15 Celebrities and Public Figures Who Took Beefs To The Next Level
We’ve all seen some fun, petty celebrity beefs with a few back and forths online or in song, but the beefs we found today were out for career-killing blood. It really inspired us to finally get off our butts and get Earl from accounting canned. That dude has been a thorn in our side for years now, and the higher-ups are finally gonna hear about it.
It’s not like he’s losing out on millions of dollars or risking prison time like these poor saps, so it’s not that big of a deal. Drumming up this pettiness is actually a lot of fun, but we’re not gonna make it some lifelong vendetta like 50 Cent. Man, he’s got it out for Diddy. Here, check out these petty career-ruiners while we help ol’ Earl pack up a banker’s box.
Fiddy vs. Diddy
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50 Cent’s animosity toward Diddy goes back about two decades, after Diddy gave him a strange, perhaps predatory vibe, and Diddy blocked 50’s attempt to sign Ma$e to G-Unit. On top of diss tracks, public interviews, and social media posts ridiculing Diddy, he recently produced Sean Combs: The Reckoning that aims to bring accusations to light, and is widely seen as a deliberate attempt to forever damage Diddy’s legacy and public image.
Warren Buffett’s pettiness backfired
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Back in 1965, Berkshire Hathaway’s president Seabury Stanton reneged on a tender offer for Buffett's shares, which angered Buffett. In a fit of complete spite, Warren Buffett bought a controlling stake in Berkshire Hathaway to be able to fire Stanton right away. Buffett later regretted it, since it cost him an estimated $200 billion in potential returns over the years.
Kendrick Lamar’s not-so-minor Drake takedown
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Their rivalry really kicked off after Kendrick’s 2013 verse on “Control” — in which he vowed to figuratively “murder” Drake’s career. Performing the song “Not Like Us” at his Super Bowl LIX performance brought serious accusations of predatory behavior against Drake to over 130 million viewers. This seriously damaged Drake's professional and public perception, which he might never fully recover from.
The Johnny Carson vs. Joan Rivers Vendetta
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In 1986, Carson was angered by Joan withholding info about being offered her own late night show, so he severed all ties with her, and she was banned from The Tonight Show until Fallon had her on in 2014. In the ‘80s, local stations refused to air Rivers’ show, and it became difficult for her to book celebrity guests because no one wanted to displease Carson. This contributed to the show’s failure and cancellation after just nine months.
Tonya Harding vs. Nancy Kerrigan
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In one of sports’ most infamous scandals, Harding’s ex-husband and associates orchestrated a possibly career-ending physical attack on fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan in 1994. The two were competing for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team, and although Harding initially denied prior knowledge, she ultimately pled guilty to hindering the investigation. Kerrigan went on to win Silver in the Olympics that year, and Harding’s career and reputation were ruined.
Tupac vs. Biggie
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In 1994, after Tupac was shot at Quad Studios in New York, he believed that Biggie and Bad Boy Records had prior knowledge of the attack. The personal feud collided with the larger East Coast vs. West Coast rivalry, and diss tracks from each rapper threatened the other’s life. The feud led to deadly consequences, as Tupac was shot and killed in Las Vegas in 1996, and Biggie was killed in Los Angeles during 1997.
Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard
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Their defamation suits, abuse allegations, and years of public accusations became a global media spectacle. Depp lost a $22.5 million deal to star in a sixth “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie after Heard published an op-ed in which she called herself a “public figure representing domestic abuse.” Heard has reportedly lost out on career opportunities like endorsements and film roles due to his testimony and the overall backlash.
Back when Drake was in the “Win” column
After Meek Mill accused Drake of using ghostwriters, Drake responded with two rapid-fire diss tracks, “Charged Up” and the now-legendary “Back to Back.” The latter became a cultural moment, dominating social media, climbing the charts, and it was even nominated for a Grammy. This severely tarnished Meek Mill's image and seriously slowed his career momentum.
Tati Westbrook ruined James Charles
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In 2019, YouTuber Tati Westbrook called out her fellow beauty influencer and former protégé James Charles, accusing him of inappropriate behavior. These claims were costly for Charles, causing him to lose one million subscribers in a single day — a first for any YouTuber. It opened the floodgates to more allegations, including claims of grooming underage fans. YouTube temporarily demonetized his channel, he lost business deals, and his career & reputation never recovered.
Eminem disses Everlast into oblivion
After Everlast made a sly reference to Eminem on a song, Eminem fired back with sharp, mocking diss tracks like “I Remember” and “Quitter.” Eminem’s responses were aggressive, funny, and widely circulated, while Everlast’s were considered weak and drew far less attention. It severely hurt Everlast’s visibility in mainstream hip-hop, and he’s never come close to Eminem’s massive popularity.
Clint Eastwood ruined Sondra Locke’s career
Oscar-nominated actress and director Sondra Locke began a romantic relationship with Clint Eastwood on the set of the 1976 film The Outlaw Josey Wales. After the relationship ended in 1989, Locke filed a palimony suit, but Eastwood convinced her to drop it by offering a $1.5 million development deal. She later discovered this deal was a sham and Eastwood allegedly blacklisted her in Hollywood.
Hannibal Buress is cited as a catalyst in Bill Cosby’s downfall
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Although some women had publicly accused Cosby of sexual assault, one comedy set by Hannibal Buress in 2014 went viral, made the allegations mainstream, and many more women came forward days later. In his set, he said, “If you didn't know about it, trust me. You leave here and Google 'Bill Cosby rape.' It's not funny. That sh** has more results than Hannibal Buress."
Ashley Judd led the charge against Harvey Weinstein
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Ashley Judd was one of the first actresses to publicly accuse Weinstein of sexual misconduct, and her willingness to speak out inspired dozens of other women to come forward. Weinstein was convicted for rape and sexual assault — a downfall that began with the early public exposure by Judd and other brave survivors.
The United States vs. Charlie Chaplin
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After Charlie Chaplin was labeled a communist by Sen. Joseph McCarthy in 1952, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover prevented him from reentering the U.S. after a trip to London. After living in the U.S. for 40 years, Chaplin settled in Switzerland and wasn’t permitted to re-enter the country until 1972, when he received an honorary Oscar.
Eminem ruined Benzino’s career
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After Benzino (then co-owner of The Source) gave Eminem’s album a low rating, and even accused Eminem of being a “culture-stealer,” Eminem fired back with scathing diss tracks like “Nail in the Coffin” and “The Sauce.” Benzino took a major hit, and in 2006, Benzino was removed from the company after declining credibility, financial trouble, and backlash all tied to the Eminem feud.
