LOS ANGELES: Hollywood may be identical with glitz and glamour, but behind the scenes, tensions often run high, leading to some of the most memorable celebrity feuds in entertainment history.
From bitter social media spats to dramatic on-stage confrontations, these high-profile conflicts have kept fans and the media captivated for years.
Taylor Swift vs. Kanye West
One of the most infamous rivalries in pop culture began at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards when rapper Kanye West interrupted singer Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech for Best Female Video, claiming that Beyoncé deserved the award instead.
“I’ma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time,” West declared, a moment that sparked years of back-and-forth between the two artists.
Their feud resurfaced in 2016 when West released his song Famous, which included controversial lyrics about Swift.
A leaked phone call between the two led to further confusion over whether Swift had approved the lyrics.
In response, Swift addressed the fallout in her 2017 song Look What You Made Me Do, while West continued to allude to their discord in his music.
Britney Spears vs. Christina Aguilera
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera were often pitted against each other as they competed for the title of pop’s leading star.
While their early careers overlapped as former Mickey Mouse Club castmates, speculation of a rivalry intensified when they took different musical paths.
Their tension was further amplified following their infamous kiss with Madonna at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, where Aguilera was overshadowed in media coverage in favour of Spears.
Though the singers have since spoken positively about one another, their rivalry remains one of pop music’s most talked-about clashes.
Meghan Markle vs. The Royal Family
When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced their decision to step back from royal duties in 2020, it marked the beginning of a highly publicised rift with the British royal family.
The tensions escalated with the couple’s explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, during which they alleged racism and neglect within the institution.
Markle claimed that an unnamed royal family member had raised concerns about the skin colour of their then-unborn son, Archie, while Harry revealed that his father, King Charles III, had stopped taking his calls.
The accusations prompted a rare response from Buckingham Palace, stating that “recollections may vary.”
Cardi B vs. Nicki Minaj
The rivalry between rappers Cardi B and Nicki Minaj first gained public attention in 2018, ending in a physical altercation during New York Fashion Week.
According to TMZ, Cardi B allegedly threw a shoe at Minaj at a Harper’s Bazaar party, escalating tensions that had been brewing over accusations of sabotage and industry competition.
Both artists took jabs at each other in interviews and on social media, with Minaj denying claims that she had spoken negatively about Cardi B’s parenting.
Although both have hinted at moving past their conflict in recent years, their feud remains one of the most notorious in the rap industry.
Mariah Carey vs. Jennifer Lopez
A long-standing tension between Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez dates back to the early 2000s, when Carey famously responded to a question about Lopez by saying, “I don’t know her.”
The remark, widely interpreted as a dig, fuelled speculation that Carey resented Lopez’s rise in the music industry.
Although Lopez has never publicly engaged in the feud, Carey has continued to downplay any association with her fellow singer.
In a 2018 interview with Pitchfork, Carey once again stated that she was unaware of Lopez, reinforcing the notion that their tension remains unresolved.
Justin Bieber vs. Orlando Bloom
The feud between singer Justin Bieber and actor Orlando Bloom made headlines in 2014 when the two were involved in a heated confrontation at a restaurant in Ibiza.
Reports from The Daily Mail suggested that the dispute stemmed from rumours that Bieber had been linked to Bloom’s ex-wife, model Miranda Kerr.
Eyewitnesses claimed that Bloom attempted to punch Bieber, though the altercation was quickly broken up.
Following the incident, Bieber appeared to taunt Bloom by posting a photo of Kerr on Instagram. While both have since moved on, their clash remains one of Hollywood’s most unexpected rivalries.
Jay-Z vs. Solange Knowles
In one of the most shocking celebrity feuds, footage from a 2014 surveillance camera at New York’s Standard Hotel showed singer Solange Knowles physically attacking her brother-in-law, rapper Jay-Z, in an elevator while Beyoncé stood by.
The video, leaked by TMZ, sparked widespread speculation about the cause of the altercation.
Though the family never fully disclosed the reasons behind the dispute, reports suggested it was linked to Jay-Z’s alleged infidelity.
A joint statement later released by the family described the incident as a “private matter,” and the three appeared to reconcile publicly in the years following.
Sarah Jessica Parker vs. Kim Cattrall
The long-running feud between Sex and the City co-stars Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall has played out both on and off-screen.
While Parker has consistently described their relationship as professional, Cattrall has been outspoken about her grievances, accusing Parker of being “cruel” and dismissing the idea of a friendship between them.
In 2018, following the death of Cattrall’s brother, Parker reached out with condolences. However, Cattrall publicly rejected the gesture, posting on Instagram: “You are not my family. You are not my friend.”
Their ongoing tension contributed to Cattrall’s decision not to participate in the Sex and the City revival, And Just Like That…
