Everyone has made decisions in the heat of the moment that they have subsequently regretted. When faced with two options or under pressure, it’s easy to make decisions that will later come back to haunt you.

For celebrities, those kinds of situations occur frequently. Their errors may be contentious or even career-ending because they are always in the spotlight and are subject to close scrutiny. 

Although scandal is nothing new in Hollywood, actors should be ready to look for new careers if their private indiscretions become known. While some disgraced stars are able to fight their way back into the spotlight from seemingly hopeless situations, for the most part, the only viable alternative is to retire from the public eye with whatever dignity is left. 

Some famous people live in a society free from social conventions and traditional rules. Such a well-known existence can result in controversies or bad choices that put an end to their once-promising professions. 

For example, O.J. Simpson comes to mind and Charlie Sheen shares this sentiment. There must be countless others who have quickly destroyed their careers. 

Here are ten famous people who made poor decisions, made mistakes, or gave in to their most uncivilized urges, ruining their careers in the process.

1. Congressman Anthony Weiner is a prime example of people who don’t know how to tweet appropriately

Weiner’s career might have gone in a different direction if he didn’t post a picture to his Twitter wall intended for a woman he was sexting online. Weiner is now the youngest person to ever win a New York City Council seat. 

He initially claimed that his account had been hacked. However, liars seldom thrive, and after acknowledging he had been exchanging pictures with the lady for years, Weiner ultimately decided to leave his position in congress in 2011.

2. Food Network featured Paula Deen’s image frequently for many years

Then Lisa Jackson sued the well-known celebrity chef, alleging that she had used the “N-word” and made racial remarks against African Americans. Deen’s admission of using the term, as well as her denials of the claims sealed her fate.

Her TV shows were widely canceled by networks, and her merchandise was no longer sold in stores. Paula Deen is currently where? Definitely not on television.

3. When more than a dozen women came out in 2009 alleging to have had extramarital encounters with Tiger Woods, his illustrious golf career came to an abrupt end

His media-driven cheating story quickly turned ugly. Before finally admitting to cheating in a broadcast announcement, he wrecked his Escalade into a tree in his own front yard and promoted a fabrication of domestic abuse. 

Sponsors broke off their relationship right away, and the history-maker lost tens of millions of dollars very quickly. Fortunately, mulligans are a thing in the golf world, so Tiger got another shot. 

But his pro tour finishes aren’t what they once were, and most people would say that his heyday is over.

4. Devoted viewers of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit were devastated when Chris Meloni (Detective Stabler) abruptly quit the series

Further research revealed that Meloni left the producers because they turned down his request for additional money. Does Meloni regret giving up his most important and lucrative acting gig to date? Maybe. 

Since then, we haven’t seen him in any better films, which shows that performers who are greedy rarely succeed.

5. The demise of Amanda Bynes’ acting career is the result of yet another bad Twitter incident

To be fair, it was already spinning when she, at the ripe old age of 24, announced her retirement on Twitter. But as time went on, it became clear that her erratic Twitter behavior was only a reflection of her erratic personal life. 

She erratically underwent rehab stints, DUI arrests, and other career-ending meltdowns while verbally attacking celebrities online. She essentially live-tweeted her fall from grace. 

6. With their top-charting tunes, The Dixie Chicks were once the leading ladies of country music

Before lead vocalist Natalie Maines publicly denounced President George W. Bush at a live concert in 2002, their music even branched out into pop genres. She says, 

“Just so you know, we’re on good terms with y’all,” she says. “We don’t want this war, we don’t want this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas”

The trio never recovered after infuriating their most passionate followers with this statement. Their music was shunned by radio stations, and the country music industry largely disregarded them. 

7. There is nothing new about journalists distributing fake material, but when it came to light that NBC host anchor Brian Williams had made up a tale about how he covered the Iraq war in 2015, the network opened an investigation

Their inquiry uncovered such instances where the presenter misled the public to enhance his reputation, as well as outright lies about a helicopter crash in Iraq. Williams’ anchor career swiftly deteriorated after NBC terminated ties. 

Years later, even though he is no longer a household celebrity, he managed to obtain a position hosting a new nightly show at the ungodly hour of 11 p.m.

8. After evidence implicating former professional cyclist Lance Armstrong in one of the most severe and extensive doping claims ever emerged, his career was destroyed

When seven Tour de France victories and a valiant battle with cancer aren’t enough to rescue your career amid doping suspicions, you know something is wrong. Armstrong repeatedly refuted the allegations, but former colleagues eventually testified in court in 2012 to support his use. 

Lance lost all of his accolades and Olympic records, and he was hardly ever seen or heard from again.

9. The Autobiography album Ashlee Simpson, the younger sister of Jessica Simpson, published in 2004 was sufficient to secure her a performance spot on Saturday Night Live

Of course, when the wrong music started playing via the speakers, Simpson was discovered lip-syncing. She panicked, bolted from the
10 Times Celebrities Made Poor Decisions And Mistakes That Ruined Their Own Careers In One Night, then claimed that her band had chosen the wrong song before finally admitting to lip-syncing a few days later. 

Whether she had acid reflux or not, her blunder ruined her one chance at success, and her career was over before it even got started.

10. The New Year’s Eve concert featured Mariah Carey frequently, but that will likely stop

Live television can be a singer’s worst enemy. She fumbled her song “Emotions” in front of millions of viewers after her in-ear audio malfunctioned. 

Before storming off stage, Mariah remained still for a little period of time. According to news reports, Carey thinks the producers set her up. 

In any event, she had probably given her last primetime performance with that terrible venture.

Before one careless move completely destroyed their careers, these celebrities were adored by both their fans and the entertainment business. Some were complicit in heinous acts or mishaps. 

Others gave terrible performances or received terrible critiques for their terrible performances. Oh well, it is what it is.