Surprising female celebrities who were nearly cancelled but bounced back stronger than ever

Female celebrities often face far more scrutiny than their male counterparts, and for them, the scale of forgiveness is also very limited.

They are expected to walk on eggshells, carefully navigating the world of entertainment while trying not to slip up.

Despite the odds, some women have made powerful comebacks after nearly being cancelled.

Here’s a look at three prominent female celebrities who rose back up after major controversies.

Winona Ryder

The early 2000s were nothing short of tumultuous one for the now 53-year-old actress.

In 2000, Ryder received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Just a year later, she was arrested for shoplifting, an incident which negatively impacted her career.

Speaking to PEOPLE in 2016, she spoke about the break she took from Hollywood, saying it gave her time that she “really needed.”

She reflected, “Psychologically, I must have been at a place where I just wanted to stop… I won’t get into what happened, but it wasn’t what people think. And it wasn’t like the crime of the century!”

Today, Ryder is one of the most renowned actresses, best known in recent years for her iconic role as Joyce Byers in Netflix’s hit show, Stranger Things.

Angelina Jolie

The Oscar-winning star didn’t reach her current stature without facing serious public scrutiny.

From being accused of kissing her brother, James Haven, inappropriately on the lips to the highly publicised infidelity scandal involving Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, Jolie faced many obstacles throughout her illustrious career, per Woman and Home.

The Maleficent actress has never commented on any of these scandals, choosing instead to prioritise her privacy and work.

She has continued to shine over the years, most recently showcasing her talent in 2024’s Maria.

Jolie is also a major contributor to philanthropy through her collaboration with the United Nations.

Miley Cyrus

Last but not the least, the 32-year-old songstress has been no stranger to controversies. Each time she’s stirred one, she has always managed to find a way through it.

One of the biggest controversies of Cyrus’s career would be her 2013 VMAs performance, where she twerked and stuck her tongue out repeatedly.

Many people at the time tried to cancel the Hannah Montana alum, believing she completely ruined her Disney image and crossed the line.

“Not only was culture changed, but my life and career were changed forever," Cyrus said in an interview for Wonderland magazine's spring 2018 issue.

Reflecting on her controversial performance, she added,” It inspired me to use my platform for something much bigger. If the world is going to focus on me and what I am doing, then what I am doing should be impactful and it should be great.”

Since the controversies, Cyrus has solely focused on her personal and professional growth. She also won her first Grammy for her hit song Flowers in 2024, which became the fastest song in Spotify history to reach one billion streams, according to Billboard.