11 Most Shocking Celebrity Scandals of 2025

Celebs have been busy this year, and it’s not all good press — controversies, scandals, and backlash have had the whole world talking, from public feuds and getting canceled to jokes about inappropriate topics and legal disputes. Here are the biggest celebrity scandals that made headlines in 2025.

1. J.K. Rowling attacking Emma Watson

Rowling, who is known for making controversial comments, said that Watson has “so little experience of real life she’s ignorant of how ignorant she is.” She called the actor guilty of “trashing women’s rights” after Watson said on a podcast episode that she disagreed with Rowling’s views on transgender rights. Watson added, “I just don’t want to say anything that continues to weaponize a really toxic debate and conversation, which is maybe why I don’t comment, or continue to comment.”

I'm seeing quite a bit of comment about this, so I want to make a couple of points.

I'm not owed eternal agreement from any actor who once played a character I created. The idea is as ludicrous as me checking with the boss I had when I was twenty-one for what opinions I should… https://t.co/c0pz19P7jc
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 29, 2025

2. Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively’s insane legal battle

After they filmed “It Ends With Us,” there were allegations that Blake Lively challenged Justin Baldoni’s leadership on the show. The conflict escalated when Lively accused Baldoni of misconduct on set and of attempting a smear campaign. He accused her of pressuring him to rewrite scenes; she accused him of harassment and a “hostile work environment.” It ended in lawsuits that reportedly cost hundreds of millions of dollars. It was an epic (and expensive) feud, resulting in Justin’s case being dismissed.

3. Erika Kirk’s “inappropriate” hug

At an event where Erika introduced Vice President J.D. Vance, their hug was a little too intimate for the public’s liking, and the photo soon went viral, showing Erika touching the back of Vance’s head as he touched her waist. It was quickly dubbed inappropriate, given that he’s a married man, and it was made worse by Kirk saying on stage, “No one will ever replace my husband, but I do see some similarities with my husband in JD. I do. And that’s why I am so blessed to be able to introduce him tonight.”

4. The Sydney Sweeney American Eagle ad

What could have been a lucrative brand partnership turned into a PR crisis for Sweeney, who was accused of promoting racist ideas of genetic superiority, as it was seen as a play on the words “jeans” and “genes” in the phrase: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color. My jeans are blue.” She later came out with a lukewarm statement months after the fact.