Perhaps you grew up dreaming of being rich and famous. Hollywood stars seem to have it all. And celebrities have millions of fans around the world who love them, so how could they be unhappy? But the grass is always greener on the other side, and we often forget that there’s a darker side to the entertainment industry. Plus, it can be incredibly difficult to deal with any personal issues while the whole world is watching.
Redditors have been recalling some of the most tragic celebrity downfalls, so we’ve gathered their heartbreaking stories below. From stars that lost their battle with depression to talented artists who were absolutely destroyed by tabloids, these tales might make you extremely grateful for your quiet, private life.
#1
All the women who lost (or were blacklisted for years)their careers for saying no to Harvey weinstein. Ashley Judd, Courtney love, and selma hayak.
63points
#2
Brendan Fraser. So many health issues, getting assaulted, a horrible divorce etc. I'm glad he's making a comeback. I've had health issues too and I know how much they can suck.
I hope he's okay now.
I hope he's okay now.
57points
#3
He hasn’t fallen, but knowing Bruce Willis is going to mentally deteriorate AT ALL made me really sad.
49points
#4
Rick Moranis.
Guy is beloved everywhere, play in great movies then... his wife passes away. He stops everything to take care of his children full time.
a REAL hero.
I freakin' love and respect the man.
Guy is beloved everywhere, play in great movies then... his wife passes away. He stops everything to take care of his children full time.
a REAL hero.
I freakin' love and respect the man.
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48points
#5
Robin Williams...I have a mother with dementia and it's terrifying and soul crushing to watch someone you love forget activities they used to love. Me and my sister have prepared for the worse but that doesn't make it any easier.
Prion disease can eat a bag or richards ALONG with cancers!
Prion disease can eat a bag or richards ALONG with cancers!
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42points
#6
Britney Spears she was having a mental breakdown and the whole world was beating her further down at the time it was sad to watch.
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41points
#7
Anthony Bourdain.
That hurt the most. I honestly envied his life, I wanted to be him or to be what he showed everyday. Traveling around the world. Eating delicious food from all around the world. That was imo the absolute epitome of success. And it was so sad...seeing that it wasn't enough...was absolutely earth-shattering for me.
That hurt the most. I honestly envied his life, I wanted to be him or to be what he showed everyday. Traveling around the world. Eating delicious food from all around the world. That was imo the absolute epitome of success. And it was so sad...seeing that it wasn't enough...was absolutely earth-shattering for me.
33points
#8
George Michael. Brilliant but gay in a time it was not easy. Same with Freddie m.
30points
#9
Janet Jackson after her Super Bowl mishap her career got ruined, and it wasn’t even her fault.
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29points
#10
Amy Whinehouse.
I didn’t realise how little support she had and she was never the type of person to handle fame to well.
Such a talent but her Dad was a jerk and cared more about money. Plus the media just ambushed her. She never had a chance.
I didn’t know anything until I watched the documentary “Amy”. Highly recommend it.
I didn’t realise how little support she had and she was never the type of person to handle fame to well.
Such a talent but her Dad was a jerk and cared more about money. Plus the media just ambushed her. She never had a chance.
I didn’t know anything until I watched the documentary “Amy”. Highly recommend it.
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28points
#11
Jennifer Lawrence
Everyone hated her for no reason.
Gets cast in Hunger games and all anyone talks about is her being to fat, even thought she is a skinny woman. She accuratly plays the quiet, shy PTSD victim the book described and everyone called her a bad actress.
she shows a charming personallity that feels more relatable (likes food, more honest anwsers, playful, doesn't take herself too seriously) everyone loves her!
Then suddenly we all hate that about her, because.... she is too... relatable. now she must be faking it.
Everyone hated her for no reason.
Gets cast in Hunger games and all anyone talks about is her being to fat, even thought she is a skinny woman. She accuratly plays the quiet, shy PTSD victim the book described and everyone called her a bad actress.
she shows a charming personallity that feels more relatable (likes food, more honest anwsers, playful, doesn't take herself too seriously) everyone loves her!
Then suddenly we all hate that about her, because.... she is too... relatable. now she must be faking it.
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26points
#12
Amanda Bynes. Child actor downfalls are sad because they’re victims of their environment and bad parents :(
ETA: there seems to be some debate on whether her parents were bad or not. IMO, they were terrible by exploiting her as a child and then didn’t protect her which led her to allegedly getting groomed by Dan Schneider.
ETA: there seems to be some debate on whether her parents were bad or not. IMO, they were terrible by exploiting her as a child and then didn’t protect her which led her to allegedly getting groomed by Dan Schneider.
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25points
#13
Celine Dion's forthcoming "downfall" is absolutely tragic. Woman loves to sing, adores her fans, and is eventually going to be unable to connect with said fans ever again due to a one-in-a-million disease.
If God is real, he has a sick sense of humor.
If God is real, he has a sick sense of humor.
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25points
#14
Will smith clearly has a toxic marriage and is not handling it well. Chris Rock caught the anger he clearly has towards the situation. Will smith is not okay.
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25points
#15
Dixie Chicks. They got caught up in political fodder that has been disproven.
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24points
#16
Jake Lloyd, I was reading into what happened to him after watching ‘Jingle all the Way’ and recognising him as a young Anakin Skywalker.
Apparently Hollywood and the Star Wars franchise in particular, really got to him, and he wound up being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. It’s a shame learning of these unfortunate stories concerning child actors; you can’t help but want to root for them, but the reality of their situation is often disappointing.
Edit: I hear what you guys are saying in regards to schizophrenia, and all the different reasons it could manifest in a person. I wasn’t suggesting that his role in Star Wars was the root cause of his psych history, just pointing out the correlation with young Hollywood actors and the decline in mental health they tend experience.
Apparently Hollywood and the Star Wars franchise in particular, really got to him, and he wound up being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. It’s a shame learning of these unfortunate stories concerning child actors; you can’t help but want to root for them, but the reality of their situation is often disappointing.
Edit: I hear what you guys are saying in regards to schizophrenia, and all the different reasons it could manifest in a person. I wasn’t suggesting that his role in Star Wars was the root cause of his psych history, just pointing out the correlation with young Hollywood actors and the decline in mental health they tend experience.
23points
#17
Nicolas Cage, although that was self-inflicted. He owed a lot of money and had to make a bunch of low budget movies for years to make the money back. But he always gave a good effort, and some of those low budget movies, like Mandy and Pig, were pretty great. And after he played himself in Massive Talent, hes back doing studio movies, so hes good right now.
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21points
#18
Fatty Arbuckle. Totally railroaded by a prosecutor who wanted to make a name for himself, finally acquitted after three trials, basically blacklisted by moralist dirtbags, and just as he was making his comeback he loses his life after a heart attack.
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20points
#19
Hayden Christensen. I know he decided by himself to step away from acting, but all the hate was extremely harsh and undeserved.
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20points
#20
Martha Stewart. Only woman, only entrepreneur on NYSE board. Busted off to prison for some measly trading infraction. Guys steal billions and don't ever even get sanctioned.
Mad respect for Martha.
Mad respect for Martha.
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19points