Actresses Who Bullied Their Co-Stars

Hollywood is known for its sparkle, but behind the scenes of movie and TV productions, things aren’t always glamorous. While some actors become close friends, others clash, leading to tension and even public disputes. Several well-known actresses have been accused of making work environments unpleasant or bullying their colleagues. These stories reveal a different side of the entertainment industry, highlighting the complicated relationships that can develop between famous actors.

Lea Michele

Lea Michele faced significant backlash after former co-stars from ‘Glee’ publicly shared negative experiences working with her. Samantha Ware was the first to come forward, detailing how Michele made her initial TV job difficult with bullying and threats. Others on the show corroborated these accounts, describing feeling excluded or poorly treated during filming. Michele later responded with a public apology and a commitment to learn from the situation.

Shannen Doherty

Shannen Doherty became known as a challenging coworker after public disagreements on the sets of her popular TV shows. While filming ‘Beverly Hills 90210,’ she had a very difficult relationship with Jennie Garth, which allegedly included physical altercations. Similarly, her exit from ‘Charmed’ was due to a tense connection with Alyssa Milano, making it impossible for them to continue working together. Although she later made amends with some former co-stars, these on-set conflicts marked a significant part of her early career.

Katherine Heigl

Katherine Heigl received a lot of criticism after speaking out about problems with the writing and work environment on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and the movie ‘Knocked Up’. Many people involved in those projects, including producers and actors, felt her comments were unappreciative and disrespected the efforts of everyone who worked on them. This led to reports that she was challenging to work with, and her career experienced a downturn for a while. More recently, Heigl has discussed how this negative reputation affected her mental health and how she dealt with the consequences.

Teri Hatcher

During the filming of ‘Desperate Housewives,’ Teri Hatcher became increasingly separated from her co-stars. The other lead actresses felt she was aloof and challenging to work with, leading to her being left out of group presents and joint magazine photoshoots. Nicollette Sheridan even publicly called her unkind during a legal battle related to the show. This ongoing tension between the main cast members was a constant source of gossip in the tabloids throughout the show’s run.

Joan Crawford

Joan Crawford and Bette Davis had a famously intense rivalry while filming ‘What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?’. Crawford allegedly tried to make things difficult for Davis during filming, even deliberately making physical scenes painful. After the movie, Crawford reportedly tried to sabotage Davis’s chances of winning an Oscar by contacting Academy voters. Their feud became so well-known that it was later turned into a TV series.

Bette Davis

The famous rivalry between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford during the filming of ‘What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?’ was very real, and Davis actively participated in it. Stories claim she put a Coca-Cola machine in her dressing room just to annoy Crawford, whose husband worked for Pepsi. Davis was even accused of deliberately kicking Crawford during a scene and later seeming pleased by her co-star’s death. Their difficult working relationship remains a prime example of Hollywood conflict.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall, her co-star from ‘Sex and the City,’ have had a well-known and ongoing disagreement. Although Parker insisted there wasn’t a feud, Cattrall stated that Parker was unkind and fostered an exclusive atmosphere on set. The situation worsened when Cattrall publicly dismissed Parker’s sympathy after a personal loss and accused her of being a hypocrite. This continued conflict is the main reason why Samantha Jones wasn’t a regular character in the show’s revival.

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts’ time filming ‘Hook’ was notoriously challenging. The crew jokingly called her ‘Tinkerhell’ due to her difficult behavior. Director Steven Spielberg later acknowledged that both of them were going through personal issues that made working together tough. She was often late and hard to reach, which frustrated her co-stars. Despite remaining a huge star, stories about the difficult atmosphere on set have circulated in Hollywood for years.

Faye Dunaway

Faye Dunaway has a reputation for being a very demanding and difficult colleague, according to many directors and actors who have worked with her. During the filming of ‘Chinatown,’ she famously argued with director Roman Polanski and was reportedly hard on the crew. This pattern continued in other films, where co-stars described her as unpredictable and intimidating. It seems she was a dedicated perfectionist, but her strong personality often caused conflict with those around her.

Alyssa Milano

Alyssa Milano has faced multiple reports of on-set conflicts throughout her career. Her well-known disagreements with Shannen Doherty on ‘Charmed’ ultimately led to Doherty leaving the show. Later, Rose McGowan also publicly stated that Milano created a negative and uncomfortable work environment when they worked together. Milano has admitted to some competition on set but has largely tried to put the public disputes behind her.

Ellen DeGeneres

As a huge fan of Ellen’s show for years, I was really shocked and saddened to hear all the stories about what apparently went on behind the scenes. It was hard to believe that the warm, funny person we saw on TV wasn’t reflected in how people were treated at work. Apparently, there were reports of a really tough, even bullying, environment, and that the producers and Ellen herself either contributed to it or let it happen. It was a really difficult situation, and ultimately, it led to the show ending after so many seasons.

January Jones

January Jones faced criticism after her former co-star, Jared Gilmore (who played her son on ‘Mad Men’), warned the actor replacing him to be cautious around her, describing her as less approachable than other cast members. While some colleagues defended Jones as professional and dedicated, Gilmore’s comments suggested a potentially chilly work environment. Jones playfully addressed the story, but it brought attention to possible differences in experience between leading actors and those in supporting roles.

Lucy Liu

During the filming of ‘Charlie’s Angels’, Lucy Liu and Bill Murray had a heated argument. Murray reportedly stopped filming to criticize Liu’s performance, which led to a confrontation where she defended herself. The disagreement was significant enough that filming had to be paused for the day. Liu has said she doesn’t regret standing up to what she felt was unfair treatment and bullying on set.

Stana Katic

Sources say that Stana Katic and her ‘Castle’ co-star Nathan Fillion had a very difficult working relationship, so much so that they were asked to attend couples counseling. Eventually, the two reportedly stopped speaking to each other except when filming scenes. The tension allegedly caused Katic to become upset, and this challenging dynamic is believed to be a key reason why the show ended after eight seasons.

Julianna Margulies

Julianna Margulies and Archie Panjabi, who starred together on the show ‘The Good Wife,’ famously stopped speaking to each other. As a result, they didn’t film any scenes together for the last three seasons, even though their characters were supposed to be close friends. Their final on-screen moment together was created using stand-ins and editing to make it look like they were sharing a scene. Archie Panjabi later revealed she was willing to film with Margulies, but something prevented it from happening.

Pauley Perrette

As a fan, I was really shocked to hear Pauley Perrette explain why she left ‘NCIS’. She said she left because the work environment was truly frightening. She bravely came forward and claimed Mark Harmon had been intimidating towards her, and that she was even physically stopped from speaking up after a dog bit someone on set. She’s been very open on social media about being afraid of her former co-star and making it clear she’d never go back to the show. It’s really brought to light how much tension there was behind the scenes of a show so many of us loved.

Selma Blair

Selma Blair was let go from the show ‘Anger Management’ after she apparently criticized her co-star, Charlie Sheen’s, behavior at work. Sheen reportedly threatened to quit unless Blair was fired, and the show’s producers sided with him, writing her character off the show without any farewell episode. This situation became a well-known example of how someone with more power can quickly cause another performer to lose their job on a set.

Roseanne Barr

Roseanne Barr had a reputation for being difficult to work with on her show, ‘Roseanne.’ She often argued with the writers and other actors, making the set feel unpredictable. Colleagues have said she was a strong personality who sometimes used her position as the star to try and control who was cast and what happened in the show. Ultimately, the show’s reboot was canceled after she made upsetting posts on social media, which worsened her relationships with the cast.

Cybill Shepherd

Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis famously didn’t get along while filming the detective series ‘Moonlighting’. Their off-screen friction led to constant arguments, which disrupted production and stressed out the crew. Eventually, they struggled to even be in the same room together. Despite their popular on-screen chemistry, the behind-the-scenes tension became a well-known part of the show’s story.

Bea Arthur

Bea Arthur was known for being a private person, and some people found her challenging to work with on ‘The Golden Girls’. Her co-star, Betty White, said that Arthur didn’t seem to appreciate White’s upbeat personality and often acted distant towards her when they weren’t filming. This created a subtle but ongoing tension throughout the show’s seven seasons. Despite their professional success and the show’s iconic status, Arthur and White never developed a close, friendly relationship like the one their characters shared.

Nicollette Sheridan

As a big fan of ‘Desperate Housewives,’ I remember being shocked when Nicollette Sheridan’s departure became so messy. It wasn’t just a simple leaving – she publicly clashed with the show’s creator, and things escalated to a lawsuit where she alleged mistreatment and wrongful termination. What really surprised me, though, was what came out during the trial. Apparently, a lot of her co-stars didn’t back her up and actually had issues with her behavior. It was a really revealing look behind the scenes of what was, at the time, one of the biggest shows on TV, and it showed that even on a hit series, things aren’t always what they seem.

Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan has often been described as challenging to work with on movie and TV sets. During the filming of ‘The Canyons,’ reports surfaced that she was frequently late and didn’t collaborate well with the director or other actors. Similar complaints arose during her appearance on ‘Glee,’ with cast members feeling her unprofessional behavior disrupted their work. These kinds of problems have often been suggested as the reason she hasn’t been in many major Hollywood films for a long time.

Megan Fox

Megan Fox caused controversy when she likened director Michael Bay to Hitler during an interview about working on ‘Transformers’. Many on the film crew considered her comments overly harsh and disrespectful, and they publicly defended Bay and criticized her actions. As a result, she wasn’t included in the third ‘Transformers’ movie. Although Fox and Bay later resolved their differences, the situation remains a well-known instance of an actor criticizing a director publicly.

Tyra Banks

‘America’s Next Top Model’ host Tyra Banks has faced criticism for allegedly creating a harsh and competitive atmosphere on the show. Several former contestants and judges have said they felt manipulated or put down by Banks during filming. Separately, Banks and Naomi Campbell have had a long-standing conflict, with Banks initially feeling intimidated by Campbell when she was starting out. Campbell later suggested that Banks used her show to portray her unfairly.

Naomi Campbell

Naomi Campbell is known for a history of arguments and physical confrontations with those she works with. This behavior has led to legal issues and a reputation for being demanding and difficult in the fashion and entertainment industries. Many models and actors have described feeling intimidated by her on set, and reports of bullying have consistently followed her successful career.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow and Winona Ryder were very close friends until a serious disagreement ended their relationship in the late 1990s. The story goes that Paltrow found the script for ‘Shakespeare in Love’ at Ryder’s home and secretly auditioned for the lead role. Paltrow ultimately won an Oscar for the film, but the friendship never recovered. Though neither actress has fully explained what happened, the incident remains a well-known example of Hollywood betrayal.

Blake Lively

As a huge fan, I’ve been following all the buzz around ‘It Ends With Us,’ and it’s been a little worrying! I started seeing reports about some tension on set between Blake Lively and her co-star/director. It seemed like the cast wasn’t really presenting a united front during the press tour – they weren’t often photographed together, which felt odd. Apparently, Blake had a lot of input on how the movie was edited, and that caused some disagreements with the director and the rest of the team. It’s a shame, because I’m really excited about the film, but all this behind-the-scenes drama is definitely a distraction.

Tori Spelling

Tori Spelling has revealed that filming ‘Beverly Hills 90210’ was often filled with conflict and behind-the-scenes maneuvering. Because her father was a major producer, some of her co-stars were wary of her and worried about her potential power. Spelling was part of the group that decided to ask Shannen Doherty to leave the show after tensions became too high. She’s since talked openly about how the young cast formed exclusive groups during their time as celebrities.

Mischa Barton

During the last season of ‘The O.C.’, Mischa Barton reportedly became challenging to work with. Her co-stars were said to be annoyed by her tardiness and seeming disinterest in the show. Some believe the decision to write off her character was made to ease the rising tension on set. Later, Barton discussed the pressures of being famous and how a harmful work environment led to her leaving the series.

Rose McGowan

Rose McGowan has often spoken about her difficult time working on ‘Charmed,’ particularly her challenging relationships with some of her co-stars. She has publicly criticized Alyssa Milano, describing her as difficult and saying she contributed to a tense and stressful environment on set. McGowan has even stated she was upset each time the show was renewed due to the negative atmosphere. These comments have led to ongoing public disputes with former colleagues.

Naya Rivera

In her memoir, Naya Rivera discussed the difficulties she experienced in her relationship with Lea Michele during their time on ‘Glee’. She explained that tension developed as Rivera’s role on the show became more significant, and Michele allegedly had trouble accepting sharing the focus. Rivera stated that her co-star would sometimes avoid speaking to her and even act as if she wasn’t there while filming. Their competitive dynamic became a well-known part of the show’s behind-the-scenes environment.

Jennifer Grey

Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze didn’t get along well at first while filming ‘Dirty Dancing’. Swayze explained in his memoir that Grey was very sensitive and would often ask for retakes if anyone on set made her laugh. He felt she was demanding and her unpredictable moods made it hard to film their romantic scenes. However, despite their difficulties behind the scenes, they created one of the most memorable couples in movie history.

Kelly Ripa

Kelly Ripa experienced a public disagreement at work when Michael Strahan suddenly announced he was leaving their morning show. Ripa was surprised and upset by the news, feeling the network and Strahan hadn’t shown her proper respect. She briefly stopped appearing on the show to express her frustration with the lack of communication about such a big change. The awkwardness between them was clear during their last few shows together before Strahan moved to a new program.

Sharon Stone

Throughout her career, Sharon Stone has gained a reputation for being a challenging person to work with on film sets, according to producers and colleagues. During the filming of ‘Basic Instinct 2,’ she reportedly made numerous requests that caused delays. Some actors have mentioned that her strong personality can be intimidating during extended shoots. Despite being highly regarded for her acting ability, stories about her demanding nature have continued within the industry.

Kirstie Alley

Kirstie Alley was known for being outspoken, and this sometimes led to disagreements with those she worked with and with the media. Throughout her career, including her time on ‘Cheers’ and in later projects, she occasionally had conflicts with co-stars, both personally and professionally. She often publicly debated issues with former colleagues and other celebrities on social media, which frequently created drama. This made her seem like someone who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, even if it meant arguing in public.

Lana Parrilla

For a long time, rumors circulated about a difficult relationship between Lana Parrilla and Jennifer Morrison, stars of ‘Once Upon a Time.’ Fans observed that the two actresses didn’t seem to interact much in public or even on set, despite maintaining professionalism. While neither actress ever directly addressed the issue, speculation about a strained working environment continued throughout the show’s run.

Victoria Justice

Rumors spread that Victoria Justice and Ariana Grande didn’t get along while filming ‘Victorious,’ with some claiming Victoria was bullying Ariana. A video surfaced appearing to show Victoria downplaying Ariana’s abilities, sparking years of speculation about tension between the two actresses. Ariana hinted at unhappiness on set due to a bully, adding fuel to the rumors. However, Victoria has repeatedly denied these claims, stating the cast mostly enjoyed working together.

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande experienced some reports of challenging behavior during her early TV work. As her popularity grew on ‘Victorious,’ some cast members reportedly felt she was receiving special treatment, creating tension. There were also rumors of a disagreement between Ariana and Jennette McCurdy while filming their show ‘Sam and Cat.’ McCurdy later shared in her writing that being a young actor could be competitive and difficult.

Debra Messing

Debra Messing and Megan Mullally reportedly had a major disagreement during the last season of the ‘Will and Grace’ revival. Fans noticed they stopped following each other on social media and avoided appearing together in photos promoting the show. The situation became so strained that Mullally briefly took a break from filming a few episodes. This falling out between the two, who had been friends and co-stars for many years, disappointed fans who loved their on-screen chemistry.

Megan Mullally

Megan Mullally, along with Debra Messing, was at the center of reported conflict during the revival of ‘Will and Grace.’ Though the specific reason for their disagreement remained private, the tension was clear to everyone working on the show. Mullally missed appearing in some episodes because of the strained relationship between the two lead actresses. The show’s finale was tinged with sadness, reflecting the damaged connection between the stars.

Tell us what you think about these behind the scenes stories in the comments.

2026-02-13 14:22