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From public enemy to fan favorite, some celebrities have made the ultimate comeback! Join us as we count down our picks for the most hated celebrities who completely turned their reputations around and won the public's heart again! Which celebrity's redemption arc surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments below!
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00:03Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the biggest moments of
00:07hated celebrities throughout history who changed their negative reputations to become loved
00:11by the public.
00:12We are the land of the brave.
00:14Our loved ones fought and many died for these freedoms.
00:18Number 10.
00:20Rebecca Black When her 2011 music video for Friday went
00:23viral, life changed for Black — and not in a fun way.
00:31Instead, her music was ridiculed by viewers and the media as parodies of it swept across
00:36the internet.
00:36While Black admirably dealt with the mockery, even releasing a follow-up Saturday in 2013,
00:41the abuse and hatred she received took its toll as she had to go to therapy, especially
00:46as she was a teenager at the time.
00:47When I first saw all these nasty comments, I did cry.
00:51I felt like this was my fault and I shouldn't have done this and this is all because of
00:56me and now I don't feel that way.
00:58After coming out as queer in 2020 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Friday, Black released
01:03a hyper-pop remix the year after.
01:05With nostalgia and a catchy tune, the single took off, launching Black into the music stardom
01:10she was meant to be in.
01:11I'm just really grateful to have gone through all of these years of growing up and to be
01:17in a place where, yeah, again, I just love what I do.
01:21Number 9.
01:21Paris Hilton The heiress of the Hilton Hotel's empire, Hilton
01:25was launched from socialite to celebrity in 2003, when her intimate tape went online.
01:30She soon became a reality star with The Simple Life, portrayed as a stereotype of a materialistic
01:37blonde with a high-pitched voice.
01:38Hilton quickly annoyed people who believed her success was undeserved due to her nepotistic
01:43status.
01:43In 2020, Hilton released the documentary This Is Paris.
01:46When I first started this film, I honestly don't even recognize that person anymore.
01:53This changed public perception of her as she spoke about the hatred she sustained over
01:56the years and childhood abuse.
01:58Showcasing her business acumen, Hilton shocked many by speaking in her normal voice and admitting
02:03the reality version of her was a character.
02:05Now, she has respect for playing the fame game so well.
02:08I created this character inside of this place because I just wanted to be someone else.
02:15Number 8.
02:15Kristen Stewart From 2008 to 2012, Stewart was the undisputed
02:19queen of actors who were despised.
02:32If she wasn't mocked for her apparent wooden acting in the Twilight franchise, she was hated
02:36for cheating on Robert Pattinson with her Snow White and the Huntsman director, Rupert
02:40Sanders.
02:41However, Stewart had a point to prove.
02:43She moved away from high-budget work, instead focusing on juicy independent films that proved
02:47she was a good actor.
02:55Now, with an Oscar nomination for her work in 2021's Spencer, Stewart has completely turned
03:00it around.
03:01Since we mentioned Pattinson, he was hated for his Twilight work too, and was expected
03:05to vanish from the public eye.
03:06However, a focus on acclaimed indie work leading to becoming Batman changed that belief's
03:11trajectory.
03:19Do you?
03:20Number 7.
03:21Pete Davidson
03:22For years, many people seemingly didn't know that Davidson was a comedian.
03:26What material did you expect?
03:28Honestly, coming to see it at 21, did you think I was going to have opinions?
03:32Instead, they focused on his relationships with famous women, which included Ariana Grande,
03:37Margaret Qualley, and Kim Kardashian.
03:39These stories far outshone his work on Saturday Night Live and in the 2020 film The King of Staten
03:44Island.
03:57Yet quietly, he began going public with his mental health struggles and substance issues.
04:02In 2024, the comedian went into a wellness facility to get help with his mental health.
04:06Later, Davidson stated to W Magazine that he took a step back from celebrity, and rebranded
04:11himself with a focus on his work and businesses, as he didn't want to be known as a loser who
04:16just dates people.
04:17Now it's real, yeah, so we're having a blast though.
04:20Number 6.
04:21David Beckham
04:22In 1998, going into the World Cup, Beckham was one of the most recognizable and popular
04:26footballers on the planet.
04:36However, when he was sent off against Argentina, he was blamed for causing England's elimination.
04:41The UK press targeted him, as fans sent Beckham death threats and spat at him.
04:46Understandably, this saga wore the midfielder down, as it seemed there was no end to the
04:50hate.
04:51They wanted me hung up.
04:53It took years, but eventually, with his consistent high performances on the pitch, and increasing
04:57football's profile, fans began to welcome Beckham back.
05:00One major part in turning doubters of Beckham into supporters was his scoring a last minute
05:05free kick against Greece in 2001, which sent England to the 2002 World Cup, solidifying
05:10him as a national treasure.
05:21Number 5.
05:23Ingrid Bergman
05:23After multiple Oscar nominations and one win, Bergman's professional life was going
05:28great in Hollywood.
05:29However, after she was cast in 1950's Stromboli, it all came apart.
05:34At the time, the Swedish star was married to Peter Lindstrom.
05:40However, she had an affair with director Roberto Rossellini, whom she later married.
05:45As such, Bergman became the most hated figure in the US, so much so that Senator Edwin C.
05:50Johnson called her evil in the Senate.
05:52I didn't understand that the hatred became so enormously big.
05:59Bergman was essentially exiled from Hollywood, forcing her to continue acting in Europe.
06:04It wasn't until 1956, when she separated from Rossellini, that Bergman returned to Hollywood.
06:09She revitalized her career as she collected two more Oscars and one nomination, turning
06:14her back into the icon she once was.
06:16It took 25 years, and then I was forgiven, but it took that long.
06:21Number 4.
06:22Miley Cyrus
06:23After being an incredibly popular Disney star for years, Cyrus wanted to break free of that
06:27image.
06:28This is not over!
06:30Somebody made a mistake!
06:31However, upon doing so, she drew the ire of the media.
06:34In 2013, the Hannah Montana legend performed at the MTV Video Music Awards, where she twerped
06:40against Robin Thicke.
06:41With that, the press began accusing Cyrus of using illegal substances and criticizing her
06:45for expressing her sexuality, severely turning support against her.
06:49What I see in myself is being bold and courageous and having the guts, and I see myself being
06:54authentic to me.
06:55Cyrus spoke about the backlash causing her to be isolated.
06:58The hate also extended toward her siblings, who were harassed at school.
07:02This seemingly affected her professional life, as it wasn't until 2023's Flowers, when
07:06Cyrus secured a number one hit single after 10 years, returning to her rightful place as
07:11a music icon.
07:20Number 3.
07:21Sean Penn
07:21As talented as Penn was on screen, when he broke into the industry in the 80's, the
07:26public had a problem supporting his work.
07:28Hey bud, what's your problem?
07:31No problem at all.
07:33Often coming across as arrogant, he didn't help himself with multiple legal issues after
07:37allegations that he'd attacked people, including journalists and an extra.
07:41Penn's tumultuous marriage to Madonna also didn't make him look great.
07:44Then you say all hell broke loose.
07:46Now what exactly is hell breaking loose for you?
07:48Yet, after carving out his acting legacy, it was Penn's focus on activism that began to
07:53change the public's perception of him.
07:55The multi-time Oscar winner was one of the first big names to criticize the U.S.'s hostilities
08:00towards Iraq in 2002.
08:01He also supported same-sex marriage, and helped raise awareness and finances for disasters,
08:06earning the public's respect.
08:08I think that this is an extraordinary moment to see, you know, who's at play to make this
08:15world more equitable.
08:17Number 2.
08:18Jane Fonda
08:18In 1972, the same year she won an Oscar, Fonda went to Hanoi, Vietnam, to oppose the
08:24Vietnam War.
08:25What have we become as a nation if we are trying to exterminate, and if we call the men heroes
08:30that were used by the Pentagon to try to exterminate an entire people?
08:33What business have we to try to exterminate a people?
08:35Soon after, she became one of the most hated figures of the war, earning her the nickname
08:40Hanoi Jane.
08:41Fonda, on top of backing and publicly supporting North Vietnam, which the U.S. was against,
08:46was photographed with an anti-aircraft weapon.
08:48As a result, some believed the actor was a traitor to the states, and despised her.
08:53I understand why people, you know, especially guys who were there or who have, you know,
08:59relatives who were there, are angry with me.
09:02Fonda has spoken about her regrets in posing for the anti-aircraft photo.
09:05With time and her stellar work in activism and acting over the years, Fonda's reputation
09:10was reversed, and she became beloved once again.
09:13Lines are being crossed, and it's enough.
09:18I think we've had enough, right?
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09:37Number 1. Justin Bieber
09:39For years, Bieber was the figurative punching bag for comedians, the media, and the internet.
09:51If they wanted to ridicule a celebrity, he was the low-hanging fruit they chose.
09:56Thrust into incredible fame at a young age, the Canadian musician was heavily publicized
10:00with every mistake he made, bringing more mockery.
10:02However, in recent years, Bieber began changing the perception of his image.
10:06It was hard for me being that young and being in the industry and not knowing where to turn.
10:12He's spoken about the trauma he'd experienced in the music industry and called for more support
10:16for emerging talent and to make it safer for them.
10:19Bieber has also become a prominent supporter of mental health and substance-issue treatments
10:23following his own struggles with them.
10:24As such, he's earned a great deal of respect from people who'd previously hated him.
10:28There's just so much pain, and uh, yeah.
10:34Are there any other celebrities who went from being universally hated to beloved heroes
10:38that we missed from our list?
10:39Let us know below.
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