Blake Lively has become the latest Hollywood star to be engulfed in a cancel culture row after being slammed for ‘tone deaf’ remarks while promoting It Ends With Us.
The Gossip Girl star, 36, has been hit by a barrage of criticism over claims she has insensitively spoken about her latest film, based off Colleen Hoover’s novel about an abusive relationship.
Blake has been under the spotlight for her lighthearted promotion of the film despite its serious themes, with activists also taking issue with the movie, claiming it ‘romanticises and glamorises’ domestic violence.
Amid the storm of negative publicity, Blake was also hit by claims of an ongoing feud between herself and her co-star Justin Baldoni, who also served as the film’s director.
Rumours of a divide first arose after fans noticed they failed to do any press together, with a source then claiming they clashed over Justin’s ‘dismissive’ attitude to Blake’s ‘input’ while filming scenes that involved abuse.
Further adding to the furore, internet sleuths tracked down a string of resurfaced interviews with Blake which included controversial clips of her snapping at reporters.
However, she has not been the latest A-list star to have been hit by controversy over the past 12 months, as an array of celebrities have also come under the spotlight.
From Jack Black’s Tenacious D bandmate courting controversy with a Donald Trump joke in Sydney to Justin Timberlake’s shock arrest, Daily Mail Australia dissects the past year’s most notable celebrity scandals.
Blake Lively has become the latest Hollywood star to be engulfed in a cancel culture row after being slammed for ‘tone deaf’ remarks while promoting It Ends With Us
Amid a storm of negative publicity and rumours of a rift with her co-star Justin Baldoni (pictured), Daily Mail Australia dissects the past year’s most notable celebrity scandals
Jack Black’s Tenacious D
Jack Black and Kyle Gass were forced to cancel Tenacious D’s Australasia tour after a divisive joke about the attempted assassination on Donald Trump prompted uproar.
Kyle, 64, sparked controversy at Sydney’s ICC Theatre last month when Jack brought a birthday cake out for him and asked him to make a wish, prompting the singer to reply: ‘Don’t miss Trump next time.’
The remark referenced how a shot fired by gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, missed Trump’s head and pierced his ear in a shooting which killed one spectator at a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Showgrounds in Pennsylvania.
Kyle’s joke prompted a fierce backlash and led to the rock duo cancelling the remaining six shows on their Australia and New Zealand tour amid the pile-on of criticism.
Jack even condemned his bandmate’s controversial joke as he issued a blunt statement announcing any ‘future creative plans’ were ‘on hold’, baffling fans as they questioned whether that marked the end of Tenacious D.
Fans also turned on Jack amid the unexpected controversy as they accused him of throwing Kyle ‘under the bus’ in his condemning statement.
Jack told Daily Mail Australia at the time: ‘I was blindsided by what was said at the show on Sunday. I would never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any form.
‘After much reflection, I no longer feel it is appropriate to continue the Tenacious D tour, and all future creative plans are on hold. I am grateful to the fans for their support and understanding.’
Jack Black and Kyle Gass were forced to cancel Tenacious D’s Australasia tour after Kyle made a divisive joke about the attempted assassination on Donald Trump on stage in Sydney (pictured in September)
Kyle then shared an apology to his own Instagram where he described his joke as ‘inappropriate’ and a ‘terrible mistake’.
He penned: ‘The line I improvised onstage [on] Sunday night was highly inappropriate, dangerous and a terrible mistake.
‘I don’t condone violence of any kind, in any form, against anyone. What happened was a tragedy, and I’m incredibly sorry for my severe lack of judgement.
‘I profoundly apologize to those I’ve let down and truly regret any pain I’ve caused.’
After distancing himself from Kyle amid the controversy, Jack later clarified that Tenacious D would ‘be back’ in the future as he addressed fans’ concerns.
He told Entertainment Tonight: ‘I love Tenacious D… We had to take a break, but I love the D. Everybody takes a break sometimes. We’ll be back.’
The Weeknd
The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, made headlines last year when his controversial new miniseries The Idol was met by a huge online backlash.
The show elicited an explosive controversy over its graphically raunchy depiction of Lily-Rose Depp’s character Jocelyn, a pop star who becomes ensnared by a cult-leading nightclub owner, played by The Weeknd.
It was claimed that creator Sam Levinson had turned the series into ‘torture porn and a rape fantasy’, while The Weeknd’s acting ability was also slammed as ‘nonexistent’.
Ever since it screened at Cannes, the show has been raked over the coals for its portrayal of character Jocelyn, who is described at one point as a ‘human c** sock’.
However, Canadian singer The Weeknd clapped back at the controversy as he insisted that viewers would one day come to understand their vision.
Responding to a fan who commented that people didn’t ‘get it’, he replied: ‘They will… i promise, give it time. until then enjoy the show for yourself.’
The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, made headlines last year when his controversial new miniseries The Idol was met by a huge online backlash
The show elicited an explosive controversy over its graphically raunchy depiction of Lily-Rose Depp’s character Jocelyn, a pop star who becomes ensnared by a cult-leading nightclub owner, played by The Weeknd
He also described the blowback as ‘very much expected’ in an interview with Variety where he brushed off the huge uproar to the controversial series.
He argued that ‘we’re playing with genres with this show, we’re doing exactly what we wanted to do. And none of this is a surprise’.
The Weeknd has brushed off the controversy and is now gearing up to bring his global After Hours Til Dawn stadium tour Down Under.
‘AUSTRALIA, I didn’t forget about you, See you in October,’ The Hills hitmaker captioned the tour announcement.
The Weeknd initially postponed his Australian tour in November last year, just weeks out from kicking off and was eventually cancelled, with all sold tickets refunded.
While many have welcomed the rescheduled dates, some fans have slammed the snubbing of Brisbane and New Zealand, which were originally slated for shows.
Joshua Taylor-Myles
Aussie footy star Joshua Taylor-Myles sparked national outrage earlier this year when he was widely condemned for his very offensive thigh tattoos.
His huge tattoos reading ‘eat s**t fa***t’ and ‘snort lines and f***’ sparked a national uproar when he was selected to play in the NSWRL Luke Lewis Cup.
After an image of the ink went viral on social media, he was blasted as people called the tattoos ‘disgusting’ and argued he should have them lasered off.
News Corp commentator Buzz Rothfield also slammed the ‘homophobic’ tattoos as ‘just vile’.
‘He plays in a club where there are a lot of young women and men who participate for the enjoyment, for the camaraderie and it’s just so out of order,’ he added.
Amid the scandal, Joshua – who plays for the Aquinas Colts – was ordered to cover up the offensive ink or risk being banned from any NSWRL competition.
A NSWRL spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: ‘The NSWRL and Cronulla JRL are committed to providing a safe, fun and inclusive environment for all people, including those of diverse sexualities and genders.
‘Being an inclusive sport not only reflects our core values, it also reflects the diversity of our local communities.
‘We have a zero-tolerance to any form of bullying, harassment or vilification towards people with diverse sexualities and genders.’
Joshua has since covered up the controversial tattoos with two huge new inkings, sharing snaps of the final product to social media.
Sharing a photograph from a tattoo parlour, Joshua debuted his two massive thigh tattoos which fully covered the offensive language.
Aussie footy star Joshua Taylor-Myles sparked huge controversy when he was condemned for his very offensive thigh tattoos – which said ‘eat s**t fa***t’ and ‘snort lines and f***’
Amid the scandal, Joshua – who plays for the Aquinas Colts – was ordered to cover up the offensive ink and has since got two huge inkings over the offensive language
Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake was recently caught up in a notable DWI scandal after being arrested.
On June 18, he was pulled over under the suspicion of drunk driving in Long Island shortly before 12.30am after drinking with friends at The American Hotel bar in Sag Harbor.
At the time, it was reported that he failed a series of sobriety tests, according to a police report exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com.
Earlier this month, Justin made a virtual appearance in a Sag Harbor courtroom where he was re-arraigned and pleaded not guilty to one charge of driving while intoxicated.
The judge told Justin he was suspending his driving privileges in the state of New York because of his refusal to take a breath test at police headquarters after his arrest, but did not specify how long the suspension would last.
The hearing came after attorney Edward Burke Jr. had sought to dismiss the case last week, citing errors in the original charging documents in Justin’s arrest, but the judge instead ordered that he was re-arraigned.
Justin appeared via video link in the courtroom from Antwerp, Belgium, as he continues his European tour in the wake of the scandal.
Justin Timberlake was recently caught up in a DWI scandal after being arrested in June and has had his driving privileges in the state of New York because of his refusal to take a breath test
Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher
Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher came under fierce fire last year after supporting their That ’70s Show co-star Danny Masterson amid his sexual assault case.
The Hollywood couple had written letters to the judge during his court case defending Danny, 48, and begging the judge for ‘leniency’ in his sentencing.
In May 2023, Danny was convicted of raping two women in 2003, and he was sentenced to 30 years behind bars in September.
Following his sentencing, it was brought to light that Mila and Ashton had written letters to the judge during Danny’s trial.
After a huge backlash, the actress, 40, and the Two and a Half Men alum, 46, said they were sorry for the ‘pain they had caused’ and insisted that they ‘support victims’ in a short, joint video posted to their social media accounts.
In the notes, obtained by DailyMail.com, Mila and Ashton gushed over Danny and insisted that he always ‘treated people with decency, equality, and generosity’.
‘He’s an extraordinarily honest and intentional human being,’ Ashton wrote in his message to the judge.
‘Over 25 year relationship, I don’t ever recall him lying to me. He’s taught me about being direct and confronting issues in life and relationships head-on, resolving them, and moving forward.’
In her letter, Mila ‘wholeheartedly’ vouched for Danny’s ‘exceptional character’ and the ‘tremendous positive influence’ he has on those around him, including her.
She went to assert that Danny is an ‘outstanding role model’ and celebrated his strength in his sobriety.
Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher came under fire last year after supporting their That ’70s Show co-star Danny Masterton amid his sexual assault case and were forced to issue an apology
After the letters were made public, the couple faced an onslaught of criticism from people around the globe – including other stars like Amy Schumer and Christina Ricci – as well as one of Danny’s victims.
The woman, whose name has not been shared, called their letters ‘incredibly insulting and hurtful’.
‘My hope is that they learn radical accountability and the importance of self-education to learn when to keep their privilege in check,’ she said.
The couple then issued an apology, with Ashton saying in an Instagram video: ‘We are aware of the pain that has been caused by the character letters we wrote on behalf of Danny Masterson.’
‘We support victims,’ Mila added. ‘We have done this historically through our work and will continue to do so in the future.’
At the time, the couple explained Danny’s family had asked them to write character references to be taken into consideration during sentencing, with Mila insisting they were not ‘written to question the legitimacy of the judicial system’.
Following the backlash, Ashton stepped down as chair of his anti-child sex abuse organisation while insiders claimed they were worried the ‘damage’ could be detrimental to their careers.
Months later in June of this year, the couple were seen grabbing dinner with Danny’s younger brother, actor Jordan Masterson, and another pal in Beverly Hills.
Ashton is also a longtime friend of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, who is currently facing several legal issues, including multiple rape accusations, but the actor is believed to have ‘distanced’ himself from Diddy and won’t be showing him any public support.
Danny was sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually assaulting two women in 2003 (he is pictured with Ashton in June 2017)
Lizzo
Lizzo, born Melissa Jefferson, has seen her career hanging in the balance after being sued by three of her former backup dancers.
Dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez accused her of discrimination, sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment.
In the bombshell lawsuit filed in August 2023, a series of allegations were made by the trio including that they were pressured by Lizzo into touching nude performers while at a club in Amsterdam and forced to endure weight shaming.
In a motion to dismiss the case filed in October, which was later denied, Lizzo’s legal team argued the suit had been filed by a trio with an ‘axe to grind’ and had displayed ‘a pattern of gross misconduct and failure to perform their job up to par’.
Documents obtained by Billboard showed attorney Martin D. Singer wrote: ‘Plaintiffs embarked on a press tour, vilifying defendants and pushing their fabricated sob story in the courts and in the media. That ends today.’
The lawyers also included sworn statements from 18 members of Lizzo’s touring party which dispute many of the lawsuit’s specific accusations, including allegations she had fat-shamed some of her dancers.
Lawyers for the accusers, Crystal Williams, Noelle Rodriguez and Arianna Davis, blasted the motion to dismiss at the time.
And in February of this year, Lizzo’s request to have the sexual harassment lawsuit against her dismissed was denied by a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge.
Lizzo (pictured in May 2023), born Melissa Jefferson, has seen her career hanging in the balance after being sued by three of her former backup dancers in a bombshell lawsuit
‘We’re very pleased with the judge’s ruling, and we absolutely consider it a victory on balance,’ Davis, Williams and Rodriguez’s attorney Ron Zambrano told People in a statement.
He clarified that judge Mark H. Epstein ‘did dismiss a few allegations,’ including Davis being fat-shamed, a naked photo shoot, and dancers being forced to be on ‘hold’ while not on tour.
”All the other claims remain, including sexual, religious and racial discrimination, sexual harassment, the demeaning visits to the Bananenbar in Amsterdam and Crazy Horse in Paris, false imprisonment, and assault,’ he added.
In March, Billboard reported that proceedings were halted while Lizzo challenges the judge’s ruling, and it is currently unclear how long the process will take.
Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing has become engulfed in a huge string of scandals over the past few months, with its dancers being hit by a shock bullying row.
The British celebrity dance competition was thrown into chaos when professional dancers Graziano Di Prima and Giovanni Pernice were accused of abusive behavior by celebrity partners, with a verdict on an investigation into the latter expected to be announced within days.
The Strictly scandal erupted in January when actress Amanda Abbington accused her professional partner Giovanni Pernice of abuse after she unexpectedly quit the show just five weeks in.
Sherlock actress Amanda, 50, a has made a series of accusations about Giovanni’s teaching methods and has described his behaviour as ‘unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean’. He strongly denies all of the claims.
In one interview, Amanda compared the dance show to ‘the trenches’ telling Channel 4 News that BBC producers had been left ‘horrified’ by clips that also allegedly exhibited ‘humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature’.
Then, in July, it emerged that Graziano Di Prima had been sacked from Strictly for ‘kicking’ his partner, Love Island star Zara McDermott.
Strictly Come Dancing has become engulfed in a huge string of scandals, with its dancers being hit by a shock bullying row (pictured: dancer Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington)
After allegations made against Giovanni, it then emerged in July that Graziano Di Prima had been sacked from Strictly for ‘kicking’ his partner, Love Island star Zara McDermott (pictured)
A Strictly source said: ‘Graziano’s abuse was ongoing, he kicked and hit her. There were multiple occasions where both physical and verbal attacks were made. It was more physical than verbal but all of it was dreadful.
‘There were occasions where he did some terrible things, it really was awful. What he did makes Giovanni look like a pussy cat.’
Graziano has since claimed he does not know the full particulars of what he is supposed to have done.
The BBC will not give further details due to the ‘confidential nature of the circumstances’ in which the information was provided and their ‘obligations’ to ‘third parties’.
In the fallout of the scandal, the BBC has introduced a stringent set of new welfare policies to protect the stars, including the employment of chaperones during rehearsals.
