10 Occasions When Celebrities Took On Their Critics

Many celebrities claim they are unaffected by both positive and negative criticism, with some even saying they avoid reading reviews of their own performances or the entire project. However, there are a few well-known figures who, after receiving harsh reviews, publicly lash out at their critics, challenging their opinions or even going so far as to insult the reviewer personally.

Here are 10 notable moments where celebrities publicly confronted their critics.

10. Justin Bieber vs. Morgan Stewart

Spontaneous surprise performances by beloved pop stars can be exciting for fans, especially when the performer has been absent for a while, as was the case with Justin Bieber's two-year hiatus before his return to the Coachella festival in 2019. However, along with the enthusiastic fans eager to see their favorite artist again, critics are always nearby, ready to analyze the performance.

In addition to the accusations of lip-syncing, the TV personality commented on the performance, stating, 'I did not realize it was going to be that bad,' and even criticized Bieber’s appearance, remarking that his forehead looked like he had placed an 'Oxy pad on it.'

Ariana Grande, who was a headliner at Coachella and shared the stage with Bieber during the performance, defended him by explaining that their spontaneous decision to perform together meant he had to rely on a backtrack.

9. Cara Delevingne vs. Joe Morgenstern

The 2016 comic book movie *Suicide Squad*, starring Margot Robbie and Will Smith, centers on a group of supervillains who must work together to save the world. While the film was a commercial hit, many prominent critics were not as impressed, offering mostly negative reviews that expressed boredom and dissatisfaction with the project, with some even being brutally honest in their critiques.

Joe Morgenstern, in his scathing review for the *Wall Street Journal*, wrote, 'In a word, ‘Suicide Squad’ is trash. In two words, it’s ugly trash,' and went as far as calling it 'an all-out attack on the whole idea of entertainment.'

While Morgenstern’s comments may appear exaggerated, he was by no means the sole critic who dismissed the movie. Actress Cara Delevingne, who portrayed June Moone/Enchantress, voiced her disapproval of the harsh reviews in an interview with *Reuters*. She called the critics 'absolutely horrific, they’re really, really horrible,' suggesting their negative opinions might stem from not being fans of superhero films.

8. Michael Che vs. Stephen Hyden

It’s not uncommon for celebrities to defend their friends or colleagues when faced with negative criticism. A prime example of this occurred when *Saturday Night Live* cast member and co-head writer Michael Che took to Instagram to criticize Uproxx writer Stephen Hyden, who had penned a critical article about Che’s Weekend Update co-host, Colin Jost, titled 'Why Does Everyone (Still) Hate SNL’s Colin Jost?'

Given Che’s background in comedy, it’s not surprising that he used humor to respond to the criticism. However, many were taken aback by the obscene jokes he made, which involved bestiality. Che posted a series of fake news stories about a writer allegedly engaging in sexual acts with rescued dogs, heavily implying that he was targeting Hyden.

This wasn’t the only time Che responded aggressively to his critics. He also found himself in a prolonged public dispute with podcaster and former *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* writer Jack Allison, who had referred to *SNL* as the 'worst show on TV.'

7. Samuel L. Jackson vs. A.O. Scott

Critic A.O. Scott wasn’t particularly impressed with the 2012 action-packed sci-fi blockbuster *The Avengers* in his *New York Times* review. Based on Marvel comics, *The Avengers* centers on a team of superheroes and uniquely skilled individuals who unite to protect Earth from alien invaders. Scott’s review was largely negative, criticizing not only the action scenes but also Samuel L. Jackson’s portrayal of Nick Fury, the spy and Avengers founder, describing him as 'more master of ceremonies than mission commander.'

Jackson fired back with a tweet, stating, '#Avengers fans, NY Times critic AO Scott needs a new job! Let’s help him find one! One he can ACTUALLY do!'

It seems that Scott’s criticism didn’t have much of an effect, considering that Jackson has continued portraying Nick Fury in over a dozen projects in the years since.

6. James Corden’s Father vs. Mark Kermode

When an actor voices an animated character, their voice tends to stand out much more than when they appear in a live-action film. Late-night host and actor James Corden’s voice made quite an impression on BBC Radio’s Mark Kermode, who criticized Corden’s portrayal of the title character in the 2018 film *Peter Rabbit*. Kermode found Corden’s voice to be 'irritating' and felt it was ill-suited for the character. While Kermode pointed out other flaws in the film, Corden’s voice was clearly his main issue.

Corden’s father, Malcolm, took offense to Kermode’s remarks, which aired on *Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review*, and expressed his feelings in a letter to the show. In it, he said, 'To hear you describe our son as “appallingly irritating” was very difficult to listen to.' He continued by reprimanding Kermode for singling out James Corden’s performance and hoped the critic would never have to experience hearing such harsh words about his own children.

Kermode responded to the criticism with a self-deprecating remark: 'I believe my parents have heard me called much worse things than appallingly irritating.'

5. Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon vs. Mike Hale

Mike Hale, a critic for *The New York Times*, wasn’t impressed with the dramatic HBO series *Big Little Lies* (2017–2019), starring Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, and Shailene Woodley. Based on Liane Moriarty’s bestselling novel, the show delves into the hidden deceptions and wrongdoings beneath the surface of seemingly perfect family life in a group of Monterey, California, mothers.

Hale criticized the show by writing, 'The women’s stories are just a compendium of clichés about upper-middle-class angst.' He specifically took issue with a subplot about an abusive relationship, which he unfavorably compared to *Fifty Shades of Grey*.

During a Q&A with the Television Critics Association, both Kidman and Witherspoon referenced the review, but neither mentioned the critic by name. They both expressed doubts that the reviewer had watched the entire series, with Witherspoon speculating that he had likely only seen the first episode. Witherspoon also shared that she and Kidman had discussed the review between themselves.

Kidman described her reaction to the review by saying, 'I was like, please watch the whole show…' While she acknowledged that watching all the episodes would be a time-consuming task, she believed it was important for the critic to view the entire series in order to 'make the show whole.'

4. Lizzo vs. Rawiya Kameir

In a mixed review of Lizzo's highly praised 2019 album *Cuz I Love You*, Pitchfork critic Rawiya Kameir gave credit to Lizzo's talent but also pointed out some flaws in the album. Kameir felt some of the 11 tracks were 'burdened with overwrought production, awkward turns of phrase, and ham-handed rapping.' She also questioned how realistic Lizzo’s aspiration to be her generation’s Aretha Franklin was, suggesting she was more comparable to Natasha Bedingfield.

After receiving a 6.5-star review, Lizzo vented her frustrations on social media, tweeting a now-deleted message: 'PEOPLE WHO ‘REVIEW’ ALBUMS AND DONT MAKE MUSIC THEMSELVES SHOULD BE UNEMPLOYED.'

Kameir’s review stood in stark contrast to the album’s generally favorable reception. While some fans sided with Lizzo and her remarks sparked a broader conversation about the role of non-musicians in music journalism, Lizzo's response largely led to a negative backlash.

3. Lana del Rey vs. Anne Powers

Del Rey took issue with Powers’ reference to her 'bad girl' persona, a label that has followed her over the years. However, the singer strongly stated that she has never embraced such a persona.

Although Del Rey’s response was relatively measured, focusing on the review itself rather than resorting to personal attacks, many of her fans were less restrained in their reactions. While some defended Powers, a significant portion of her fanbase insulted Powers’ appearance and called for the destruction of her career, despite much of the review being positive.

Powers later clarified the controversy, stating that her goal was 'to evoke the complicated feelings her music prompts while also exploring what, in LDR’s music and in the culture, might have contributed to such feelings.'

2. Vincent Gallo vs. Roger Ebert

In 2003, Roger Ebert harshly criticized the film The Brown Bunny, a story about a motorcycle racer and his romantic life, written, directed, and starring Vincent Gallo. Ebert went as far as to call it 'The worst film in the history of the [Cannes Film] Festival.' This sparked an unusual feud between Gallo and Ebert that seemed more like a childish argument than a serious film critique.

The feud’s highlights included Gallo mocking Ebert’s physique and claiming to have cursed Ebert’s prostate and colon. Ebert, in turn, remarked that watching his colonoscopy footage on TV was more entertaining than The Brown Bunny. In response to Gallo’s body joke, Ebert pointed out that while he could lose weight, Gallo would 'still be the director of The Brown Bunny.'

Surprisingly, something good came out of the conflict. Gallo re-edited the film, and Ebert ultimately gave it a favorable review.

1. Rob Schneider vs. Patrick Goldstein

Actor and comedian Rob Schneider, known for his eccentric and irreverent films like Deuce Bigalow Male Gigolo, has often faced harsh criticism from movie reviewers. When Patrick Goldstein reviewed the 2005 sequel, Deuce Bigalow European Gigolo, for the Los Angeles Times, he humorously claimed the movie didn’t get any Oscar nominations because there was no category for 'Best Running Penis Joke Delivered by a Third-Rate Comic.'

Schneider, who also co-wrote the film, responded by taking out full-page ads in both Hollywood Reporter and Daily Variety targeting Goldstein. Schneider kept the insult train rolling in an open letter, sarcastically suggesting that Goldstein had never won a Pulitzer Prize because no such category exists for 'Third-Rate, Unfunny Pompous Reporter…'

The most heated part of this feud came when renowned critic Roger Ebert entered the ring, publicly defending Goldstein’s credibility and criticizing the film. Ebert, citing his Pulitzer as evidence of his authority, trashed Deuce Bigalow European Gigolo in his review, concluding with a blunt remark that the movie 'sucks.'