Top 10 Music Artists Who Went from Being Loved to Being Hated

You can adore a song for years, then wake up one morning and realize the person behind it has made that chorus a lot harder to enjoy. Fame gives music artists a huge platform, and some use it to evolve, while others use it like a flamethrower in a fireworks store. Sometimes the backlash comes from bad behavior, sometimes from creative decline, and sometimes from saying the exact wrong thing at the exact worst time.

This list looks at the musicians who once had fans cheering, defending, streaming, and buying tickets, only to watch public affection curdle into frustration, disgust, or exhausted eye-rolling. Vote for the artists whose reputations took the sharpest nosedive, because loving the music gets a lot messier when the artist keeps making it difficult.

The Top Ten

Chris Brown

Christopher Maurice "Chris" Brown (born May 5, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor. Born in Tappahannock, Virginia, he participated in his church choir and several local talent shows from a young age. He gained international notoriety in 2009 for his physical assault of singer... read more

He was never a great act by any means, but around 2008 he was starting to show some potential, with "Forever" being really good, "With You" decent, and also writing "Disturbia." Everything after that has ranged from mediocre (e.g., "Yeah 3x") to outright reprehensible ("Deuces").

He was first seen as a promising young talent, but ever since the Rihanna incident, he became America's public enemy number one.
Maroon 5

Maroon 5 is an American pop and pop‑rock band formed in Los Angeles, California. The group originally came together in 1994 under the name Kara's Flowers, when Adam Levine, Jesse Carmichael, Mickey Madden, and Ryan Dusick were still in high school. They self‑released a demo and a studio album before... read more

They get more and more hate due to their music becoming more and more poppy over time.
R. Kelly

Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967), known professionally as R. Kelly, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and convicted sex offender. He has been credited with helping to redefine R&B and hip hop, earning nicknames such as "the King of R&B," "the King of Pop-Soul," and the... read more

Lost his "king of R&B" status after being accused of multiple sexual scandals.
Sia

Sia Kate Isobelle Furler (born December 18, 1975), referred to mononymously as Sia, is an Australian singer and songwriter. She released her debut album in 1997 but mainly gained mainstream attention in the 2010s.
Born and raised in Adelaide, she started her career as a singer in the acid jazz... read more

Ever since she made that ableist movie called Music, Sia has fallen from grace. Not only was she heavily criticized for casting Maddie Ziegler over an actor on the autism spectrum to portray a teenage girl who has autism, but her reaction to critics was just immature. Her apology did not change anything, as the damage was already done. Also, being on the autism spectrum is no excuse for being a jerk.

I just feel the need to add a couple of things. This isn't as big a deal, but even before making that movie, her music seemed to be declining, and I think people were losing interest in her.
Also, about the film, people always mention the casting of the non-autistic Maddie Ziegler, but worse, in my opinion, was that I'm pretty sure Maddie didn't want to have any part of the movie and was pressured/bullied into it.
Kanye West

Ye (born Kanye Omari West. June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. He is regarded as one of the most influential and controversial artists of the 21st century.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West initially gained fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella... read more

His music was really groundbreaking when he started, but then his ego got the better of him.
Edit: He made homophobic comments and praised Hitler since 2022.

He was very well respected until he would soon be known as one of the biggest douchebags by many.
Marilyn Manson

Brian Hugh Warner (born January 5, 1969), better known by his stage name Marilyn Manson, is an American rock musician, songwriter, actor, painter, multimedia artist, author, and former music journalist. He is the lead singer and only constant member of the band Marilyn Manson, which he formed in 1989.... read more

His act has always been polarizing, but now that he's been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women, I don't think anybody wants him around anymore.

The fact that this creep and his band even name themselves after serial killers is downright disrespectful to the actual victims of said killers.
Morgan Wallen

Morgan Cole Wallen (born May 13, 1993) is an American country singer who first gained recognition during the sixth season of The Voice. He was part of Team Adam Levine. Although he did not win the competition, his appearance on the show significantly boosted his career. Wallen has since achieved considerable... read more

This country singer was once well-liked, but then his contract got suspended, and he was blacklisted from US radio after a video of him saying a racial slur streamed on TMZ. However, before this incident, he was already hated for not respecting social distancing rules and for partying and making out with college-age girls.
Imagine Dragons

Imagine Dragons is an American pop rock band from Provo, Utah, now based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The band's lineup includes lead vocalist Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne Sermon, bassist Ben McKee, and touring drummer Andrew Tolman.... read more

First a promising alternative band, then a musical sellout.
Gene Simmons

Chaim Witz, known professionally by his stage name Gene Simmons, is an Israeli-American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, actor, and television personality. He is best known as the bassist and co-lead singer of the rock band Kiss, which he co-founded in 1973 and performed with... read more

At this point, I think everyone knows Gene Simmons is a jerk.
U2

U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk and gradually evolved to incorporate elements of alternative rock, electronic music, and pop. Known for their anthemic sound and use... read more

The group became a victim of its own success. More specifically, they sparked outrage when they dropped a free album on everyone's iPhone in 2014 without consent.

The Newcomers

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Morrissey

Steven Patrick Morrissey, known mononymously as Morrissey, was born on May 22, 1959. He is an English singer, songwriter, and author who gained fame as the lead vocalist of the indie rock band The Smiths, which was active from 1982 to 1987. After the band disbanded, Morrissey began a solo career and... read more

Once the beloved front man of The Smiths, he's been involved in multiple controversies, including supporting several right-wing politicians and movements such as Brexit. He has also faced accusations of being racist and misogynistic.
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Brand New

Brand New is an American rock band from Long Island, New York, that formed in 2000. The band's core members are Jesse Lacey, Vincent Accardi, Garrett Tierney, and Brian Lane. Benjamin Homola performed with the group as a touring drummer.

They used to be one of the most respected bands in the pop punk/emo scene, as they were much more experimental than the likes of New Found Glory and Good Charlotte and their second and third albums are still very influential. However, in 2017, their reputations took a nosedive after front man Jesse Lacey was accused of sexual misconduct and grooming of underage girls, which caused them to cancel several tour dates and eventually break up. They reunited not too long ago, but Lacey faced a new set of allegations in the wake of their 2025 tour.

The Contenders

Ted Nugent

Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and far-right activist. He initially rose to prominence as the lead guitarist of the Amboy Dukes, a band formed in 1964 that played psychedelic and hard rock music.... read more

He was a well-respected musician until he got too political.
Nicki Minaj

Onika Tanya Maraj, known professionally as Nicki Minaj (born December 8, 1982), is a Trinidadian-American rapper and pop artist. She is widely recognized for hits like "Anaconda," "Super Bass," "Starships," and her feature on "Bang Bang."... read more

Her music is polarizing, but as she became famous, she became more known for her beefs than her music. She also threatened a woman who was raped by her husband.
Axl Rose

William Bruce Rose Jr., better known as Axl Rose, is an American singer born on February 6, 1962, in Lafayette, Indiana. He is the founding member and lead vocalist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, which rose to international fame with their debut album Appetite for Destruction (1987). Known for... read more

Axl Rose pretty much destroyed the foundations of Guns N' Roses.
Travis Scott

Jacques Webster Jr., better known by his stage name Travis Scott, is an American hip hop recording artist, record producer, and musician from Houston, Texas. He has released several chart-topping albums and is known for his high-energy performances and innovative production style. He has collaborated... read more

Ever since the Astroworld incident, music fans have turned against him. Oh, Travis, you used to have a soul five years ago when you stopped a concert to save an injured fan. But then you fell from grace when you stopped a concert just to protect your shoes. And now, when people died, you just didn't seem to care and thought they were cheering for you. Shame on you, Travis.

And don't get me started on Sicko Mode being played at the 2019 Super Bowl halftime show instead of Sweet Victory. We SpongeBob fans will never forgive Travis Scott for that, and that happened before the whole Astroworld disaster!
Panic! at the Disco

Panic! at the Disco was an American pop rock band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2004. The band was originally a four-piece but later became a solo project led by Brendon Urie. At the time of its disbandment in 2023, the group featured touring members Dan Pawlovich, Nicole Row, and Mike Naran.

I know it's only one song, but I just want to say Hey Look Ma, I Made It is one of the worst popular songs of the past few years. Although it could be partly because it almost feels like it was made to spite me personally.

They're still good, but I understand why some people hate them nowadays. I think it's mostly due to Brendon Urie being the only member left and directing Panic! at the Disco all on his own.

Panic! at the Disco was better when it was a band and not just Brendon.
DaBaby

Jonathan Lyndale Kirk (born December 22, 1991), known professionally as DaBaby and formerly as Baby Jesus, is an American rapper. He rose to mainstream prominence in 2019 with the release of his debut studio album Baby on Baby, which featured the hit single Suge. Before that, he gained attention through... read more

Mostly well-liked when he broke through, but he has gotten a fair amount of flak since for saying some awful things and also for his music showing as pretty one-note overall.
Lostprophets

Lostprophets were a Welsh rock band from Pontypridd, Wales, formed in 1997. Founded by lead vocalist Ian Watkins, bassist Mike Lewis, drummer Mike Chiplin, and guitarist Lee Gaze, they originally began as a side project of the hardcore punk band Public Disturbance. The band achieved mainstream success... read more

Their lead singer, Ian Watkins, was in jail after being convicted of child sex offenses, and his death while in jail certainly won't change a thing about his reputation.
Edit: Ian died in jail, and no one cared.
30 Seconds to Mars

Thirty Seconds to Mars (stylized as 30 Seconds to Mars) is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1998. The band currently consists of brothers Jared and Shannon Leto.
They released their first album, 30 Seconds to Mars, in 2002. It was a self-titled album with... read more

This band had a good thing going back in the day with their self-titled debut and A Beautiful Lie.
Over the years, they became more polarizing, but by the time they released AMERICA, that album was almost unanimously hated. The band at this point was just phoning it in.

They were a pretty well-liked rock band back in the day, with their first two albums being very good. However, they started to lose fans with their later albums, starting with their third. That album had some highlights but also some duds. The overuse of "oh's," "woah's," and a crowd of backing vocals really brought it down.
Their fourth album was a mediocre electronic one, but their fifth was atrocious and almost unanimously hated by fans and critics alike. The band is also disliked due to Jared Leto's massive ego. He has been accused of being rude during meet-and-greets, and now he presents himself as if he were Jesus. He brainwashes diehard fans into thinking he's the second coming of Christ.
Iggy Azalea

Amethyst Amelia Kelly, born June 7, 1990, and known professionally as Iggy Azalea, is an Australian rapper, singer, songwriter, and model. She gained international recognition with her debut single Work and her hit Fancy featuring Charli XCX. Azalea has released several studio albums and mixtapes and... read more

Once a promising up-and-coming female rapper, now a disgraced artist who has burned bridges left and right and made horrible songs.
Eric Clapton

Eric Patrick Clapton is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is the only three-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of the Yardbirds and Cream. He was also a founding member of Derek and the Dominos, known for... read more

He is undeniably one of the greatest guitarists of all time, but his statements against lockdowns and the health pass have damaged his reputation. He even released some songs against the measures that prevent COVID-19 from spreading.
Smash Mouth

Smash Mouth is an American rock band from San Jose, California. The band was formed in 1994, originally consisting of Steve Harwell, Kevin Coleman, Greg Camp, and Paul De Lisle. Their first major hit, Walkin' on the Sun, was released in 1997.... read more
Fall Out Boy

Fall Out Boy is an American pop punk band formed in Wilmette, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, in 2001. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Patrick Stump, bassist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley.... read more

Another band who was once great until they sold out by infusing trap and electro into their music and collaborating with DJs like Martin Garrix and Steve Aoki.
Metallica

Metallica is an American heavy and thrash metal band formed in 1981. The original lineup included James Hetfield (vocals and rhythm guitar), Dave Mustaine (lead guitar), Lars Ulrich (drums), and Ron McGovney (bass). They first gained mainstream fame with their 1991 self-titled album (The Black Album... read more

Despite being metal legends, Metallica has had some bad press in the past few years. Their lawsuit against Napster painted them as money-hungry, and they also released albums like St. Anger and Lulu that damaged their reputation.
Van Morrison

Sir George Ivan Van Morrison OBE is a Northern Irish singer, songwriter, and musician. In 2016, he was knighted for services to the music industry and tourism in Northern Ireland. Morrison is known for classic songs such as Brown Eyed Girl and the critically acclaimed album Astral Weeks.

He is undeniably a legend, but as with Eric Clapton, he damaged his reputation by releasing multiple songs against lockdowns and other measures taken to fight against the spread of COVID-19.
Linkin Park

Linkin Park is an American alternative rock band formed in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996. The current members include Mike Shinoda (vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar), Brad Delson (guitar), Dave "Phoenix" Farrell (bass), Joe Hahn (DJ), Emily Armstrong (vocals), and Colin Brittain (drums). Linkin Park... read more

Linkin Park is a complicated case. They've been accused of selling out ever since they released Minutes to Midnight, but it's also important to note that nu metal began to go dormant during the mid-late '00s, so LP transitioning from that to more hard alternative made sense, as the latter had the closest sounding music to what nu metal had to offer.
One More Light is an interesting case, where this was the one time LP really changed their sound, so the backlash was understandable to a degree. That said, I get why Chester Bennington lashed out at those who accused the band. This had been going on for about a full decade, and Chester must have felt that he had had enough of hearing about how the "band sucked after changing their sound and style" over and over, in a 10-year timespan.
On another note, LP was a band that was always making attempts to experiment with their sound. Meteora and Hybrid Theory may be similar, but the former gravitates more toward hard rock and alternative rock 5/10 times, rather than nu metal, and The Hunting Party has bits and traces of heavy metal in its more aggressive tracks. So the whole "selling out" argument gets a little muddy, given the nature the band operated in.
As for the overall quality of their music, it is quite variable, but I generally think they're good most of the time. One More Light may be their weakest album, as well as the one that has the reddest flags regarding the "sell-out" term, but it still has some good tracks and effort, not to mention it has that LP identity you wouldn't really see in any other band.