The Biggest Reputation Flubs of the 2020s

Reputation is a double-edged sword. Build it right, and you’re golden. Mess it up, and it can all go sideways faster than a meme stock crash. The 2020s have been a masterclass in how not to handle your image.

From crypto kings to pop culture icons, these stumbles show trust’s fragility. Let’s dig into some of the wildest missteps—and the lessons they taught us (whether they wanted to or not).

1. FTX: From Crypto King to Chaos

Sam Bankman-Fried was once the poster child for crypto brilliance, but by 2022, that image aged like milk in the sun. FTX didn’t just collapse—it detonated. Allegations surfaced that SBF had been treating customer funds like Monopoly money, making risky bets that backfired spectacularly.

The fallout wasn’t just another PR blunder. It sent shockwaves through the crypto market and left over a million people staring at empty wallets, wondering how their “secure” investments vanished overnight.

Sound familiar? Bernie Madoff walked so SBF could run.

2. Ellen DeGeneres: When the Mask Slipped

Ellen was the queen of daytime TV and kindness personified—until 2020 hit. Allegations of bullying and a toxic workplace turned her feel-good empire into a PR dumpster fire. By 2022, her show was toast, and her once-sterling reputation was in tatters.

Steve Harvey had his moment too. Remember those wild emails to his staff?

Your brand is only as strong as your behind-the-scenes game. People won’t ignore bad vibes forever.

3. Lizzo: The Shock of 2024

Lizzo, the queen of self-love and inclusivity, shocked everyone when her former dancers accused her of weight-shaming and harassment. The accusations hit like a plot twist nobody saw coming. Fans were left questioning whether her message was real or just good marketing.

It’s giving “Ellen, but make it Gen Z.”

Authenticity isn’t optional. If your words and actions don’t match, people will bounce.

4. Save the Kids Token: Charitable Crypto Gone Wrong

FaZe Clan members hyped the “Save the Kids” crypto token as a charitable project. Spoiler: It wasn’t. The token turned out to be a pump-and-dump scheme, leaving investors burned while the insiders cashed out.

Logan Paul’s NFT “zoo” anyone? Scams love influencers.

Slapping a “for a good cause” sticker on a bad idea doesn’t make it better.

5. Kim Kardashian and EthereumMax: Influencer Fail

In 2022, Kim Kardashian promoted EthereumMax without disclosing her $250,000 payout. The result? A $1.26 million SEC fine and another notch in the “influencers messing up” column.

Remember Fyre Festival? Influencer marketing isn’t new to controversy.

Transparency isn’t just a legal thing—it’s about trust.

6. MrBeast: Trouble Behind the Philanthropy

Jimmy Donaldson, aka MrBeast, built an empire on YouTube with philanthropy and viral stunts. But in 2024, accusations of a toxic workplace culture dimmed his shine. Even the golden boy of YouTube isn’t immune to bad press.

This felt a lot like the Ellen situation—just with YouTube dollars.

If the vibes behind the scenes are bad, the internet will find out.

7. Jack Harlow: A Lyric Too Far

In 2024, Jack Harlow dropped a track defending friends accused of serious crimes. Fans weren’t having it. The backlash hit hard, and his social following took a dip.

Kanye. Need I say more?

Sometimes, staying quiet is the smarter move.

8. PwC: Scandals Times Two

In 2024, PwC got slammed for fraud concealment in China and leaked tax info in Australia. The double whammy of scandals cost them contracts, fines, and credibility.

Arthur Andersen. Different era, same energy.

In professional services, trust is the whole ballgame. Lose it, and you’re toast.

9. Dancing on Ice: Reality TV Gone Wrong

The British show faced backlash in 2024 after a string of contestant injuries. Viewers accused the production of caring more about ratings than safety. It was the reality TV version of “hold my beer.”

Think early “Survivor” challenges—chaos for views.

If you’re prioritizing spectacle over safety, people will call you out.

Reputation in the 2020s has proven one thing: It’s a house of cards. One wrong move and it all comes down. Whether you’re running a crypto empire, a talk show, or just your personal brand, trust isn’t something you can fake.

The reputation disasters of the 2020s—from FTX’s meltdown to Ellen’s workplace fallout—show us exactly how not to handle an online image. The key takeaway? Stay proactive. Transparency, like Kim Kardashian should’ve practiced, isn’t optional. Authenticity matters, too; Lizzo’s situation proved that if your actions don’t match your brand, it’s game over.

Regular People

Even regular people face reputation problems—we’ve all seen it happen. Those “funny” edgy jokes on Facebook or TikTok that somehow go viral and land on your boss’s desk? Yeah, not so funny anymore. Unlike celebrities, most of us don’t have a PR team to spin the story or content removal services to make it disappear. All we have is the delete button and the nerve to send an awkward, apologetic follow-up.

And if bad press lingers, don’t underestimate the power of content removal services to clean up old news and give your image a fresh start.

Rebuilding trust, as MrBeast might now realize, takes time and action. If you learn anything from these high-profile missteps, it’s that your reputation is your most valuable currency. Protect it, or pay the price.

Keep it real—or get ready for the fallout.

The truth is, most of us don’t have millions to recover from mistakes. So, learn from these big-name blunders: stay authentic, think twice before posting, and always own your narrative.

Photo by Francisco De Legarreta C. on Unsplash