11 Female Hollywood Celebs Who Went From Beloved To Despised Overnight

Every so often, the masses pick a female to collectively dislike for no apparent reason.

May

• Published in Film & TV
• September 5, 2024

The world has been unfair to women. And even if they gained Hollywood renown, they still face challenges that reveal the persistent inequalities women endure.

The media has always been particularly harsh on women, and it’s even worse for those in the public eye. Being a woman in society comes with its own set of challenges, but when you add fame into the mix, the pressure intensifies.

Famous women are constantly under scrutiny, with the world watching their every move and waiting for them to make a mistake. The level of judgment they face is relentless, making it incredibly difficult to navigate life in the spotlight.

The criticism and sexism that famous women endure are far beyond what the average person experiences. People often forget that celebrities are real human beings with emotions.

The anonymity of the internet makes it easy for individuals to share sexist opinions without thinking twice about the impact of their words. Unfortunately, the media doesn’t just overlook this behavior—it amplifies it.

Every misstep or perceived flaw is blown out of proportion and turned into a headline, reinforcing harmful stereotypes. This cycle of negativity keeps women in the public eye under constant pressure to meet unrealistic expectations, showing just how unfairly they are treated.

Why are people so relentless at tearing women down?

Think of it as social media’s “White Boy of the Month,” but with a complete twist.

Anne Hathaway

In one of the most baffling cases of a woman getting tons of hate for no good reason, Anne went from being adored to suddenly reviled by a bunch of internet users in what became known as #HathaHate back in the early 2010s.

Jennifer Lawrence

Interestingly, Jennifer found herself in the spotlight alongside Anne during the #HathaHate era, with many articles drawing comparisons between Jennifer’s popular “cool girl” image and Anne’s. But as time went on, the internet grew disenchanted with Jennifer as well.

And, as you might guess, it led to a wave of baseless hate directed toward her.

Jennifer Lopez

J.Lo has had her fair share of controversial moments, but there’s no doubt that the hate directed toward her can get extreme.

Kendall Jenner

Likewise, Kendall has endured a great deal of online backlash over the years. Even though she and the Kardashian/Jenner family often spark strong opinions, it’s hard not to see how the sheer volume of hate she faces can feel disproportionate.

Jenna Ortega

Jenna rose to prominence in 2022 with her role in the hit Netflix series Wednesday. However, it wasn't long before online users grew weary of her and started criticizing the dark, moody vibe that had initially won her so much praise.

Sydney Sweeney

Before the debates over her family’s political views or her financial matters took center stage, Sydney endured a torrent of unrelenting criticism focused solely on her nude scenes in Euphoria and her appearance.

Halle Bailey

Halle faced a wave of racist criticism when she landed the role of Ariel in The Little Mermaid in 2019. On top of that, she’s been slammed online for her relationship with rapper DDG and for keeping her pregnancy under wraps last year.

Millie Bobby Brown

After becoming a star on Netflix’s Stranger Things, Millie was labeled as annoying by many online users who thought she was “over the top.” The trolling got so intense that Millie even said she was afraid to walk down the street.

Brie Larson

When Brie starred as the lead in Captain Marvel (2019), the first Marvel superhero film with a female lead, she unfortunately faced a lot of misogynistic backlash from MCU fans.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina is adored now, but she was heavily criticized in the early 2000s, particularly because of her notorious divorces from Billy Bob Thornton and Jonny Lee Miller. When Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's marriage ended, Angelina was unfairly targeted, even though her relationship with Brad began while they were filming Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

Following their split, some blogs dubbed her the most despised woman in Hollywood.

Anna Gunn

After portraying Skyler White, one of TV’s most disliked characters, in Breaking Bad, Anna was hit with a torrent of criticism from fans who couldn't separate her from her role.

Sexism is still a major issue, hitting all women hard, and it's even worse for those in the spotlight. Female celebrities get more hate simply because they're visible, showing how society loves to blame strong, successful women for its problems.

It's a tough fight, but it's one many are facing.

May