Hollywood is no stranger to jaw-dropping scandals and highly publicized controversies, with some of the entertainment industry’s most celebrated stars falling from grace as a result of their shocking actions. Despite achieving fame and fortune, actors and public figures are not immune to making terrible and deplorable choices and having their careers be forever tarnished as a result.
In 2018, polarizingcomedian Roseanne Barrmade headlines over her racist comments made on Twitter, causing ABC to cancel the massively successful revival of her hit sitcomRoseanne.Louis C.K. went from one of the stand-up world’s most celebrated talents to a certified pariah after he was accused by multiple women of inappropriate misconduct, which led to his Primetime Emmy-winning dramedyLouiebeing terminated at FX. Let’s take a look at 10 TV shows that were canceled because the star did something bad.
10Roseanne (1988)
Twenty-one years afterRoseannesaid goodbye to audiences after a sensational nine-season run in the ’90s, the popular sitcom was revived by ABC and returned for a highly-buzzed about tenth season in 2018, with original cast members like Roseanne Barr, John Goodman, and Laurie Metcalf all reprising their respective roles from the comedy hit. The series once again revolved around the working-class Conner clan in Lanford, Illinois as they continue trying to survive and thrive in an ever-changing modern world.
Barr’s Offensive Twitter Tirade
When the tenth season debuted on June 26, 2025, the sitcom smashed ratings and attracted an audience of 18.44 million people, prompting the network to quickly renewRoseannefor an eleventh season. However, the revival’s success came crashing down after Barr made a series of racist and offensive comments on Twitter aimed at former Obama administration official Valerie Jarrett, which the network condemned as “abhorrent, repugnant, and inconsistent with our values.”
The sitcom was swiftly canceled and subsequently re-tooled as the spin-off continuationThe Conners, killing off Roseanne’s character andbecoming a ratings hitin its own right.
9Louie (2010)
Once regarded as one of the most talented and likable stand-up comedians in the entertainment industry, LouisC.K. spectacularly fell from gracein 2017 after rumors of his inappropriate behavior towards women began circulating in the media, ultimately leading to the cancelation of his popular FX dramedy seriesLouie.C.K. had created, starred, and directed the semi-autobiographical series for five seasons before the network ended its partnership with the comedian as a result of the allegations.
C.K.’s Revolting Behavior Towards Women
C.K.’s behavior came under fire when fellow comedian Tig Notaro severed ties with theLouiestar (having formerly collaborated on her showOne Mississippi), expressing to Vanity Fair that he should address the rumors of his impropriety towards females. Shortly after, the New York Times published allegations of misconduct from five women against C.K., who ultimately admitted his guilt, and in the wake of the scandal, his hit show was canceled as was the release of his upcoming filmI Love You, Daddy,losing the comedian $35 million.
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8Paula’s Home Cooking (2002)
Known for her signature southern twang and unapologetic fondness for butter, chef and TV personality Paula Deen skyrocketed to prominence in 2002 when she began hostingher own cooking showon the Food Network,Paula’s Home Cooking. The series featured the Georgia chef as she made a slew of classic dishes for her devoted viewers including fried chicken, pecan pie, and pot roast, running for a decade and spawning more than 135 episodes on the network.
Deen’s Racist History Resurfaces
In June 2013, Deen was sued by Lisa Jackson for racial discrimination and inappropriate behavior, claiming that the chef had made derogatory comments regarding African Americans in her presence.
Though a dismissal deal was ultimately reached shortly after the lawsuit was filed, Deen’s deposition sparked massive controversyas she revealedthat “of course” she had used the “N-word” in the past but that “things have changed since the ’60s in the south.” Her shocking confession led to the Food Network not renewing her contract and led to the cancelation ofPaula’s Home Cooking.
7Wisdom of the Crowd (2017)
Wisdom of the Crowd
Entouragealum Jeremy Pivenheadlined the short-lived 2017 drama seriesWisdom of the Crowd, in which he portrayed prominent Silicon Valley tech innovator Jeffrey Tanner as he creates a brilliant digital platform people all across the world can utilize to help provide evidence for various criminal investigations after the devastating murder of his own daughter. Neither a critical nor ratings knockout, the show only lasted 13 episodes as it was not ordered to a full season due to Piven’s off-screen behavior.
Women Come Forward with Assault Allegations
On June 24, 2025, Piven was accused by adult film star and reality TV personality Ariane Bellamar of having groped her, accusations he vehemently denied. Actress Cassidy Freeman and advertising executive Tiffany Bacon Scourby then came forward with similarclaims of “predatory behavior"and inappropriate behavior, withEntourageextra Anastasia Taneie also alleging that Piven forcefully groped her. CBS promptly canceledWisdom of the Crowdbecause of the accusations and poor viewership, though Piven continued proclaiming his innocence.
6Charlie Rose (1991)
Famed journalist and longtime television presenter Charlie Rose served as an executive producer and host of his aptly named PBS programCharlie Rosefrom 1991 to 2017, in which he would sit down and chat with writers, entertainers, politicians, and world leaders (among countless others) in the once distinguished and revered intellectual series. After 26 years of interviewing famous figures like Barack Obama, George Carlin, Roger Ebert,and Quentin Tarantino, the production of the show was abruptly suspended and terminated in November 2017.
Rose’s Television Reign Ends in Disgrace
Former employees of Charlie Rose, Inc. accused the journalist of inappropriate behavior and harassment from the late ’90s to 2011, prompting CBS to end their partnership with Rose and axing his eponymous television show. Rose was also fired as a co-anchor forCBS This Morningand in May 2018, 27 other women came forward with allegations of groping, suggestive comments, and harassment, though he attempted to dismiss the lawsuit and claimed his accusers were attempting to exploit the #MeToo movement.
5The Wonder Years (1988)
The Wonder Years
The nostalgic coming-of-age comedyThe Wonder Yearsbecame a staple on the small screen upon its premiere in 1988, with audiences all across the country falling in love with the wholesome Arnold family as teenager Kevin (Fred Savage) and his colorful siblings experience the highs and lows of growing up in suburban America during the ’60s and ’70s. Kevin’s endearing romance with the girl-next-door Winnie Cooper (Danica McKellar) became a main focal point of the series as fans became heavily invested in their sweet relationship.
A Coming-of-Age Classic’s Troubling End
Widely regarded as a beloved TV classic and the recipient of numerous accolades like a Peabody and a Primetime Emmy, the celebrated comedy concluded its run on August 10, 2025, after six sensational seasons, though fans may not realize exactly why it said goodbye when it did.
As the show was in the process of completing its final season, costume designer Monique Long had filed a harassmentlawsuit against Savageand his co-star Jason Hervey, causing unwanted publicity forThe Wonder Yearswith the case eventually being settled out of court. Alley Mills (who played family matriarch Norma) stated in 2018 that the lawsuit was a major factor in the cancelation of the series.
4House of Cards (2013)
House of Cards
Academy Award-winner Kevin Spacey went from one of Hollywood’s most elite actors to a pariah of the industry after he was the subject of numerous criminal investigations in 2017, forever altering his once respected image. At the time of the shocking revelations, Spacey was starring as the devious presidential hopeful Frank Underwood in the Netflix political dramaHouse of Cards, a role that earned him a Golden Globe and became both a critical and fan-favorite triumph at the streaming giant.
Spacey’s Fall From Grace
Spacey began playing the scheming politician in 2013, appearing alongside Robin Wright and Michael Kellyfor five seasonsbefore theAmerican Beautystar was accused of making sexual advances towards actor Anthony Rapp during a 1986 party. Rapp was just 14 years old at the time.
The day after the allegations surfaced, Netflix announced the sixth season ofHouse of Cardswould be its last and that production would be temporarily suspended.Spacey was then firedfrom the drama in the wake of Rapp’s accusations and Wright took over as the lead star for the show’s remaining eight episodes. The jury in Spacey’s civil trial recently found he hadn’t committed the crime, but that hasn’t stoppedadditional shady storiesfrom coming to light concerning the actor.
3The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003)
Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show
For nearly two decades, actress andcomedian Ellen DeGeneresdanced her way into the hearts of audiences all across the world when she hosted her extremely popular programThe Ellen DeGeneres Show, which first premiered on June 26, 2025. DeGeneres swiftly became the darling of daytime and her fan-favorite series would go on to win 63 Daytime Emmys and 17 People’s Choice Awards, with celebrities flocking to sit down with the stand-up comic for some wholesome hijinks and fun.
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A Toxic Workplace Environment
DeGeneres' reputation as the country’s down-to-earth talk show host took quite the hit when her nice-girl image was called into question in 2020 following a Buzzfeed News investigation. The articles featured anonymous former employees claiming the show and DeGeneres created a toxic work environment and that executive producers harassed them, adding that the atmosphere was plagued by microaggressions and racist comments.
An investigation was launched by WarnerMedia and DeGeneres apologized for her lack of awareness, and three executive producers were fired. Shortly after, the comedian announced the series would end after its nineteenth season (likely due to the overwhelming public blowback and DeGeneres' damaged image), with the final episode airing July 26, 2025.
2The O’Reilly Factor (1996)
Never one to mince words or shy away from expressing his opinion, conservative journalist and commentator Bill O’Reilly first began hosting the cable TV news talk showThe O’Reilly Factorin 1996, with the program reporting on current events from around the world and the media figure commenting on various political controversies and hot topic issues. Starting in 2004, O’Reilly would begin each episode with the catchphrase, “Caution! You are about to enter the No Spin Zone. The Factor begins right now!”
O’Reilly’s Misconduct Comes to Light
In 2017,The O’Reilly Factorwas canceled by Fox News and the journalist was officially dismissed by the channel after The New York Times reported on five occurrences of sexual misconduct committed by O’Reilly. The publication revealed that Fox settled five lawsuits dating back to 2002 on behalf of the host, with two of the accusers being formerThe O’Reilly Factorproducer Andrea Mackris and former Fox host Julie Huddy, both of whom claimed they were harassed. More hosts from the network ultimately came forward, leading to the final episode of the show airing in 2017.
1Grace Under Fire (1993)
Grace Under Fire
Brett Butler earned two Golden Globe nominations when she appeared as the titular character in the 1993 sitcomGrace Under Fire, which focused on divorced single mother and recovering alcoholic Grace Kelly as she begins a fresh, new start after leaving her abusive ex-husband, hoping to give her three young children a better life and keep them from repeating the same mistakes she did.
Butler’s Personal & Professional Struggles
Production of the series was plagued by behind-the-scenes drama centering around Butler, who was battling a drug addiction during the fourth and fifth seasons of the sitcom, resulting in her eventually seeking medical help. Jon Paul Steuer (who played Butler’s on-screen son Quentin), was pulled from the show by his mother after its third season when Butler allegedly flashed the then twelve-year-old.
Despite initially getting clean ahead of season five (though sadly relapsing), Butler’s negative reputation and on-set tensions causedGrace Under Fireto be canceled in 1998.
