stepping down from leadership roles in his charitable organizations.
The letter, written on behalf of “That ’70s Show” co-star Danny Masterson, who was convicted of rape, struck millions of fans as a fundamental failure of moral judgment. Kutcher’s reputation as a lovable goofball faced significant challenges, and while his prior involvement in writing the character reference for Masterson remained controversial, it was his connection to Sean “Diddy” Combs that drew further new scrutiny. This moment forced a reevaluation of his public persona and sparked conversations about loyalty versus accountability. Few apologies since have fully landed.
Alec Baldwin: A Reputation Years in the Making
Alec Baldwin is an acclaimed actor known for his work on “30 Rock” and his long history in dramatic film, but his public persona has been marred by frequent social media outbursts, high-profile legal troubles following a tragic onset incident, and a confrontational history with paparazzi and other public figures. The 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of “Rust” cast a shadow that no amount of publicity management could lift.
In 2025, Baldwin topped several public dislike lists after the incident, and his history of alleged slurs and a public feud with his daughter further cemented his status. The couple also sparked a firestorm after Hilaria snapped at Alec for interrupting her in a viral red-carpet interview, and the pair were called out over their reality series described as a “fly on the wall” look at their family in the lead-up to Alec’s Rust trial, which was widely criticized as being in extremely poor taste. For many longtime fans, it simply became too much to look past.
Chris Pratt: The Goodwill That Slowly Eroded
Once adored for his goofy charm on “Parks and Recreation” and his superhero role as Star-Lord in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Pratt has faced mounting backlash over his perceived conservative politics, his ties to Hillsong Church’s anti-LGBTQ+ reputation, and his public defense of controversial figures. He mentioned that his wife had given him an amazing life and “a gorgeous healthy daughter,” a seemingly innocent comment that sparked immediate backlash because it was seen as a passive-aggressive dig at Faris, who shares a son with Pratt who was born premature with health issues in 2012.
In August 2025, Pratt described his infamous in-law, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as “great” and “funny” on the Club Random Podcast. He also faced backlash for his tribute to conservative figure Charlie Kirk following Kirk’s assassination, with critics accusing Pratt of selective empathy and questioning his political affiliations. His 2025 film “The Electric State” scored a 14% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and “Mercy” in 2026 garnered 25% on Rotten Tomatoes and failed to even break even at the box office, making roughly $54 million globally against a $60 million budget.
Karla Sofía Gascón: A Historic Moment That Collapsed
Karla Sofía Gascón became the first openly trans Oscar nominee, then lost everything when old offensive tweets resurfaced. Studios distanced themselves, campaigns vanished, book deals were canceled, and the Oscars turned cold. The speed of the reversal was striking even by modern standards.
Gascón later revealed the backlash pushed her into a mental health crisis. The controversy ignited fierce debates about accountability, redemption, and whether internet justice ever fits the crime. The situation laid bare how quickly a genuine cultural milestone can be overtaken by past words that resurface at the worst possible moment. Whether audiences are willing to revisit that story with more nuance remains an open question heading into 2026.
