Debra Winger had everything going for her in the 80s and even into the 90s. Audiences loved her and she was getting solid roles in films that went on to enjoy sterling reviews from critics. However, as her notoriety as an actress was blooming, so too was another, darker reputation. There’s only so long you can keep feuds with co-stars on the down-low; especially if you’re also making rude (and often wildly inaccurate) public critiques of your fellow actors.
Remember the feud with Shirley MacLaine we mentioned earlier? It turns out MacLaine nearly threw in the towel completely on Terms of Endearment. She was apparently so close to leaving that they had to drag her back from the airport. Winger also compared Richard Gere’s acting style to “a brick wall,” and weirdly described John Malkovich as “nothing more than a catwalk model.” To her credit, she wasn’t discriminating with her attacks. She was known to give journalists a hard time, apparently even making one reporter interview her outside so she could bail if she didn’t like a question.
Debra Winger vs. Shirley MacLaine
While Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger played a loving mother and daughter in the 1983 film, Terms of Endearment, their real-life relationship couldn’t have been further removed from what we saw on-screen. MacLaine apparently grew rapidly tired of Winger’s antics. The young actress just wasn’t up to MacLaine’s standards of professionalism. In fact, it was rumoured Winger even lifted her dress directed an epic fart in MacLaine’s direction. Which is disrespectful, sure… but seriously, would you not laugh?
Failed fart jokes aside, their relationship had already turned almost completely to ice when the pair were both nominated for the Best Actress award at the Oscars. Placing them in competition like that sealed the deal on their shared loathing for each other. In the end, it was MacLaine who won. Her reaction was a shout “I deserve this!” Pretty sure we know who that was directed at.
Mariah Carey vs. Nicki Minaj
If you like ridiculously exaggerated showdowns, then you’re going to love this feud. After just a handful of weeks working together as American Idol judges, Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj entered full diva meltdown mode. On Minaj’s side, the vocal violence reportedly escalated to threats of gun violence and her rage spilled out into an expletive-ridden rant that was, of course, shared with TMZ.
The whole thing apparently kicked off because Mariah thought Nicki had no singing talent and so wasn’t fit to be a judge on the show. Mariah eventually left American Idol and, in a radio interview with New York’s Hot 97, she said that period of time was like working “with Satan.” While she was careful not to mention Minaj by name (smooth move), it’s not hard to put the pieces together.
Will Smith vs. Janet Hubert
You’re probably surprised to see Will Smith on this list. He comes off as a pretty lovable guy. You may be even more surprised to learn that this feud erupted during his young and (supposedly) innocent years starring in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. It was Smith’s co-star, Janet Hubert, who took the lead in the alleged dispute. Fresh Prince fans will know Hubert better as Aunt Vivian. The actress stood up for herself and her fellow cast members in accusing Smith of failing to help them with the negotiation of their salaries. His response was apparently a casual shrug and insistence that they should sort their own deals out the way he did with his.
While it seems like the whole thing meant little to Smith, his co-stars felt differently about it; Hubert in particular. Three seasons in, she left the show and was vocal about her dissatisfaction. In response, Smith remained calm, simply explaining to the press that he was aware of her feelings and the fact that she wouldn’t be shy in expressing them. He recounted a time when he heard her say “I’ve been in the business for ten years and this snotty-nosed punk comes along and gets a show.”
Bette Davis vs. Joan Crawford
This has got to be one of the most epic feuds in Hollywood. Joan Crawford and Bette Davis were both wildly popular, mega-talented actresses. While fans were able to love each woman with equal passion, the pair were never able to get along with each other. Their falling out started, as so many do, over a love triangle. Bette Davis had starred alongside actor, Franchot Tone, in the film Dangerous. She’d also fallen in love with him. Crawford, meanwhile, persuaded Tone to go over to her house for dinner. An innocent enough invitation, apart from the fact that she greeted him at the door buck naked. Tone was understandably smitten and the pair fell in love, much to poor Bette’s dismay.
From that point on, Bette Davis couldn’t disguise her anger, calling Crawford a shallow “mannequin” and comparing her eyes to those of “African caterpillars.” Not one to take insults lying down, Crawford spat back, suggesting Davis “looks like she’s never had a happy day, or night, in her life.” As two of the most popular actresses of their day, the pair competed fiercely for roles until the most perfect casting decision in Hollywood history was made. The women were cast in the dual leading roles of the creepy psychological thriller, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? The story could not have been more perfect for the two, centering around rival film stars who end up stuck in a mansion together, endlessly tormenting each other.