Content warning: this article contains discussions of antisemitism and discriminatory language that some readers may find upsetting.
Hollywood would not be half as interesting without its fair share of celebrity controversies.
I have always liked the instances where I scroll through social media and come across a well-liked person making an offhand statement, so that I can open the comments and see how the public is reacting. More often than not, the celebrity has already issued an apology — which is either decent or obviously forced.
It gets interesting when you see varying public responses. Sometimes viewers accept the apology and move on, whereas other times the celebrity faces so much backlash that they become officially cancelled.
This prompts a discussion over the notion of separating the art from the artist — when people continue supporting someone’s creative work (whether it be in movies, music, art or writing) without supporting the person behind it.
I find this debate interesting because I agree that some celebrity controversies should not overshadow the work they have produced. However, there have been too many instances of people getting away with harmful behaviour because of their achievements, positive public image and loyal fans who defend them no matter what. It becomes even more frustrating when the organizations promoting these celebrities fail to hold them accountable.
Take the controversy surrounding the participation of an athlete accused of domestic abuse at the 2024 Paris Olympics, or talk show hosts giving platforms to figures accused of abuse or who are known for their racist views. At what point do these organizations stop overlooking someone’s behaviour simply because they are famous?
Of course, separating someone’s work from who they are is subjective. We all have different limits, and what bothers me might not bother you.
To start off, we cannot talk about these ideas without mentioning Kanye West.
West, now known as Ye, was once one of hip-hop’s most influential artists. His songs “Stronger,” “Gold Digger” and “Heartless” helped establish his reputation as an artist who pushed musical boundaries. However, his so-called “legacy” has been overshadowed by repeated antisemitic and racist remarks, and more prominently, his public praise for Nazism.
Because of this, I will die on the hill that West’s actions have made it impossible to separate his art from who he is. For me, his repeated controversies make it increasingly difficult to admire him as an artist, regardless of his many musical achievements.
In 2018, West said in a live interview with TMZ that he believed that Black people being subject to 400 years of slavery “sounds like a choice.” He was met with harsh criticism online, and a TMZ employee that day said that he was “unbelievably hurt” by West’s comments and the way he had changed. However, what really had me going was that West’s first response to the backlash he faced was to defend his opinions online, expressing that his comments are examples of “free thought.”
Things only got worse in 2022, when West threatened to go “death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE” in a Twitter post. He also later appeared on Alex Jones’ Infowars, where he praised Hitler and denied the Holocaust.
To this day, I still have no idea how West concluded that it was a good idea to paint these kinds of ideas in a positive light.
He did apologize in 2023, declaring that he actually “love[s] Jewish people” and that comments like these show instances of bipolar disorder, which he talks about on the David Letterman show. But, to be frank, I really think that his apology meant nothing, because in 2025, he released a song called “H*il Hitler” — a track featuring Nazi slogans, an audio from a past Hitler speech and lyrics in which West proudly declares himself to be a Nazi. Major streaming platforms removed it, but the track still made its way online.
At this point, you can’t even separate the art from the artist because West’s disgusting beliefs are making their way into his art, and that is inexcusable. You would think West would be cancelled by now, which he kind of is.
The other day, I saw a video of him greeting popular YouTuber Kai Cenat at ComplexCon, where Cenat looked excited to dap up West. The comment section in the video barely acknowledged West’s controversies, and nobody seemed concerned about Cenat happily greeting someone who has repeatedly expressed antisemitic views and praised Hitler.
A comment section doesn’t represent everyone, and I’m not saying Cenat’s actions means that he supports West’s beliefs. Still, it makes me wonder whether Kanye West has actually been cancelled, or whether people have learned to overlook his actions? I know everyone has their own opinion, but truthfully, how could you even support an artist who has been constantly racist and antisemitic?
To shift this discussion in another direction, Tom Cruise is someone that I could separate the art from artist, despite his controversies. One of the biggest controversies is his involvement with Scientology, a religion founded by L. Ron Hubbard that believes humans are immortal spiritual beings. The organization has faced serious criticism over its treatment of former members and its influence on personal relationships.
Cruise’s association with Scientology has certainly affected his public image, and I understand why some people are uncomfortable supporting him because of it. However, I do not believe his religious beliefs automatically make his films any less enjoyable. I also like how he doesn’t let his religious beliefs seep its way into movies he’s in.
However, I can’t go without acknowledging his incident during the pandemic in 2020, when Cruise angrily yelled at crew members on Mission: Impossible 7 for violating safety protocols.
“We are not shutting this f—— movie down!” he shouted, threatening to fire employees who failed to follow the rules.
I don’t believe this was an appropriate way to speak to workers on the movie, but I could understand the source of his frustration. At the time, the film industry was struggling during the pandemic, and productions shutting down meant people could lose their jobs. As a producer, Cruise had a personal stake in keeping the film running safely, and I can understand why he was frustrated.
The largest controversy with Cruise is mostly his religious beliefs and involvement in Scientology, and how that has impacted his personal relationships with others; however, I still believe that people can respect his work without supporting who he is as a person and as an “artist,” so this notion actually does work here.
Ultimately, I don’t think there is one right answer to whether we can separate the art from the artist. It depends on the person, what they have done, where we draw the line and whether their controversial views make their way into the art people appreciate. But I do think people excuse bad behaviour from people who are successful and talented too often. Being a great musician, actor or athlete should not automatically protect someone from the awful things they have done or said.
At the end of the day, celebrities are people, and their actions have consequences. We can acknowledge someone’s talent without defending their behaviour, and we can also choose not to support their work at all. The real question is not whether we can separate the art from the artist, but whether we should — and what we are willing to overlook when we do.