15 Strange And Spectacular Ways People Ended Their Own Careers

Michael Richards: from Seinfeld star to career-ending racial slur.
15 Strange And Spectacular Ways People Ended Their Own Careers

Ah, the stories of careers ended before their time. From legendary sports stars to Hollywood icons, these stories are a reminder that fame and success can be fleeting. Some of these stories are well-known, while others have faded into obscurity. But all of them are a testament to the power of the entertainment industry, and the risks of fame and fortune. 

It’s easy to forget that the celebrities we idolize are just people, and that their careers can end in an instant. John Kruk was a legendary .300 hitter who retired mid-game, Ardian Syaf was fired from Marvel for sneaking anti-Christian and anti-Semitic messages into artwork, and Jimmy ‘The Greek’ Snyder was fired by CBS for making controversial racial remarks. 

Michael Richards’ career ended with a few racial slurs, Natalia Kills was removed from X Factor NZ after her outburst, and Keri Hilson was blacklisted by the BeyHive after allegedly dissing Beyoncé. Iggy Azalea’s career came to an abrupt halt after her tour was canceled and her tweets were criticized, and Szymon “Guru” Nieciag was fired from his professional Starcraft 2 team for making an offensive remark against Muslims.  

These stories are a reminder that no one is immune to the pitfalls of fame and fortune. So let us take a moment to remember these celebrities and their careers, and the lessons we can learn from them.

Striptease: The Movie That Ended Demi Moore’s Career.

CRACKED DEMI MOORE: FROM 80S ICON TO BOX OFFICE POISON. Demi Moore was a successful actress in the 1980s and early '90s, but her career was damaged after the release of the 1996 movie Striptease, which received a poor critical reception and led to her being branded box office poison.

Far Out Mag 

Geena Davis: From Oscar Winner to Box Office Bomb.

CRACKED GEENA DAVIS: FROM HOLLYWOOD A-LISTER TO CUTTHROAT ISLAND FLOP. Geena Davis' career was nearly ruined by the box office flop Cutthroat Island, which was considered one of the biggest box office bombs of all time.

Looper 

Curt Flood: Baseball’s Revolutionary Hero.

CRACKED ITAL CURT FLOOD REFUSED TO ACCEPT A TRADE. Flood was a centerfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals who refused to accept a trade in 1969, challenging the reserve clause and sparking a revolution in professional sports. His case was unsuccessful, but it led to the introduction of free agency and changed the game of baseball forever.

The Atlantic 

“Fancy” success fades away: Iggy Azalea’s career in freefall.

CRACKED IGGY AZALEA TWEETED HER CAREER TO DEATH. Iggy Azalea's career has been on a downward spiral since the success of her hit single 'Fancy' in 2014, culminating in the cancellation of her tour and criticism for her lack of authenticity and controversial tweets.

SMH / Vox 

Natalia Kills’ wild journey of name-changing and hate-filled comments.

CRACKED 6 YEARS LATER, NATALIA KILLS' X FACTOR NZ OUTBURST STILL HAUNTS HER. Natalia Kills' 2015 X Factor NZ outburst resulted in her being removed from the show and having a difficult time performing or making music, leading her to legally change her name and form the band Cruel Youth.

Pedestrian  

Michael Richards’ career ended with a few racial slurs.

CRACKED MICHAEL RICHARDS: FROM SEINFELD STAR TO CAREER-ENDING RACIAL SLUR. Michael Richards destroyed his career in 3 minutes when he used racial slurs and berated a Black audience member, and his career never recovered to the level of success he had on Seinfeld.

CheatSheet 

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