When Celebrity Meltdowns Turn Into Stardom: 23 Scandals That Backfired So Spectacularly, They Actually Boosted Fame (Yes, Seriously)

Celebrity scandals are usually framed as career-ending disasters, but pop culture has a funny way of rewarding chaos and making stars even more famous (for better or worse). Of course, not all scandals are the same — some were reckless or highly problematic behavior, while others were speaking out against normally taboo things in Hollywood or simply relationship drama.

So, here are 23 celebrity scandals that didn’t tank careers, and weirdly boosted them instead:

Jennette McCurdy reentered public consciousness when she released her memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died in 2022. The book, which detailed the abuse she endured as a child actor, became a New York Times Bestseller and a career turning point for the retired actor. When it dropped, McCurdy got some heat for the divisive title and stood by her choice. Previously, McCurdy’s “peak” was traced back to her work in iCarly and Sam & Cat. Now, the actor-turned-author’s anticipated debut novel Half Her Age is dropping later this month.

Shane Gillis was fired from Saturday Night Live after racist remarks resurfaced that he’d made on his podcast. Instead of ending his career, he pivoted to focusing on stand-up comedy and self-released his debut special to a massive viewership. The whole saga boosted him as an “Anti-Cancel Culture” icon, and he went on to gain an even bigger fanbase, a deal with Netflix, and ultimately returned to SNL as a host in 2025.

Actor Charlie Sheen’s fame hit a chaotic high in 2011 during his infamous “Winning” era, when the public relentlessly egged him on after he was fired from Two and a Half Men for his extremely erratic behavior on set and in the public eye. His viral interviews of him boasting about his drug use, “tiger blood” catchphrases, and bizarre live tour turned a career meltdown into an internet spectacle that eclipsed his acting work. The recent documentary, aka Charlie Sheen, reframed this era as a deeply dangerous period in his life, revealing that his apex in popularity was fueled by a life-threatening drug addiction and strained relationships with his loved ones.

Lindsay Lohan was the 2000s’ it girl after a run of box-office hits like Mean Girls, Freaky Friday, and Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen. But invasive paparazzi coverage, multiple arrests, rehab stays, and tabloids’ terrible treatment towards her took away from her impressive acting. In recent years, Lohan has experienced a renaissance with Netflix rom-coms, a successful return to acting, and a softer, nostalgia-fueled reintroduction to the spotlight. Turns out, our culture loves a redemption arc almost as much as it loves a downfall.

Britney Spears’ 2007 breakdown, marked by relentless paparazzi coverage, public struggles, and a highly scrutinized conservatorship, became one of the most disturbing media spectacles of the 2000s. The period initially damaged her career, but it’d also later inspire a cultural reckoning through the #FreeBritney movement. The highly publicized battle between Britney and her conservatorship reignited public support, reframed her legacy, and ultimately helped restore her autonomy, cementing her status as both a pop icon and a symbol of survival.

Kesha’s career was thrown into turmoil after she publicly accused producer Dr. Luke of abuse in 2014, sparking a lengthy and highly publicized legal battle that sidelined her music for years. The case exposed the power imbalances within the music industry and reframed Kesha’s public image — she went from party-pop punchline to survivor and artist reclaiming her voice. Her 2017 album Rainbow marked a powerful comeback, earning critical acclaim, Grammy nominations, and renewed respect that reshaped how audiences understood both her past and her resilience.

10.

Macauley Culkin’s performances in the Home Alone films catapulted the then-child star into mainstream success until he retired at only 14 years old. He craved a quieter life, and his notoriously troubled upbringing with his father briefly eclipsed his career. Since then, Culkin has experienced a resurgence in popularity due to his celebrated marriage with Brenda Song and selective return to acting — if Macauley’s in it, it’s prestige casting, like in the latest season of Fallout.

11.

Kim Kardashian’s leaked sex tape in 2007 was a huge controversy, and it catapulted the relatively then-unknown socialite into tabloid news. The notoriety helped green-light the reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians, which ran for almost 17 years on E! and catapulted Kim and her entire family into the spotlight. This was just their beginning.

13.

Justin Bieber’s transition from teen idol to adult artist was marked by years of public missteps, legal trouble, and erratic behavior that dominated headlines in the early 2010s. The criticism of him was extreme and heavy, particularly for someone forced to grow up in an industry that exploits young people for profit, and the constant visibility kept him at the center of pop culture. Bieber eventually reemerged with a rebranded image, chart-topping albums, and a renewed fanbase — his turbulent era was a transition, not an ending. He’s set to headline Coachella this April.

14.

Before the “Espresso” singer became a main pop girl, Sabrina Carpenter was unofficially cast as “the other woman” in the Olivia Rodrigo–Joshua Bassett break-up drama discussed in Rodrigo’s hit record “drivers license.” While never directly named, the speculation pulled Carpenter into a cultural dogpile. Rather than retreat, she leaned into her artistry and addressed the drama on her album emails i shouldn’t send, sharpened her image, and emerged with the Short n’ Sweet era that reframed her as a pop star in her own right.

16.

Madonna’s career has been fueled by controversy since the very beginning, from religious backlash over her music videos to public outrage surrounding her Sex book in the 1990s. Each scandal only reinforced her reputation as a provocateur willing to challenge cultural norms. Decades later, Madonna’s legacy is inseparable from the controversies that once threatened her, and she undeniably lives on as one of the most influential pop stars of all time.

17.

Kanye West’s career has been repeatedly shaped by controversy, from interrupting Taylor Swift at the 2009 VMAs to years of headline-making public behavior and uncensored statements. Each scandal paradoxically coincided with album rollouts, fashion ventures, and renewed media attention that expanded his cultural footprint. His actions lately have resulted in industry fallout and fractured public support, but Ye’s influence on music, fashion, and celebrity culture remains undeniable — it’s a bittersweet reminder of the artist who was once as inspiring as he was celebrated.

18.

Logan and Jake Paul built their careers on controversy. Their offensive YouTube stunts and public backlash would have ended most influencer careers. Instead, the outrage fueled visibility, allowing them to pivot into boxing, podcasting, and business ventures. Despite their polarizing personas, their scandals undeniably accelerated their rise from internet personalities to mainstream celebrities.

19.

Tana Mongeau was just a rising YouTube star when she held the ill-fated TANAcon — the turnout for her 2017 event was so over-attended that it had to be shut down. The resulting backlash increased her public recognition, and she ultimately went on to star in her own MTV Digital show where she famously married Jake Paul.

20.

Selena Gomez was already famous thanks to her starring role in Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place and her music career, but her very public on-and-off romance with fellow pop star Justin Bieber catapulted her into worldwide tabloid news and cemented her status as a global pop icon. Today, the former Disney actress stars in Only Murders in The Building, runs Rare Beauty, and dropped an album last year produced by her husband Benny Blanco.

22.

Sean Combs, more widely known as P. Diddy or Puff Daddy, is currently serving a 50-month prison sentence after being convicted on two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution. And 50 Cent’s Netflix documentary Sean Combs: The Reckoning dives into the disgraced mogul’s rise to fame and multiple scandals that boosted his public profile, like his involvement in a 1991 celebrity basketball game that ended with a stampede and nine deaths, and being fired from Uptown Records, leading to the creation of Bad Boy Records. What followed was a rise in power that fell into the hands of someone that was ready (and eager) to abuse it beyond its limits.

23.

And finally (and on a lighter note): Taylor Swift’s calling out Scooter Braun’s 2019 purchase of her first six albums’ master recordings put Taylor Swift into a battle she’d seen before: Artist vs. Industry. Over the next few years, she went on to re-record her early albums, promote them through her record-breaking “Eras Tour,” and reach a new level of fame and success (Taylor’s Version).

Of course, these aren’t all the star scandals out there, and it’s upsetting that many never bring healing, accountability, or even peace. But if there’s one thing celebrity culture has taught me, it’s that fame rarely vanishes. It just mutates. And sometimes, it’s offered a Netflix deal.