- 7/8/2025
From Hollywood hypocrites to fame-fueled fiascos! We're examining the stars who preached progressive values while allegedly doing the opposite behind closed doors. These celebrities talked the talk but stumbled when it came to walking the walk. Which famous two-faced personality shocked you the most with their contradictory behavior?
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00:00It's this hard for me, though it's this hard to be believed.
00:06Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most hypocritical famous
00:10people whose progressive politics didn't match their shocking behavior. These celebs advocated
00:15for liberal causes in public, identifying as woke, but privately harbored problematic pasts,
00:20contradicting the values they preached.
00:22How was the party? I wasn't invited.
00:25Actually, no, that's not the truth, Ellen. You were invited.
00:27Number 20. Joss Whedon
00:31Millions of fans were disappointed when this Hollywood favorite was brought down from his
00:35moral high horse. Joss Whedon, known for creating seminal fantasy works like Buffy the Vampire Slayer
00:40and The Avengers, often included progressive themes in his projects. However, his political
00:45expression has been extreme.
00:47Joss Whedon abused his power on numerous occasions while working together on the sets of Buffy the
00:52Vampire Slayer and Angel.
00:54He often resorts to violent metaphors to express his criticism of conservatives. He also admitted
00:59to having a specific distaste for the word feminist.
01:02I hate feminist. Is this a good time to bring that up? Is this the right forum for that?
01:09However, this wasn't enough to cancel him. That happened when actors Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa,
01:14Charisma Carpenter, and many others accused him of toxic behavior and power tripping. He has since
01:19been lying low. Telling New York Magazine, I don't threaten people. Who does that? English is not her
01:25first language, and I tend to be annoyingly flowery in my speech.
01:30Number 19. Ezra Miller
01:31There was a time when the after-school actor was hailed as an LGBTQ plus icon. They are part of the
01:37community and have never hesitated to show their pride in the same. Furthermore, their support for the
01:42hashtag MeToo movement earned them the title of woke for the media.
01:48However, their career hit on a deer when they got involved with a slew of violent incidents. This
01:53included claims that they choked a woman, committed theft, threatened people, and behaved
01:58inappropriately with minors, among other allegations.
02:01Because these allegations are coming from the parents of an 18-year-old.
02:06Miller eventually apologized for their misconduct, opening up about their struggle with mental
02:10health issues. However, their reputation is nowhere close to being restored.
02:14I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior.
02:19Number 18. Meghan Markle
02:20The Duchess of Sussex is not exactly a media darling. However, her leftist politics are not to blame.
02:27Instead, she has been slammed for having double standards.
02:29She puts considerable effort into raising awareness about climate change and then turns
02:34around to hop on a private jet.
02:35So getting on four private jets in 11 days, which is what Harry and Meghan did,
02:40they're going to come in for criticism.
02:43Similarly, she prides herself on her philanthropy, but is known for reportedly having lavish spending
02:47habits. Even her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, was criticized for being tone-deaf by outlets
02:53like The Guardian.
02:53I don't think anyone in the world knows that Meghan Markle has eaten jack-in-the-box.
02:58It's so funny, too, that you keep saying Meghan Markle, you know I'm Sussex now.
03:02Similarly, Meghan advocates for social justice and mental wellness, but was once accused of
03:06creating a toxic work environment for her royal staff. So even if she's being sincere, it comes
03:11across as performative, and she doesn't give critics any reason to believe otherwise.
03:15Number 17. Alyssa Milano
03:17The Melrose Place actress is known for supporting causes like gun control and animal welfare.
03:22She was also one of the pioneers of hashtag Me Too.
03:25If women could just come forward and say Me Too, just two beautiful words that Tarana started.
03:31However, when she stood behind Joe Biden during the 2020 U.S. presidential election,
03:35despite Tara Reid accusing him of sexual assault, it made followers turn their backs on her.
03:40To add to that, her charmed co-star Rose McGowan claims she was the reason why the show set
03:45was, in her words, toxic AF. Holly Marie Combs further alleged that Milano got Shannon Daugherty
03:50removed from the show.
03:52I've been thrown a lot of curveballs.
03:55In another instance, fans called her out for attending the 2024 Super Bowl after raising funds
04:00for her son's baseball team days prior. Clearly, her wokeness wasn't enough to overlook her wrongs.
04:05We were always made to feel like we were in competition with one another.
04:09Number 16, Noel Clarke. The British creative took the entertainment industry one step forward
04:14and ten steps back. He fought for inclusivity on screen and demanded that production crews
04:19consist of individuals from diverse backgrounds.
04:21And it's not just about race, because I did say in my speech that underrepresented,
04:26it's also about class.
04:27His work in British film and TV was highly regarded and won him the BAFTA Outstanding
04:32British Contribution to Cinema Award in 2021. However, the honor was short-lived as he was hit
04:37with accusations of sexual and verbal harassment by multiple women that same year.
04:41I vehemently deny any sexual misconduct or criminal wrongdoing.
04:46He was suspended by the BAFTA, and so was his award. As of April 2025,
04:51Clarke continues to deny the allegations of misconduct made against him.
04:54Pardon me, when they were like, give us one fact, nobody could give any facts.
04:58Number 15, Justin Baldoni. It's ironic that someone who hosts a podcast called Man Enough
05:04went on to be accused of sexual harassment.
05:06Speaking of that, so I have a question. So the show is called Man Enough.
05:11What does that mean to you?
05:12Justin Baldoni prides himself on his progressive views about gender roles and masculinity.
05:17He has worked with the Tahiri Justice Center to support female immigrants affected by gender-based
05:21violence. However, his spotless image was tarnished when Blake Lively sued him for alleged sexual
05:26misconduct on the set of It Ends With Us. The New York Times also claimed that he conducted a smear
05:31campaign against the actress. Baldoni denied both claims and countersued Lively alongside
05:36her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for defamation. Justin denied Blake's allegations and filed a $400
05:41million lawsuit against her and her husband for alleged extortion, defamation, and other alleged
05:47wrongdoing. He threw another lawsuit at the NYT for libel. The jury's still out on whether Baldoni was
05:53wrongly blamed, but his reputation has been marred. Just because you're a power couple doesn't mean you
05:58can just bowl your way over and take over people's lives.
06:01Number 14, James Corden.
06:03Last week, there were stories about me.
06:07The talk show host rose to fame for his friendly personality. He had been open about growing up in a
06:11humble household and facing taunting, which endeared him to his audience. During the COVID-19 pandemic,
06:16when his Late Late Show employees had been dismissed, he paid them out of his pocket. However,
06:21this gentlemanly facade slipped when he was accused of being rude to the waitstaff at the
06:26renowned Balthazar restaurant in New York City and was banned from the establishment.
06:30I made a rude comment, and it was wrong. It was an unnecessary comment. It was ungracious.
06:36Then, director Craig Duncan claimed Corden had been harsh on him and a writer on the set of A League
06:41of Their Own. Mel B also called him out for not being, quote, very nice. Ultimately,
06:45his improper attitude became impossible to ignore.
06:48We all work for the same thing, so you should always be nice. And he hasn't been very nice.
06:54Number 13, Russell Brand.
06:56The English comedian's wokeness has gone hand in hand with the more offensive parts of his
07:00personality for as long as we can remember. Up until the COVID-19 induced lockdown,
07:05he was known for his liberal views. He was famously anti-establishment, environmentally
07:09conscious, spoke out against capitalism, worked toward destigmatizing substance use disorder,
07:14and pushed egalitarianism.
07:16He was more complex than that, Conan, but you have disrupted the anecdote.
07:19Spirituality was also a major part of his public image. However, in recent years,
07:23he's adopted a distinctly anti-woke persona, turning into a right-wing conspiracy theorist of sorts.
07:29Politics aside, several women have also come forward with sexual misconduct allegations against
07:34him, one of the earliest instances of which reportedly dates back to 1999.
07:37Hey, look at my driver. I'm going to have sex with her.
07:40Despite this, his social media influence has continued to thrive.
07:43I've never engaged in non-consensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eye.
07:48Number 12, J.K. Rowling.
07:50The Harry Potter author's switch-up from a beloved icon of love and friendship to an intolerant
07:54individual spewing constant contempt against the transgender community is baffling.
07:59She has publicly opposed trans rights and claimed that the societal acceptance of transgender
08:04women undermines cisgender women. All of this coming from someone who has championed women's
08:08reproductive rights and donated generously to causes supporting women is even more shocking.
08:13She creates a seven-book fantasy series about all types of mythical creatures
08:18living in harmony with wizards and elves, and the one thing she can't wrap her head around is
08:22Laverne Cox.
08:23Rowling is also infamous for reinforcing racial stereotypes in Harry Potter, despite preaching
08:28equality, representation, and inclusivity in real life. If that wasn't bad enough,
08:33she has taken flack for apparent body-shaming too. No wonder loyal fans and even the main
08:37trio of HP, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, have distanced themselves from her.
08:42To all the people who now feel that their experience of the books has been tarnished or diminished,
08:47I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused you.
08:50Number 11, Neil Gaiman.
08:52The downfall of this once-revered author came completely out of left field. Neil Gaiman was
08:57celebrated for his representation of the LGBTQ plus community in works like Good Omens and The
09:02Sandman. He was dedicated to advocating for refugees all over the world and was recognized
09:06as a staunch feminist.
09:08I had gay friends, I had trans friends, I wanted to see them represented in the comics that I was
09:15writing.
09:16However, it all became meaningless when several women, including a former nanny for Gaiman's
09:20child and an ex-tenant of his, came forward with accusations of sexual assault against him.
09:25The time I was in those relationships, they seemed positive and happy on both sides.
09:30The carefully curated woke empire he had built came crumbling down, leaving nothing but
09:35disgust in its way.
09:37Number 10, Shia LaBeouf.
09:39If you grew up with Even Stevens, Holes, or the Transformers movies, you likely know this
09:43versatile actor well, which makes some of his adult choices harder to stomach.
09:48Oh yeah, yeah.
09:49LaBeouf has been outspoken in political activism, using his eccentric performance art to express
09:54his views. Notably, he co-launched the He Will Not Divide Us project in 2017 to protest Donald
10:00Trump's inauguration. However, his personal life has been riddled with controversy, including
10:04arrest for disorderly conduct and intoxication. More seriously, two former partners have accused
10:10him of inappropriate behavior. While LaBeouf has made efforts to turn his life around after
10:14embracing Christianity, the industry is understandably skeptical about his values.
10:18I've just received a lot of love since coming in here. You know, I don't have a big family
10:21until today, it felt like. It's like everything came together.
10:25Number 9, Asia Argento.
10:27This Italian actress and director was a major voice in the hashtag MeToo movement after accusing
10:33Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault.
10:35And I think I was the first one to go on the record. And I said, give my name to the other
10:40women because I felt it was the moment of my conscience that woke up. And I knew it would
10:47wake up all the other consciences.
10:49In 2018, she took the stage at Cannes with a fiery speech calling out industry predators.
10:54But just months later, things took a messy turn when actor Jimmy Bennett accused Argento
10:59of assaulting him when he was a teen. Argento denied any wrongdoing, but was linked to a
11:04$380,000 settlement meant to keep things quiet.
11:07She is one of the faces of it. And I think, you know, that's why a lot of people are shocked.
11:11Then leaked photos and texts suggested something did happen. And Argento was ultimately dropped
11:17from X Factor Italy. Needless to say, it was a shocking turn of events for someone who
11:21had been at the forefront of such a major movement.
11:24Number 8, Amber Heard.
11:26To my dying day, we'll stand by every word of my testimony.
11:29When the Aquaman actress opened up about allegedly suffering domestic abuse at the hands of Johnny
11:33Depp, some saw it as an act of tremendous courage in line with the hashtag MeToo wave.
11:38She was a humanitarian known for her goodwill, and fans quickly rallied behind her.
11:42However, Depp sued her for defamation and won, reportedly revealing that she had been abusive
11:47in their relationship. Not only did this lead to intense outrage against Amber, but it also
11:52affected the movement she had become a representation of. Tarana Burke, who founded MeToo, asserted that
11:57it did not deal a death blow to the fight against sexual misconduct. That said, the fact that she
12:01had to clarify this proved that some damage had indeed been done.
12:05I behaved in horrible, almost unrecognizable to myself ways. There's so much, I have so much regret.
12:12Number 7, James Franco. Celebrated for his roles in films like 127 Hours and The Disaster Artist,
12:19Franco has aligned himself with progressive causes.
12:22If I can have a career in this business, so can you, man. I don't want a career.
12:27He was a 2013 recipient of the Ally Award for his outspoken support for the LGBTQIA plus community,
12:34and expressed support for the sentiments behind the hashtag MeToo movement.
12:37One of the things that I've learned is that this is a conversation that obviously needs to be had.
12:43There are people, women and others, who have not been a part of this conversation,
12:50and I truly believe, and why I was wearing the pin, is that they need to be a part of this conversation.
12:56In 2018, however, Franco faced scrutiny when multiple women accused him of misconduct,
13:01alleging that he behaved inappropriately with them in several settings,
13:04including acting classes where he had served as the instructor.
13:07The controversy led to a major career fallout,
13:10with Franco stepping away from the spotlight for several years.
13:12I suppose, at the time, my thinking was, if it's consensual, okay.
13:21Number 6. Chrissy Teigen
13:23Political activism is a major part of this model and television personality's reputation.
13:28You really are outspoken. You're not scared of anything. You'll say exactly how you feel.
13:33Teigen has frequently used her platform to raise her voice about a variety of sensitive topics.
13:37What's more, she's been the first to criticize certain individuals,
13:40and call out what she sees as problematic behavior.
13:43That is, until Teigen's unproblematic queen status was dramatically soured in 2021.
13:48You felt like you weren't talking to anybody. You just threw things out there.
13:51You didn't feel like anyone was going to read it.
13:53Model Courtney Stodden revealed that Teigen had sent them abusive messages in 2011.
13:58Others would come to accuse Teigen of similar online harassment.
14:01This, of course, starkly contrasts with Teigen's persona as a proponent of kindness and peace.
14:06I feel like I've done the work, and I just hope these people can, you know, forgive and be able to, you know,
14:16welcome the fact that hopefully they've seen me be better.
14:20Number 5. Lena Dunham
14:21Although some have hailed the creator of the TV series Girls and the newsletter Lenny Letter as a feminist icon,
14:27Dunham has also faced some major criticism throughout her career.
14:30I'm aware of the criticisms, and I'm able to, I'm able to live with them.
14:36In her 2014 memoir, she detailed childhood experiences with her younger sibling that many perceived as reprehensible.
14:42Furthermore, in 2017, Dunham defended Girls writer Murray Miller against sexual assault allegations from actress Aurora Perrineau,
14:50suggesting such accusations are often misreported.
14:52She's getting a lot of criticism right now because she's been very outspoken before with believing victims,
14:58and now in the case that involves her friend, she's saying that we shouldn't take the victim, not her word.
15:03She would later issue an apology for the statement.
15:05Additionally, her 2016 comment that she wished she had terminated a pregnancy to empathize with others
15:11drew sharp rebukes for its insensitivity.
15:13These instances highlight a disparity between Dunham's advocacy and personal actions.
15:19Number 4. Armie Hammer
15:21In his early years, Hammer cultivated an image as a progressive and socially conscious individual.
15:27This is the most incredible story I've ever heard.
15:29I also thought this is the most American story I've ever heard.
15:32It's the rise against tyranny.
15:33It's the oppressed feeling that they deserve freedom.
15:35Like, this is what our country was founded on.
15:37The actor has expressed support for various social justice movements,
15:41aligning himself with causes advocating for equality and ethical treatment.
15:44But this all came to a halt in 2021, when multiple women accused Hammer of violent, manipulative,
15:50and coercive actions.
15:52I will say this.
15:54There are people that I left who were hurt and who were upset.
16:03None of those people were hurt or upset because I pushed any sexual boundaries that they weren't
16:09interested in exploring or trying.
16:11Although he denied these claims and no criminal charges were pressed,
16:16Hammer found himself up against a public relations crisis.
16:19Not only did the allegations against Hammer challenge the authenticity of his previously
16:23championed values, but they also included a creepy cannibal rumor.
16:27I experienced a ego death, a career death, a financial death, all of these things.
16:35Number three, Jesse Smollett.
16:37Although he had previously enjoyed moderate success as an actor and activist,
16:41Smollett's career was largely overshadowed by a certain incident.
16:45Breaking overnight.
16:46A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation tells NBC News that Chicago police
16:51are now looking into whether Empire actor Jesse Smollett actually paid two men to fake
16:57an attack against him.
16:58You know which one we mean.
17:00In 2019, Smollett claimed to be the victim of a racist and homophobic attack in Chicago,
17:05drawing national attention and support from various figures.
17:08Then I look down and I see that there's a rope around my neck, which I hadn't.
17:12You hadn't noticed it before?
17:14No, because it was so fast.
17:15You know what I'm saying?
17:15It was so fast.
17:16How long did this all take?
17:17It felt like minutes, but it probably was like 30 seconds.
17:21But it wasn't long before investigations determined that he had staged the attack.
17:25This led to criminal charges, and he was convicted of disorderly conduct for filing a false police
17:30report.
17:30The controversy surrounding this case has become the defining moment of Smollett's public life.
17:35I'm okay with accepting responsibility for things that I've actually done.
17:38I'm just not okay with accepting responsibility for something that I did not do.
17:41Number 2.
17:42Ellen DeGeneres
17:43Oh, Ellen.
17:45What happened?
17:46As a rising star in the 80s and 90s, DeGeneres' entire image was one of kindness,
17:51acceptance, and lighthearted fun.
17:53It's a beautiful thing to have emotion.
17:55I'm happy that you're that happy.
17:57She broke barriers as an openly gay celebrity and built her brand around the motto,
18:01Be Kind.
18:02But behind the scenes, things weren't so wholesome.
18:05In 2020, reports emerged that the Ellen DeGeneres show fostered a toxic workplace.
18:09The biggest common thread that everyone told me is that what goes on behind the scenes is
18:16a far cry from what the show represents in their Be Kind messaging.
18:22Former employees accused Ellen of allowing, and even contributing to, a culture of fear.
18:27For someone who lived by the phrase, Be Kind, these revelations were a shocking contradiction.
18:32While DeGeneres issued an apology, the damage was done, and the once beloved talk show host
18:37saw her reputation take a major hit.
18:39Let me give you some advice out there.
18:40If anybody's thinking of changing their title or giving yourself a nickname,
18:43do not go with the Be Kind lady.
18:46Don't do it.
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19:01Number 1. Kanye West
19:05This famously self-assured rapper has long positioned himself as a fighter of progress,
19:11once famously declaring that George Bush doesn't care about black people in response
19:15to Hurricane Katrina.
19:16George Bush doesn't care about black people.
19:19Over the years, he aligned himself with various causes and spoke out against systemic oppression.
19:24However, his later actions painted a very different picture, from publicly harassing his
19:28ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, to making repeated anti-Semitic remarks, West's behavior became
19:33increasingly erratic and troubling.
19:35So, the answer to why I wrote White Lives Matter on a shirt is because they do.
19:43It's the obvious thing.
19:44Despite once advocating for marginalized communities, he's also alienated many with hateful rhetoric
19:49and conspiracy theories.
19:51How could someone who once called out injustice become an apologist for it?
19:55I think there's a left agenda to silence anyone that goes against the agenda.
20:05Do you think woke celebs are held to higher standards of morality than others?
20:08Share your thoughts in the comments down below.
20:11Could I ever love you more?
20:12Could I ever love you more?
20:13Could I ever love you more?
20:14You're crazy.
20:15You're crazy.
20:15You're crazy.
20:15You're crazy.
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