Hate moves incredibly fast on the internet, and it always feels very permanent to everyone involved. But for many modern stars, brutal public backlash became the loudest launchpad for their biggest career wins. Hate spreads rapidly online and feels permanent for those affected. However, for many contemporary stars, intense public backlash has often served as a powerful catalyst, propelling them toward their greatest career successes.
These celebrities did not fold under cancel culture or relentless online rage at any point whatsoever. They worked much harder, stayed focused, and let their results do all the talking. Hate can absolutely fuel greatness. These celebrities remained unyielding in the face of cancel culture and online outrage. They channeled the negativity into motivation, working tirelessly to achieve great results that spoke for themselves. Hate can indeed fuel greatness.
Taylor Swift, from snake to billion-dollar icon
In 2016, Taylor Swift was publicly called a snake after her very public feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian exploded online. Snake emojis flooded all her posts, and that hashtag trended globally on Twitter.
She turned all that hate into her sixth studio album, Reputation, which was released in November 2017. It sold 1.22 million copies in its very first week and became the best-selling album of the year.
Cardi B, from stripper shame to Grammy history
Before fame, Cardi B faced brutal public judgment for her entire past as a stripper and her unfiltered online personality. Critics called her untalented, embarrassing, and completely unworthy of a serious music career at all.
In 2019, she became the very first solo female rapper ever to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. Her massive 2020 WAP single also shattered the record for the biggest single-week streaming numbers.
Billie Eilish, the younger the target, the bigger the win
Billie Eilish rose to fame as a teenager and immediately faced online hate for her fashion, her body, and her music. At 18, she admitted at the 2020 BRIT Awards that she felt very hated.
She made Grammy history in 2020 by sweeping all four of the major categories in one legendary night. She became the youngest artist ever to win Album of the Year in the entire Grammy history.
Morgan Wallen, industry ban to best-selling album
In February 2021, a viral video of Morgan Wallen using a racial slur rocked the entire country music industry. His label quickly suspended him, and every major radio group pulled his songs off the air immediately.
His album Dangerous saw digital album sales jump 1,220 percent the very next day, even as the full ban held. It finished 2021 as the best-selling album across all genres in the entire United States.
Megan Thee Stallion, shot and doubted, still standing
In July 2020, Megan Thee Stallion was shot in both feet by rapper Tory Lanez after a party. Instead of receiving support, she faced cruel online mockery and a relentless campaign to discredit her story.
She pushed through all of the trauma with incredible strength and public dignity throughout the process. In 2021, she won three Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist, becoming the first female rapper since Lauryn Hill.
Travis Scott, tragedy to triumph with utopia
The 2021 Astroworld Festival tragedy left 10 people dead in a crowd crush and nearly ended Travis Scott’s career. Sponsorships were cut, his image suffered deeply, and many believed his music career was entirely over.
He returned in July 2023 with his album Utopia, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The album posted 496,000 equivalent units, making it the second-biggest streaming debut of that entire year.
Doja Cat, controversy after controversy, charts all the same
In 2020, Doja Cat faced heavy backlash when footage appeared to link her to racist online chat rooms online. She denied racial involvement but admitted her past behavior had been irresponsible and genuinely damaging overall.
Her music still dominated global charts despite all the intense controversy constantly surrounding her public name online. Her 2023 single Paint the Town Red from the album Scarlet reached number one in over 30 countries.
Olivia Rodrigo, sophomore pressure turned into a critical masterpiece
After her 2021 debut album, Sour, became a smash hit, critics publicly questioned whether Olivia Rodrigo could ever deliver success again. Some outright called her a one-hit wonder and openly doubted her songwriting talent entirely.
Her 2023 sophomore album GUTS debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 302,000 first-week equivalent units. BBC critics surveyed 25 major publications worldwide and named GUTS the single best album of the year.
Miley Cyrus, from Hannah Montana hate to Grammy gold
After leaving Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus faced relentless public hate for her bold and shocking 2013 reinvention with Bangerz. Former fans and conservative commentators attacked her performances and her decision to shed her wholesome past.
She kept creating on her own bold terms, and the results proved every critic completely wrong. Her 2023 single Flowers became a global record-breaker and earned her her first Grammy for Record of the Year.
Kim Kardashian, from scandal to billion-dollar empire
Kim Kardashian faced massive public hate in 2011 after her 72-day marriage to Kris Humphries collapsed in front of the world. Critics labeled her fake and called her completely unworthy of any serious cultural platform.
She turned every insult into a smart business strategy and never looked back once. She built SKIMS into a billion-dollar brand, expanded into beauty and legal advocacy, and her net worth now surpasses one billion.
Featured Image: Photo by nagi usano on Wikimedia Commons.
