It’s not just on-screen that the drama can be fever-pitch. Here are some of the biggest behind-the-scenes Hollywood scandals to rock film goers.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie – Mr. and Mrs. Smith
The fact that Brad and Angelina were getting cozy even when the shooting stopped was Hollywood’s worst-kept secret during the making of 2005’s Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The movie’s press team sprang into action when the media published snaps of the pair looking rather close, insisting that the actors were simply staying in character.
Of course, no one was fooled, and news of Pitt’s separation and subsequent divorce from his then-wife, Friends star Jennifer Aniston came shortly after. Pitt and Jolie were spotted holidaying in Kenya the same year, and the Brangelina brand was born.
Alfred Hitchcock – The Birds
He may have been a director of legendary status, but Hitchcock had a reputation for cruelty when it came to his leading ladies. The Birds, released in 1963, is one of the most iconic thrillers of all time; it’s inspired a whole raft of movies, and clips are frequently used in royalty-free stock footage libraries. However, the experiences of the film’s star Tippi Hedren on set were as horrifying as that of the character she played in the film.
Tippi has recalled in interviews how the renowned director insisted that she film some of the scenes with live birds tied to her, pecking her body, and how birds were repeatedly hurled at her. Apparently, after one of the birds, tethered to her shoulder, caught her close to the eye, Tippi snapped, and a doctor subsequently ordered the actress to take a week’s rest from filming.
Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron – Mad Max: Fury Road
Allegedly, the onscreen antagonism between Theron and Hardy’s characters in this 2015 smash hit movie was nothing compared to the animosity between the two when the cameras stopped rolling.
Apparently, the pair simply could not get along, with constant bickering on set and Theron complaining to the director about Hardy’s ‘aggressive’ attitude. The feud became so fiery that there were reports of the actors regularly bawling at each other and icing each other out when they weren’t fighting.
Hardy and Theron have since said that they were under a great deal of pressure and admitted that they wish they’d behaved differently during filming. Put it down to a good old clash of personalities, as it’s rumored that these stars have now kissed and made up. Not literally – that would be a scandal.
Kristen Stewart – Snow White and the Huntsman
Kristen Stewart starred as Snow White in this film, released in 2012 – and if you wondered why she wasn’t invited to reprise her role for the sequel, the answer is even juicier than you imagine!
During filming, Stewart embarked on a liaison with the movie’s director Rupert Sanders, and the pair were caught on camera kissing. To add to the scandal, the actress was in a relationship with fellow Twilight star Robert Pattinson at the time, while the director was married.
Even President Donald Trump weighed into the fray, stating on Twitter that Pattinson shouldn’t consider taking Stewart back, as, having cheated once, there was a high chance she’d do so again.
Stewart and Sanders eventually made a public apology. Whether or not Trump’s tweet brought this on is open to speculation.
Ryan Phillipe – Stop-Loss
Whether or not you remember the plot of the 2008 movie Stop-Loss is neither here nor there; the film has become most well known for its pairing of Ryan Phillippe, then eight years married to Reese Witherspoon, with co-star Abbie Cornish.
It was reported that during filming, Phillipe and Cornish hooked up, breaking Reese’s heart along with legions of the couple’s fans who had watched their relationship unfold over the years – the pair had even starred together in the earlier film, Cruel Intentions.
Phillippe’s career, which, until that point, had been on a promising upward trajectory, never fully recovered following the bad feeling of the public in relation to his infidelity.
Armie Hammer – Death on the Nile
This Poirot flick had already been filmed when some truly disturbing allegations came to light about one of its stars, Armie Hammer. The rumors were so troubling that Disney, the studio, considered reshooting the scenes featuring Hammer using a different actor – but this wasn’t possible given the restrictions of the pandemic at the time. CGI was even mooted to edit Hammer out of the shots, but this wasn’t workable, either.
Eventually, the studio decided to go ahead and release the film. However, one of the movie’s other stars, Gal Gadot, got into hot water for comments she made about Israel and for organizing the harrowing spectacle of a group of celebrities singing John Lennon’s Imagine from the balconies of their mansions.
Dallas Sting – Matthew McConaughey
And to round up, this scandal hit a mere matter of days ago. It’s been revealed that the plug has been pulled just six weeks before filming was scheduled to start on McConaughey’s new movie. It’s thought that this is the result of several serious allegations that have come to light regarding aspects of the true story on which the movie was to be based.
The studio has yet to release comment.
