Pete Evans, Ellen DeGeneres, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: the biggest celebrity downfalls of 2020

It’s no secret that 2020 has been tough for all of us, but it has been especially brutal for the once-loved celebrity chef Pete Evans.

While Evans has been making headlines for the wrong reasons for years, it was in 2020 that he solidified his reputation as a full-blown conspiracy theorist, and many outraged saw his decision to share a Nazi symbol on social media as the last straw. he filled the glass. Australians.

While Evans apologized and claimed not to know the meaning behind the symbol, it was nevertheless dropped by publisher Pan Macmillan Australia and a number of bookstores and retailers, supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths, and from an upcoming season of Network 10’s. I’m a Celebrity. .

His future career prospects and earning potential now look increasingly bleak, with a veteran media analyst telling news.com.au last month that the scandal had likely cost him “millions.”

Australian public relations expert Nicole Reaney told news.com.au that Evans was a “serial source of controversy”, with her sensational claims that she does not “believe in” the deadly coronavirus pandemic that is also causing widespread furor this year. year.

Evans has also made headlines for all the wrong reasons in the past for everything from his divisive views on diet and health to his criticism of sunscreen and his upgrade from a $ 15,000 “BioCharger” that he allegedly eradicated. COVID-19, a move that saw him slapped with a $ 25,000 fine by the Therapeutic Products Administration.

“His outlandish claims put him in the ‘high risk’ category, bringing caution to any brand that wants to partner or align itself,” Reaney said.

“It is the delivery of his messages that disappointed him. Instead of presenting evidence as a considerate communicator, he presents himself as a divisive activist, drawing attention from the media and social networks.”

However, Evans isn’t the only celebrity to get into trouble in 2020.

ELLEN

American comedian Ellen DeGeneres compared the coronavirus quarantine to being in jail while broadcasting from her multi-million dollar mansion earlier this year, a comment that spearheaded the demise of her personal brand.

Since then, a number of employees have come forward with allegations of bullying and a toxic office culture behind the scenes of his popular talk show, which is all the more irritating given his reputation as someone who continually shows kindness.

“The latest reports reveal that the show is now struggling to land celebrity guests and attract advertisers after a year of negative headlines,” Reaney said.

“Even their apology did not accept the initial ownership, which was against their brand image.

“Celebrities, talent managers, and sponsors conduct due diligence and should be cautious about what they line up, making sure not to compromise their own brand.”

HARRY AND MEGHAN

When Harry and Meghan announced that they would be leaving their royal duties and moving to America, it sparked a wave of media attention of the kind they were apparently trying to avoid.

While there was great public sympathy regarding the relentless scrutiny the couple was under, their subsequent actions tarnished their image.

“Another source of backlash was their expressed intention to downsize and move away from the media, but suggestions for photo opportunities followed by a major deal with Netflix called into question the true intent of the move,” Reaney said.

“Another element that contributed to the image mishap was the couple who confronted the media with a lawsuit at the height of a global pandemic.”