1.
DaBaby rose to prominence within the late 2010s with songs like “Suge” and options on songs with Put up Malone and Dua Lipa. However then, in 2021, he was accused of constructing anti-gay feedback whereas performing on the Rolling Loud Competition. He mentioned to the gang, “If you happen to did not present up immediately with HIV, AIDS, or any of them lethal sexually transmitted illnesses that’ll make you die in two to a few weeks, then put your cellphone lighter up. Girls, in case your p**** scent like water, put your cellphone lighter up. Fellas, should you ain’t sucking d*** within the parking zone, put your cellphone lighter up.”
After backlash, he took to Instagram, saying, “My homosexual followers, they handle themselves. They ain’t no nasty homosexual n—as. See what I am saying? They ain’t no junkies on the street. The hell you speaking about, n—as? Then I mentioned should you ain’t sucking d— within the parking zone, put your cellphone lighter up. what my homosexual followers did? Put that motherf—ing gentle up, n—a, ‘trigger my homosexual followers ain’t going for that. They received class. They ain’t sucking no d— in no parking zone.” After his feedback, DaBaby was dropped from a number of competition lineups.
His credit score on the high-charting track “Levitating” with Dua Lipa was additionally dropped from a number of Billboard lists after radio stations began enjoying the solo model reasonably than the model together with his characteristic. DaBaby then apologized for his feedback, however the injury was achieved. Paired with a number of run-ins with the regulation and as soon as hitting a feminine fan,* DaBaby’s subsequent album didn’t promote in addition to his previous albums, and DaBaby claimed he’d been “blackballed.” He has not launched an album since.
2.
Børns (actual title: Garrett Clark Borns) turned an electropop darling within the 2010s, opening for acts equivalent to Halsey and Bleachers. However then, in 2018, simply after ending up a tour with Lana del Rey, he was accused of sexual misconduct and grooming underage followers. Regardless of Borns denying the accusations, he was dropped from the All Issues Go Fall Basic competition.
He took a protracted break from the general public eye however quietly launched an impartial EP final yr after being dropped from his label in 2020. This yr, he wrote on Instagram that he didn’t groom anybody and that each one relationships he had have been consensual, however acknowledged “that I should not have engaged in relationships with followers,” saying, “I apologize to the ladies concerned and hope they’ve discovered happiness. I did not present them the extent of respect I may have in our communication or lack thereof, and I used to be irresponsible with their emotions.”
3.
One of the heinous examples on this record is Ian Watkins, the lead singer for the choice rock group Misplaced Prophets, which was lively within the 2000s. Within the late 2000s, police turned conscious of allegations of sexual abuse of kids, however Watkins was finally not arrested till 2012, although this was because of drug-related suspicions. Nevertheless, as soon as his residence and belongings have been searched, the police rapidly pivoted to an investigation of kid intercourse abuse. He was finally hit with 24 separate intercourse offense-related costs, together with trying to rape a fan’s child, sexual contact with a one-year-old, and costs associated to his filming and possession of kid intercourse abuse. He was finally sentenced to 29 years in jail, the place he has been ever since.
4.
Whereas he should be capable to make a comeback, Fetty Wap’s profession is on maintain after his 2022 drug trafficking conviction. Fetty skyrocketed to fame rapidly together with his first album, however his profession languished afterward. Even Fetty himself mentioned his profession was on the decline earlier than the conviction, which is why he turned to drug trafficking within the first place. He dropped an album late final yr from jail, nevertheless it would not seem to have charted. He will not be eligible for launch till 2029.
5.
Todrick Corridor initially turned well-known via his YouTube movies and musical theater profession, later showing on American Idol. After being eradicated, he continued his profession in actuality exhibits, YouTube, and Broadway, and launched a number of albums. Nevertheless, issues took a flip in 2019, when Corridor confronted quite a few accusations, starting from not paying collaborators and dancers to sexual harassment.
Then, in 2022, Corridor appeared on Superstar Huge Brother and was slammed for conduct and feedback folks discovered imply. He went on to star in The Actual Buddies of WeHo on MTV, nevertheless it was not well-received. He additionally met current backlash for posting a GoFundMe after his household handled a home hearth. His most up-to-date album was launched with out a lot fanfare, although he’s set to carry out within the West Finish this summer season.
6.
Sia turned large within the 2010s, rising in fame together with Maddie Ziegler, who appeared in lots of her music movies. Nevertheless, issues took a flip when Sia launched her movie Music, that includes Ziegler as a nonverbal autistic character. The backlash to the movie was robust even earlier than it got here out, particularly concerning Sia’s option to forged a neurotypical actor within the position of a kid with autism. Nonetheless, Sia solely made issues worse through the movie’s promotion, most notably when an actor with autism referred to as her out for not casting somebody like her, and Sia replied, “Perhaps you are only a unhealthy actor.” Sia additionally acknowledged she “truly tried working with an exquisite younger woman, nonverbal on the spectrum, and he or she discovered it disagreeable and worrying.”
The film was panned and referred to as ableist, with critiques noting Ziegler’s efficiency was like a caricature of an autistic individual. It additionally confronted criticism for its portrayal of using restraint on autistic folks, which isn’t beneficial and may be harmful and even deadly. Sia later apologized for her problematic depiction after which deleted her Twitter account.
Following a protracted break (throughout which Sia later mentioned she’d suffered a relapse), Sia launched a brand new album simply months in the past, nevertheless it charted far decrease than her earlier albums.
7.
Natalia Kills slowly rose in fame over the early 2010s, opening for acts like Kesha, the Black-Eyed Peas, and Katy Perry, in addition to that includes on an LMFAO track.
8.
Natalia Kills’ husband, Willy Moon, was equally rising within the music scene after going viral for his hit “Yeah Yeah.” The 2, who have been married, each getting extra notoriety with their first foray into actuality tv as judges on The X Issue New Zealand.
Nevertheless, of their very first reside present, Kills and Moon made such merciless feedback to a contestant that each of their careers have been virtually instantly ruined. After contestant Joe Irvine sang “Cry Me a River,” Kills referred to as Irvine out for dressing like Moon, with Moon becoming a member of in. The viewers booed, and the opposite judges tried to step in, however they stored going.
Natalia later issued an apology, saying, “Rather a lot goes on behind the scenes of a actuality TV present and [what] you see isn’t at all times the entire story. … I used to be inspired to be outspoken, and issues received out of hand. … Joe, I hope you possibly can forgive me and I want you all the perfect!” however the injury was achieved. The duo was let go from the present after a viral petition to get them fired. Natalia did proceed her profession, however she modified her title and began a special band with Moon, which nonetheless has not launched their debut album.
9.
R&B duo Milli Vanilli reached worldwide fame within the late ’80s with their debut album, main them to win the award for Finest New Artist on the 1990 Grammy Awards. Nevertheless, their careers rapidly took a nosedive when their producer Frank Farian revealed they did not sing any of the album, which was confirmed by member Rob Pilatus. The Grammys swiftly revoked their award.
Whereas Pilatus and co-member Fab Morvan tried a number of comebacks, the scandal adopted them, and so they have been unable to achieve traction once more.
10.
Billy Squier skyrocketed to fame within the early Eighties, however by 1984, his profession was basically over. Why? The blame lies with the music video for his track “Rock Me Tonite,” which was so unhealthy many claimed it singlehandedly tanked his profession. Even Squier mentioned so: “The video had a deleterious impact on my profession. The tour earlier than, I used to be promoting out arenas quicker than Sinatra, and as quickly as that video got here out, I used to be enjoying to half homes,” he mentioned in 2011, in response to I Need My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution.
The track itself was a serious hit, however the video — which largely featured Squier dancing round in a bed room, rolling on the ground, and ripping his shirt off — made folks scratch their heads. “The video misrepresents who I’m as an artist,” Squier instructed the authors of I Need My MTV. “I used to be a handsome, horny man. That actually did not harm in selling my music. However on this video, I am sort of a reasonably boy. And I am preening round a room. Individuals mentioned, ‘He is homosexual,’ or ‘He is on medication’. It was traumatizing to me.”
11.
Vanilla Ice rose to fame extremely rapidly with “Ice, Ice, Child” in 1990, however he attracted controversy simply as rapidly. First, reported particulars about his previous (particularly that he had a tough background) have been confirmed false. His music additionally was criticized for being white-washed and “mainstream.” Then, Jim Carrey parodied him on In Dwelling Coloration, he had a disastrous look on The Arsenio Corridor Present, and he was the topic of a diss monitor by third Bass. Lastly, he starred within the panned movie Cool as Ice, which successfully ended his film profession earlier than it started.
He then tried a profession in motocross, jet snowboarding, and actuality TV and had a number of run-ins with the regulation. Whereas he did try a comeback, it was unsuccessful, and his profession by no means recovered.
12.
Iggy Azalea seemed like she was going to develop into large after the success of “Fancy.” With “Downside” and “Black Widow,” Azalea proved she wasn’t only a one-hit marvel. However her profession stalled after continued accusations of racism and profiting off of Black tradition — together with utilizing a “Blaccent” — in addition to her perceived incapacity to freestyle and public feuds. She finally canceled her debut tour. She continued to make music however acknowledged her profession had “fallen off a cliff” and by no means returned to her “Fancy” degree of success.
13.
CeeLo Inexperienced went massively viral together with his hit track “Fuck You” in 2010, which was adopted by a stint guest-hosting on The Voice, together with performing on the Tremendous Bowl halftime present. However allegations of drugging and sexually assaulting a lady in 2012 derailed his profession earlier than he may develop into an A-Record star.
Rape costs weren’t filed because of a scarcity of proof, and his costs have been diminished to supplying Ecstasy to the girl. Inexperienced pled no contest and was sentenced to a few years of probation. Inexperienced might have continued his profession — his lawyer claimed the encounter was consensual — however then he took to Twitter to put in writing issues equivalent to “If somebody is handed out they are not even WITH you consciously! so WITH Implies consent” and “Individuals who have actually been raped REMEMBER!!!”
Inexperienced give up The Voice (reportedly believing he’d be fired, although he later mentioned, “I ran my course there simply naturally”), and his actuality present, The Good Life, was canceled. Inexperienced continues to be round immediately, however not even near the diploma of his early 2010s fame.
14.
Ben Hopkins of Pwr Bttm additionally noticed their profession derailed by sexual misconduct allegations. Simply because the group was gaining traction, days earlier than the discharge of their second album, Hopkins was accused of being a sexual predator. Their label dropped them, streaming platforms eliminated their music, and their upcoming tour was canceled. Hopkins says the nameless accusations are false and finally launched music as a solo artist in 2020 after taking a break from the general public eye. Nevertheless, they’ve but to launch a brand new album or make a full comeback.
15.
One other instance? Mystikal, who had steadily risen in fame over the ’90s and early 2000s. In 2003, he appeared on prime of the world, gaining his first-ever Album of the Yr Grammy nomination and starring within the movie 13 Lifeless Males. Nevertheless, in early 2004, he was convicted of sexual battery and sentenced to 6 years in jail.
Mystikal tried to make a comeback when he was launched in 2010 and located some success in early performances. Nevertheless, he continued to have run-ins with the regulation, being accused of rape and home battery, amongst different costs, and he’s at present going through a life sentence (he pled not responsible to all costs, and his former legal professional proclaimed his innocence). He has not launched a solo album since 2001.
16.
Canadian-Chinese language singer Kris Wu rose to fame via the Canadian-Korean boy band Exo earlier than discovering main success as a solo artist. He additionally made waves as an actor, showing within the Vin Diesel movie XXX: Return of Xander Cage, and appeared poised to interrupt into the American market. However in 2021, the 30-year-old Wu was accused of sexual assault of a 17-year-old two years prior. He denied the allegations however was arrested and finally sentenced to 13 years in jail, a conviction which was upheld upon enchantment.
17.
One other musician whose profession was derailed by jail time is Tory Lanez. Lanez was a rising star who was discovering mainstream success within the late 2010s — after which he was accused of taking pictures Megan Thee Stallion in 2020. He was finally convicted and sentenced to 10 years in jail. Time will inform if he makes an attempt to make a comeback after that.
18.
Regardless of authorized hassle, 6ix9ine shot to fame rapidly within the late 2010s, however his involvement with the 9 Trey gang led to his arrest in 2018 on racketeering, theft, and firearm costs. He was finally sentenced to 2 years in jail after testifying towards different 9 Trey members, resulting in him being labeled a “snitch” and basically ruining his credibility in hip-hop.
19.
Keri Hilson had a wildly profitable debut album and continued that success together with her second album. However she by no means reached the profession highs that have been anticipated for her — due partly to her allegedly shading Beyoncé and Ciara in a couple of lyrics in her 2009 track “Turnin’ Me On” (which Hilson denied). Hilson continued to face what she known as “verbal abuse” from Beyoncé followers for years and ended up taking a years-long break from music, later revealing she was coping with despair and the grief of her father’s passing. She nonetheless has not launched one other album.
Hilson finally alleged her label had instructed her to diss Beyoncé, saying she was too younger and insecure to refuse. She says she’s since made up with Beyoncé.
20.
Fiona Apple was an ingenue when her debut album was launched to widespread acclaim, however public opinion turned swiftly towards her when she received the MTV Video Music Award for Finest New Artist. She received up on stage and mentioned she hadn’t ready a speech, then famously mentioned, “This world is bullshit, and also you should not mannequin your life … about what you assume that we predict is cool and what we’re carrying and what we’re saying and the whole lot.” Apple was labeled afterward — in her personal phrases — a “brat bitch unfastened cannon.”
She later mentioned she felt like a “sellout” when she received and have become “a paper doll to be able to be accepted.” Her notorious speech, together with storming offstage throughout a present in 2000, led her to be seen as “unstable,” which adopted her for her whole profession. Whereas Apple has continued to have an acclaimed, Grammy-award-winning profession, she by no means once more reached her pre-2000 business heights.
21.
Pop duo Karmin had simply begun to seek out mainstream success (after making a reputation for themselves with YouTube covers) with their 2012 EP Good day. Nevertheless, their efficiency on SNL that very same yr is broadly cited as one of many worst SNL performances of all time. This successfully killed their momentum, and so they ended up disbanding the group and beginning a brand new music endeavor, Qveen Herby.
22.
Whereas Robin Thicke was round for years earlier than “Blurred Strains,” the track catapulted him into international superstardom, and he turned a family title, getting nominated for his first non-production-related Grammy in 2014. However his efficiency of the track with Miley Cyrus on the 2013 VMAs generated important controversy, as did the lyrics and music video for Thicke’s track (Thicke additionally misplaced a lawsuit concerning the track’s similarities to Marvin Gaye’s “Obtained to Give It Up”).
Thicke might have been capable of save his profession — however his extremely publicized divorce and ensuing album centered on getting his spouse again, which was an enormous essential failure, cemented his ousting from the music A-list. His subsequent album wasn’t till 2021 and didn’t cement a comeback for Thicke.
23.
Within the early 2010s, Azealia Banks appeared poised for a protracted profession within the music enterprise, however since then, her outspoken Twitter rants and feuds have meant that she’s extra well-known for her controversial on-line presence than her music. Whereas she nonetheless performs, she actually has not achieved the extent of mainstream success she may need.
24.
Marilyn Manson rose to fame within the ’90s as a controversial rock singer and has remained well-known for the previous few many years — however issues took a serious flip in 2021 when his ex-fiancée Evan Rachel Wooden accused him of sexual assault and abuse. Different ladies rapidly got here ahead with their very own allegations towards Manson, and Manson’s label and company dropped him.
Manson denied all allegations and sued Wooden for defamation and persuading different ladies to lie about him, however the go well with failed, and he was later ordered to pay Wooden’s authorized charges. In the meantime, he was additionally accused of sexual assault of a minor again within the ’90s final yr (he pled no contest) and was sentenced to group service for a misdemeanor assault of a videographer in 2019.
In gentle of the wave of accusations and turning public opinion (Rolling Stone referred to as him a “monster hiding in plain sight” in 2021), it appears unlikely Manson’s profession will get better, despite the fact that some ladies’s circumstances have been dismissed or settled, and one sufferer recanted (a choose determined the sufferer’s new statements wouldn’t be used as proof). He has not launched music or appeared in movie and tv since 2021, and simply days in the past, a choose dominated to not toss a lawsuit by a lady accusing Manson of abuse when she was underage.
25.
R. Kelly has been dogged by sexual abuse allegations all through most of his profession, however that did not appear to cease his large ranges of success — till 2017 when a BuzzFeed Information report about an alleged intercourse cult led to resurfaced allegations that he’d had intercourse with minors and abused ladies.
Public opinion of Kelly started to drastically shift, with protests exterior his concert events and studio, and Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora releasing statements that they might cease selling his music — many members of Kelly’s private crew additionally give up. 2019’s six-episode docuseries Surviving R. Kelly additional tarnished the star’s fame, inflicting Kelly’s report firm to drop him and upcoming exhibits to be canceled.
Quickly after, Kelly was hit with aggravated felony sexual abuse and assault costs towards a minor, in addition to intercourse trafficking and intercourse work costs, and he was later discovered responsible and sentenced to 30 years in jail. In one other trial, he was discovered responsible of kid sexual abuse and pornography and sentenced to twenty years in jail (which — apart from one — could possibly be served concurrently together with his 30-year sentence). Kelly is at present serving out his sentence.
26.
Chris Brown skilled a serious fall from grace after he was arrested on suspicion of constructing felony threats following a pre-Grammys celebration he attended with then-girlfriend Rihanna. He was finally sentenced to 5 years of probation and group service, in addition to home violence counseling. He later admitted to hitting Rihanna in his automotive throughout an argument.
Photographs of a bruised and injured Rihanna ignited public hatred of Brown, and his subsequent album, Graffiti, bought notably worse than his prior album (it additionally was critically panned). He misplaced endorsement offers, and a number of celebrities spoke out towards him.
Nevertheless, Brown is likely one of the examples from this record whose profession made a reasonably full restoration. His subsequent album, F.A.M.E., debuted at no 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, which was his first album to take action. He nonetheless stays profitable, although it is true that there are nonetheless those that imagine he would not should be. Actually, Brown complained final yr about individuals who “nonetheless hate” him for his “mistake.”
27.
Gary Glitter loved a decades-long profession as a glam rock artist within the UK, and his legacy appeared general cemented till he was arrested within the late ’90s on youngster intercourse picture costs. He was discovered responsible and sentenced to solely 4 months in jail, however his profession by no means recovered. He moved to Cuba, then Cambodia, and afterward Vietnam, the place he was convicted of sexual abuse in 2016. Glitter claimed the fees have been a conspiracy and that he was harmless. He was sentenced to a few years in jail however was deported to the UK after two and a half.
He had initially deliberate a comeback, however this by no means materialized. In 2015, he was sentenced to a different 16 years in jail for sexual abuse from the ’70s and ’80s. He was launched early in 2023, then incarcerated once more a month later after violating license situations.
28.
Singer-songwriter Ryan Adams, who was well-known for championing younger feminine artists’ careers, was accused by a number of ladies (together with ex-wife Mandy Moore) in 2017 of “dangling profession alternatives whereas concurrently pursuing feminine artists for intercourse.” If the ladies refused, he allegedly grew offended and resorted to emotional and verbal abuse in addition to harassment. Adams did apologize however didn’t particularly affirm the allegations. “I’m totally accountable for my dangerous conduct, and might be for my actions transferring ahead,” he wrote in a public apology. He was additionally investigated for an alleged on-line sexual relationship with a minor, however costs weren’t filed.
Adams’s profession suffered drastically, with Adams releasing his subsequent two albums via his personal label (the albums didn’t chart in America or England) and taking to social media with determined pleas for labels to signal him. “I simply actually need a second probability to make some music — perhaps assist different folks imagine you possibly can stand up out of the gutter and be one thing,” he wrote, saying he was near changing into homeless.
In 2022, Adams carried out a sold-out present at Carnegie Corridor however didn’t invite any journalists. He employed a brand new crew, together with crisis-PR specialist Howard Bragman, who spoke to Selection, saying, “We need to present that he has an actual crew behind him that believes in him and helps him, and that he is placing a life collectively. We would like folks to note, and in the event that they need to transfer ahead with him, here is the place we’re.” He is launched eleven albums since – together with 4 on a single day — that didn’t obtain a lot consideration.
29.
Nick Carter rose to prominence within the ’90s with boy band the Backstreet Boys. He then launched into a profitable solo profession, however issues took a flip for Carter in 2017. After a report that Carter had allegedly sexually assaulted a fan in 2006, former Dream member Melissa Schuman wrote a weblog publish accusing Carter of sexually assaulting her in 2003 and later sued him for sexual assault and battery.
In 2022, Shannon Ruth additionally sued Carter for sexual battery for an alleged incident from 2001. Following all of the allegations, ABC canceled a vacation particular with the Backstreet Boys. Carter, for his half, has denied all allegations. He toured this yr and introduced a brand new album, so time will inform if he is capable of make a comeback.
30.
One other worldwide musician who ruined his personal profession with alleged sexual assault was Sigur Rós drummer Orri Páll Dýrason. Artist Meagan Boyd accused Dýrason in an Instagram publish of raping her in 2013. Dýrason denied the allegations however rapidly left the band, writing on Fb, “I’ll do something in my energy to get myself out of this nightmare, however out of respect for these truly affected by sexual violence, I can’t take that struggle public.”
Dýrason by no means rejoined the band, which struggled within the wake of the allegations and in addition a tax evasion case, however lastly launched one other album in June — with out Dýrason and including again in outdated keyboardist Kjartan “Kjarri” Sveinsson. Dýrason appears to have all however vanished from the general public eye.
31.
Trey Songz has a protracted historical past of being accused of sexual assault, home violence, disorderly conduct, and aggravated assault over time (in addition to sexual intimidation by Keke Palmer),* nevertheless it appeared like the general public and the trade largely ignored these allegations. WNBA participant Dylan Gonzalez’s 2022 allegations appeared to show the tide, with two extra sexual assault allegations following, together with a rape case that was initially dismissed as a result of it was previous the statute of limitations however has since been refiled. Songz finally settled.
On this second occasion, the place a lady claims Songz groped her and pulled her bra off in public, she is searching for $10 million. Songz additionally accepted a plea deal for a bodily assault cost. With no new album on the horizon, it appears unlikely Songz’s profession will get better anytime quickly — particularly as a result of every time he’s talked about within the press, it’s often in relation to continued backlash.
32.
Lastly, Ashlee Simpson additionally largely ruined her profession after being caught lip-syncing on Saturday Night time Reside in 2004. When the flawed monitor started to play (the identical one she’d already carried out), Simpson didn’t sing however did a wierd dance. She later blamed the band earlier than saying she’d misplaced her voice because of acid reflux disease and was ordered by docs to not sing.
The singer’s profession did proceed, nevertheless it was positively affected and didn’t see the identical momentum because it had pre-scandal. Her second album didn’t promote even near in addition to the primary, and a 2005 Orange Bowl efficiency noticed her getting booed by the gang. Whereas Simpson did find yourself showing on SNL once more, today, she is maybe finest identified for the lip-syncing incident over any of her music.
