The power of a tweet has never been stronger in Hollywood. One wrong step and you can lose your job, your fans and, in some cases, your career. TheWrap has put together a list of Hollywood tweets that have proven costly in 2018.
(Dis)honorable Mention: Forky in ‘Toy Story 4’ teaser
On a more lighthearted note, Twitter was left bewildered when Disney Pixar introduced a new character in a “Toy Story 4” teaser in November. It wasn’t a toy, but a utensil.
Considering Disney Pixar’s track record, the backlash about Forky is likely only temporary. I mean, they made us fall in love with a rat.
Kanye West
After staying away from the spotlight early in the year, West returned to our lives and Twitter feeds in April, announcing that he was going to write a book called “Break the Simulation.” The book never came to fruition. Instead, he spent the following weeks leading up to the release of his album “Ye” waxing poetic about his philosophy on life through his tweets.
Then things turned political.
“You don’t have to agree with trump but the mob can’t make me not love him,” West tweeted on April 25. “We are both dragon energy. He is my brother. I love everyone. I don’t agree with everything anyone does. That’s what makes us individuals. And we have the right to independent thought.”
West fans were puzzled by this remark, considering that he once said former Republican president George W. Bush didn’t care about black people on live TV. His reputation continued to fracture when he wore a MAGA hat on SNL and even held a meeting with the president.
Bette Midler
Many in the U.S. were glued to their TVs for Supreme Court appointee Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings in late September. During the hearing, Kavanaugh addressed sexual assault allegation made against him.
Seemingly frustrated by the treatment of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, “Hocus Pocus” star Bette Midler tweeted that “women are the n-word of the world” in an attempt to compare the current strife to centuries of racism.
Midler later apologized, saying, “The too brief investigation of allegations against Kavanaugh infuriated me.”
Despite backlash from fans, Midler did not face immediate repercussions because of the tweet.
Roseanne Barr
For the first few months of 2018, Roseanne Barr bestrode the entertainment world like a colossus. The first episode of the revival of her beloved 1990s sitcom “Roseanne” was the highest-rated entertainment telecast on a Tuesday in six years, and ABC gave it early renewal just three days later.
The season’s final episode aired May 22 to still-huge ratings. Seven days later, it was all over.
On the morning of May 29, Barr went on a rant with a series of increasingly confrontational political tweets, culminating in a tweet about the appearance of former Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett that was widely denounced as racist.
She later apologized to Jarrett, but the damage was done. ABC fired her and canceled “Roseanne” the next day, then three weeks later greenlit a continuation series called “The Conners” with the same cast and crew, minus Barr.
Kevin Hart
On Dec. 4, comedian Kevin Hart posted on Instagram that after years of being asked to host the Oscars, he would finally do so in 2019.
The post immediately led to backlash when Twitter users dug up years-old tweets from Hart joking about punishing his son if he found out he was gay.
Two days after the initial announcement, Hart stepped down as host.
“I’m sorry that I hurt people..” he tweeted. “I am evolving and want to continue to do so. My goal is to bring people together not tear us apart. Much love & appreciation to the Academy. I hope we can meet again.”
Upcoming “Jonny Quest” screenwriter Terry Rossio
The “Shrek” and “Aladdin” screenwriter sent a controversial tweet in November explaining his thoughts on those who vaccinate their children.
The backlash led to him apologizing, although there is no word on his status in the upcoming “Jonny Quest” film.
(Dis)honorable Mention:”Breaking Bad” actor Dean Norris
We’re not sure if he meant to tweet it or not, but when Norris simply tweeted the words “Sex gifs” on May 22, he was flooded with responses making fun of the situation.
Norris never told us what the tweet meant. Since he probably won’t ever get reprimanded for the harmless tweet, we might never know.
(Dis)honorable Mention: Mark Ruffalo addresses ‘Avengers 4’ slip-up
The “Hulk” star let the name of the upcoming Avengers movie slip on Jimmy Fallon in early October.
“.@JimmyFallon, I trust that you will cut my spoiler slip on the show tonight. That was ‘off the record’ homey,” Ruffalo tweeted on Oct. 5.
But Ruffalo and the “Tonight Show” underestimated the smart people of the internet. When the clip of the interview aired, the internet did its magic and took the bleeped clip of Ruffalo and found that he said the words “End Game.” Whoops.
