Who are we not to summarize 2023 in an unconventional way. We told you about the most unconventional and high-profile events that you might have missed in the hustle and bustle of the days. And let these unusual celebrity stories be a lesson to some of us. Grab your popcorn and scroll down the page.
1. Ariana Grande and collateral damage
Amidst the wave of gossip about Ariana’s breakup with ex-husband Dalton Gomez, many speculations about the reasons for their breakup surfaced online! Among those speculations was one that involved Ariana’s relationship with her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater, which later turned out to be true! This sparked a huge reaction online, especially when Ethan’s previous spouse Lily Jaye voiced her opinion on the couple’s affair, “Ariana is the main figure here! Not the woman and my family just turned out to be collateral damage!”.
Lily allegedly felt blindsided when Ethan ended their relationship! Despite having a child together, Ariana and Ethan have only rarely appeared in public since their romance was unofficially confirmed. The situation was becoming increasingly confusing…
2. Doja Cat and her strange preferences
In the year 2023, Doja Cat finds herself embroiled in various controversies! Let’s get to the bottom of some of them. First, the singer was spotted with scandalous streamer Jeffrey Cyrus, who was accused of emotionally manipulating female Twitch moderators. After fans called him out as the culprit, Doja responded in the comments on Instagram, stating her indifference to public opinion regarding her personal life, and even blocked fans who reported Cyrus’ actions to her on the X channel!
In October, Doja shared a snapshot of herself wearing a T-shirt featuring scandalous youtuber Sam Hyde! Notably, Hyde once donated to a neo-Nazi website when he was facing a lawsuit for harassing a Jewish woman. Nevertheless, Doja didn’t stop there! Although she refrained from responding publicly, she quickly deleted the photo. Way to go, Doja!
3. Johan Hill’s Emotional Abuse
In July, Johan Hill’s former partner, Sarah Brady, released old text messages from the celebrity that reveal alleged “emotional manipulation” on his part! The screenshots showed that Hill laid out a series of instructions for his acquaintance to follow, including deleting their swimsuit photos and setting boundaries!
The screenshots show messages in which Johan outlines a number of conditions for his girlfriend to follow! These include deleting their bikini photos and setting boundaries!
4. Things are very complicated in Jada Pinkett-Smith’s relationship
Jada has startled her admirers by confirming that she and Will Smith have been living separately for seven years, despite Will’s recent altercation with Chris Rock being a relatively recent development. Jada disclosed in an interview with Today that they are “striving diligently to restore our relationship, indeed, to reinstate our relationship as a life partnership, absolutely”.
5. Lizzo’s reputation has suffered
Former employees of the luminary have come forward with harassment allegations that stand in stark contrast to Lizzo’s advocacy for body positivity and acceptance. The lawsuit contains serious allegations, including forcing dancers into compromising situations, a grueling rehearsal schedule with no respite, and veiled remarks about a dancer’s weight gain. Lizzo responded to the allegations via Instagram, stating, “My work ethic, principles and respectful behavior have been called into question… These [accusations] are as unbelievable as they sound.” Information on the matter is scarce at the moment, but the star’s outlook looks bleak.
6. The serial with The Weekend caused shame
On the surface, the story of aspiring pop star Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) and her “complicated” relationship with self-help guru and cult leader Tedros Tedros (The Weeknd) seemed like it would make for gripping satire. However, by the time of its premiere, the show had undergone significant changes. Its female director, Amy Seimetz, had been replaced, and the narrative had deviated from the female perspective it was initially meant to embody.
Prior to its release, the show faced backlash when Rolling Stone reported that creators Sam Levinson and The Weeknd presided over a toxic work environment. A source told the outlet in March: “It went from satire to the very thing it was satirizing.” This was not the only criticism the series faced, with reviewers condemning its portrayal of women as “deeply troubling,” and some accusing it of depicting “rape fantasies” in certain storylines.
7. Justin Timberlake and his fatal decisions
Britney Spears has written a memoir, The Woman in Me. In the pages of the book, Britney talks about waiting for Justin’s baby and having an abortion. She wrote, “If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have gotten an abortion.” However, Justin was firm in his decision not to become a father.” The revelation sparked a flurry of condemnation of Justin for his previous behavior when he constantly disparaged Britney in the media while she was going through the “agonizing ordeal” of an abortion.
8. Drew Barrymore, who just wanted to help
In the midst of the Writers Guild of America strike, Drew Barrymore announced her intention to resume filming her show. Predictably, she immediately faced criticism, prompting her to release a statement on her Instagram, claiming, “I aspire to offer what writers excel at – a medium that will unite us or help us make sense of the human condition.”
Chelsea White, a co-creator of the series, complained to Rolling Stone magazine that Drew’s decision undermines the collective effort to negotiate a fair contract. Drew subsequently wrote on Instagram to respond to the criticism, stating, “There is a tremendous amount of complexity. I just want to say that it was not my intention to upset or offend anyone. That’s not who I am.” The star apologized to the writers and unions, but the criticism in the comments was not received as favorably as she had hoped.
9. A tough year for Selena Gomez
Selena has had her fair share of challenges this year! She found herself embroiled in an online battle with Hailey Bieber, making comments about Palestine and figuring out her relationship with Benny Blanco. However, Selena is not giving up! She defended her connection with Benny on Instagram, stating, “Then why is he the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me? He remains the most wonderful person I’ve ever been with.”
This drew condemnation from fans! Drawing parallels to how Selena rebuked Justin Bieber for reacting to fan comments about his relationship with Sofia Richie: “Don’t blame your fans! They cherish and support you before anyone else!
10. Trouble in Paradise by Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas
The revelation of their breakup came as a surprise to many! Sources portrayed Sophie as the perpetrator of the breakup due to her tendency to binge, while Joe was portrayed as a devoted father. This sparked discussions online about sexism and unfair treatment of women in the context of motherhood versus the minimal expectations placed on fathers. It is important to recognise that caring for offspring should not be seen as an extraordinary achievement!
11. Matt Rife’s inappropriate humor
The comedian was attacked for making insensitive remarks about domestic violence during his Netflix show Natural Selection! At one point, he jokingly spotted a waitress with a black eye, insinuating that she deserved it because of her alleged ineptitude in the kitchen. Such jokes are soulless and reprehensible! As expected, the so-called ‘joke’ caused a storm of controversy online!
Matt subsequently apologised on his Instagram, stating, “If my joke caused distress, please accept my sincere apology!” and providing a link to his official apology. Curiously, the link redirects to a website that sells helmets for people with special needs! How absurd! Did anyone actually find the supposedly humorous aspect of this?
12. Gwyneth Paltrow’s ‘Half-Day Skiing Mishap’
Who could have anticipated that a minor incident on the slopes of the exclusive Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah would escalate into such captivating television? Certainly not us. In March, the Academy Award-winning actress emerged victorious from a civil lawsuit brought by retired optometrist Terry Sanderson, who claimed she caused him lasting injuries in a collision on the Utah slopes in 2016.
Ms. Paltrow was absolved of any wrongdoing by a jury and was granted damages of a single US dollar – the exact amount she had counterclaimed.
During the two-week televised trial, which captivated millions, there were many moments of hilarity and social media frenzy, none more so than when the star whispered to Sanderson, “I wish you well,” after her triumph. Additionally, when Paltrow was asked by his attorney about the impact of the collision on her, she quipped, “Well, I lost half a day of skiing.”
13. Scandoval scandals
The reality TV series Vanderpump Rules unexpectedly became a hotbed of drama in 2023. The Bravo show instantly became a topic of discussion after original cast member Tom Sandoval was caught cheating on his long-term partner Ariana Madix with their VPR co-star and close friend Raquel Leviss (now known by her birth name Rachel).
While infidelity is not uncommon on shows like this, it was the ripple effect caused by Scandoval that caught many off guard, with viewers overwhelmingly siding with Madix. After all, it wasn’t just Ariana who was betrayed, but also loyal VPR fans. The fallout has been significant for Sandoval, whose LA bars Tom Tom and Sandy & Schwartz have suffered greatly due to his actions. Leviss, on the other hand, has taken a step back from the limelight to prioritize her mental well-being.
14. Prince Harry’s revelations
In January, Prince Harry made waves with the release of his explosive autobiography, “Spare.” The Duke of Sussex’s controversial memoir broke records as the fastest-selling non-fiction book ever upon its publication. It contained shocking revelations, including allegations of physical altercations with his father, the Prince of Wales, and accusations that his own interests were prioritized over Harry’s. Additionally, Harry delved into his struggles with substance abuse, his intimate life, and created controversy by disclosing the number of people he had killed during his military service in Afghanistan.
Following its release, Harry admitted he had enough material for two books but chose to hold back, fearing his father and brother would never forgive him for the content.
15. Duo or trio – Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
One of the most discussed love triangles revolved around the divorce of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. However, even more surprising was Kim’s revelation of a new romantic interest – celebrity makeup artist and blogger Jeffrey Starr. Their public appearances together caused a stir and divided the couple’s fan base into two camps. While some believed it was a mere publicity stunt, others were convinced of genuine feelings between them.
16. The Beckhams unveil secrets
Despite being one of the most high-profile families globally, the Beckhams are adept at maintaining their privacy. Therefore, it came as a shock when the former footballer chose to address the repercussions of his alleged affair with Rebecca Loos for the first time in his self-titled documentary, “Beckham.” The four-part Netflix series provided insights into David and Victoria’s nearly 25-year relationship, from their inseparable early days to dealing with constant media scrutiny and, most significantly, navigating through allegations of infidelity 20 years ago. At that time, Loos was employed as David Beckham’s personal assistant when he moved to Spain to play for Real Madrid in 2003, while Victoria remained in the UK with their two young sons, Brooklyn and Romeo.
The Beckhams vehemently denied the allegations of infidelity, although they discussed the impact on their relationship. Victoria admitted that the headlines in the following months were the “most challenging” of her life, confessing that she felt they had lost their bond. Meanwhile, David recalled feeling physically ill every day as their marriage suffered. In response to the scandal being revisited in the documentary, Loos, now a yoga teacher in Norway, criticized Beckham, accusing him of portraying himself as the victim and urging him to take responsibility for his actions.
17. Britney Spears’ liberation
For years, Britney Spears was under the strict control of her father and the court system. In 2023, she embarked on a legal battle for freedom and control over her life. Following several scandalous performances and personal revelations, Spears was detained at a police station on charges of violating a court order.
The 39-year-old singer then dedicated considerable effort to terminating the conservatorship that had governed her personal life and $60 million fortune for 13 years. The decision to suspend and eventually terminate the conservatorship was reached in late September, with the agreement of the singer’s father, Jamie Spears. Britney later disclosed in her memoir, “The Woman in Me,” that she had been fearful of her own family during those long years.
18. Danny Masterson’s Incarceration
In September, actor Danny Masterson, known for his role in “That ‘70s Show,” was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for raping two women he met through the Church of Scientology. The actor and prominent Scientologist, aged 47, was convicted in June in a second trial.
The crimes occurred during Masterson’s peak fame as Steven Hyde on “That ‘70s Show,” the nostalgic sitcom that launched the careers of Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, and Topher Grace. The three women alleged that he used his status in the church, where they were also members at the time, to evade consequences for years. Two weeks after his sentencing, his wife, Bijou Phillips, filed for divorce after 12 years of marriage, citing “irreconcilable differences.”
19. Kevin Spacey’s questionable behavior
Notorious actor Kevin Spacey also found himself embroiled in legal troubles in 2023. He faced charges of sexual harassment involving a minor. Consequently, the actor was arrested and taken into police custody, with his case proceeding to trial.
On July 26, 2023, a London jury acquitted Spacey of sexual harassment charges brought by four men. However, in September, it was reported that Spacey faced fresh accusations of sexual harassment.
20. Rachel Zegler’s feminism
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the actress spoke about the plot of the 2024 action film Snow White. She condemned the original 1937 version as “incredibly outdated” in terms of female empowerment.
In another segment, Rachel stated that Snow White seeks leadership rather than longing for true love! These statements sparked a heated discussion online! Many users questioned why women have to choose between love and success. Can’t they have both? One TikTok user opined, “Not every woman seeks or craves power, and that is perfectly acceptable. Wanting to find love is not against feminism!”. Unfortunately, Rachel was unavailable for further comment.
