In recent geezerhood , the go - to response to a dear male celebrity front serious allegation is that their accuser is trying to get them invalidate — despite duplicate evidence that these humans are untouchable .
In March , Jonathan Majorswas arrestedon charges of strangulation , violation , and harassment after allegedly assail a woman . Within hours of the news breakage , Twitter was alight with people criminate the reports of “ try out to scrub ” him as they maintained an “ free until proven guilty ” mantra .
It seemed as though the alleged dupe was under fiercer scrutiny than Majors himself , with the ace ’s attorney doubling down on his innocence afterVarietyreported that multiple other woman had come forward to accuse Majors of contumely since his arrest .
“ Jonathan Majors is impeccant and has not clapperclaw anyone . We have allow for irrefutable evidence to the District Attorney that the charges are put on . We are confident that he will be to the full exonerated , ” his lawyer Priya Chaudhry allege in a program line on Apr. 20 .
The aver victims are said to be get together with the Manhattan district lawyer ’s office , and Majors is expected tovirtually appearbefore a jurist today on multiple counts of harassment and violation .
While it has been reported that the star has beendroppedby his natural endowment manager and PR team , it is too soon to tell if Majors will face any retentive - terminal figure career repercussions . However , the populace ’s initial response to the charges was enough to highlight an increasingly vernacular trend .
All too often , say victims are accused of making up their claim with the lone aim of ruining an innocuous piece ’s life and life history . Their believability is mercilessly probe with a amercement - toothed comb by internet sleuths make up one’s mind to chance an ulterior motive , with every accusation hauled into doubtfulness in a command to clear their favourite star ’s name .
It ’s a depressing , relentless cycle per second — not least because of the psychic trauma impose on possible victims during this online persecution . But it ’s also a monumental waste of time when we ’ve find out , repeatedly , that it ’s in reality almost unimaginable to derail a famous man ’s reputation .
In January , TV audience of theGolden GlobessawBrad Pittlooking on joyfully from the audience , clapping and laughing as multiple celebrity treated him as the guest of accolade , go down over themselves to make their love and wonderment known .
Abbot ElementarycreatorQuinta Brunsonpaused her spoken language to give Pitt a starstruck cry - out . Austin Butlerannounced Pitt as one of his “ heroes , ” before gushing : “ Brad , I love you . ”Regina Hallbuilt her entire presenting bit around Pitt ’s bare universe , joking that she ’d been introduced incorrectly because she ’s actually “ Mrs. Pitt . ”
afterwards , Janelle Jameswould swoon over the player in an interview with Entertainment Tonight , where she could scantily contain her inflammation over spending an eve in his presence .
But this endless watercourse of pro - Pitt grandiloquence come just three month after his ex - wife , Angelina Jolie , made a serial ofharrowing allegationsagainst him , detail examples of alleged physical ill-usage towards her and their shaver .
In a effectual filing , Jolie accused her then - husband of scrag one of their tiddler and fall another in the face during a flight in 2016 , just days before she lodge for divorcement from Pitt . She also say that he “ grabbed ” her by the head and “ shake her , ” stream beer on her , and pour beer and cherry vino on their children .
Pitt antecedently admitted to “ fuddle too much ” and said that it had become “ a problem ” by 2016 , but has vehementlydeniedJolie ’s allegation .
And it was n’t just Jolie ’s industriousness peers who so quickly and publicly ordinate themselves with Pitt as he became the tousled - haired golden boy of the Golden Globes . The media were also quick to dun over his attendance .
“ Here ’s Proof Brad Pitt Was the Life of the Party at the 2023 Golden Globes , ” an E ! newspaper headline read , while Vogue went for a more unmediated : “ Brad Pitt Debuts A New Heartthrob Haircut At The Golden Globes . ”
Then , in a feat of timing , less than a week after Pitt received God - horizontal surface praise , another actor was lauded despite his problematic history . This prison term it wasKevin Spacey , who was observe with a honored lifespan achievement award in Italy .
The Museum of Cinema in Turin say that theywanted to recognizethe actor ’s “ personal aesthetic and auctorial contribution to the maturation of the art of drama , ” and Spacey accepted the award just days after he’dappeared in a UK courton seven charge of intimate assault dating back to the other 2000s .
He is currently awaiting trial for a totality of 12 sexual criminal offense against four accusers , all of which he has traverse .
The tribulation is due to start in June , almost a class aftera Los Angeles jurist ruledthat Spacey and his production company must pay the creators ofHouse Of Cards$30.9 million after they incriminate him of violating his contract by sexually harassing crew members .
Spacey has deny the accusation and ab initio respond to Rapp ’s claim by write out a instruction where he come out as merry . He also added on Twitter at the time : “ If I did behave then as he describes , I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour . ”
In 2019 , the actorfaced chargesof grope a man at a taproom in 2016 , which were ultimately dropped by public prosecutor . In October 2022 , Anthony Rapplost his polite lawsuitagainst Spacey .
Spacey initially faced furious examination and industriousness backlash amid the allegations , however , his late honor evidence that any phase of cancellation has only been short - term . In his acceptance speech in Italy earlier this class , Spacey thanked the Museum of Cinema for having “ la palle , ” which translate to “ the chunk , ” to honor him .
And while it ’s important to reiterate that both Pitt and Spacey have refuse all of the allegations that they ’ve faced , the means that they ’ve been deal is still proof that the mythological threat of so - holler “ set off cultivation ” should n’t be an immediate counter - argument as before long as an charge is made .
Of course , it goes without saying that celebrated women are rarely launch the same handling . Winona Ryder saw hercareer come to a haltafter becoming an industry punchline when she was arrested for shoplifting in 2001 . likewise , Janet Jackson faced severe backlashafter Justin Timberlake give away her nipple during their 2004 Super Bowl halftime performance . Radio stationsrefused to make for her music , and her album , Damita Jo , release one month after the incident , ended up being her lowest - sell in 20 years while Timberlake ’s career thrive .
Almost two decades after Ryder ’s catch , her ex - fiancé , Johnny Depp , wasaccused of abuseby x - wife Amber Heard . The allegations and ensue legal conflict grab headline all over the mankind and sparked what some believe to be the beginning of a#MeToo backlash .
In 2020 , a British motor inn ruled that it was “ well true ” for the tabloid paper , the Sun , to refer to Depp as a “ married woman beater ” after they published a story that referenced Heard ’s testimony that he had step her several time between 2013 and 2016 .
Heardmade these allegationswhen she receive a temporary restraining fiat against Depp before long after she filed for a divorce in May 2016 . At the metre , Depp ’s representative accused Heard of “ attempting to assure a premature financial firmness by say abuse . "
In 2019 , Depp sued Heard for defamation over an clause that she publish for theWashington Postabout domesticated contumely the previous year . The casewent to trialin Virginia last class and played out in excruciatingly public detail .
Throughout the trial run , juror were showngraphic and vehement text edition messagesthat Depp had sent to friends about Heard . In one text content that was air to actor Paul Bettany in 2013 , Depp wrote : “ Let ’s drown her before we burn up her ! ! ! I will fuck her burnt remains afterwards to check that she ’s deadened . "
In another , Depp tell : “ I ’ll smell the slimy cunt around before I rent her in , do n’t worry . ” And one more read : " I ’m a fucking beast . arrive ta ' lose that . Gon na ' mislay that . The demon is all around , good ? ”
But see enduredunrelenting ridicule , mockery , andvilificationfrom the public , herfellow celebrities , and the medium who treated her court dramaas amusement . She was also subjected to horrific online abuse , being advisedly targeted by Twitter user who branded her everything from a “ liar , ” to a “ operator ” and a “ bitch . ”
And despite the incredibly grave subject matter , the trial ’s transformation into a world-wide medium genus Circus is perhaps best highlight by its commodification , with public involvement in the discourse so mellow that lawyerscashed inon social mass medium by offering their own sound comment to courtroom alive flow .
The jury ended upruling in Depp ’s favour , saying that Heard had defamed the actor in her op - male erecticle dysfunction . She was order to yield $ 10 million in compensatory scathe and $ 350,000 in punitive redress .
Interestingly , when Jolie made her claims about Pitt just four months after the Heard / Depp run , she was straight off brand “ Amber 2.0 ” by the same online merrymaker , highlighting just how ingrained suspicion of aver victims is — and the misogynism inherent in the reply .
But the allegation level at Depp during the trial did not see him canceled — in fact , it was quite the contrary . Last calendar month it was harbinger that his Modern moviewill be openingCannes Film Festival , and just months after the tryout terminate Rihanna call for Depp to be the first ever man to havehis own spotlight segmentat her Savage X Fenty show , where he walked the catwalk to Outkast ’s " So Fresh , So Clean . "
It was a striking move considering Rihanna ’s ownhistory of domesticated abuseinvolving another decidedly uncanceled “ cancel ” celebrity . In 2009 , the world was leave horror-stricken when a picture of her thrum and bruise facewas releasedafter Chris Brown assaulted her in a car .
The two were in a kinship at the time , and as Rihanna essay aesculapian attention Brownturned himself into the Los Angeles Police Department and later pleaded shamed to the flak .
The vicious assault turned Rihanna into the butt of the joke and the fracas became an prompt pop polish punchline , with shows likeParks & Recreation , 2 Broke Girls , andFamily Guyallmaking lighthearted referencesto it . Seth MacFarlane evenjoked about the assaultin his opening night monologue when he hosted the 2013 Oscar .
While Brown did face sound reverberation for his actions , including beingdenied a visato enter several land , his calling remained largely unaffected .
His albumGraffitiwas released just 10 month after the attack and debuted at figure seven on the US Billboard 200 . Two years subsequently , Brown land hisfirst ever number one albumon the chart withF.A.M.E. — pass on short question over the public ’s reply to him .
And the diligence was just as forgiving , withF.A.M.E.later make Brown his first Grammy , which he called the “ ultimate FUCK OFF ” to his hater . As online reviewer brought up Brown ’s ravishment on Rihanna follow his win , Brown answer by tweeting : “ hatred ALL uranium WANT BECUZ I GOT A GRAMMY Now ! That ’s the ultimate FUCK OFF ! "
And in the years since the onslaught , Brown has also collaborated with some of the cosmos ’s most prominent artist — includingNicki Minaj , andJustin Bieber — and maintained a gravid and passionate fan base .
Earlier this year he obtain ahero ’s welcomeback to the United Kingdom after his ban on entering the land was nobble . On his return to Britain , Brown sold out four night at London ’s 20,000 - mental ability O2 scene of action among other venues up and down the country .
And Brown is n’t the only fame who has managed to uphold a career in the spotlight despite being convicted of assault . Take Mark Wahlberg , who servedjust 45 daysof a two - year prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to felony assault in 1988 . Wahlberg was convicted after he perpetrate aracist assaulton a Vietnamese - American man , calling him a “ Vietnam fucking prick ” and knocking him unconscious with a gravid wooden stick .
That same mean solar day , he ’d attacked another Vietnamese - American man by punching him in the oculus . Investigatorsnotedat the time that Wahlberg " made legion unasked racial financial statement ” after he was arrested .
These plan of attack came two year after Wahlberg wasfound guiltyin a polite case after he and three friendschasedthree grim baby while shouting antiblack slurs , threatening to obliterate them , and shed rocks at them . The next sidereal day , Wahlberg and others follow a chemical group of mostly Black fourth - grader on a field tripper and yelled racist abuse at them while throwing rocks .
In response tobothincidents , Wahlberg wasissuedwith a civil rights injunction by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for violating the rights of his victims .
In 1992 , Wahlberg allegedly fractured the jaw of his neighbor after he “ viciously and repeatedly plain ” him in the face unprovoked while his booster held the victim to the earth . The lawsuit ended up beingsettledbetween the two parties without a criminal trial .
By this distributor point , Wahlberg had already enjoyed huge success with his hip - hops group , Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch , which relinquish multiple certified atomic number 79 top-10 singles a year prior .
But Wahlberg ’s pattern of troubling attacks did little to hinder his acclivity as a monumental star ; after change from music to acting in the belated ‘ 90s , he has remained a menage name and amassed a fortune . In 2017,Forbes named himthe highest - paid actor in Hollywood .
Just this class Wahlberg was chosen to present the predominantly Asiatic dramatis personae ofEverything Everywhere All At Oncewith a Screen Actors Guild award — a decision thatcourted controversythanks to his often - look across history of racial fury .
And afterwards in the ‘ 90 , Jack Nicholson ’s deportment was received with similar unconcern from the universal public and acting industry to Wahlberg ’s .
In 1996 , the home name reached a $ 32,000 settlement with sexual activity actor Catherine Sheehan after she alleged that he ’d promise her $ 1,000 for sex but thenviciously assaulted herwhen she asked for the money .
According to Sheehan ’s lawsuit , Nicholson became “ loud and abusive ” after they ’d had sex , and he allegedly grabbed her hair’s-breadth , thump her caput on the trading floor , hit her so hard that herupturedher breast implants , and then pursue her while cry out " I ’m going to kill you ” as she take flight the property .
Just two months after the say fire , Nicholson wasawardeda star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame .
In 2000 , Sheehan initiatedmore effectual proceedingsagainst Nicholson because the attack had left her with irreversible brain harm . Her lawyer said of the injuries : “ The harm to her brain stem get worse than in the beginning thought . Now the accidental injury is in reality killing her . She has no sight at time and finds it hard to cope with the pain . ”
The case end up beingdismissed — both in the court of police and the court of public feeling , with Sheehan ’s claims not make any impact on Nicholson ’s career .
If anything , the allegations were ostensibly bear as one of the wacky star ’s many eccentricities ; in 1997,Tampa Bay Timesran an article that appeared to rationalise Nicholson ’s behaviour with the headline “ He ’s just being Jack . ”
“ Nicholson routinely plunges off the precipice of eccentricity , landing in the muck of near rabidness . Those dark glasses . That manic , momentary smile . Those incomprehensible coming upon with charwoman , ” the piece casually reads . “ A prostitute has sued him , claiming he mercilessly mystify her when she request requital for military service interpret . ”
In 1998 , two years after the aver incidents , Nicholson wasawardedthe Best Actor in a Leading Role Academy Award for his functioning inAs Good As It incur . And in 2003 he won a Golden Globe for his movieAbout Schmidt . In the years since , he has been nominated for several other laurels including BAFTAs , Oscars , Golden Globes , and SAGs .
But it ’s not just the serviceman in front of the camera who have enjoy flourishing careers in the face of criminal charges .
Just look at Roman Polanski , whoremains a fugitivefrom the US after he fled the country in 1978 when he faced a prison terminal figure or else of probation for allegedly drugging and raping a 13 - year - erstwhile young lady .
In a plea buy , Polanskipleaded guiltyto unlawful sex with a minor but relocated to Paris when he learned that the evaluator planned to reject the deal .
Since then , several other women have criminate Polanski of rape , including British actor Charlotte Lewiswho allegedthat the director sexually abused her when she was 16 during a casting session at his home .
Anotheraccusedhim of sexual aggression in 1973 , when she was 16 , and former actor Renate Langer claimed thatPolanski rap herin 1972 , when she was 15 .
Polanski denied all of these allegation at the time , and they ended up being dismissed because the legislative act of limitations for the ravishment had expired . However , his 1978 US charges are still pending .
Despite all of this , Polanski remain a decorated movie maker , and in the tenner since he was first convicted he has worked with the likes of Kate Winslet , Ewan McGregor , Pierce Brosnan , and Harrison Ford — to name a few . His work has also been celebrated by industry pro and he has won and been nominated forseveral prestigious awards .
In 1980 — just two year after he fled the US — he was nominated in the Best Director family for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his movieTess . And in 2003 he won an Academy Award and aBAFTAfor his direction on the movieThe Pianist .
Polanski receive astanding ovationfrom the star - studded interview for his wins at the time , but was unable to take any award in person . If he had stepped base in America to attend the Oscars , he would have been arrested .
Meanwhile , Woody Allen has enjoyed decades of success and manufacture celebration since his seven - twelvemonth - sometime assume girl allege that hesexually assaulted herin 1992 .
Dylan Farrow ’s mom , Mia Farrow , film the petty little girl recounting the alleged assault the 24-hour interval after it occurred to use as grounds against Allen . This footage wasfeaturedin an HBO documentary film serial in 2021 .
Dylan alsorecalledthe alleged incident onCBSThis Morningin 2018 , say at the time : “ I was taken to a small attic creep blank space in my mother ’s country sign of the zodiac in Connecticut by my father . He instructed me to lie down on my stomach and bet with my brother ’s toy train that was set up . And he model behind me in the doorway , and as I played with the toy train , I was sexually lash out . ”
Allen always denied his daughter ’s allegations , and shortly after Dylan ’s mum opened a molestation investigation against him in 1992 , Allen released a command that reassert he wasin a relationshipwith her 21 - twelvemonth - old daughter , shortly - Yi Previn .
Farrow had adopted Soon - Yi in 1977 , when she was seven years one-time . Farrow set out dating Allen two yr later , and 13 yr after that shediscovered nude sculpture photographsof Soon - Yi in Allen ’s flat .
In his affirmation , Allen said of his and Soon Yi ’s secret family relationship : “ It ’s real and happily all on-key . ” They married in 1997 , when Allen was 62 geezerhood old and she just 27 .
In the eld since the harassment probe was open , Allen has enjoyed a glittering vocation and shape with dozens of crowing - name stars including Leonardo DiCaprio , Cate Blanchett , Rachel McAdams , Owen Wilson , and Jude Law .
In 1997 , he wasawardeda BAFTA fellowship award , and in 2014 he was given alifetime achievementaward at the Golden Globes . Meanwhile , hewonan Academy Award forMidnight in Parisin 2012 , and even a Grammy that same year for the movie ’s soundtrack .
In fact , Allen did n’t really suffer any impact from Dylan ’s allegations until the explosion of the # MeToo movement in 2017 .
In December of that class , Dylan wrote an op - ed called “ Why has the # MeToo revolution spar Woody Allen ? ” for the Los Angeles Times , where she called out “ A - list actors ” for choosing to work with Allen despite her long - standing accusations .
Allen was exploit on his movieA Rainy Day in New Yorkat the clock time , and Dylan ’s piece ended up finally sparking a response from some stars — inclhigh - profileding the high profile actors signalise onto his current project .
One of them was Timothee Chalamet , who sound out that he did “ not require to benefit ” from the film and announced that he ’d donate his wage to charity . Actors who ’d worked with Allen in the past also stigmatise the director , includingColin Firth , Greta Gerwig , andMichael Caine .
In 2020 , Allen release a memoir calledApropos of Nothing , where helashed outat some of his former colleague ’s “ insurance ” to “ always think the woman ” and branded it “ dewy-eyed - mindedness . ”
Then there ’s David O. Russell , who worked with everyone from Jennifer Lawrence to Christian Bale to Taylor Swift on his movieAmsterdamjust last year .
In fact , Russell has been working consistently with A - list names in the years since his niece fileda sexual rape claimagainst him in 2011 . Nicole Peloquin , who is transgendered , accused her uncle of touching her without her consent and asking incompatible questions about her changeover .
Russelladmittedthat he had fondle his niece at the time , but claimed that she had roleplay “ very provocative towards him . ” Pera representativefor the Broward County Sheriff ’s Office , local police force closed the case without any charge being charge against Russell because authorities did not see the allege rape .
Silver Linings Playbookwas released to vital acclaim the following year andAmerican Hustlein 2012 .
In 2016 , Amy Adams uncover that working with Russell on the latter wasso traumaticthat she cried constantly during filming . This was old age after a video of Russellverbally beratingLily Tomlin on the laid ofI Heart Huckabeeswent viral .
At one period in the footage , Russell hurled the mental object of a board on the floor and yelled at Tomlin : “ OK crab ? I ’m not here to be fucking yelled at ! I worked on this fucking thing for three fucking years not to have some blinking slit yell at me in front of the flaming crew when I ’m trying to fucking facilitate you , you beef ! ”
It ’s not just charwoman who have been on the receiving end of Russell ’s behavior , either . In 2000 , George Clooney calledhis timeworking with the director on 1999’sThree Kings“truly , without exception , the bad experience ” of his life .
In theinterview , Clooney claimed that Russell plow crew member and background actor on prepare so ill that he ended up having a strong-arm altercation with him . The actor call back : “ I said , ‘ David , it ’s a grownup 24-hour interval . But you ca n’t shove , agitate or mortify hoi polloi who are n’t leave to defend themselves . ’ He turned on me and said , ‘ Why do n’t you just concern about your fucked - up human activity ? You ’re being a dick . You want to hit me ? You want to hit me ? hail on , snatch , hit me . ’ I ’m looking at him like he ’s out of his mind . Then he started have it off me on the head with his question . He drop dead , ‘ Hit me , you pussy . Hit me . ’ Then he got me by the throat and I went nuts . ”
Five years later , Clooney was still ferocious over the incident , evidence Premiere : “ Quite frankly , if he come near me , I ’ll sock him properly in the fucking rima oris . ”
But even when other celebrities turn their backs on a disgraced star , the industry at large seems reluctant to do the same .
After all , Dave Chapellejust won a Grammyfor his Netflix clowning special that initially sparked fierce backlash for his anti - trans ornateness .
And in April of last year Louis C.K. wasawarded a Grammyfor his comedy specialSincerely , Louis C.K. , which ironically was a reflection on him apparently being “ canceled ” in 2017 after five women descend forward toaccuse the comicof sexual misconduct , say that C.K. had asked or pull them to view him masturbate .
Nothing shout out “ I ’ve been cancel ” more than winning a Grammy , right ?
“ These story are true , ” C.K.said in a statementafter the allegations surfaced . Referencing the victim , he impart : “ I also took reward of the fact that I was wide admired in my and their community , which disabled them from sharing their storey and bring hardship to them when they try because citizenry who expect up to me did n’t want to discover it . ”
C.K. went on to recognise that he was “ ruthful ” of the “ scathe ” that he ’d inflicted upon these women , and that he will “ now step back and take a long time to listen . ”
But less than a class later on , C.K. quietly returned to tolerate - up comedy , and by December 2018 he ’d court controversy again after audio from one of his setsleaked online . In his material , C.K. appeared to make light of his sexual rape scandal and mock the Parkland High School shooting survivors , as well as gender pronoun .
Sincerely , Louis C.K.was released in April 2020 , and the star discussed the allegations against him in this , too . Here heplayed downthe severeness of what he ’d done and joked about getting into “ global amount of bother ” off the back of the women ’s allegement .
He went on to argue that everybody has their sexual quirks — and now “ everyone knows ” what his are .
And when a comedian can get ahead a Grammy after using the sexual violation allegement against them as situated cannon fodder , when someone ’s career can go from strength to strength after being imprisoned for racially - actuate wildness , and when various stars can achieve Italian sandwich status from their industry peers as well as their fans amid flagitious accusal , it just proves how untouchable these men really are .
While it ’d of class be troubling to immediately diminish the career or the reputation of any man who faces any allegation at any clock time , it is of import to highlight that accusing dupe of construct allegations with the sole purpose of getting one - up on a renown is every bit unjust .
It has been proven clock time and time again that a male celebrity being accused of any kind of criminal offense rarely result in the permanent derailing of his calling , disregarding of what some critic may argue .
In fact , even when an allegation is prove to be rightful — via the hotshot ’s own admission or in the court of law — the consequence that the maltreater face for their actions are seldom long - lasting .
After all , cancel culture is n’t real . At least not when it comes to famous humankind .
