15 Times Celebrities Lost Their Temper In Public

Although red carpet events and big salaries are huge perks of being a celebrity, their status can be associated with limitations and a lot of pressure. Acknowledging how difficult it is to deal with any situation in life, we can understand why so many celebrities sometimes lose their cool in the public.
It can be the meltdowns that make people keep talking about it for weeks (if not months, or even years) afterward. And Will Smith and Britney Spears did experience it for a while. Indeed, it's really hard to keep things under control when we're losing our minds. And for Hollywood stars, a meltdown moment sometimes arrives and makes their bad days worse.
Here are 15 times when celebrities lose their temper in public. While some of the rants have earned the celebrities a bad reputation, many of them were likely dealing with personal issues that those of us watching at home do not know about. The times when celebrities lose their temper in public are iconic. 

#1 Alec Baldwin

Source: Image @ Jackie Brown / Splash News

Alec Baldwin called his oldest daughter, Ireland (who was 11 at the time), a "rude, thoughtless little pig" when she didn't answer the phone in 2007.

#2 Britney Spears

Source: NY Daily News via Getty Images

Britney Spears had a difficult time in February 2007. She shaved her head and attacked a paparazzo's car when being followed.
"I noticed her hair was gone. I remember asking her, 'Why did you shave your head?' And her answer was a bit weird,"  According to tattoo artist Emily Wynee-Hughes in a 2019 documentary, The Sun. "It was, you know, 'I just don't want anybody, anybody touching my head. I don't want anyone touching my hair. I'm sick of people touching my hair.'"

#3 Charlie Sheen

Source: Splash News

Charlie Sheen has had one of the most public meltdowns in celebrity history. He was fired from Two and a Half Men in 2011 after publicly criticizing showrunner Chuck Lorre and giving out his phone number on the radio. Charlie became well-known for his rants about "tiger blood" and "winning."

#4 Chris Brown

Source: Getty Images

Chris Brown stormed off the set of Good Morning America in 2011 after Robin Roberts asked him about the domestic violence incident involving Rihanna in which he was involved. According to ABC News, it was discovered after he stormed offstage that he had broken a window in his dressing room before leaving the studio.

#5 Christian Bale

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On the set of Terminator: Salvation in 2009, Christian Bale was caught on camera going on an expletive-laden rant. He eventually cursed out cinematographer Shane Hurlbut.

#6 Justin Bieber

Source: @justinbieber

After having issues with his mental health, Justin abruptly canceled all meet-and-greets with fans for the remainder of his Purpose tour in 2016 because absorbing their energy had become too much for him.
"I enjoy meeting such incredible people, but I end up filled with so much of other people's spiritual energy that I end up so drained and unhappy," he wrote on Instagram.

#7 Kanye West

Source: JOCE/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty Images

Kanye West ranted about his family on Twitter and at a campaign rally for his failed 2020 presidential campaign shortly before news of his and Kim Kardashian's divorce became public. He not only revealed that he considered terminating Kim's pregnancy with North, but he also accused Kim and her family of attempting to "lock him up" for his mental health.

#8 Mariah Carey

Source: Splash

During Mariah Carey's 2017 New Year's Eve performance in New York Times Square, fans bombarded her with questions. Surprisingly, she seemed to forget the words to her song, and what she did sing wasn't her best work. Fortunately, Mariah appears to have recovered since then.

#9 Mel Gibson

Source: Fred Prouser/Reuters/Corbis

Mel Gibson has had his fair share of meltdowns in the past, but one was made public. Mel was recorded arguing with then-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva in 2010, making racist and sexist remarks about her that were impossible to withdraw.

#10 Mischa Barton

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TMZ obtained a video in 2017 of actress Mischa Barton yelling at her neighbors from what appeared to be her backyard. After the police were called to her house, she was taken in for a psych evaluation because some of her words were unintelligible.

#11 Nick Lachey

Source: @tmz_tv

Nick Lachey was caught on camera verbally attacking a photographer before attempting to steal her phone through a car window in March 2022. According to TMZ, Nick and his wife, Vanessa, were driving home when they were followed by a female paparazzi. Nick later apologized on Twitter, confessing that he "overreacted."

#12 Reese Witherspoon

Source: Splash News

Reese Witherspoon's arrest (along with husband Jim Toth) in 2013 was captured on video, including her words to the police officer. At one point, Reese attempted to use her fame to get out of the situation, saying things like, "Do you know my name? You better not arrest me."

#13 Solange Knowles

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The world was astonished when a video emerged of Solange Knowles hitting and kicking Jay-Z — her brother-in-law and Beyoncé's husband — in an elevator at the 2014 Met Gala. Because that shocking incident was never fully explained, the mystery remains.

#14 Will Smith

Source: Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

Will Smith slapped Chris Rock after the comedian joked about Jada Pinkett Smith's alopecia at the 2022 Oscars. Will then continued to yell at Chris from his seat in the audience, and while he went on to win an Oscar for best actor and explain that he was defending his wife, the King Richard star's actions had far-reaching consequences. Not only were the projects he was working on at the time halted, but he also resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which bans him from attending the awards ceremony for the next ten years.

#15 Winona Ryder

Source: Richie Buxo/Splash News/Corbis

Winona Ryder was arrested in 2001 after stealing more than $5,000 in merchandise from Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills. Winona was then brought to trial and sentenced to probation, fines, counseling, and community service.