Stars Who Were Fired From Jobs: Nick Cannon, Roseanne Barr and More

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Stars Who Were Fired From Jobs: Nick Cannon, Roseanne Barr and More

Even the biggest names in Hollywood have been fired from jobs at some point. Nick Cannon was fired from ViacomCBS in July 2020 after making anti-Semitic remarks on his “Cannon’s Class” podcast. The America’s Got Talent alum said that Black people “can’t be anti-Semitic when we are the Semitic people” and he also stated that white people are “a little less” than Black people due to a lack of melanin. “ViacomCBS condemns bigotry of any kind, and we categorically denounce all forms of anti-Semitism,” a spokesperson for the company said in a statement to Us Weekly. “We have spoken with Nick Cannon about an episode of his podcast ‘Cannon’s Class’ on YouTube, which promoted hateful speech and spread anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.” Cannon, in turn, called out ViacomCBS for deciding to “make an example of an outspoken Black man.” He also demanded for the mass media conglomerate to grant him “full ownership” of his Wild ‘n Out brand. Similar to Cannon, ABC cut ties with Roseanne Barr from her namesake sitcom in 2018 after making a racist comment about Valerie Jarrett, a Black woman who served as former President Barack Obama’s adviser. Barr referred to The Planet of the Apes when mocking Jarrett via Twitter, and the network responded by condemning her rhetoric and firing her. [jwplayer F8OcqTb2-l3ahXupL] Barr’s series, Roseanne, carried on without her and changed its name to The Conners. Her character was also killed off the series. For stars including Julianne Moore, they were axed from jobs for creative reasons. Moore was supposed to appear in 2018’s Can You Ever Forgive Me?, but she was ultimately fired and replaced by Melissa McCarthy. (The Bridesmaids actress went on to earn an Academy Award nomination for her efforts.) After the McCarthy-led film was released, the Still Alice actress admitted on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen that she hadn’t seen the movie yet because it’s “too painful” for her. Moore, however, said she carried no ill will toward her successor. “I love Melissa McCarthy, I worship her. I think she’s fantastic,” the Oscar winner said in March 2019. “So I’m sure she’s great.” Meanwhile, stars such as Madonna and Snoop Dogg were axed from positions before they reached the level of fame they have today. Scroll through the gallery below to see what stars have been fired from jobs over the years. [podcast_block]

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Lisa Kudrow

The Mad About You alum revealed that she was set to play Roz Doyle on Frasier before filming for the pilot took a turn.

"I wasn’t right for the part [or] for the chemistry of the group," Kudrow explained during The Howard Stern Show in June 2021. "So that wasn't working."

Kudrow then went on to audition for Friends, but was worried she wouldn't get the part. The actress explained how she felt director James Burrows let her go from Frasier because he didn't like her acting, so she was worried when she had to audition for him again. 

"I did it and he went, ‘No notes,'" Kudrow explained. "I left going that either means, 'She’s beyond help and helpless, just like I always knew,’ or ‘Yeah, it’s perfect. I have no notes.'"

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Gina Carano

In February 2021, Lucasfilm announced that the Texas native would not return to The Mandalorian after two seasons. The actress, who played Cara Dune, came under fire for sharing controversial posts on social media — one of which equated modern Republicans to Jewish people during the Holocaust.

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Johnny Depp

After a judge ruled that Johnny Depp physically assaulted ex-wife Amber Heard at least 12 times in 2020, the actor was cut from the third Fantastic Beasts film. "I have been asked to resign by Warner Bros. from my role as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts and I have respected and agreed to that request," he wrote via Instagram at the time, before denying that the allegations made against him were true. His role is set to be recast.

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Nick Cannon

ViacomCBS announced in July 2020 that they would end their longtime partnership with the Masked Singer presenter due to anti-Semitic comments he made on his “Cannon’s Class” podcast. In response to the firing, Cannon reprimanded the company in a lengthy Facebook statement and demanded to have ownership of his “billion-dollar” Wild ‘n Out brand. 

“I will not be bullied, silenced, or continuously oppressed by any organization, group or corporation,” he wrote. “I am disappointed that Viacom does not understand or respect the power of the Black community. I was a member of the Viacom ‘family’ for over twenty years. Since I was a minor, we worked together to make great positive entertainment and I was handed many opportunities that I am grateful for.”

Cannon also apologized for the way he “furthered the hate speech.”

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Mark Webber

Webber was supposed to star alongside Cobie Smulders in ABC’s hour-long drama Stumptown, but he was ultimately replaced by New Girl alum Jake Johnson. The Scott Pilgrim vs. the World actor slammed the network in regard to their alleged reason to recast him on the series. 

“Look, I’m a straight white male so I know my journey has been way less painful in this warped industry, but I’m being recast in a network television show because I’m not handsome enough for the executives,” he tweeted in May 2019. “It’s important for me to share the real pain we endure in this industry.”

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Stassi Schroeder, Kristen Doute, Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni

All four of the reality stars were fired from Vanderpump Rules in June 2020 after past comments resurfaced amid the Black Lives Matter movement. Schroeder and Doute came under fire after former costar Faith Stowers revealed that they falsely reported her to the police in 2018. Both women apologized via Instagram. Schroeder added that her "actions were not racially driven" but she vows to do better.

Boyens and Caprioni, who joined the cast in season 8, were also fired after tweets that included racial slurs resurfaced. They both apologized during the reunion.

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Dee Nguyen

MTV announced that it was cutting all ties with the Challenge star in June 2020. “As a result of Dee Nguyen’s offensive comments on the Black Lives Matter movement, we have severed ties with her,” the series announced via Twitter at the time. “Out of respect for our Challengers, we’ll air our season as planned. We strongly condemn systemic racism and stand with those raising their voices against injustice."

Ngyuen released an apology via social media, noting that she is "a POC that cares about BLM," and would be stepping away from her social media to focus on her mental health.

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Hartley Sawyer

The actor was fired from The Flash in June 2020 following multiple homophobic and racist tweets resurfacing. "Hartley Sawyer will not be returning for season seven of The Flash," The CW, Warner Bros. TV and Berlanti Productions said at the time. "In regards to Mr. Sawyer's posts on social media, we do not tolerate derogatory remarks that target any race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation. Such remarks are antithetical to our values and polices, which strive and evolve to promote a safe, inclusive and productive environment for our workforce."

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Shane Gillis

The newcomer was dropped from Saturday Night Live’s 45th season in September 2019 — before he even appeared on the show — after a resurfaced clip showed him using a racial slur. An SNL spokesperson confirmed the news in a statement to Us, saying: “We were not aware of his prior remarks that have surfaced over the past few days. The language he used is offensive, hurtful and unacceptable.” In the wake of his firing, Gillis tweeted that it “feels ridiculous for comedians to be making serious public statements” and joked that he “was always a Mad TV guy anyway.”

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Jenelle and David Eason

After eight years on Teen Mom 2, MTV cut ties with Evans in May 2019, shortly after her husband admitted to killing their dog. “MTV ended its relationship with David Eason over a year ago in February 2018 and has not filmed any new episodes of Teen Mom 2 with him since,” an MTV spokesperson exclusively told Us Weekly in a statement at the time. “Additionally, we have stopped filming with Jenelle Eason as of April 6, 2019 and have no plans to cover her story in the upcoming season.”

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Kevin Hunter

One week after his estranged wife, Wendy Williams, filed for divorce, Hunter was fired from his job on her daytime talk show. “Kevin Hunter is no longer an executive producer on The Wendy Williams Show," a spokesperson for the series told Us Weekly in April 2019. "Debmar-Mercury wishes him well in his future endeavors.”

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Julianne Moore

The Academy Award-winner revealed during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in March 2019 that she was fired from the film Can You Ever Forgive Me? before production had even begun. “I didn’t leave that movie, I was fired,” she clarified. “Nicole [Holofcener] fired me … I think she didn’t like what I was doing.” Moore also discussed the rejection she felt following the incident: “The only other time I was fired was when I was working at a yogurt stand when I was 15. So it felt, yeah, it felt bad.”

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Megyn Kelly

Kelly was let go from NBC in October 2018 after she made controversial comments about blackface on Megyn Kelly Today, which was subsequently canceled. The morning show had only been on for a year. "You truly do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface at Halloween or a black person who puts on whiteface,” she said on the show. “That was OK when I was a kid, as long as you were dressing like a character.” The journalist later apologized for her remarks: "I realize now that such behavior is indeed wrong, and I am sorry.” She left with the full remainder of her $69 million contract.

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James Gunn

Walt Disney Studios announced in July 2018 that it had fired the director from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 after several of his controversial tweets about pedophilia and rape resurfaced. “The offensive attitudes and statements discovered on James’ Twitter feed are indefensible and inconsistent with our studio’s values, and we have severed our business relationship with him,” Disney chairman Alan Horn said in a statement to Us. Gunn addressed his old posts via Twitter a day before the news. He wrote in part, “I used to make a lot of offensive jokes. I don’t anymore. I don’t blame my past self for this, but I like myself more and feel like a more full human being and creator today.”

On March 15, Deadline reported that Gunn was rehired by Disney to write and direct Guardians of the Galaxy 3.

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Roseanne Barr

After Barr made headlines for a racist tweet about Barack Obama’s former White House advisor Valerie Jarrett, ABC announced that Roseanne would not be returning for season 11 (also known as season 2 of the revival.)  “Roseanne’s Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show,” Channing Dungey, president of ABC Entertainment, said in a statement on May 29, 2018. Barr apologized for her remark, tweeting, “I apologize to Valerie Jarrett and to all Americans. I am truly sorry for making a bad joke about her politics and her looks. I should have known better. Forgive me-my joke was in bad taste.” Roseanne, which originally aired from 1988 to 1997, returned to ABC in 2018 for season 10 and was picked up for season 11 before the scandal. 

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Garrison Keillor

Syndicated radio host Garrison Keillor confirmed in November 2017 that he was let go by Minnesota Public Radio after allegations of harassment surfaced against him. In an email to the Associated Press, Keillor claimed that his employment was terminated “over a story that I think is more interesting and more complicated than the version MPR heard.”

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Matt Lauer

The Today show cohost was fired from NBC overnight after a colleague accused him of sexual misconduct in the workplace. Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb announced the news live on air on Wednesday, November 29. 

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Harvey Weinstein

Film producer Harvey Weinstein was fired from his own company, The Weinstein Company, on October 8, 2017, amid sexual harassment allegations from various women, including Cara Delevingne, Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltroww, Mira Sorvino and Rosanna Arquette. His termination came after both The New York Times and The New Yorker published reports, detailing decades of alleged sexual harassment by the producer, which he has since denied.

“In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors of The Weinstein Company — Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar — have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately,” the company’s board of representatives said in a statement to Us Weekly at the time.

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Kathy Griffin

CNN fired the comedian from its New Year’s Eve special after she posed for a photo featuring a decapitated head that resembled President Donald Trump. "CNN has terminated our agreement with Kathy Griffin to appear on our New Year’s Eve program,” the network tweeted on May 31, 2017. Hours earlier, Griffin — who also lost an endorsement with Squatty Potty over the incident — apologized for her actions.

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Kate Walsh

After she got fired from Burger King — "The assistant manager didn't like me!" she has said — Walsh went to Dairy Queen. "I stayed in fast-food royalty."

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Bill Hader

"A sorority group rented out the movie theater. They were rude to me so I told them the end of Titanic," Saturday Night Live's Hader told Us of his short-lived gig at a movie theater.

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Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger and Steve Jones

X Factor judges Abdul and Scherzinger were abruptly given the axe after the Fox hit's first season, along with host Jones. "None of the three left on their own accord," Deadline reported, adding that the show's producers were "cleaning house."

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Gilbert Gottfried

Insurance company Aflac fired the distinctive-voiced actor in 2011 after he made a slew of jokes via Twitter about Japan's tragic earthquake and tsunami. "I sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by my attempt at humor regarding the tragedy in Japan," Gottfried — who had voiced the commercials' duck for 10 years — said at the time.

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Janet Hubert

Fightin' words! When Fresh Prince of Bel-Air mom Hubert was replaced by actress Daphne Reid in 1993, the actress placed the blame squarely on the series star, Will Smith. "This constant reunion will never ever happen in my lifetime unless there is an apology," Hubert said after asked about a possible show reunion. "He doesn't know the word."

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Charlie Sheen

"They fired me, man. I made them $5 billion and gave you guys almost a decade of entertainment and they fired me," Sheen lamented one month after CBS and Two and a Half Men's Chuck Lorre gave him the boot from the popular half-hour comedy. "I was having too much fun. What did they expect [when they paid me that kind of money]?"

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Hugh Jackman

Before taking on the role of Wolverine in X-Men, Jackman was on counter duty at a 7-11 convenience store. "I got fired after six weeks because the [boss] said I talked too much to the customers," Jackman, 42, tells Us.

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Edward Norton

Though Norton portrayed The Hulk in the 2008 film remake, he was not asked back to portray Bruce Banner in the Avengers. Why? He simply wasn't willing to collaborate with costars including Scarlett Johansson and Robert Downey, Jr., the studio alleged. "This seemed to us to be a financial decision but, whatever the case, it is completely their prerogative, and we accepted their decision with no hard feelings," a rep for Norton said after his dismissal.

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Tony Bennett

"The worst job I ever had was as an elevator operator," the legendary crooner told Us. "They fired me the first day."

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Snoop Dogg

The rapper's stint as a local grocery bag boy didn't last too long. "I was better at stealing the groceries than I was at bagging them," Snoop has said.

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Madonna

As a struggling up-and-coming singer in New York City, Madonna (then known as Madonna Louise Ciccone) took on several odd jobs to make ends meet. She was reportedly let go from a gig at a Times Square Dunkin Donuts after squirting donut jelly on a customer.

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Terrence Howard

Before he made a splash in films including Hustle & Flow and Crash, Howard earned a living as a paper boy for The Cleveland Press — but not for long! "They fired me after two weeks, 'cause I didn’t get up early enough," he tells Us.

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Michael Fassbender

While the Shame actor can't recall being let go from an acting gig, he had a tougher time waiting tables before his big break. "When I was waitering somewhere they just didn't ask me to come back, so I guess that was the polite way of getting fired," he explains. "I was always better behind the bar. I couldn't really carry so many plates and stuff."

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Bryan Batt

Don Draper unceremoniously fired Batt's character Sal Romano on season 3 of Mad Men, but the actor insists there was no hard feelings. "Sometimes your part gets written out of a TV series. It does happen. A lot of times it is not personal. It is the economy," Batt told Us at the time. "I can't take it personally. Getting fired as an actor, we're rejected so much, so you build a tough skin."

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Andy Cohen

He may frequently sip cocktails during his nightly Bravo series Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, but when TV exec Cohen was in his younger years, drinking sure did cost him. "I was a waiter in Boston — a great one," he explains. "But I was 20, took a drink after my shift, and they fired me on the spot. I was so mad."

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Cheryl Burke

"My mom owned a nursing agency and she fired me," the Dancing With the Stars pro told Us. "I'd always be late to work [and] never clock out so I would always get paid more than I was supposed to. [The job] was just not a good thing. Never work for your mom or dad."

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Chris Noth

The Sex and the City alum was fired from his gig on The Equalizer in December 2021 after multiple women accused him of sexual assault. “Chris Noth will no longer film additional episodes of The Equalizer, effective immediately,” Universal Television and CBS confirmed in a joint statement at the time. The actor played William Bishop, a former CIA director who acted as a liaison between vigilante Robyn McCall (Queen Latifah) and the government agency where she also used to work.

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Jennie Nguyen

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star lost her snowflake in January 2022 after filming just one season with the franchise. The Bravo personality faced backlash after racist social media posts resurfaced online. “I just want you to understand that, during that time, I had a team of people that [were] helping me. Whether they posted [or] I posted, it doesn’t really matter at this point,” Nguyen said at the time in an Instagram Live video. “For me, it’s on my account and I take full responsibility and accountability for what was posted. I know I hurt a lot of people. My viewpoint during that time in 2020 was emotional and it brings back a lot of memories during that time when we went through such a tragic, terrible year.”