10 celebrities who were cancelled in 2023: Jonathan Majors was dropped by Disney and Marvel, Elon Musk’s Twitter drama continues, and Diddy faces a slew of sexual assault allegations

Dec 21 , 2023

Danny Masterson, Jonathan Majors and Sean “Diddy” Combs all faced serious allegations in 2023. Photos: EPA, AFP, AP

Some things in life are inevitable. Death, taxes … and the immutable fact that, every year, a handful of the world’s richest and most famous individuals take a blow in the public court of opinion and get themselves cancelled – or even sent to prison to serve jail time.

From anti-Semitic posts on social media and body shaming, to sexual and aggravated assault, here are 10 of 2023’s biggest celebrity cancellations.

1. Danny Masterson

That 70s Show Actor Danny Masterson, pictured here in 2012, was sentenced to at least 30 years in prison in September. Photo: AFP

In September, the That 70s Show actor was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison after being convicted of raping two women, as reported by ABC News. Controversially, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis sent letters of support for their friend to a judge after his conviction, and faced a huge online backlash.

2. Doja Cat

Doja Cat was Skechers’ first artist-in-residence. Photo: @dojacat/Instagram

From berating her own fans to a fashion faux pas, Doja Cat has made multiple missteps this year that saw her Instagram follower count drop by half a million.

Doja Cat’s latest controversy unfolded on October 6, when she sported a T-shirt showcasing controversial internet comedian Sam Hyde clutching a rifle, in a photo posted on Instagram.

Fans quickly voiced their concerns, criticizing her seeming endorsement of a figure notorious for perpetuating racist and sexist perspectives.

3. Jonah Hill

Actor Jonah Hill arrives at the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, US, in January 2017. Photo: Reuters

After the actor’s ex-girlfriend Sarah Brady accused Hill of being “emotionally abusive” and a “misogynist narcissist”, it prompted Zoey 101 star Alexa Nikolas to come forward with her allegations against the Hollywood star, according to the Independent.

“After reading Sarah Brady’s admirable post about #JonahHill, I just gotta say when I was 16 I got invited to a house party at #justinlongs house,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter). “[Hill] slammed me to the door and shoved his tongue down my throat. I was so appalled I pushed him off of me and ran inside.”

Hill’s lawyers claimed that the story was a “complete fabrication”, per Deadline.

4. Sean “Diddy” Combs

Sean “Diddy” Combs, pictured in 2003, has faced a slew of serious allegations recently. Photo: AP Photo

Since November, Sean “Diddy” Combs has been accused of sexual assault, rape and drugging by four different women on separate occasions.

The most recent lawsuit, filed against Diddy on December 6, accused the rapper, 54, for his alleged involvement in the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl in 2003.

Combs made a post on Instagram to address the allegations saying, “Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”

5. Lizzo

Lizzo was embroiled in controversy this year when she was accused of body shaming by her former dancers. Photo: @robertwun/Instagram

Once known as a fierce advocate for body positivity, it came as a surprise for fans when Lizzo was sued by her former dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez. The lawsuit accused Lizzo of sexual harassment, body shaming, discrimination and creating a hostile environment at work.

The accusation appears to have been a big blow for the “About Damn Time” singer, who has since kept a low profile.

6. Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears, pictured here in 2002, dated briefly in the 90s and noughties. Spears recently wrote about the relationship in her memoir, The Woman in Me. Photo: AP Photo

The former NSync member’s reputation took a nosedive after his ex Britney Spears released her memoir, The Woman in Me, on October 24. In the book, Spears reveals that she fell pregnant during her relationship with Timberlake, but claims that she was coerced into having an abortion.

The internet has since been looking back at Timberlake’s past actions with distaste, from how he publicly discussed his sexual relationship with Spears to the media, to seemingly using her popularity and their relationship to leverage his solo career. His song “Cry Me a River” also alludes to a cheating partner and even features a Spears lookalike.

7. Russell Brand

British actor Russell Brand, pictured here in 2012, was accused by an unnamed actress of sexually assaulting her during the filming of the film Arthur in 2010 in New York, according to court documents revealed on November 3. Photo: AFP

In September, British actor and comedian Russell Brand was accused of rape, sexual assault and abuse by four women, according to an investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches programme.

The women claimed that the alleged assaults took place between 2006 to 2013. The Forgetting Sarah Marshall actor immediately denied the allegations in a video posted on YouTube and X, saying that, “Amidst this litany of astonishing, rather baroque attacks are some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute.”

Brand was questioned about six further sexual offence allegations on December 14, as per BBC.

8. Elon Musk (again)

Elon Musk at The New York Times annual DealBook summit on November 29, in New York City. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

Musk has become a walking punchline and a popular target for online trolls.

After getting cancelled last year for his messy acquisition of X, formerly Twitter, and his mass firing of company staff, this tech titan is getting cancelled again for appearing to endorse anti-Semitic posts on his social media platform as “the actual truth”.

Musk’s comment received criticism from not only the internet at large, but also Tesla investors and even the White House. Several advertisers like Disney, Warner Bros, and Lionsgate have also said they are pulling advertisements off of X.

9. Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye

Canadian actor and singer The Weeknd, pseudonym of Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, at Cannes Film Festival 2023. Photo: Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images

Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye was dragged on X for his role as an actor and creator on HBO’s The Idol.

Not only do fans think that Tesfaye’s acting is unsalvageable, the show itself has been deemed one of the worst ever created. It was heavily criticised for its sexist and controversial dialogue as well as gratuitous sexual elements, according to Elle.

Tesfaye specifically received huge backlash for fiercely defending the show when a Rolling Stone expose revealed that 13 staff members of The Idol had attested to its “toxic” change of direction from a dark satire about the trappings of fame, to transforming into the very topic it initially set out to satirise.

10. Jonathan Majors

Jonathan Majors arrives at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar party following the 95th annual Academy Awards ceremony in March. Photo: EPA-EFE

Majors was arrested on March 26 for assaulting his then girlfriend Grace Jabbari after the two allegedly got into a heated argument in an SUV while on their way to Major’s New York flat, as per The Guardian. The Marvel actor has since been charged with third degree assault and second degree aggravated assault, and dropped by both Marvel and Disney.

With additional reporting by Sumnima Kandangwa

Fame and celebrity

Celebrities get cancelled every year and 2023 saw certain stars facing serious allegations and even convictions – such as That 70s Show’s Danny Masterson, who faces at least 30 years in prison
Meanwhile, The Weeknd was slammed for defending HBO’s The Idol, starring Blackpink’s Jennie and Lily-Rose Depp, while Britney Spears’ memoir featured unsavoury revelations about Justin Timberlake