Controversial Hollywood stars who have overcome cancellation to return to stardom

From racist and homophobic remarks to sexual assault claims and on stage punch ups, these are the Hollywood stars once cancelled for their shocking acts. See who has returned to stardom.

The 2020s have been the decade we officially entered the cancellation era.

Yes, in recent times, we’ve seen the careers of stars go up in smoke for everything from on stage “jokes” (Tenacious D’s Kyle Glass making an insensitive and tacky comment about the attempted assassination of Donald Trump), on stage punch ups (Will Smith clocking Chris Rock at the Oscars because the comedian made a joke at the expense of Mrs Smith – Jada Pinkett Smith) and, more seriously, off stage sexual assault allegations (Kevin Spacey whose Hollywood career is kaput).

In the era of social media, celebrities have to watch what they do, watch what they post and watch what they say, otherwise “cancellations” can happen quicker than you can say Louis CK.

Blake Lively has been the target of cancel culture in recent weeks over her latest film "It Ends With Us". Picture: Getty Images

Still, some cancellations should be cancelled; Blake Lively was snippy in a few unearthed and very banal press junket interviews (who wouldn’t be?) and the pile on has been over the top to say the least (for what it’s worth, I interviewed her once and she couldn’t have been nicer).

In 2021, the Israeli-born Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot called for an end to fighting in Gaza.

“Israel deserves to live as a free and safe nation,” she tweeted. “Our neighbours deserve the same.”

Gal Gadot’s career has never quite recovered after calling for an end to fighting in Gaza in 2021. Picture: Getty Images for Disney

She may as well of called for the mass killing of puppies, such was the backlash and her career has never quite recovered fully.

But what about those who have escaped a one-way ticket to Siberia and bounced back? Here, we take a look at the stars who have been kicked to the kerb only to return, with some being slightly more welcome than others.

MEL GIBSON

The OG cancel-ee. Indeed, there are many who wonder how on earth Gibson still has a career given his (alleged) history of antisemitism, homophobia, racism and domestic violence.

The American-born Australian actor was initially kicked out of Hollywood because of an infamous drink-driving arrest in Malibu in 2006 during which he unleashed an antisemitic rant at a police officer.

Mel Gibson came under fire because of an infamous drink-driving arrest in Malibu in 2006. Picture: AFP

That was followed by leaked tapes in 2010 where he screamed racist remarks, including using the n-word, at his then-girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva, the mother of one of his nine children. She later alleged Gibson was physically abusive. Even before his fall from grace, Gibson had regularly been slammed over homophobic comments.

Despite all of this, in 2016 Gibson made a return to Hollywood (backed by friends such as Jodie Foster who has routinely defended him), which culminated in the Australian-born star receiving a 10-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival where he premiered Hacksaw Ridge, which went on to receive six Oscar nominations. That included a nod for Gibson for best director. The World War II drama was the first film Gibson had directed in more than a decade. He has worked steadily since.

KEVIN HART

Kevin Hart stepped down from hosting the 2019 Oscars. Picture: AFP

Just hours after Hart announced he was hosting the 2019 Oscars ceremony, homophobic comments he had made on social media in the past resurfaced.
Initially, Hart refused to apologise and stepped down from the much-vaunted hosting gig (ironically, he was supported by vaguely cancelled pal, Ellen DeGeneres). After his initial stubbornness, Hart later expressed remorse via social media for hurting the LGBTQ+ community. Although he ultimately didn’t host the Oscars, the comedian was able to make a comeback. Since the tweets resurfaced, he’s made numerous TV appearances and headlined several major movies. Hart also gave fans an insight to the controversy behind the scenes with a Netflix series.

TOM CRUISE

Tom Cruise came roaring back after a controversy in 2005. Picture: Toni Anne Barson/FilmMagic

Tom Cruise endured a mini cancellation when he jumped all over Oprah’s couch in 2005 professing his love for future ex-wife Katie Holmes but that was just weird and awkward rather than blatantly offensive, although the skivvy-clad slightly cultish Scientology videos were another story.
But Tom came roaring back and even a leaked rant from the set of Mission: Impossible 7 where he swore at and berated crew members was largely ignored because, hey, Top Gun: Maverick saved cinema post-pandemic.

JOHNNY DEPP

Rumours of substance abuse and troubling behaviour did the rounds for years until it came to a head in 2016 for Johnny Depp. Picture: Getty Images

Johnny Depp was once the king of Hollywood until it all went south. Rumours of his substance abuse and troubling behaviour had done the Hollywood rounds for years, but it came to a head in 2016 when ex-wife Amber Heard accused him of domestic violence and filed a restraining order against him.

Depp lost a major role in the Fantastic Beasts franchise and ended up in a financial battle with his former business managers (Depp’s net worth has plummeted from around $900 million to $100 million)

Depp was in the direct-to-video bin for a few years with the likes of Waiting for the Barbarians and Minamata, but now he’s playing Louis XV in 2023’s Jeanne du Barry, which earned a standing ovation at Cannes, and the upcoming animated feature Johnny Puff: Secret Mission. In other words, Depp isn’t quite Brad Pitt (who probably should have been cancelled years ago) but he’s on the way back.

Originally published as Controversial Hollywood stars who have overcome cancellation to return to stardom