30 Celebrities Who Sold Out For Fame

1. Jennifer Lopez

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J.Lo isn't really Jenny from the block anymore. She can claim it all she wants, but many fans accuse her of selling out. She did a concert in the Bronx (where she's from), and people were pretty critical of it. They accused her of making money off of her hometown while doing nothing to help out the neighborhood in return.

2. 50 Cent

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50 Cent, similar to J.Lo, built her persona on a tough New York City reputation. It's a known fact that he has been shot several times, and he had a public beef with Ja Rule. However, as time went on, 50 Cent sold out to become more mainstream. His music took a more pop style turn, and he distanced himself from his old life.

3. Al Pacino

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Al Pacino will definitely be remembered as one of the most iconic actors of his generation. But a lot of people think that he sold out for fame. It could just be because of where he's at in his career, but he's no longer choosing iconic roles and seems to just be cashing in on a paycheck. Fans are disappointed by this and think he's a sell out. What do you think?

4. Katy Perry

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When it comes to selling out for fame, Katy Perry is one of the most talked about names. Before her song "I Kissed a Girl" came out, Katy was a Christian music artist. Realizing it wouldn't get her the recognition she wanted, she decided to change her direction entirely. Apparently the song is still a bit of a sore spot in discussions with her family.

5. Kim Kardashian

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Kim Kardashian is always on the go, and seemingly says yes to basically everything! She endorses all types of products from diet pills to lollipops and shoes. She's even been a brand sponsor for Charmin public restrooms! It's estimated that she endorses over 500 products. Given the Kardashians rise to fame, many consider her a sell out, willing to do virtually anything to stay in the spotlight.

6. Flavor Flav

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This guy was once a notorious gangster rapper from Public Enemy. Then he majorly sold out for a reality show on VH1 about finding love. "Flavor of Love" was considered a major embarrassment to him, and people thought he was a fool for doing it. It was entertaining, but it didn't paint him in a good light and made him a laughing stock.

7. George Lucas

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Star Wars fans are incredibly protective of the franchise. The original films are so beloved, and many were upset with George Lucas when he decided to make the prequel films in the 90s. The original three were so iconic at that point, that this felt like it was more of a money-grab than a quality investment in the franchise.

8. The Beatles

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Did you know that before their global success, The Beatles were an entirely different band? They were a punk group who wore mostly leather! But then a producer and manager helped turn them into the band we know and love today. Even John Lennon said that their manager Brian is the one who put them in suits and pushed them to get their signature mop-topped hair. They knew they sold out!

9. Johnny Depp

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Johnny Depp is a prestige actor who fans believe he sold out for box-office views. He's given us classics like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, but then started taking on franchises like the Pirates of The Caribbean and Willy Wonka. The Lone Ranger was a low point where people truly thought he was just in it for the paycheck instead of the artistry.

10. The Black-Eyed Peas

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Many people thought that when The Black-Eyed Peas added Fergie into the mix, they majorly sold out. Before she came along, they were considered an innovative trio that was making their way on their own terms. After Fergie, the tunes got a lot more mainstream, sacrificing the musical origins they were once so proud of.

11. Rev Run

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Rev Run is known for being one of the founding members of Run DMC. The group was largely popular in the 80s and 90s. As gangster rap moved in, there was no longer a place for Run DMC, but Rev changed up his career by getting his own reality show. Many think he was in it for the fame and abandoned his roots.

12. Robert DeNiro

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Similarly to Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro was known for a specific type of role throughout his career. However, as he's gotten more seasoned, he's taken on roles that fans feel as though he's selling out, not really caring about his career. Many even feel he's phoning in his performances. Harsh!

13. Miley Cyrus

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It seems like Miley Cyrus is finally being true to herself, but she even talked about being a sell out when she was younger. She tried to breakout of her Disney persona by being more edgy, going through a wild phase. But it seems like she truly did this for attention and to garner more fame.

14. Eddie Murphy

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Eddie Murphy used to be considered a really edgy stand-up comedian. He pushed boundaries on shows like Saturday Night Live. But now he's more known for films that you love to hate such as Orbit and Daddy Day Care. We're not sure what made him change directions, but many fans thought he sold out for the paycheck.

15. Green Day

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This 90s punk band defined what it meant to be punk rock back in the day. They were anti-establishment and delivered some of the greatest anthems of the day. Fans were angered when they started doing Broadway musicals, and when their music took a pop turn later in their career. For punk rock fans, this was the ultimate sell-out!

16. Manny Pacquiáo

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Many have said that not only does Manny sell out fights, he's also sold out his image to get that big pay day. He's done commercials for casinos and several other brands. They poured money into him for "The Fight of the Century" against Mayweather, but the fight was lacking to say the least. He even did a cover of "Sometimes When We Touch" to promote it.

17. Robert Downey Jr.

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Robert Downey Jr. has given us a TON of beautiful and timeless indie films. He is considered one of the greatest actors of his time. But he joined the Marvel franchise as Iron Man to get that big payday. Honestly, we can't really blame him, but a lot of people said that it changed him and even the director he worked with said he's become a "one-man brand franchise."

18. Paris Hilton

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Back in the day, no one really understood why Paris Hilton was famous. Sure, she's a nepo baby with a lot of money, but her actual skillset was unclear. Many consider her to be the start of influencer culture. That said, the day she chose to endorse Carl's Jr. only furthered the conversation of her being a sell out for fame. It's clear she has never actually consumed food from the brand, nor would she ever.

19. Adam Sandler

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Adam Sandler brought us some incredibly funny films like Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore. It brought him so much success that he got stuck in that niche, doing different versions of the same film. He tried to change it up and show off his talents with Punch Drunk Love, but then went back to rom-coms and silly comedy tropes.

20. Ice Cube

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Ice Cube has been making a name for himself in acting in family friendly films. But prior to that, he was a SUPER successful rapper, which might surprise newer fans. While we obviously can't speak to what pushed him to switch lanes in this way, many people think that it was a quest for money over everything else.

21. Nicolas Cage

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One of the biggest debates in Hollywood is whether or not Nicolas Cage is ~actually~ a good actor. He's won an Oscar, but he's also known for taking basically ANY film that's offered to him. This has led to some huge flops like Frozen Ground, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, and more. He's one of the most meme-able actors in pop culture.

22. Snoop Dog

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Snoop Dogg can honestly do whatever he wants, and he has. Many accused him of selling out because his name is on pretty much EVERYTHING! We don't think this man has ever turned down a brand deal. Even Norton Anti-Virus software has seen Snoop's stamp of approval.

23. Nirvana

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Critics say that Nirvana only saw success once they changed the core of who they were. You can hear for yourself if you listen to their first album vs their more popular ones. The popular ones definitely have a more mainstream and pop feel to them. Kurt Cobain tried to protest and even wanted to name the album Sheep, because it felt like selling out.

24. Bob Dylan

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We're not entirely sure if we agree that doing ads means you're selling out, but Bob Dylan popping up in Cadillac commercials and even a Victoria's Secret advertisement definitely turned some heads. How far would you go to make a buck? When celebrities sell products they don't truly seem to believe in, they're often labeled as a sell out.

25. Kris Jenner

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Kris Jenner is the Kardashian-Jenner matriarch and the woman behind the curtain for all of her daughters' careers. There's very little that she wouldn't do to keep her daughters and herself in the spotlight, and she's also become quite the problem-solver, able to change a narrative at the drop of a hat.

26. Gene Simmons

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Gene Simmons knows his brand and is incredibly proud of it. As he should be. However, many accused him of selling out when he took the rock n' roll group's brand and used it to endorse over 5,000 items throughout their career! KISS could be seen on everything from credit cards to condoms.

27. Howard Stern

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Howard Stern is known for being very crass and foul-mouthed. His show was sex-obsessed and very anti-establishment vibes. It seemed his entire radio career was built around saying the most shocking things to surprise the audience. And then, one day he decided to become a judge on "America's Got Talent."

28. Janeane Garofalo

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Janeane Garofalo is an actress and comedian known for her liberal views and sense of humor. She straight up said in an interview that she sold out for fame. She focused on losing weight and changing her appearance in order to get more work and become more famous.

29. Michael Jordan

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Okay, not just Michael Jordan, but all the famous athletes who promote unhealthy food to get a fat paycheck. When kids look up to and respect a particular athlete, and then they see that athlete peddling Big Macs or Oreos or chugging Pepsi after practice, what kind of message does that send?

30. Morgan Freeman

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This one might surprise you! Morgan Freeman has had a legendary career. But did you know a lot of people think he's a sell out? He has lended his iconic voice to basically EVERY random project out there, and people feel it's a waste of his talents and clear that he's only doing it for a paycheck.