2024 was nothing short of a whirlwind for Hollywood’s elite, with scandals taking center stage and dominating the headlines. From outrageous comments to eye-catching behavior, these stars kept the media buzzing and social media ablaze. They managed to stay in the spotlight all year, but this time, their fame came with a twist. Who were the Hollywood stars behind the biggest controversies of 2024? Let’s take a closer look at the names that made headlines for all the wrong reasons!
One of the biggest scandals of 2024 involved Sean 'Diddy' Combs. The scandal started when a video surfaced online showing him physically abusing his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. The footage, recorded in 2016 by security cameras, showed Diddy dragging Cassie through the hallway of a hotel in Los Angeles.
In a public statement, Diddy apologized, saying, 'This video is completely unacceptable. I disgust myself for my behavior at that time. I have no excuses.'
However, the incident sparked further allegations. In September, Diddy was arrested in New York, accused of running a criminal enterprise involved in human trafficking, forced sexual relations, and violence. According to the allegations, victims were controlled through threats and violence, being forced into unwanted actions.
Diddy's bail requests were denied, and his trial is set to begin in 2025. During this time, 120 more individuals came forward with allegations against him. Famous lawyer Tony Buzbee announced that he would represent both female and male victims, highlighting the traumatic nature of these events.
One of the most talked-about films of the year, Wicked, became the center of controversy when a fan-created poster caused a stir.
In October, Universal released the official poster for the film, featuring Cynthia as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda. The design made a reference to the original Broadway musical poster but with some changes.
In the film's version, Cynthia's Elphaba is looking directly at the camera, while Grande’s Glinda is whispering into her ear. However, the original Broadway poster had Elphaba’s hat covering her eyes.
A fan modified the poster by covering Elphaba’s eyes with her hat, adding bright red lips and a slight smile. Cynthia responded to the altered design, calling it “the wildest and most demeaning thing I’ve ever seen,” stating, “This is not funny, it’s not cute. It diminishes me and our work. The original poster was an illustration. I, however, am a real person who chose to look at the camera. We communicate without words through our eyes. To hide them means ignoring me, and that is very hurtful.”
In 2024, J.K. Rowling reignited tensions with Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson. While the two expressed support for the trans community, Rowling implied that she could not forgive their stance.
Ariana Grande caused a stir in 2024 with her accent and new appearance. During the Oscars, while performing with Cynthia Erivo from Wicked, some found her accent 'transatlantic.' Old interviews resurfaced, with one commenter saying, 'This girl has completely changed.'
Her noticeable weight loss also sparked attention, with some commenting, “Ariana looks very thin” and others remarking, “She doesn't look healthy.”
MrBeast, aka Jimmy Donaldson, found himself in several scandals in 2024.
In July, a popular figure from his channel, Ava Kris Tyson, was accused of inappropriate communication with minors, leading to her departure from the channel and MrBeast launching an independent investigation. The investigation cleared Ava of any wrongdoing and found no illegal activity.
In October, YouTuber Rosanna Pansino filed a complaint with the FBI, alleging inappropriate messages in internal communications about Ava and MrBeast.
Old videos also resurfaced, with one clip from 2017 showing MrBeast making a racist comment about “selling Black people for money” in response to a fan’s inappropriate remark. Additionally, during a podcast, MrBeast made an inappropriate comment about 14-year-old rapper Bhad Bhabie, which received backlash.
Australian star Hugh Jackman was labeled as a 'cheating man' following rumors of a romantic involvement with his Broadway co-star Sutton Foster in 2024.
Kylie Jenner was accused of fashion theft in 2024 by Australian designer Jessica Johansen-Bell. Jessica claimed Kylie copied designs for her Khy collection that were strikingly similar to her own pieces.
Jessica posted a video on TikTok on March 1, 2024, accusing Kylie of stealing the designs she had released years prior. After contacting Khy’s team, they responded that the designs were the result of “hard work and innovation.”
This sparked a backlash against Kylie and Khy, with fans and influencers defending Jessica, accusing Kylie of plagiarism.
Alyssa Milano faced public criticism in early 2024 for starting a GoFundMe campaign for her 12-year-old son’s baseball team trip expenses, despite her estimated net worth of $10 million.
Critics questioned the necessity of crowdfunding, but Alyssa defended herself, stating that she personally contributed to funding the team’s uniforms.
The controversy grew when Alyssa attended the Super Bowl with her son, leading observers to question the irony of fundraising for a trip while attending a costly event.
Former talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi moved to the rural Cotswolds in the UK, largely influenced by Donald Trump’s presidential victory. Some social media users welcomed the decision, with the couple selling their Californian home in favor of a new life abroad.
Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet tour in 2024 grabbed attention for its energetic performances and bold moments. During one performance of the song 'Bed Chem,' Sabrina made a provocative gesture on stage, leading to mixed reactions from her audience. Some praised the move, while others criticized it online.
Jenna Ortega starred in Miller's Girl with Martin Freeman, where the age gap and controversial relationship in the film raised concerns. In the movie, Jenna played an 18-year-old student, while Freeman portrayed her teacher. The romance sparked discomfort among viewers. Jenna defended the film, explaining that its goal was not to comfort viewers but to challenge them. Freeman described the film as mature and nuanced, asserting that the criticisms were more about art’s nature than the film itself.
Blake Lively drew criticism in 2024 when promoting It Ends With Us, a film addressing domestic violence. Her suggestion to 'wear floral dresses and come with your friends' was seen as trivializing the serious issue, resulting in backlash.
Billy Ray Cyrus and his wife Firerose's eight-month marriage ended in 2024 amidst accusations of fraud and mistreatment. The country singer filed for divorce in May, citing disagreements and inappropriate marital behavior. He accused Firerose of fraud and stated that had he known about it beforehand, he wouldn't have married her.
Katy Perry's 2024 album 143 was expected to be a major comeback but ended up being a disappointment. Both fans and critics deemed it a failure, with the album receiving the lowest score on Metacritic in the past 13 years—just 35 points.
The songs were widely criticized, and Katy’s collaboration with controversial producer Dr. Luke sparked outrage. Dr. Luke had been accused of sexual assault and emotional abuse by singer Kesha, although the case was later dismissed.
At the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, a security guard became the center of attention after a dispute with celebrities. Kelly Rowland confirmed she told the guard to “stay away from me,” calling the incident racially motivated. Kelly emphasized that other women weren’t treated the same way and stood firm on maintaining her boundaries.