Black Actors Cancelled for Controversial Tweets

Social media has completely changed how we view celebrities, letting fans connect with them directly. While platforms like Twitter allow actors to share what’s on their mind in real-time, this can be risky for their careers. Several well-known actors have faced strong public criticism or lost work because of thoughtless or upsetting posts. Because everything online stays online forever, even old comments can come back to cause problems. This list highlights twenty Black actors who experienced public backlash and professional repercussions after posting controversial tweets.

Kevin Hart

Kevin Hart was originally chosen to host the 2019 Oscars, but the announcement came with controversy. Old, offensive tweets containing homophobic language and views surfaced online. The Academy asked for an apology, which Hart initially resisted, stating he’d already spoken about the issue. However, due to growing public pressure, he eventually decided to withdraw as host. The situation ignited a large discussion about the responsibilities of comedians and the impact of past online behavior.

Ye

In 2022, the artist formerly known as Kanye West faced a swift and dramatic downfall after posting antisemitic statements online. A particularly inflammatory tweet, where he threatened action against Jewish people, led to his immediate suspension from social media. As a result, major brands like Adidas and Gap ended their business relationships with him. He was also dropped by his talent agency, and a finished documentary about his life was cancelled. This represented an unusually quick and complete loss of career and reputation for such a prominent celebrity.

Roseanne Barr

The actress was famous for her sitcom, but a single racist tweet in 2018 effectively ended her career. She compared Valerie Jarrett, a former advisor to President Obama, to the Muslim Brotherhood and characters from ‘Planet of the Apes.’ Despite the show’s popularity, ABC immediately cancelled the reboot of ‘Roseanne.’ They later continued the series as ‘The Connors,’ but removed her character. While she claimed the tweet was caused by the sleep aid Ambien, this explanation didn’t repair the damage to her public image.

Nick Cannon

Nick Cannon lost his job at ViacomCBS in 2020 after sharing a podcast interview on Twitter that included antisemitic and racially charged comments. The company strongly denounced the harmful views expressed and ended their long-standing professional relationship with him. Cannon later apologized and worked with Jewish community leaders to learn more about the issues. While he was eventually brought back, the controversy continues to impact his career.

Cee Lo Green

In 2014, the singer and voice actor faced significant public criticism after tweeting controversial opinions about the definition of rape. He suggested that consent wasn’t necessary if someone was unconscious, which quickly sparked outrage. These comments came after he had previously pleaded no contest to a felony drug charge. As a result of the online backlash, TBS cancelled his reality show, ‘The Good Life,’ and he temporarily deactivated his Twitter account.

Stacey Dash

Known for her role in ‘Clueless,’ the actress underwent a significant change, moving from a popular Hollywood figure to a conservative commentator, which caused many of her fans on Twitter to distance themselves. She received strong backlash for suggesting Black History Month and the BET network should be discontinued. Her views on transgender rights and support for controversial politicians led to her being ostracized within the Black Hollywood community. Eventually, Fox News chose not to renew her contract. She has since expressed regret for her past, more extreme political statements, explaining that she was motivated by anger at the time.

Letitia Wright

Letitia Wright, known for her role in ‘Black Panther,’ received significant criticism after posting a video on Twitter expressing doubts about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. The video also included harmful views about transgender people and dismissed the reality of climate change, leading to widespread outrage. Wright initially responded to the criticism online before ultimately deleting her Twitter account. There were reports of tension on the set of the new Marvel film due to her views. She eventually reactivated her social media, but has since been more careful about sharing personal opinions.

Terry Crews

In 2020, during the Black Lives Matter movement, actor Terry Crews sparked controversy with a tweet suggesting that opposing White supremacy without the involvement of White people could lead to Black supremacy. Many people found this statement problematic and felt it detracted from the protests’ core message. Crews initially defended his position online before later issuing an apology. The incident negatively impacted his public image, as some fans believed he was trying to appeal to a particular group.

Azealia Banks

The artist known for the movie ‘Love Beats Rhymes’ is more widely recognized for getting repeatedly banned from Twitter than for her work as an actress and rapper. She was first suspended in 2016 after posting hateful and offensive messages targeting singer Zayn Malik. She’s also had public disagreements and made negative comments about Russell Crowe and Sarah Palin, among others. This pattern of controversial behavior has unfortunately overshadowed her creative work and made it harder for her to find roles. She serves as a stark reminder of how damaging online negativity can be to someone’s career.

Isaiah Washington

The actor lost his role on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ in 2007 after making a homophobic remark on set, but the issue continued to resurface due to his activity on Twitter. He often used the platform to revive conflicts with former colleagues and those who criticized him. In 2014, a particularly harsh tweet – suggesting critics of his potential return to the show should self-harm – caused a fresh wave of public anger. His aggressive online behavior has largely kept him outside of major Hollywood projects. He ultimately announced his retirement from acting in 2023.

50 Cent

This rapper and producer, known for ‘Power,’ often uses social media like Twitter and Instagram to make fun of other celebrities, which frequently starts conflicts. He received strong criticism for mocking Terry Crews after Crews bravely shared his experience with sexual assault, and he also made thoughtless comments about the victims of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Despite continued success in business, his harsh online behavior is often criticized as being mean-spirited. His tendency to speak freely online has caused both colleagues and fans to distance themselves from him.

Tyrese Gibson

In 2017, the actor known for ‘Fast & Furious’ went through a highly publicized difficult time, sharing personal struggles online. He publicly criticized his co-star, Dwayne Johnson, over a separate movie project, using platforms like Twitter and Instagram. His posts, which included emotional videos and troubling statements, worried fans and those in the film industry. Although he kept his job in the ‘Fast & Furious’ films, the very public nature of his problems hurt his reputation. He later explained that the way he was behaving was influenced by psychotropic medication he was taking.

T.I.

The rapper and actor, known for his role in ‘Ant-Man,’ faced strong criticism after sharing details about accompanying his daughter to gynecologist appointments and discussing her hymen. Many found his comments about her virginity to be a violation of her privacy and controlling behavior. While he didn’t appear in the latest ‘Ant-Man’ movie, the studio stated this wasn’t related to the controversy. The situation significantly damaged his public image as a father.

Columbus Short

The actor, known for his role in ‘Scandal,’ experienced a significant career decline due to legal problems and unpredictable behavior online. After accusations of domestic violence led to his firing from the popular show, he made things worse with angry and threatening posts on social media. He publicly lashed out at people he felt had mistreated him, including former colleagues. For years afterward, he struggled to find consistent work in the entertainment industry. His social media activity seemed to confirm the studio’s decision to let him go, showcasing a clear downward trend.

Lil Mama

As a film lover, I was really disappointed to see this actress and rapper facing so much backlash. It all started when she began talking about “heterosexual rights” online, and unfortunately, her comments quickly became transphobic and critical of kids exploring their gender identity. It was heartbreaking to watch her alienate so many fans within the LGBTQ+ community and lose support from people she worked with. She tried to explain herself, but the damage was already done. It’s a shame, because she was just starting to gain traction as an actress, and this controversy really put a stop to that momentum.

Erykah Badu

The singer and actress, known as a neo-soul icon, received criticism for publicly defending Bill Cosby despite the accusations against him. She also sparked controversy by saying she believed everyone, even Adolf Hitler, had some good qualities, in an interview she shared online. Her support for Cosby led to disagreements with fans on Twitter, and while her music remains popular, many people stopped supporting her because of these comments. She has repeatedly stated she’s entitled to her own opinions, even if they’re unpopular.

Mo’Nique

The Academy Award-winning actress publicly called for a boycott of Netflix, claiming the company discriminated in its salary offers based on race and gender. While her concerns about fair pay were legitimate, her outspoken criticism of influential figures like Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry caused a divide within the entertainment industry. Many believed she should have addressed these issues privately, but she chose to voice her complaints on social media. As a result, she faced significant professional repercussions and was largely excluded from major film and television projects for a considerable time. Years later, she eventually reached a settlement with Netflix regarding her claims.

Skai Jackson

The former Disney Channel star received both support and criticism for using Twitter to call out people she believed were racist. While praised for her activism, she was also condemned for sharing private information about minors with her large following – a practice known as doxing. Many argued her actions encouraged harassment and were an excessive way to address the behavior of teenagers. A misspelled tweet about “guacamole” also became a widely shared meme that seemed to mock her serious image. She has since become more measured in her online activism.

Michael Che

The head writer and actor from ‘Saturday Night Live’ frequently deletes his social media posts when they cause controversy. He’s been criticized for making fun of a reviewer who gave his work a bad review, and for jokes considered offensive to the transgender community, which he claimed were just typical comedy. This tendency to post and then delete content, often due to negative reactions, has made him a divisive figure in the comedy scene.

Jess Hilarious

The comedian and star of the show ‘Rel’ received strong criticism for posts she made online that singled out Sikh men wearing turbans. She said she felt scared when she saw them boarding a plane, but her posts were widely seen as prejudiced and bigoted. This happened shortly after her show was cancelled by Fox. After facing intense online backlash for what many considered ignorance and prejudice, she apologized. The controversy significantly impacted her career in television.

Tell us which of these controversies you remember most by leaving a response in the comments.

2025-11-21 14:50