Celebs Who Faced Backlash for Comments on Race in Entertainment

Being a celebrity means everything you say is closely watched and judged, especially when discussing sensitive topics like race and representation. Mistakes in these conversations can quickly cause major controversy. Several stars have faced public backlash and professional repercussions for comments considered insensitive or offensive. Here are some examples of individuals who experienced this kind of scrutiny.

Liam Neeson

Actor Liam Neeson faced widespread criticism after sharing a disturbing story from his past during an interview for his film ‘Cold Pursuit’. He revealed that, following a friend’s assault, he spent a week walking the streets, armed and looking for a Black man to attack, hoping to find someone to blame. This admission led to the cancellation of the film’s premiere and sparked significant controversy. Neeson later apologized, explaining that he wasn’t motivated by racism, but by a desire to release intense anger and frustration.

Matt Damon

During the premiere of his reality show, ‘Project Greenlight’, Matt Damon received backlash for interrupting producer Effie Brown when she brought up the lack of diversity among the directors. He argued that diversity was better addressed through the actors chosen for the film. Many on social media criticized his response as an example of a white man explaining diversity issues to a Black woman. Damon later apologized for how he phrased his thoughts.

Gina Rodriguez

Throughout her career, this actress has repeatedly been accused of problematic behavior towards Black people. The criticism recently intensified after she shared a video on Instagram of herself singing along to a Fugees song, during which she said a racial slur and laughed. She initially apologized, but many found it unconvincing. She later released a more detailed apology, explaining that because she’d heard the song so many times, she hadn’t fully considered how hurtful the slur is.

Sharon Osbourne

Sharon Osbourne quit her job on ‘The Talk’ after a tense discussion about race on the show. She stood up for Piers Morgan, who had faced criticism for his remarks about Meghan Markle. Osbourne asked her co-host, Sheryl Underwood, to explain why Morgan’s comments were considered racist. This led the network to investigate claims of a negative work environment. Osbourne eventually left the show, saying she was surprised by the way the conversation went.

Roseanne Barr

The sitcom ‘Roseanne’ was quickly cancelled after the show’s star posted a racist tweet. She compared Valerie Jarrett, a former advisor to President Obama, to an ape online. The network strongly condemned the comment, saying it went against everything they stood for. The actress initially claimed she had been under the influence of the sleep aid Ambien, but the show ultimately continued as ‘The Conners’ without her.

Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson’s career has been repeatedly damaged by recordings of him making racist and offensive statements. Years ago, during a drunk driving arrest, he made anti-Semitic comments, leading to significant backlash in Hollywood. More recently, recordings emerged of him using a racial slur during a dispute with his former partner. While he’s attempted to revive his career, these incidents continue to harm his public image, and opinions within the entertainment industry remain split on whether he should be forgiven.

Michael Richards

Michael Richards, famous for playing Kramer on ‘Seinfeld,’ severely damaged his career during a stand-up performance at the Laugh Factory. He reacted to hecklers by launching into a racist rant, repeatedly using a racial slur and referencing lynchings. While he later apologized on ‘Late Show with David Letterman,’ the incident proved too damaging, and he has remained largely out of the public eye since.

Paula Deen

A well-known chef’s career fell apart when a court document from a discrimination lawsuit became public. In it, she admitted to using a racial slur in the past and described planning a wedding with a Southern plantation theme, including Black servers. As a result, the Food Network cancelled her show, and major sponsors like Walmart and Target stopped working with her. She’s since been trying to rebuild her career using her own online platforms.

Hulk Hogan

After a private recording surfaced revealing him using racist language – specifically, expressing disapproval of his daughter dating a Black man – wrestling legend Hulk Hogan faced significant consequences. He was fired by the WWE and removed from their Hall of Fame. Hogan later apologized for his offensive remarks and sought forgiveness from his fans. Several years later, he was welcomed back into the WWE.

Camila Cabello

Camila Cabello, the popular singer, recently apologized for problematic posts she made on Tumblr as a teenager. The posts included racist jokes and offensive language, including the N-word. In a detailed social media statement, Cabello explained she was immature and lacked understanding at the time, and that those posts don’t reflect who she is now. The situation led to a broader discussion about being held responsible for things posted online in the past.

Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey sparked controversy with a post on Instagram where she raised questions about how she’s received compared to artists like Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj. Many people criticized her for seemingly comparing her experiences as a white woman to those of women of color, especially since she described herself as being treated unfairly for being “delicate.” Del Rey refuted claims of racism, stating she was actually pointing out what she saw as inconsistent expectations within feminism. The issue continues to divide her fans.

Awkwafina

The actress received years of criticism for how she used phrases and speech patterns associated with Black culture early in her career. Some people accused her of borrowing from that culture to become famous, and then moving on to more dramatic roles. She responded to the criticism on Twitter, mentioning the historical context of African American Vernacular English. But many felt she didn’t specifically apologize for what she had done. After the negative reaction, she deactivated her Twitter account.

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus faced backlash after sharing her thoughts on hip hop in an interview with Billboard. She explained she was moving away from the genre because she didn’t like its focus on wealth and sexual themes. Critics noted that she had previously benefited from hip hop’s influence during her ‘Bangerz’ album period, and some felt she treated it as a temporary style. Cyrus later said she respects all music genres, but defended her decision to change her musical direction.

Stacey Dash

Stacey Dash, known for her role in ‘Clueless,’ received significant criticism after expressing her views on Fox News about the #OscarsSoWhite debate. She suggested that channels like BET and Black History Month should be removed, believing they actually encourage separation instead of unity. Many in the entertainment industry and the public strongly disagreed with her statements, and she was later removed from her position as a Fox News contributor.

Raven-Symoné

Raven-Symoné sparked controversy on ‘The View’ while talking about discrimination in hiring. She admitted she wouldn’t hire someone with a name she considered unusual, specifically mentioning “Watermelondrea.” Her comment immediately surprised and upset her co-hosts and viewers. She later apologized, explaining her remark was insensitive and didn’t represent her as a leader. The situation is frequently brought up when discussing the idea of ‘respectability politics’ – the belief that marginalized groups must conform to mainstream norms to be accepted.

Ye

Kanye West has repeatedly caused controversy with his problematic and hurtful remarks about race. He sparked outrage when he suggested slavery lasted 400 years by choice, and faced further criticism for wearing shirts supporting the “White Lives Matter” movement and making anti-Semitic statements. As a result of these actions, Adidas ended their profitable business relationship with him, and he has lost support from many fans and colleagues in the entertainment industry.

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg faced a two-week suspension from ‘The View’ after making controversial comments about the Holocaust. She suggested it wasn’t specifically about race, but about general cruelty, which drew immediate criticism. The Anti-Defamation League explained that the Nazis’ beliefs were based on a desire for racial purity. Goldberg later apologized for causing offense. The situation led to widespread discussion about how to define racism and antisemitism.

Nick Cannon

Nick Cannon lost his job with ViacomCBS after sharing anti-Semitic views on his podcast, ‘Cannon’s Class.’ He talked about conspiracy theories involving Jewish people and their influence in the media, and also claimed Black people were the original Hebrews. Cannon later apologized to the Jewish community and worked with rabbis to further his understanding. Because of his commitment to learning and growth, he was eventually brought back to host ‘Wild ‘n Out’.

Bill Maher

Comedian Bill Maher caused a strong reaction during an interview with Senator Ben Sasse on his HBO show. After Sasse playfully suggested he try farm work, Maher responded with a racial slur, referring to himself with the offensive term. The audience reacted negatively, and online calls for his removal quickly followed. Maher later apologized, saying he regretted using the word and hadn’t slept well. HBO condemned the comment as unacceptable but decided not to cancel his show.

Kelly Osbourne

Kelly Osbourne faced criticism after making an insensitive comment during a discussion about Donald Trump’s immigration views on ‘The View.’ She asked who would do essential jobs like cleaning if Latinos were deported, prompting immediate pushback from her co-host, Rosie Perez, who called out the harmful stereotype. Osbourne attempted to clarify, saying she meant to highlight the country’s dependence on immigrant labor, but later apologized for her phrasing, maintaining that she doesn’t hold racist beliefs.

Giuliana Rancic

As a film and pop culture fan, I remember being really shocked by what happened with Giuliana Rancic and Zendaya at the Oscars. Giuliana made a really insensitive joke about Zendaya’s dreadlocks, saying they smelled like patchouli oil or even weed. Zendaya handled it with so much grace, responding with a statement that called out the comments as ignorant and disrespectful, and rightly so. It caused a lot of drama behind the scenes too – Kelly Osbourne actually left the show because she didn’t agree with how the segment was handled. Eventually, Giuliana did apologize on air, admitting she’d gone too far, but the whole thing was just really uncomfortable to watch.

Terry Crews

Terry Crews received backlash for tweets about the Black Lives Matter movement. He expressed concern that the movement could potentially turn into ‘black supremacy’ if not carefully managed. Many colleagues and activists disagreed with his comments, feeling they weakened the movement’s goals. While he initially defended his position, Crews later apologized for how he worded things, explaining that he meant to encourage togetherness, not create conflict.

Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne sparked controversy after an interview on ‘Nightline’ when asked about Black Lives Matter. He said he didn’t identify with the movement because of his wealth and success, suggesting racism hadn’t held him back. The comments quickly spread online and many people criticized him for seeming disconnected from the experiences of others. He later explained that he was frustrated by the interviewer’s line of questioning.

Morgan Wallen

Country singer Morgan Wallen was temporarily removed from his record label after a video showed him using a racial slur. In the video, he was heard saying the slur jokingly to a friend at his house. As a result, radio stations stopped playing his songs and he was excluded from several awards ceremonies. Wallen apologized in a video, asking fans not to excuse his behavior. Surprisingly, his album sales actually increased significantly in the weeks after the incident.

Tilda Swinton

Tilda Swinton received criticism for playing the Ancient One in ‘Doctor Strange’ because the character was originally Tibetan in the comic books. To address the concerns, she shared a private email conversation she had with comedian Margaret Cho. However, Cho felt the exchange positioned her as someone simply there to ease Swinton’s feelings about the casting. Many critics argued that Swinton was seeking Cho’s approval instead of truly listening to the concerns of the broader community. Swinton maintained she had no intention of causing harm and was trying to foster understanding.

Ridley Scott

Director Ridley Scott explained his decision to cast white actors as Egyptians in his film ‘Exodus: Gods and Kings’ by saying a film of that scale couldn’t be financially viable with a lesser-known actor, even if that actor was Egyptian. However, his comments were widely criticized as suggesting minority actors aren’t bankable. Many argued the film industry itself limits opportunities for diverse talent by failing to invest in them. The film ultimately faced calls for a boycott and didn’t perform well in the US.

Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch used an outdated and offensive term – “colored actors” – while talking about the lack of opportunities for Black actors in the UK. He made the comment during a PBS interview, and it quickly drew criticism from groups fighting against racism. Cumberbatch immediately apologized, calling his choice of words foolish, and stressed that he meant to express his support for diversity in the industry.

Viggo Mortensen

During a discussion about his film ‘Green Book’, Viggo Mortensen faced criticism for saying a racial slur in full. He intended to demonstrate how language has evolved, but the use of the word was considered hurtful and avoidable, even though he didn’t mean to offend. His co-star, Mahershala Ali, acknowledged Mortensen’s apology but emphasized that the word is never acceptable coming from a white person. Mortensen has since vowed to never use the word again.

John Mayer

In 2010, singer John Mayer faced intense backlash after a deeply problematic interview with Playboy. He used a racial slur while talking about his perceived acceptance within Black culture, and made offensive, sexually charged remarks about Black women. He also used a shocking metaphor, referring to his own anatomy as a “white supremacist,” which deeply offended many. Shortly after the interview’s release, Mayer became visibly distraught during a concert and subsequently withdrew from public life for a period to try and repair the damage to his reputation.

Wendy Williams

Wendy Williams often sparked debate with her outspoken comments, but her remarks about the NAACP and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) caused considerable anger. She challenged the purpose of these institutions, suggesting a similar organization for white people would be met with strong opposition. This led to Chevrolet dropping its sponsorship of her show. Williams later issued an apology and invited guests onto her program to help her audience better understand the issues.

Gwen Stefani

Gwen Stefani recently received criticism for comments she made in an interview with Allure magazine about her “Harajuku Lovers” period. When discussing the era, she jokingly said, “My God, I’m Japanese and I didn’t know it.” Many people found this dismissive of the issues surrounding cultural appropriation, arguing that it downplayed the privilege she had in adopting elements of a culture without experiencing the discrimination that people from that culture face. Critics also said she was using Asian identity to build her brand. Stefani responded by saying she was just a big admirer of the culture.

Megyn Kelly

Megyn Kelly lost her job at NBC after sparking controversy by defending the use of blackface in Halloween costumes. During a discussion, she asked why it would be considered racist for a white person to darken their skin as part of a costume, even referencing a reality TV star who had done so. Her comments were immediately criticized by her colleagues, and although she later apologized, she soon left NBC with a negotiated exit package.

Richard Dreyfuss

Actor Richard Dreyfuss caused a stir after criticizing the Academy’s new diversity rules. In an interview with ‘Firing Line,’ he said the rules disgusted him and argued that artistic merit shouldn’t be dictated by regulations. He also pointed to Laurence Olivier’s performance in blackface as Othello as a demonstration of great acting. Many people responded negatively to his comments, calling them outdated and insensitive. Dreyfuss, however, believes actors should be free to play any character, regardless of their background.

Shane Gillis

Comedian Shane Gillis lost his job at ‘Saturday Night Live’ shortly after being hired. Old recordings of his podcast appeared online, revealing him using offensive language towards Asians, including racial slurs and mocking their accents. He also made homophobic remarks. At first, Gillis defended his jokes as simply being a comedian who tests limits, which many saw as an insincere apology. However, he’s since successfully revived his career on his own terms and even hosted ‘SNL’ again.

Justin Bieber

When Justin Bieber was younger, videos emerged showing him telling a racist joke containing the N-word and changing the lyrics to his song “One Less Lonely Girl” to include a racial slur. These videos were recorded when he was a teenager but weren’t released until later. Bieber has apologized for what he called his “childish and inexcusable” actions, and now actively supports racial justice. He explains his past behavior as a result of being uneducated on the issue at the time.

Chet Hanks

Tom Hanks’ son has repeatedly received criticism for using Jamaican Patois and Caribbean accents, particularly after declaring a “White Boy Summer” and frequently using the dialect in his social media videos. People have accused him of cultural appropriation and making light of a significant part of Caribbean culture. He’s also been criticized for previously defending his use of a racial slur. Despite the backlash, he has largely continued to share similar content.

Michelle Rodriguez

Michelle Rodriguez received criticism after a TMZ interview where she was asked about potentially playing Green Lantern. She stated that people of color should focus on creating original superheroes instead of taking roles already associated with white characters. Many saw this as an anti-diversity statement. Rodriguez later explained in a Facebook video that she intended to challenge writers to be more imaginative with their casting choices, not to oppose diversity. She also apologized if her initial comments were offensive.

Stephen A. Smith

Okay, so as a huge sports fan, I was pretty surprised by the whole Stephen A. Smith situation. He got a lot of heat – and rightfully so, in my opinion – for saying Shohei Ohtani couldn’t be the face of baseball because he needs an interpreter. Basically, Stephen A. argued that a player who doesn’t speak English hurts the sport’s appeal here in the US. A lot of people, including fellow commentators and viewers, called him out on it, saying it came across as xenophobic and anti-Asian. Eventually, he issued an apology, admitting he messed up and didn’t fully understand how his words would be taken. It was a whole thing, and honestly, a bit of a misstep.

Rosanna Arquette

Okay, so actress Rosanna Arquette really stirred things up with a recent tweet. She expressed a lot of shame about being born into privilege as a white person, even going so far as to say she felt disgusted with herself. Honestly, it didn’t land well with a lot of people, and many accused her of making it about her feelings instead of the bigger picture – the systemic issues at play. The reaction was intense, unfortunately. She received so many threats that the FBI actually advised her to lock down her account. It was a messy situation, and a reminder that these kinds of conversations are rarely simple.

Let us know in the comments which of these debates you think changed the industry the most.

2026-01-27 11:51