It wouldn’t be another year in Hollywood without more than a few headline-making scandals. From Selena Gomez to Kyle Richards, and even Lizzo, we’re breaking down the biggest pop culture scandals of 2023.
Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater
Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater, co-stars in the upcoming “Wicked” movie, have found themselves in the spotlight for more than just their acting. In July, Ethan filed for divorce from his wife of four years, Lilly Jay, with whom he shares a baby boy. Ariana, who portrays Glinda in the film, also split from her husband Dalton Gomez earlier this year. A source told E! News that Ethan and Ariana “were both separated before they got together.” While neither has publicly commented on their relationship, Ariana has been spotted supporting Ethan at his latest Broadway endeavor, “Spamalot.”
Lizzo’s Legal Battle
In August, Lizzo faced serious accusations from three former dancers, Crystal Williams, Arianna Davis, and Noelle Rodriguez, who filed a lawsuit against her in the Los Angeles Superior Court. They alleged that Lizzo created a hostile and abusive work environment, including sexual harassment, weight shaming, and disability discrimination. Lizzo denied the claims on social media, stating, “Usually I choose not to respond to false allegations, but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed.” She emphasized that the accusations came from former employees who had been reprimanded for inappropriate and unprofessional behavior on tour.
Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards and her husband Mauricio Umansky were rumored to be divorcing after 27 years of marriage. On July 3rd, the couple addressed the speculation in a joint statement on Instagram, stating, “Any claims regarding us divorcing are untrue. However, yes, we have had a rough year, the most challenging one of our marriage, but we both love and respect each other tremendously. There has been no wrongdoing on anyone’s part.” Kyle also denied romantic rumors surrounding her friendship with country music star Morgan Wade. Meanwhile, Mauricio, who competed on “Dancing With the Stars,” was photographed holding hands with his dance partner Emma Slater, which both denied as anything more than a dance partnership.
Selena Gomez, Hailey Bieber, and Kylie Jenner
In February, a seemingly silly scandal involving Selena Gomez, Hailey Bieber, and Kylie Jenner took social media by storm. After Selena mentioned that she accidentally over-laminated her eyebrows, Kylie posted a selfie on Instagram Stories with the caption “this was an accident” over her brows and shared a screenshot of her and Hailey on FaceTime with a close-up of their brows. Social media users speculated that Kylie was shading Selena, but Kylie shut down the rumors, commenting on TikTok, “This is reaching. No shade towards Selena ever and I didn’t see her eyebrow posts. You guys are making something out of nothing. This is silly.”
Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix
The Bravo world was rocked in March 2023 when it was confirmed that Vanderpump Rules stars Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix had broken up after nine years together. Their split followed reports that Tom had been having an affair with co-star Raquel Leviss for several months. On March 7th, Tom publicly apologized to Ariana on Instagram, stating, “Most of all, I want to apologize to Ariana. I made mistakes, I was selfish, and made reckless decisions that hurt somebody I love. No one deserves to feel that pain so traumatically and publicly.” Raquel also issued a public apology to Ariana on social media, and the two came face-to-face during the explosive season 10 reunion on June 7th.
As 2023 progresses, it’s clear that Hollywood’s drama and intrigue show no signs of slowing down, with every twist and turn providing ample fodder for headlines and gossip.
