5 of the most shocking celebrity feuds of all time
Admit it – we all love a bit of celebrity drama from time to time. It’s a morbid curiosity, but don’t worry, you’re not alone in wondering what really goes on behind the scenes of our favourite movies, TV shows and backstage at concerts.
So, to satisfy your thirst for gossip, we’ve taken a look at some of the most scandalous celebrity feuds that Hollywood has ever seen, and dig down into the real reason behind them.
1. Prince vs. Michael Jackson
They’re two of music’s most iconic figures, but there was no love lost between Prince and Michael Jackson. After a number of spats, Prince reportedly rejected Jackson’s offer to collaborate on the hit song “Bad,” instead recording a mock version of the song and sending it to him. Jackson later referred to Prince as “one of the rudest people” he’d ever met, saying “I don’t like to be compared to Prince at all.”
2. Joan Rivers vs. Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson, host of The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992, employed up-and-coming comedienne Joan Rivers as a permanent guest host in 1983 – although she had essentially held this role for the past year. However, when Fox offered Rivers her own rival late-night show in 1986, she understandably jumped at the opportunity – but Carson wasn’t happy. Rivers’ show wasn’t a success, but Carson still never forgave her, going so far as to ban her from ever appearing on his (or his successor Jay Leno’s) show ever again.
3. Will Smith vs. Janet Hubert
You may remember that in 1993, Janet Hubert, who played Will’s on-screen aunt Vivian Banks, was replaced by Daphne Maxwell Reid. But you might not know the reason why she was replaced. According to Smith, Hubert wasn’t thrilled that such a young actor had scored himself his very own show at the start of his career, while she had struggled in showbiz for 10 years. The feud only escalated when Hubert slammed Smith and wife Jada Pinkett-Smith for boycotting the Oscars in 2016.
4. Debbie Reynolds vs. Elizabeth Taylor
The two screen icons first met in the early 1950s and got along very well, but their relationship quickly soured after the death of Taylor’s then-husband, Mike Todd. Reynolds’ husband Eddie Fisher grew close to Taylor, comforting her during her period of mourning, but their friendship soon blossomed into romance. They began an affair and were married just one year after Todd’s death. Reynolds was heartbroken and didn’t speak to Taylor for seven years – until they reunited in 1966 and rekindled their friendship, which lasted for the rest of their lives.
5. Aretha Franklin vs. Tina Turner
Two of the biggest singers in music history began a battle of egos back at the 2008 Grammy Awards. When Beyoncé introduced Turner as “the queen” when she stepped on stage for a performance, Franklin (long been known as “the queen of soul”) wasn’t happy. She slammed Beyoncé and the Grammy writers, but had the biggest beef with Turner herself, who responded to the controversy by saying, “[Franklin’s] ego must be so big to think she was the only [queen].” Franklin stepped the spat up, saying, “I never figured [Turner] to resort to tacky press just to sell a few tickets.”