1. Debbie Reynolds vs. Elizabeth Taylor
This feud was straight out of a soap opera and involved a love triangle that captivated the nation. Debbie Reynolds and Elizabeth Taylor were close friends—until Taylor began an affair with Reynolds’s husband, Eddie Fisher, in 1958, The New York Post explains. The scandal rocked Hollywood, with tabloids turning it into a juicy spectacle. Reynolds, America’s sweetheart, was publicly humiliated, while Taylor was painted as the ultimate femme fatale.
Despite the betrayal, Reynolds later revealed that she forgave Taylor after years of animosity. The two even starred together in the 2001 movie These Old Broads, written by Reynolds’s daughter, Carrie Fisher. Their reconciliation is a rare example of a celebrity feud that eventually found closure, though the drama leading up to it remains legendary.
2. Frank Sinatra vs. Mario Lanza
Frank Sinatra and Mario Lanza were two crooners of their time, but their rivalry wasn’t just about who could hit the higher note. Sinatra reportedly despised Lanza’s larger-than-life persona and saw him as a threat to his own dominance in music and film. Things took a turn when Lanza allegedly accused Sinatra of undermining his career by influencing producers to pass him over for major movie roles. Sinatra, never one to shy away from confrontation, fired back through interviews, throwing subtle jabs at Lanza’s weight and professionalism. According to Hollywood gossip, their feud even turned physical backstage at an event, though no one could confirm the details.
What made this feud even more bizarre was how their personalities clashed. Sinatra, the suave “Chairman of the Board,” was calculated and cool, while Lanza’s larger-than-life personality made him impulsive and prone to drama. Despite all this, the two managed to form a friendship, according to The New York Times. After Lanza’s untimely death in 1959, Sinatra remained tight-lipped, refusing to comment much about his former rival.
3. Bette Davis vs. Joan Crawford
This might be one of the most famous feuds on this list, but here’s the kicker—there’s so much you don’t know. Bette Davis and Joan Crawford’s hatred for each other wasn’t just Hollywood theatrics; it had layers, Harper’s BAZAAR reports. It all started in the early 1930s, when Crawford reportedly stole Davis’s crush, actor Franchot Tone, by marrying him. Davis claimed that Tone was still flirting with her on set, and she never forgave Crawford for swooping in.
Things escalated during the filming of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? in 1962. Crawford allegedly sabotaged Davis by placing weights in her pockets during a scene where Davis had to drag her across the floor. Meanwhile, Davis reportedly kicked Crawford hard enough to require stitches in another scene. Despite the drama, the film’s success made producers want a sequel—Crawford quit halfway through, forcing the project to be scrapped. To this day, their feud remains a blueprint for on-set drama.
4. Thomas Edison vs. Nikola Tesla
Yes, this one counts as a celebrity feud because, in their time, both Edison and Tesla were as famous as modern-day tech billionaires. According to Biography, their battle was less about personal insults and more about their war over electricity: Edison’s direct current (DC) vs. Tesla’s alternating current (AC). Edison waged a smear campaign, claiming Tesla’s AC was dangerous and even electrocuted animals in public to prove it. Tesla, for his part, called Edison a fraud who stole ideas from others and painted him as nothing more than a businessman masquerading as an inventor.
Their rivalry became almost comically over-the-top when Edison refused to acknowledge Tesla’s genius even as AC became the global standard for electricity. Tesla’s eccentricities only fueled Edison’s dislike, with Edison allegedly mocking Tesla’s claims of creating “free energy.” Tesla’s later struggles with poverty contrasted sharply with Edison’s fortune, adding a tragic undertone to their legendary feud.
5. Tupac Shakur vs. The Notorious B.I.G.
The feud between Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. is one of the darkest chapters in American pop culture, AP News reports. What began as a friendship between two of the most influential rappers of the 1990s turned into a full-scale East Coast vs. West Coast rivalry. The breaking point came in 1994, when Tupac was shot in a New York studio. Tupac accused Biggie and his associates of knowing about the attack beforehand, which Biggie denied.
Their feud played out in public, with Tupac releasing “Hit ‘Em Up,” a diss track aimed squarely at Biggie. Biggie fired back with subtle jabs in his own music. Their rivalry spiraled out of control, fueled by record labels, the media, and fans who chose sides. Tragically, both rappers were murdered within six months of each other, and their deaths remain unsolved. Their feud left an indelible mark on hip-hop and a lasting legacy of what happens when rivalries turn deadly.
6. Mariah Carey vs. Jennifer Lopez
The phrase “I don’t know her” became pop culture legend thanks to this feud. It all started when Mariah Carey was asked about Jennifer Lopez in an early 2000s interview and responded with the now-iconic shade. While Carey claims her comment was taken out of context, the media ran with it, painting her as dismissive of Lopez’s rising fame.
Rumors swirled that the beef stemmed from a dispute over music. Carey’s camp alleged that a sample intended for one of her songs was given to Lopez’s “I’m Real,” leading to resentment. Lopez has remained relatively quiet about the feud, but Carey doubled down over the years, maintaining that she truly doesn’t know Lopez. Fans have since turned the phrase into memes, but the tension between the two divas has never quite faded.
7. Chevy Chase vs. Bill Murray
Two of Saturday Night Live’s original stars had one of the most infamous fights in comedy history. Chevy Chase and Bill Murray’s feud reportedly began in the 1970s, when Chase left SNL after its first season to pursue a movie career. Murray, who joined the cast in the second season, reportedly resented Chase’s arrogance and thought he looked down on the rest of the cast.
The feud came to a head when Chase returned to guest-host the show in 1978. According to cast members, the two got into a heated argument backstage that turned physical. Murray reportedly insulted Chase’s personal life, and Chase fired back with an equally low blow. Though they later reconciled and even worked together on Caddyshack, their relationship remained frosty for years.
8. Katharine Hepburn vs. Spencer Tracy
While Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy were one of Hollywood’s most iconic on-screen duos, their off-screen relationship wasn’t always harmonious. The two had a tumultuous affair that was as much about passion as it was about clashing egos, according to The Telegraph. Hepburn, fiercely independent and progressive, often butted heads with Tracy, who was more conservative and traditional.
Their fights reportedly spilled onto movie sets, with directors often having to mediate their arguments. Despite their differences, the two maintained a deep bond that lasted until Tracy’s death in 1967. Their relationship remains one of Hollywood’s most complex and fascinating stories, proving that sometimes love and rivalry can coexist.
9. Howard Stern vs. Oprah Winfrey
Howard Stern and Oprah Winfrey may seem like an odd pair to feud, but their rivalry is surprisingly intense. Stern, known for his shock-jock persona, has repeatedly criticized Oprah over the years, accusing her of being insincere and pandering to her audience. He’s even claimed that Oprah is hypocritical, living a life of extreme wealth while preaching modesty to her viewers.
Oprah, for her part, has rarely acknowledged Stern’s comments, maintaining her trademark diplomacy. However, the tension escalated when Stern accused Oprah of using her media empire to push personal agendas, a jab that Oprah reportedly found offensive. While there hasn’t been a public confrontation, Stern’s ongoing tirades against her have kept the feud simmering. It’s a clash of two media titans with completely opposite styles, making it a fascinating (and awkward) rivalry.
10. Kanye West vs. Taylor Swift
No celebrity feud list would be complete without Kanye West and Taylor Swift’s rollercoaster of drama. It all began at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards when Kanye interrupted Swift’s acceptance speech, declaring that Beyoncé deserved the award instead. The moment became an instant cultural phenomenon, with reactions ranging from outrage to memes.
Years later, the feud reignited when Kanye released the song “Famous,” in which he claimed credit for Swift’s success and called her a derogatory name. Swift denied approving the lyrics, leading to a war of words between the two camps. The drama escalated further when Kim Kardashian released footage of a phone call between Kanye and Taylor, creating a “he said, she said” frenzy. Even now, their feud remains one of the most polarizing in pop culture, with fans still debating who was in the right.
11. Angelina Jolie vs. Jennifer Aniston
This feud is the ultimate love-triangle drama, with Brad Pitt at the center. Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt were Hollywood’s golden couple until Pitt met Angelina Jolie on the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith in 2004. Rumors of an on-set affair quickly spread, and shortly after Pitt and Aniston announced their divorce, he went public with Jolie.
Aniston, who rarely speaks about the situation, referred to the events as “uncool” in a 2008 interview, a statement that reignited public interest in the feud. Meanwhile, Jolie has denied starting a relationship with Pitt before his divorce. The media and fans have continued to pit the two actresses against each other, though neither has directly attacked the other. The feud remains one of the most enduring tabloid narratives of the 21st century.
12. Paris Hilton vs. Nicole Richie
Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie were inseparable best friends in the early 2000s, thanks to their hit reality show The Simple Life. However, things took a dramatic turn in 2005 when Hilton publicly announced that Richie was no longer her friend, saying, “Nicole knows what she did.” While the specifics of their fallout remain unclear, rumors suggest it involved Richie showing a private video of Paris at a party to embarrass her.
The feud led to a temporary halt of The Simple Life and divided their fanbase. Over the years, the two made amends, but their friendship was never the same. Paris later described their falling out as part of “growing up,” but the drama surrounding their feud has cemented its place in pop culture history.
