Is a slap really a feud?
Was the Will Smith-Chris Rock slap scripted? 12 famous feuds
Image: Andrew Le
Hollywood isn’t always glitz and glam—sometimes it’s full-on drama. From shady tweets to onstage outbursts and headline-making slaps, celebrity feuds have a way of stealing the spotlight just as much as any blockbuster. You probably know about some of these incidents, but a few will surprise you!
1
Joan Crawford vs. Bette Davis
Image: Shubham Panwar
The feud between Joan Crawford and Bette Davis began in 1935 when Bette fell for her co-star Franchot Tone, only for Joan to marry him soon after filming ended .
Their rivalry peaked during the tense 1962 shoot of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? The tension never eased, and the two reportedly never reconciled before their deaths.
2
Kim Cattrall vs. Sarah Jessica Parker
Image: Erhan Çoban
On Sex and the City , Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker played close friends, but off-screen their relationship was far from warm . Tensions reportedly surfaced when Kim declined to join a third Sex and the City movie.
In 2018, things worsened after Sarah publicly offered condolences over the death of Kim’s brother. Kim responded sharply on Instagram, writing, "You are not my friend. You are not my family.
3
David Letterman vs. Jay Leno
Image: Diogo Cardoso
The biggest late-night feud kicked off in 1992 when Johnny Carson retired from The Tonight Show . Many expected David Letterman to take over, but NBC chose Jay Leno instead.
Letterman left for CBS to launch The Late Show , going head-to-head with Leno. Their rivalry, known as the "Late-Night Wars," lasted for years as both battled for ratings before eventually retiring .
4
Gwyneth Paltrow vs. Martha Stewart
Image: Lesya Tyutrina Andrey Biyanov
The feud between Gwyneth Paltrow and Martha Stewart began in 2014, when Martha criticized Gwyneth’s lifestyle brand , saying she should stick to acting.
Things escalated with cheeky recipe jabs—Martha’s "Conscious Coupling" and Gwyneth’s "Jailbird Cake," a nod to Martha’s past prison time.
5
Vin Diesel vs. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
Image: Ayu Anggraini
The rivalry between Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Vin Diesel began during the filming of The Fate of the Furious in 2016, when The Rock called out unnamed co-stars for unprofessional behavior on social media .
Fans quickly guessed he was referring to Vin, especially after The Rock thanked the cast and crew in a post, but noticeably left out Vin Diesel.
6
Elton John vs. Madonna
Image: Mélody P
Elton John and Madonna’s feud began in 2002, when Elton slammed her Bond theme, calling it "the worst of all time." He later accused her of lip-syncing during live shows.
Things heated up again in 2012, when both were nominated for a Golden Globe. Elton claimed Madonna had "no chance"—but she won. Backstage, Madonna said she adored him and hoped he’d win another award.
7
Elizabeth Taylor vs. Debbie Reynolds
Image: Venti Views
The drama between Debbie Reynolds and Elizabeth Taylor began when Debbie's husband, Eddie Fisher, left her for Elizabeth, who was her close friend at the time.
Their affair began after Eddie comforted Elizabeth following the death of her husband, Mike Todd, in 1958. Years later, after Elizabeth and Eddie split, Debbie and Elizabeth reconciled and remained friends until Taylor’s death.
8
Frank Sinatra vs. Marlon Brando
Image: David Clode
Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando clashed while filming Guys and Dolls (1955), thanks to their huge egos and very different acting styles .
Sinatra gave Brando rude nicknames, while Brando deliberately ruined takes during a cheesecake scene, forcing Sinatra to eat far more than he wanted.
9
Dean Martin vs. Jerry Lewis
Image: Akbar Nemati
Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis were a wildly popular comedy duo from 1946 to 1956, dominating film, radio, and television. But behind the scenes, tensions grew.
Martin felt Lewis was taking over the act , leading to their split in 1956. Though both went on to solo success, their friendship suffered for years. They finally reconciled in 1976, thanks in part to Frank Sinatra.
10
Angelina Jolie vs. Jon Voight
Image: Daniil Komov
Family ties don’t always guarantee harmony in Hollywood. The feud between Jon Voight and Angelina Jolie largely stems from Voight’s infidelity toward Jolie’s mother , Marcheline Bertrand.
Though they’ve had brief periods of reconciliation, their relationship has repeatedly broken down over the years, making their feud long-lasting and complicated.
11
Will Smith vs. Chris Rock
Image: Frida Lannerström
Will Smith and Chris Rock’s feud exploded publicly at the 94th Academy Awards in 2022, when Will slapped Chris after a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith . The slap was not scripted and took everyone—especially Rock—by surprise.
The incident went viral and had major consequences for Smith. Despite the fallout, there are hints that the two might eventually repair their friendship.
12
Johnny Carson vs. Joan Rivers
Image: Long Ma
The legendary Johnny Carson often featured Joan Rivers as a guest and occasional guest host on The Tonight Show. But when Rivers launched her own late-night show without telling Carson , he saw it as a major betrayal.
Carson never forgave her, and their feud lasted until his death. Sadly, Rivers’ show struggled and never quite matched his success.
