We probably shouldn’t put celebrities on a pedestal. After all, they’re only human, and fame doesn’t make anyone perfect. Still, being in the public eye comes with a certain amount of influence, and many famous faces become role models for their fans.
When you’ve admired someone for years, followed their career, and supported their work, it’s natural to feel a little attached. So when they do something that goes against everything you believed about them, it can hit surprisingly hard.
One Redditor asked people to share which celebrity fall from grace disappointed them the most, and plenty had something to say. We’ve rounded up their answers below. Scroll down to read them, and don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments.
#1
Elon musk. I used to love Elon musk, and I used to believe that his companies would create a better future for all of us. As someone who plans on starting companies myself, I was really influenced by my perception of him, but eventually I started to realize that he was a lot more corrupt than I first imagined, supports things that I don't agree with, and is only pretending to patch the problem of car dependency, and seems to take all the credit for what people under him do.
33points
#2
Bill Cosby. My generation never got over that.
Also Daniel Masterson hurt simply because I wanted him to continue The Ranch and That 70's Show reboot and I am pissed because he ruined that.
Also Daniel Masterson hurt simply because I wanted him to continue The Ranch and That 70's Show reboot and I am pissed because he ruined that.
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27points
#3
Even as a kid I recognized the talent RDJ (Robert Downey Jr.) had and was certain he was going to lose his life before he got to shine.
Then Kiss Kiss Bang Bang came out and you could tell he wasn't going to mess up his eighth chance.
So, him. But he turned it around.
Then Kiss Kiss Bang Bang came out and you could tell he wasn't going to mess up his eighth chance.
So, him. But he turned it around.
24points
#5
I wanted to believe that Lance Armstrong was 100% clean. His story was so good: He beat cancer, he swept the Tour de France 4 or five times, he was a hero.
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22points
#6
Ellen DeGeneres. Never got into her show, but she meant so much to me when I was a terrified closeted kid. I cried when she got her Presidential Medal of Freedom and still get weepy thinking about it. It really breaks my heart that she turned out to be an awful person.
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20points
#7
Madonna. She totally freaked out about aging, after being such a rebel her whole life. Way to fall in line, you are just like all the rest, should have known, material girl lol.
20points
#8
Mel Gibson
He made such great movies as both an actor and a director. It's sad knowing he could of made more great films if he didn't lose his mind and blow up his career.
He made such great movies as both an actor and a director. It's sad knowing he could of made more great films if he didn't lose his mind and blow up his career.
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19points
#9
Not quite the topic but anytime I find out a celeb is a Scientologist I am disappointed
Particularly, Elizabeth Moss.
Particularly, Elizabeth Moss.
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17points
#10
Eric Clapton.
I grew up listening to his music and was sad to discover his views on vaccines and his racism.
I grew up listening to his music and was sad to discover his views on vaccines and his racism.
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16points
#11
This may sound crazy, but there was a time when Steven Seagal was actually respected by adolescents for his cool demeanor, wise ways, and temperance in movies… and for marrying the babe from Weird Science IRL. To watch him reveal himself as a louse caused many an 80’s kid to reassess whom to admire.
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14points
#12
Edward Furlong. Such a talent wasted to substances. I hear he is doing better these days but it's sad to think of all the great performances we missed out on and the years of his life he lost.
13points
#13
Kanye's fall has been very disappointing to me. His music got me through a lot during my formative years.
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13points
#14
Maybe not the most, but comedian Brett Butler's spiral was sad. After working her way up from being a poor, teenage alcoholic who hung out in bars to being the star of one of the most successful sitcoms of the 90s, she just couldn't hold it together.
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12points
#15
Oscar Pistorius
Due to the fact that he was the first double-amputee to participate in the Summer Olympics, he was expected to become the next "feel good tale" of recent history (2012).
Due to the fact that he was the first double-amputee to participate in the Summer Olympics, he was expected to become the next "feel good tale" of recent history (2012).
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12points
#16
I would say JK Rowling. The woman goes from homeless to creating one of the greatest fantasy series of all time, and then ruins it by being a complete TERF and transphobic.
12points
#17
Joss Whedon. Broke my heart that he ended up being such a bad person. Buffy literally shaped so much of my life, being part of that fandom had me meet people who are still my best friends to this day, move cities to live closer to them, leading to me meeting my husband. We loved him so much.
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12points
#18
Will Smith, I really liked the guy in the films that I grew up with him in. While I might not have liked is most recent work, I still liked him for what I did. Just with what happened at the Oscars, totally changed how I saw him. That's just something I never thought he would do. I don't follow celeb news that much, and have heard that his wife sleeping with one of his son's friends. Along with how his wife seems to be, I can sort of see how that might change him. I would have thought most of what he would have done is pull Chris Rock aside later. Not make a jerk of himself in front of so many people.
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12points
#20
Disappointing to learn Brad Pitt is/was an awful spouse and parent …
11points