1. Suzanne Somers vs. Three’s Company
Money clash dimmed the laughter. When Suzanne Somers demanded a raise on Three’s Company ($150,000/episode to match John Ritter’s), she didn’t expect it to lead to her exit. After becoming a breakout star as Chrissy Snow, Somers asked for pay equal to her male co-star John Ritter. ABC refused, and tensions soared. What followed was a cold shoulder from the producers, ignored scripts, and finally, replacement. Her character was awkwardly written out, appearing only via short phone calls for a while. Though the show continued, something about the chemistry changed. Fans noticed the shift, and the tight trio that made the sitcom sparkle never quite recovered. Somers later said the experience felt like betrayal, while others viewed her as pushing too hard too soon. Either way, the rift became one of the earliest examples of pay equity battles in Hollywood, and one that didn’t end smoothly.
2. David Lee Roth vs. Van Halen
Rock ego wrecked the rhythm. Van Halen wasn’t just a band, it was a full-blown musical machine. But by the mid-1980s, tensions between frontman David Lee Roth and the Van Halen brothers reached a boiling point. Roth’s flamboyant showmanship clashed with Eddie Van Halen’s desire for more musical complexity. Their visions drifted apart fast. Add in egos, conflicting schedules, and public digs, and the band simply couldn’t keep it together. Roth left in 1985 at the band’s peak, and while both parties found some solo success, the split hurt. Fans were divided. The spark that defined classic Van Halen dimmed. They later reunited briefly, but the trust and magic never fully returned. “Creative differences” might’ve been the label, but it was really a clash of pride and ambition.
3. Joan Collins vs. Linda Evans
Drama queens went off-script. Dynasty was built on glam, glitz, and catfights. But what made it iconic on screen started causing problems behind the scenes. Joan Collins (as Alexis) and Linda Evans (as Krystle) were perfect TV rivals, throwing drinks and trading slaps. But off camera, the rivalry wasn’t just scripted, it became personal. Reports say the actresses competed over wardrobe, storylines, and star treatment. Tension escalated during press interviews and photoshoots, where each reportedly avoided being upstaged. Though both women stayed professional for the camera, producers admitted that filming became harder as their working relationship froze. Eventually, the backstage tension was just as strong as the onscreen feuds, and it cost Dynasty some of its creative balance.
4. Chevy Chase vs. Bill Murray
One punch too many on SNL. Saturday Night Live has seen its share of conflicts, but the fight between Chevy Chase and Bill Murray is the stuff of comedy legend. In 1978, Chase returned to host the show after leaving the previous year. Tension had built up between him and Murray, who had taken his spot in the cast. Before the live taping, the two comedians exchanged insults backstage, until it turned physical.According to crew members, the altercation ended with punches and harsh words, only minutes before Chase was set to go live. The tension lingered for years, with both actors avoiding each other. Though they’ve reconciled since, the feud added to Chase’s reputation as difficult behind the scenes and hinted at the creative chaos that sometimes fuels brilliance on SNL.
5. Diana Ross vs. The Supremes
Supreme voice broke the harmony. In the 1960s, Diana Ross was the rising star within The Supremes. Motown founder Berry Gordy gave her the spotlight, rebranding the group as “Diana Ross & The Supremes” in 1967. But the move didn’t sit well with the other members, especially Florence Ballard. Ross’s growing control, special treatment, and solo ambitions started to overshadow the trio’s once-equal bond. Tensions boiled until Ballard was replaced. The group continued with new lineups, but the original Supremes magic couldn’t be replicated. Ross eventually left for a solo career, and though she soared, fans mourned the disbanding of one of Motown’s biggest acts. What began as sisterhood in song ended in silent bitterness.
6. Debbie Reynolds vs. Elizabeth Taylor
Friendship fractured by romance. Debbie Reynolds and Elizabeth Taylor were Hollywood pals until Taylor began an affair with Reynolds’s husband Eddie Fisher in 1959. Reynolds later reflected, “Women liked her and men adored her , my husband included,” highlighting the deep personal hurt ﹙via Entertainment Weekly﹚. The betrayal rocked showbiz and made national headlines, turning a cozy trio into a tense triangle overnight. Though they spent years apart amid public embarrassment, Reynolds later softened her stance. She emphasized she “reconciled with Taylor later in life,” and they maintained friendship until Taylor’s death in 2011, when Taylor even left Reynolds a piece of sapphire jewelry in her will. The feud showed how fame could magnify personal heartbreak, but also offered an ache of forgiveness in the end.
7. George Harrison vs. Paul McCartney
Beatles brothers lost harmony. Behind the Beatles’ global fame was a simmering feud, George Harrison felt creatively stifled by McCartney’s dominance. Tension peaked during the Get Back sessions in January 1969, when George temporarily walked out over McCartney’s overbearing musical direction. His frustration inspired solo songs like “Run of the Mill”, reflecting despair at business and creative frustrations with McCartney. After Paul publicly declared the Beatles were over in April 1970, George and Ringo felt blindsided and hurt. The split led to tense legal disputes and lasting awkwardness. While later reunions like Anthology mended some bridges, memories of hurt and creative clash remained etched beneath the group’s legend.
8. Will Smith vs. Janet Hubert
Aunt Viv walked off. On The Fresh Prince of Bel‑Air, Janet Hubert played Aunt Viv with warmth and authority. Yet by Season 3, rumors swirled of clashes with star Will Smith. Hubert later said creative and personal disagreements, along with tensions over her evolving character, prompted her exit in 1993. The show replaced her mid‑season, and the shift affected both storylines and audience connection. Will Smith and Hubert barely spoke for decades, though lashing interviews and jabs in Hollywood gossip fueled the feud. In 2020, Smith publicly apologized and expressed respect for Hubert’s talents. The reconciliation helped heal an unfortunate fracture in a beloved sitcom’s legacy.
9. Isaiah Washington vs. T.R. Knight
Grey’s Anatomy insult ignited a storm. In 2007, Grey’s Anatomy actor Isaiah Washington used a homophobic slur against co-star T.R. Knight at an awards after-party. The comment sparked outrage and became national news, leading to Washington’s on‑set suspension by ABC. Knight went public with his hurt, and others in the cast supported him, turning a private insult into a workplace conflict. Washington later apologized, was written out, and Knight left the series, all amidst declining morale on set. The scandal exposed deeper issues of inclusion and accountability in TV, showing how one poorly chosen word can unravel careers and reputations overnight.
10. Walter Matthau vs. Barbra Streisand
In 1968, Walter Matthau starred opposite Barbra Streisand in Hello, Dolly! but had little kind to say afterward. He complained that “kissing her was torture” and called working with her “impossible,” hinting at clashing personalities and filming frustrations (via contemporary reports). Streisand reportedly found Matthau difficult too, making the production tumultuous behind the scenes. Their feud never exploded onscreen, but the harsh remarks lingered in Hollywood lore. The tension underscored how even polished, musical movies can be built on rocky partnerships, where glamour masks deep undercurrents of resistance.
11. Bea Arthur vs. Betty White
On The Golden Girls, Bea Arthur and Betty White played lifelong friends Dorothy and Rose, yet off-camera their relationship was frosty. Producer Marsha Posner Williams revealed in June 2025 that, despite appearing polite on set, Arthur openly disliked White, even using a harsh insult multiple times, including during a grocery store run (“within 30 seconds … the c‑word came out”). Arthur reportedly found White’s bubbly, audience‑breaking style unprofessional and resented the attention White received during tapings.
This hidden tension shaped more than just water‑cooler gossip, it helped shape the show’s legacy. Arthur ultimately chose to leave after seven seasons, even though the others were willing to continue, and her exit effectively ended The Golden Girls. The experience reminds us how even beloved friendships in showbiz can conceal true rivalry, and how one person’s choice can conclude a cultural phenomenon, all while smiles roll into history.
12. Rob Lowe vs. The West Wing
Rob Lowe was one of the first cast members hired for The West Wing, with creator Aaron Sorkin shaping much of the pilot around his character, Sam Seaborn. But as the series progressed, other cast members began drawing more attention, and Lowe felt his role had been sidelined. His frustration grew when others received raises while his own requests went unheeded. By Season 4, Lowe decided to leave over these creative and contractual disputes, missing the Emmy buzz his co-stars enjoyed. He later returned briefly for a two‑episode cameo during the final season. The split highlights how a once‑central star can feel marginalized in an ensemble cast, a reminder that stories off-screen are sometimes just as compelling as the political drama on-screen.
13. Tony Curtis vs. Marilyn Monroe
Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe starred together in 1950s Hollywood and shared a complicated chemistry. Curtis later claimed Monroe’s moods made filming difficult, once saying their kiss felt like “Hitler,” a stark portrayal of emotional conflict and screen discomfort. Monroe, on her part, sensed Curtis’s jealousy and believed his comments came from insecurity rather than rivalry. What could have been classic Hollywood glamour turned bitter behind closed doors. Despite their on-screen collaboration, their dynamic left Curtis questioning Monroe’s emotional support, and Monroe doubting his intentions. It’s a snapshot of how fame and perception collide, leaving moments of stardom tinged with tension.
14. Tommy Lee vs. Vince Neil
Frontman Vince Neil and drummer Tommy Lee had a volatile relationship in Mötley Crüe’s prime. The two often clashed over attention, leadership, and their wild lifestyles. One infamous incident involved a fight on stage, followed by disagreements that turned public during interviews and tabloids. Though the band continued releasing albums and touring, these tensions disrupted the group’s cohesion. The ongoing drama took a toll on performance quality and public image, contributing to lineup shifts and long periods of inactivity. The feud serves as a reminder that even rock legends are not immune to internal pressure, and that creative bonds can fracture under excess.
15. Shelley Long vs. Cheers Cast
Shelley Long, who played Diane Chambers on Cheers, was beloved for her character’s intelligence and wit. But behind the scenes, Long reportedly clashed with colleagues and writers over story direction and her evolving role. Sources mention her growing discomfort at the changing tone of the show and her desire to steer her character in specific ways. After five seasons, Long chose to leave in 1987. While Cheers went on for several more seasons with Kirstie Alley as her replacement, fans and critics noted a shift in character chemistry and comic tension. The show arguably lost some of its early warmth and spark, a change that began with creative friction and shaped the barroom narrative for good.
16. Kim Cattrall vs. Sarah Jessica Parker
After Sex and the City wrapped in 2004, whispers of tension between Kim Cattrall (Samantha) and Sarah Jessica Parker (Carrie) began to swirl. Reports pointed to salary disputes and Cattrall feeling isolated, she allegedly wasn’t even invited to sit with the others during meals after Parker won an executive producer credit and salary bump. Cattrall later described their dynamic as professional rather than friendly, noting she already had her own life before joining the show. When HBO Max launched the revival And Just Like That… hopes of a full reunion fizzled. Cattrall declined to return for Seasons 1–2 but agreed to a solo cameo in Season 2, taped separately and without interacting with Parker or the showrunner. Though fans clung to rumors of a reconciliation, insiders say the relationship never really healed, casting a familiar tension over the franchise they once helped define.
17. Shannen Doherty vs. Jennie Garth
During Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990s), Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth played Brenda and Kelly, inseparable friends on screen. Off-screen, however, their relationship soured, reports of Dohrerty’s lateness, disagreements, and verbal sparring surfaced. The tension reached a boiling point, and producers replaced Doherty in Season 4 due to the disruptive atmosphere. Their feud didn’t stay behind closed doors. Media coverage fanned the flames, framing them as teenage rivals rather than co-stars. While the show soldiered on, viewers could sense chemistry lost and storylines shifted. Years later, both actresses reflected that early fame and conflicting personalities created a perfect storm on set, proof that real tension can mirror teen drama.
18. Charlie Sheen vs. Chuck Lorre
In 2011, Charlie Sheen erupted in a public meltdown, firing off insults at Two and a Half Men creator Chuck Lorre and causing a production shutdown that cost millions. CBS officially fired Sheen for “moral turpitude” on March 7, 2011, igniting a $100 million lawsuit that was settled later that year for around $25 million. The feud escalated into tabloid headlines, Sheen branded Lorre “a contaminated little maggot,” while Lorre’s vanity card jabbed at Sheen’s wild lifestyle. But more than a decade later, the two reconciled and worked together on Lorre’s series Bookie, even hugging during a 2023 reunion taping. It’s a powerful reminder that even the most explosive feuds can find peace, and sometimes lead to creative renewal.
19. Bill Bixby vs. Lou Ferrigno
The 1978–82 Incredible Hulk TV series starred Bill Bixby (Dr. Banner) and Lou Ferrigno (Hulk) working closely to bring the iconic transformation to life. In reality, they rarely interacted on set, both aimed to preserve the illusion of separate identities and even avoided watching each other’s work. The result was a professional distance, not personal hostility, but it did make collaboration emotionally challenging at times. While accounts show no major blow-ups, Bixby’s meticulous approach contrasted Ferrigno’s raw intensity. Ferrigno later called Bixby a “mentor” and “father figure,” hinting at underlying friendship despite the professional distance. Still, the emotional gap underlying their silent rivalry shaped the tone of the series and highlighted how even well-meaning partnerships can bear hidden friction.
20. Tony Danza vs. Taxi Creators
During Taxi (late 1970s–early 1980s), Tony Danza (Tony Banta) found creative tensions emerging between himself and the show’s creators. Danza reportedly pushed for more focus on his character, wanting deeper storylines and screen time, which clashed with the ensemble structure producers preferred. These disagreements added behind-the-scenes friction. This growing tension played out in authentic push-pull dynamics. Danza stayed through five seasons but later admitted the conflicts shaped his decision to leave. Though Taxi continued, fans felt the cast chemistry evolved with his departure, showing how actor ambition and creative vision can fracture even strong TV ensembles.
This story 20 Celebrity Feuds That Ruined Everything was first published on Daily FETCH
