Hollywood is synonymous with glamour. But beneath those red carpets lies a world of rivalry and unforgettable clashes. Celebrity feuds are never just entertaining but reveal the complex personalities behind the star personas that people see on the screen. It runs the gamut from on-set tensions and offhand remarks to some just amazingly unforgettable public confrontations.
Here is the list of the Top 20 Absurd Fights Between Hollywood Actors, looking into the most jaw-dropping showdowns with their respective flavors of drama, misunderstandings, and public fallout. Dive in for the outrageous and unexpected moments that are bound to prove even Hollywood's elite aren't immune to discord.
1) Taylor Swift and Kanye West
The feud between Taylor Swift and Kanye West began in 2009 when Kanye interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech during the MTV Video Music Awards to proclaim that he believed Beyoncé deserved the award. There were moments of temporary reconciliation, but things flared up again in 2016 with the lyrics in a song by Kanye called Famous about Swift. While she said she never approved the line, proof came from Kanye and Kim Kardashian by releasing call recordings.
2) Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker
The on-screen conflict between Sex and the City stars Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker was kept secret for a long time but erupted when negotiations for a third film fell through. Cattrall went public with her tense relationship with Parker, even accusing her co-star of "toxic" behavior in front of cameras. But it was all of an uproar over the parting words that came when Cattrall publicly spoke out about Parker's condolences after her brother passed away.
3) David Letterman and Jay Leno
The conflict between David Letterman and Jay Leno began in 1992 when NBC chose Leno over Letterman to succeed Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show. Feeling slighted, Letterman moved to CBS and launched The Late Show. Their feud flared up again in 2010 as fallout from Conan O'Brien used The Tonight Show, with Letterman mocking Leno's role in the controversy. While the two publicly downplayed their rivalry in later years, they remained competitors with vastly different styles, marking one of TV's longest-running host showdowns.
4) Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj
The feud between Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj escalated at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2015. Feeling slighted by the industry for her anthem, Anaconda, Minaj responded with a sharp and intelligent rebuttal. Things got heated when Cyrus-well, who was hosting the VMAs then, turned up the heat with a comment about Minaj not being "very kind" in an interview. Minaj notoriously confronted Cyrus live on stage during the broadcast, saying, "Miley, what's good? The phrase went viral, representing the clash of their outspoken personalities.
5) Vin Diesel and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
This Fast & Furious feud became public in 2016 when Dwayne Johnson referred to some of his male co-stars as "candy asses" on social media. He was quickly making it known that he was talking about Vin Diesel, with whom he had a reported case of clashing work ethics and control of creativity in the movie. With the tension, Johnson stayed away from Fast & Furious 9. In 2021, Diesel invited Johnson through public media to return, but he declined, leaving their seeming rivalry one of Hollywood's most talked-about.
6) Taylor Swift and Katy Perry
The conflict between Taylor Swift and Katy Perry reportedly began over backup dancers, but it developed into a highly publicized feud lasting several years. It has been claimed that Bad Blood lyrics were aimed at Perry, to which she reportedly responded with Swish Swish. After years of frosty interviews and cryptic social media statements, Perry attempted to make amends with Swift with an olive branch-literally in 2018.
7) Madonna and Lady Gaga
The feud began when Gaga's Born This Way was compared to Madonna's Express Yourself. Madonna did not hold back in her response. She called Gaga's work "reductive." Gaga is willing to admit that even though she first admired her pop icon, after a while, she spoke out regarding her irritation with comparisons being constantly thrown up in the air. In 2018, Gaga somewhat alluded to the feud on her A Star is Born press tour, refusing to be brought into more rivalry.
8) Kanye West and Jay-Z
Kanye West and Jay-Z's friendship evolved into a public feud with unpredictable ups and downs. Despite their dominance in the music industry, tensions surfaced in 2016 when West criticized Jay-Z during a concert, alleging that Jay-Z did not support his family. Jay-Z later clarified the term in his album 4:44 and stated that separation was personal. The two have since collaborated, yet their relationship is lukewarm at best, and fans continue to recall their Watch the Throne days and the chemistry they shared.
9) Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan
This conflict between Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan became iconic in the early 2000s, fueled by paparazzi and public drama. Although they were photographed together, jealousy and a series of public insults had created a lasting divide. In 2019, Hilton re-ignited the feud when she labeled Lohan "beyond embarrassing in some ways," suggesting bad blood still existed.
10) Gwyneth Paltrow and Martha Stewart
The rivalry between Gwyneth Paltrow and Martha Stewart has become a competitive battle among lifestyle empires. When Paltrow unleashed Goop, Stewart made some pointed comments telling her to "stay in her lane." Not to be outdone, Paltrow struck back with a Goop recipe called "jailbird cake," referring to Stewart's prison time. Stewart fired back with a few digs, calling Paltrow a "movie star who needs to be quiet." Their snippy exchanges have cooled down quite a bit lately, but the fans still enjoy these lifestyle world queens' occasional pop at one another.
11) Lauren Conrad and Heidi Montag
The drama between Lauren Conrad and Heidi Montag was a significant storyline for fans of The Hills in the early 2000s. Once best of friends, their relationship deteriorated due to a rumor supposedly spread by Spencer Pratt, Heidi's ex-boyfriend. The rumor claimed that Lauren had made an explicit tape, leading to a significant falling out between the two. Conrad famously laid down the gauntlet to Montag with the line, "I want to forgive you, and I want to forget you.
12) Tom Hardy and Shia LaBeouf
Tensions have reportedly arisen between Tom Hardy and Shia LaBeouf, who first worked together on the set of Lawless in 2012. LaBeouf is recognized as a skilled and intense method actor, often immersing himself deeply in his roles. In contrast, Hardy tends to prefer a different approach to his craft. There's even a rumor of on-set altercations, where Hardy quipped that LaBeouf "knocked him out cold." LaBeouf later tried to diffuse the situation, but this remains one of Hollywood's most publicized actor-on-actor spats.
13) LL Cool J and Jamie Foxx
LL Cool J and Jamie Foxx have been involved in a public feud that began in the 1999 film Any Given Sunday set. While filming a dramatic football scene, it was reported that LL Cool J punched Jamie Foxx much more complexly than the director had intended, leading to an on-set fight that had to be intervened. Jamie Foxx claimed he was disrespected; LL Cool J shot back by stating that Jamie Foxx just did not understand the action choreography.
14) Britney Spears and Alyssa Milano
In 2023, Britney Spears reignited her feud with Alyssa Milano by criticizing her on Instagram. This was in response to Milano's statement in 2022, where she expressed concern for Spears' well-being. Spears felt it was simply "bullying" masquerading as concern. Spears' post again ignited people's attention to the couple's relationship, which has always been contentious: public opinions and scrutiny that pop star Spears has to endure after her battle with conservatorship.
15) Matthew Perry and Keanu Reeves
No one expected that Matthew Perry and Keanu Reeves would have a feud. Still, their alleged disagreement surprised everyone when Perry wrote in his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, and appeared to criticize Reeves by questioning why he "still walks among us."The line immediately prompted a backlash from fans defending the reputation Reeves enjoys. Perry later apologized, stating that he selected Reeves' name at random.
16) Doja Cat and Noah Schnapp
In 2022, Noah Schnapp leaked private DMs from Doja Cat to connect with fellow Stranger Things co-star Joseph Quinn. Doja reacted during a live stream on TikTok, calling Schnapp's actions "snake-like." He apologized publicly, but the scandal was just the beginning of something more surprising——it added another dimension to celebrity social media drama that highlighted how badly people humorously cross privacy lines in today's digital world.
17) Will Smith and Chris Rock
Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars is one of Hollywood's most jaw-dropping moments. Following a joke by Chris Rock about Jada Pinkett Smith's alopecia, a heated Smith got up from his seat, went on stage, and slapped Rock. The entire industry was shocked when Smith released a public apology, and the Academy announced a 10-year ban for Smith at the Oscars. Even though Smith is remorseful, the slap remains one of the most critical and controversial moments in live television history.
18) Chelsea Handler and Angelina Jolie
Chelsea Handler's dislike of Angelina Jolie dates back to Jolie's relationship with Brad Pitt, a buddy of Handler's friend Jennifer Aniston. On her program, Handler often trashed Jolie, referring to her as a "homewrecker" and "demon." While the nastiness was pretty one-sided, Handler's jokes at Jolie's expense demonstrated her loyalty to Aniston. Now, Handler has tempered her words for Jolie, but viewers remember her extreme defense of her friend.
19) Kim Kardashian and Tyson Beckford
Kim Kardashian and Tyson Beckford's beef started in 2018, when Beckford openly insulted Kardashian's body, accusing her of too many surgeries. Kardashian fired back with a reply that many took as lightly aimed at his gayness, but the response she got was letting her know she "body-shamed" and made "homophobic" comments. The two went viral before the conflict could cool down. Kardashian later stated that she didn't mean to be spiteful, but the situation remains one of the most memorable clapbacks, making celebrity social media feuds unpredictable.
20) Jane Fonda and Megyn Kelly
The awkward tussle between Jane Fonda and Megyn Kelly occurred on Megyn Kelly Today in 2017 when Kelly ambushed the actress by asking her about her plastic surgery. Fonda was not amused, deflecting the question and later labeling it inappropriate. Kelly did not ease the tension when she mocked Fonda's level of militancy in activism during the Vietnam War. The cultural clash made way for Fonda's outspoken confidence against Kelly's confrontational interview style.