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 Pageant. He stated to the group, “In case you did not present up as we speak with HIV, AIDS, or any of them lethal sexually transmitted ailments that’ll make you die in two to a few weeks, then put your cellphone lighter up. Women, in case your p**** scent like water, put your cellphone lighter up. Fellas, when 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 deal with 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 stated when you ain’t sucking d— within the parking zone, put your cellphone lighter up. You realize what my homosexual followers did? Put that motherf—ing mild up, n—a, ‘trigger my homosexual followers ain’t going for that. They acquired class. They ain’t sucking no d— in no parking zone.” After his feedback, DaBaby was dropped from a number of pageant 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 relatively than the model along with his characteristic. DaBaby then apologized for his feedback, however the harm was carried out. Paired with a number of run-ins with the regulation and as soon as hitting a feminine fan,* DaBaby’s subsequent album failed to 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 reminiscent of 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 Traditional pageant.
He took an extended break from the general public eye however quietly launched an impartial EP final 12 months after being dropped from his label in 2020. This 12 months, 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 might have in our communication or lack thereof, and I used to be irresponsible with their emotions.”
3.
Some of the heinous examples on this record is Ian Watkins, the lead singer for the choice rock group Misplaced Prophets, which was energetic within the 2000s. Within the late 2000s, police turned conscious of allegations of sexual abuse of kids, however Watkins was in the end not arrested till 2012, although this was as a result of drug-related suspicions. Nonetheless, as soon as his residence and belongings have been searched, the police shortly pivoted to an investigation of kid intercourse abuse. He was in the end hit with 24 separate intercourse offense-related prices, together with trying to rape a fan’s child, sexual contact with a one-year-old, and prices associated to his filming and possession of kid intercourse abuse. He was in the end sentenced to 29 years in jail, the place he has been ever since.
4.
Whereas he should be capable of make a comeback, Fetty Wap’s profession is on maintain after his 2022 drug trafficking conviction. Fetty skyrocketed to fame shortly along with his first album, however his profession languished afterward. Even Fetty himself stated 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 12 months from jail, nevertheless it does not seem to have charted. He will not be eligible for launch till 2029.
5.
Todrick Corridor initially turned well-known by way of his YouTube movies and musical theater profession, later showing on American Idol. After being eradicated, he continued his profession in actuality reveals, YouTube, and Broadway, and launched a number of albums. Nonetheless, issues took a flip in 2019, when Corridor confronted quite a lot of accusations, starting from not paying collaborators and dancers to sexual harassment.
Then, in 2022, Corridor appeared on Movie star Massive Brother and was slammed for habits and feedback folks discovered imply. He went on to star in The Actual Mates 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 is about 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 a lot of her music movies. Nonetheless, 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 relating to Sia’s option to solid a neurotypical actor within the function of a kid with autism. Nonetheless, Sia solely made issues worse throughout 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, “Possibly you are only a unhealthy actor.” Sia additionally said she “truly tried working with a fantastic younger lady, nonverbal on the spectrum, and he or she discovered it disagreeable and annoying.”
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 really helpful and could be harmful and even deadly. Sia later apologized for her problematic depiction after which deleted her Twitter account.
Following an extended break (throughout which Sia later stated 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 appeared to be getting extra notoriety with their first foray into actuality tv as judges on The X Issue New Zealand.
Nonetheless, of their very first stay present, Kills and Moon made such merciless feedback to a contestant that each of their careers have been nearly 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, “Loads goes on behind the scenes of a actuality TV present and [what] you see isn’t all the time the entire story. … I used to be inspired to be outspoken, and issues acquired out of hand. … Joe, I hope you may forgive me and I want you all the perfect!” however the harm was carried out. 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 unique 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. Nonetheless, their careers shortly 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 realize traction once more.
10.
Billy Squier skyrocketed to fame within the early Nineteen 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 stated 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 stated in 2011, based on I Need My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution.
The track itself was a significant 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, attractive man. That definitely 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. Folks stated, ‘He is homosexual,’ or ‘He is on medication’. It was traumatizing to me.”
11.
Vanilla Ice rose to fame extremely shortly with “Ice, Ice, Child” in 1990, however he attracted controversy simply as shortly. 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 Colour, 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 appeared like she was going to change into large after the success of “Fancy.” With “Drawback” and “Black Widow,” Azalea proved she wasn’t only a one-hit surprise. 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 ultimately 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 along 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 might change into an A-Listing star.
Rape prices weren’t filed as a result of an absence of proof, and his prices have been lowered 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 write issues reminiscent of “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 stop The Voice (reportedly believing he’d be fired, although he later stated, “I ran my course there simply naturally”), and his actuality present, The Good Life, was canceled. Inexperienced remains to be round as we speak, 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 ultimately launched music as a solo artist in 2020 after taking a break from the general public eye. Nonetheless, 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 12 months Grammy nomination and starring within the movie 13 Lifeless Males. Nonetheless, 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. Nonetheless, he continued to have run-ins with the regulation, being accused of rape and home battery, amongst different prices, and he’s at the moment dealing with a life sentence (he pled not responsible to all prices, 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 by way of the Canadian-Korean boy band Exo earlier than discovering main success as a solo artist. He additionally made waves as an actor, showing in 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 in the end 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 capturing Megan Thee Stallion in 2020. He was ultimately 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 shortly within the late 2010s, however his involvement with the 9 Trey gang led to his arrest in 2018 on racketeering, theft, and firearm prices. He was in the end sentenced to two years in jail after testifying in opposition to 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 along with her second album. However she by no means reached the profession highs that have been anticipated for her — due partially 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 melancholy and the grief of her father’s passing. She nonetheless has not launched one other album.
Hilson ultimately 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 in opposition to her when she received the MTV Video Music Award for Finest New Artist. She acquired up on stage and stated she hadn’t ready a speech, then famously stated, “This world is bullshit, and also you should not mannequin your life … about what you assume that we expect is cool and what we’re sporting and what we’re saying and every little thing.” Apple was labeled afterward — in her personal phrases — a “brat bitch free cannon.”
She later stated she felt like a “sellout” when she received and have become “a paper doll in an effort 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 total 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 Hiya. Nonetheless, their efficiency on SNL that very same 12 months is extensively 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 world 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 “Bought to Give It Up”).
Thicke might have been in a position to save his profession — however his extremely publicized divorce and ensuing album targeted on getting his spouse again, which was a huge vital 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 an extended 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 definitely has not achieved the extent of mainstream success she might 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 significant flip in 2021 when his ex-fiancée Evan Rachel Wooden accused him of sexual assault and abuse. Different ladies shortly got here ahead with their very own allegations in opposition to 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 12 months (he pled no contest) and was sentenced to neighborhood service for a misdemeanor assault of a videographer in 2019.
In mild 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 well, despite the fact that some ladies’s instances have been dismissed or settled, and one sufferer recanted (a decide 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 decide 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 huge 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 live shows and studio, and Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora releasing statements that they might cease selling his music — many members of Kelly’s private group additionally stop. 2019’s six-episode docuseries Surviving R. Kelly additional tarnished the star’s repute, inflicting Kelly’s document firm to drop him and upcoming reveals to be canceled.
Quickly after, Kelly was hit with aggravated prison sexual abuse and assault prices in opposition to a minor, in addition to intercourse trafficking and intercourse work prices, 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 — might be served concurrently along with his 30-year sentence). Kelly is at the moment serving out his sentence.
26.
Chris Brown skilled a significant fall from grace after he was arrested on suspicion of constructing prison threats following a pre-Grammys get together he attended with then-girlfriend Rihanna. He was in the end sentenced to 5 years of probation and neighborhood service, as properly as home violence counseling. He later admitted to hitting Rihanna in his automotive throughout an argument.
Images of a bruised and injured Rihanna ignited public hatred of Brown, and his subsequent album, Graffiti, offered notably worse than his prior album (it additionally was critically panned). He misplaced endorsement offers, and a number of celebrities spoke out in opposition to him.
Nonetheless, Brown is without doubt one of the examples from this record whose profession made a reasonably full restoration. His subsequent album, F.A.M.E., debuted at number one 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 does not should be. The truth is, Brown complained final 12 months 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 prices. 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 indignant and resorted to emotional and verbal abuse in addition to harassment. Adams did apologize however didn’t particularly affirm the allegations. “I’m absolutely accountable for my dangerous habits, and might be for my actions shifting ahead,” he wrote in a public apology. He was additionally investigated for an alleged on-line sexual relationship with a minor, however prices weren’t filed.
Adams’s profession suffered drastically, with Adams releasing his subsequent two albums by way of 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 desire a second likelihood to make some music — perhaps assist different folks imagine you may rise 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 group, together with crisis-PR specialist Howard Bragman, who spoke to Selection, saying, “We need to present that he has an actual group 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, this 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 submit 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 12 months and introduced a brand new album, so time will inform if he is in a position to 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 submit of raping her in 2013. Dýrason denied the allegations however shortly 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 cannot take that battle public.”
Dýrason by no means rejoined the band, which struggled within the wake of the allegations and likewise 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 an extended historical past of being accused of sexual assault, home violence, disorderly conduct, and aggravated assault through the years (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 in the end settled.
On this second occasion, the place a lady claims Songz groped her and pulled her bra off in public, she is looking 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 well anytime quickly — particularly as a result of each time he’s talked about within the press, it’s normally in relation to continued backlash.
32.
Lastly, Ashlee Simpson additionally largely ruined her profession after being caught lip-syncing on Saturday Evening Reside in 2004. When the fallacious monitor started to play (the identical one she’d already carried out), Simpson didn’t sing however did an odd dance. She later blamed the band earlier than saying she’d misplaced her voice as a result of acid reflux disease and was ordered by medical doctors 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 did not promote even near in addition to the primary, and a 2005 Orange Bowl efficiency noticed her getting booed by the group. Whereas Simpson did find yourself showing on SNL once more, lately, she is probably greatest recognized for the lip-syncing incident over any of her music.
