The Most Disliked Black Actresses of All Time, Ranked

For decades, Black actresses have delivered powerful and captivating performances, breaking boundaries and sharing authentic stories. However, many have also been subjected to intense public attention, often due to personal struggles like legal issues, family conflicts, or controversial statements. Unfortunately, these events frequently eclipse their achievements and shape public perception. This list breaks down these significant moments in an easy-to-understand way.

25. Vivica A. Fox

Vivica A. Fox began her acting career with roles in daytime television, like ‘Days of Our Lives’ in the late 1980s. She gained wider recognition in the blockbuster film ‘Independence Day,’ where she played Will Smith’s love interest. In 2016, she publicly criticized the films of Tyler Perry, stating they were demeaning to Black women. This sparked controversy, as many fans felt she was unfairly attacking an important figure in Black entertainment.

24. Sherri Shepherd

Sherri Shepherd started her career as a stand-up comedian and later became a co-host on ‘The View’ in 2007. She also had a role on ’30 Rock’ playing Angie D’Arcangelo, a confident and outspoken mother. While on ‘The View,’ Shepherd expressed doubts about climate change and evolution, which sparked controversy and accusations of spreading false information due to the show’s large audience.

23. Raven-Symoné

Raven-Symoné first became well-known in the 1980s for her role as Olivia on ‘The Cosby Show.’ She then starred as the lead in ‘That’s So Raven’ for four seasons, playing a teenager who could see the future. In 2014, while on ‘The View,’ she described herself as American, rather than identifying with a specific race. This led to criticism from some who felt she was distancing herself from her Black identity and overlooking the issue of systemic racism.

22. Stacey Dash

Stacey Dash became known for her role as Dionne in the 1995 hit movie ‘Clueless’. Later, in 2018, she ran for Congress as a Republican, advocating for conservative ideas. She publicly supported Donald Trump and voiced criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement. These stances caused many of her fans to disagree with her, and some called for boycotts of her work.

21. Omarosa Manigault Newman

Omarosa Manigault Newman first became well-known as a contestant on ‘The Apprentice’ in 2004. Later, she worked in the White House for President Trump from 2017 to 2018. She then published a controversial book called ‘Unhinged,’ where she accused Trump of racism and shared recordings she’d made while working for him. Some people criticized her for making money from confidential information she gained during her time in the White House, calling it a breach of trust.

20. Cynthia Bailey

Cynthia Bailey first became known on ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ in 2010, where she showcased her work as a model and businesswoman with her eyewear company. She also had a role in the movie ‘Life of a King,’ portraying a supportive spouse. Her divorce from Peter Thomas in 2016 was highly publicized, filled with public accusations of cheating. The details of their difficult split unfolded on the show, eliciting both support and criticism from viewers.

19. Kenya Moore

I first discovered Kenya Moore when she joined ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ back in 2012, and she immediately brought a ton of drama and a real sense of glamour to the show. Before that, I learned she’d actually been in a short film called ‘The Confessional,’ which sounded really interesting – it was all about relationships. Things got pretty rocky for her on the show in 2021 when she got suspended due to some unauthorized footage she filmed of another cast member. Honestly, over the years, there were also a lot of accusations of her bullying others, which kept coming up season after season.

18. Kandi Burruss

Kandi Burruss first became known on television in 2009 with ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta,’ though she had already achieved success with Grammy awards. Before that, she appeared in the film ‘Temptations: This Is My Story’ playing a member of the group. Later, her line of adult products caused discussion about its impact on values within Black communities, and disagreements within her family, often shown on the reality show, added to the controversy.

17. NeNe Leakes

NeNe Leakes first gained widespread recognition in 2008 as a cast member on ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta.’ She also acted in the TV show ‘The New Normal,’ playing a confident and outspoken nurse named Rocky. In 2015, she faced criticism after using a racial slur in a tweet where she was defending her words, and she later publicly apologized for the offense.

16. Phaedra Parks

Phaedra Parks became a cast member on ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ in 2010, showcasing her work as both a lawyer and business owner. She also appeared on ‘The Sisterhood,’ where she talked about her faith and entrepreneurial ventures. During her divorce, her ex-husband, Apollo Nida, was sentenced to prison in 2015 for fraud. Public speculation about her potential involvement in his fraudulent activities hurt her reputation.

15. Tami Roman

Tami Roman first gained recognition on ‘The Real World’ in 1993, where she was known for her strong personality. She later appeared on ‘The Parkers’ in a recurring role. Her relationship with Reggie Youngblood, and their on-again, off-again marriage, was documented on ‘Basketball Wives,’ often focusing on rumors of his infidelity, which became a frequent topic in the tabloids.

14. Evelyn Lozada

Evelyn Lozada became known on ‘Basketball Wives’ in 2010, where she navigated a world of wealth and drama. She also made a brief appearance in the film ‘Dope’ as an extra. In 2012, a domestic violence incident with her then-husband, Chad Johnson, resulted in his arrest and intense public scrutiny of their relationship.

13. Karlie Redd

Karlie Redd first appeared on ‘Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta’ in 2012, pursuing careers as a rapper and actress. She also made a brief appearance on ‘La La’s Full Court Life’. Throughout the show, she had several relationships, often complicated by accusations of infidelity. Viewers frequently criticized her for seeming to thrive on creating drama.

12. Mo’Nique

Mo’Nique won an Academy Award in 2009 for her role as a challenging mother in the film ‘Precious.’ Before that, she starred as a college student in the television show ‘The Parkers’ for five seasons. She has publicly stated that Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry ostracized her after she refused to campaign for the Oscar. This disagreement came up again in interviews in 2022.

11. Toni Braxton

I recently revisited Toni Braxton’s career, and it’s fascinating. Beyond her incredible voice, she actually dipped her toes into acting with a fun role as a singer in the movie ‘Twinkie Town.’ Of course, many of us also got a peek into her personal life with ‘Braxton Family Values,’ which really showcased the ups and downs of family life. But it wasn’t all glitz and glamour; her 2013 bankruptcy, especially considering her lavish lifestyle, really sparked a lot of discussion. And honestly, what’s been most concerning to me, and I think to many fans, is her ongoing struggle with lupus. It’s a reminder that even stars face serious health battles.

10. Blac Chyna

Blac Chyna started her career in modeling before moving into acting with short films like ‘Black Chyna Adventures.’ She also appeared in the thriller ‘The Lab Rat.’ In 2017, a public and contentious custody dispute with Rob Kardashian involved the release of private text messages and accusations of revenge porn, which worsened existing family conflicts.

9. Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj has acted in films like ‘The Angry Birds Movie,’ where she provided the voice for a bird character, and ‘Barbershop: The Next Cut,’ playing a stylist. She was also involved in a physical altercation with Cardi B at a fashion event in 2018. Additionally, she faced public backlash for supporting her brother after he was convicted of rape in 2017.

8. Remy Ma

Remy Ma faced legal trouble and served time in prison in 2008 following an assault conviction. She later appeared in the film ‘Definition of a Paper Chase’ and the diss track video ‘Shether.’ In 2017, she was sentenced to six years in prison after shooting a friend during a dispute over money. After her release, her ongoing conflicts with Nicki Minaj continued to generate media attention.

7. Lil’ Kim

As a movie fan, I remember Lil’ Kim popping up in ‘Zoolander’ back in 2001 – she played a designer, and it was a fun cameo! Before that, she had a role in ‘Notorious,’ portraying a really important figure in the rapper’s life. But her story goes beyond the screen; she faced some serious legal trouble and ended up serving a year in prison after being convicted of perjury. And honestly, the public conversation around her choices with plastic surgery and skin lightening really got people talking about beauty standards and self-perception. It’s a complex story, and she’s definitely left her mark on pop culture.

6. Brandy Norwood

Brandy Norwood became famous as Moesha, playing a teenager dealing with everyday life on the show for six seasons. In 1997, she famously played Cinderella in a television movie. Later in her life, she was involved in a car accident in 2006 that resulted in another driver’s death. Though she faced hit-and-run charges, they were eventually dropped, but the incident continued to affect her career.

5. Aaliyah

Aaliyah began her acting career with a role as a club dancer in the 2000 film ‘Romeo Must Die.’ She later played a vampire queen in ‘Queen of the Damned.’ Also in 2000, she secretly married R. Kelly when she was only 15 years old, but the marriage was quickly canceled. The large age difference and questions about whether the marriage was legal were brought up again after her death.

4. Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson played a romantic lead in the movie ‘Nutty Professor II: The Klumps’ in 2000. She was also known for her performances in the ‘Rhythm Nation World Tour’ films. In 2004, an incident during the Super Bowl halftime show with Justin Timberlake led to fines from the Federal Communications Commission. After this, some people claimed she was unfairly treated and faced career setbacks as a result.

3. Rihanna

Rihanna appeared in the 2012 film ‘Battleship’, playing a member of the Navy. She also provided the voice for a teenage character in the animated movie ‘Home’. In 2009, Chris Brown assaulted Rihanna, and he later pleaded guilty. Despite this, she collaborated with him on projects in the future, which led to criticism that she was minimizing his abusive behavior.

2. Tina Knowles

Tina Knowles played a small role in the 2002 movie ‘Juwanna Mann,’ appearing as a coach’s wife. Before that, she was instrumental in launching the career of Destiny’s Child. More recently, her divorce from Richard Lawson in 2020, after eight years of marriage, surprised many. The split was heavily covered by the media, fueled by reports of disagreements within the family.

1. Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg has been a co-host on ‘The View’ since 2007. Before that, she won an Academy Award in 1990 for her role as a psychic in the film ‘Ghost’. In 2022, she was temporarily taken off the show due to controversial remarks about the Holocaust, which caused concern among Jewish organizations. While she apologized, some people called for a boycott.

2025-10-19 15:17