As much as you might try to avoid drama in your real life, when it comes to spats in Hollywood, it’s hard to look away sometimes. This year proved to be an epic one for celebrity beefs, and while not every single clash of personalities is worth remembering, we think, looking back, these spats will prove to be big stories in the year’s timeline.
1. Kanye West and Taylor Swift: When Kanye released The Life of Pablo in January, the lyrics to “Famous” set off what felt like an entire year of drama between the two camps. “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex,” Kanye rapped. “I made that b***h famous.” Taylor’s squad immediately came to her defense, though Taylor kept pretty quiet until using her Grammys acceptance speech a few weeks later as a giant subtweet to Kanye. Kanye maintained that Taylor had given him her blessing to use the lyric, but in the meantime, people stood behind Taylor. (Photo via Larry Busacca/Getty)
2. Rob Kardashian and the Rest of the Kardashians: Rob’s new relationship with Blac Chyna — his half-sister Kylie Jenner’s boyfriend’s ex-gf and mother of his kid — was not exactly met with enthusiasm in the early parts of 2016, with Khloe even kicking Rob out of her house. The family tensions ebbed and flowed all year and continue to rage on, of course, but now with baby Dream in the picture, we hope things settle in this family.
taylor deleted these iconic pics that will forever live in my heart pic.twitter.com/smEFgPPmf7
— katia claus (@ginnypottrr) June 15, 2016
3. Calvin Harris and Taylor Swift: After Tay and Calvin broke up and she immediately started dating Tom Hiddleston, the two played out their drama in modern public fashion, deleting old pictures and unfollowing each other on social media. It came to a glorious ahem, dramatic head when Calvin went OFF on Tay on Twitter when she claimed songwriting credit on his new hit. Eventually things calmed down, and Calvin even sounded remorseful and mature over the situation in an interview with GQ. Phew.
Here is the entire conversation Taylor & Kanye had, judge for yourself. pic.twitter.com/InTjvPGKe3
— Shady Music Polls (@TheShadyPolls) July 18, 2016
4. Kim Kardashain and Taylor Swift: The ultimate in celeb feuds this year. In July, Kim Kardashian Snapchatted video footage of Kanye having a phone convo with Taylor in which she gives him the okay to use the lyrics in “Famous.” The internet. Lost. Its mind. Of course, Kim’s squad took her side while Taylor’s squad took hers (and some were confusingly neutral). Taylor more or less retreated from the public eye, asking to be “excluded from the narrative” and quietly continuing her relationship with Tom Hiddleston (which might have been staged to distract from the Kimye drama). In the end, Kim’s star rose, while Tay’s fizzled.
@KimKardashian I truly hope you realize how important setting goals are for young women, teaching them we have so much more to offer than-
— Chloë Grace Moretz (@ChloeGMoretz) March 7, 2016
5. Chloë Grace Moretz and the Kardashians: When Kim Kardashian broke the internet with her tastefully censored nude mirror selfie in the spring, Chloe Grace Moretz felt it was her duty to police how Kim uses her body, tweeting that women should teach young girls that they have more uses for the world than just their bodies. Kim and Khloe dragged Chloë. The whole thing was ugly but ultimately fizzled out.
6. Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez: The #JustinDeactivatedParty was one of the Twitter events of the summer, with fans celebrating when Justin Bieber removed his Instagram account. The reason? His ex-gf Selena Gomez. When Justin was posting tons of pics of his new then-gf, 17-year-old Sofia Richie, fans were being ULTRA mean. Justin threatened to delete his account. Selena posted, then deleted, a comment telling Justin that if he couldn’t take the heat, he should stop posting pictures of his gf. Ouch! He did just that. The effects of this one are still being felt, as Justin has actually never reactivated his account. (Photo via Pascal Le Segretain/Getty)
7. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt: Hollywood’s golden couple caused shockwaves when they announced their divorce a few months ago, and if that wasn’t enough, it got ugly, fast. In her filing, Angelina cited irreconcilable differences, but details about concerns over Brad’s drug and alcohol use around the children and an investigation into child abuse quickly came to light (Pitt was eventually cleared of the charges). While both have spoken about it only in official statements, we’re sure it’s some tense times — recently, Angelina was making what seemed to be pretty calculated legal moves to keep the whole thing very public. (Photo via Jonathan Leibson/Getty)
What celeb beefs did you follow in 2016? No judgement! Let us know @BritandCo.
(Featured photo via Larry Busacca/Getty)
Getting the word out about your brand takes time, drive, and ingenuity. And it doesn't come easy for many entrepreneurs. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're chatting with Selfmade alum Taylor Morgan McPherson, founder of Sustainable Sparkle Bar, about ways in which she scored press as a solo startup brand and what she learned from Selfmade to take her brand marketing up a notch.
B + C: How did you know Sustainable Sparkle Bar was your business to start?
Glitter has always been my thing, so when I started my event company I decided to make it my niche. I started telling people I threw glitter-themed parties where people would get sparkled with glitter body art and makeup. Six months after that I applied to my first festival and to work with SUR restaurant in West Hollywood.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
I honestly can't say that I've had a specific strategy that I've followed when it comes to getting my business off the ground. I have a PR background so I was just constantly pitching new business and posting on social media.
B + C: What's the biggest challenge you face as a small business owner?
I would say creating a stable income and revenue stream. With a seasonal, event-based business it can be very up and down.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
The relationships I made and the push to start an email database.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I love what I do and I believe in myself 100%. Staying motivated isn't the hard part. Pushing myself to do the work and staying accountable is the hard part.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip? Do you use any apps that help you manage your business?
I keep multiple to-do lists, hand-written and digital. I also tell clients and partners that I will have something to them by a certain time or day so I have to stick to it.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Just do it, take the leap. And don't worry about what anyone else says to thinks.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Issa Rae, I'm so inspired by everything that she's created being a creative and a black woman. It's my dream to have my own show one day based on my life and where I give advice and talk about the world. She's doing it and making people laugh and giving people joy. And it's based in LA. Watching Insecure only further cemented my dreams of wanting to live in LA.
B + C: How did you hear about the Office Depot scholarship?
One of my friends that I met through Camp No Counselors saw an IG ad for it and nominated me.
B + C: What has receiving the scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start/grow your business?
It's completely helped me level up and take my business to another level. Selfmade helped me host my first virtual event and taught me how to set up my website to sell tickets to events and get RSVPs.
B + C: How have Office Depot services or products helped you accomplish more in your business?
I got new cards to send in all of my orders with my discount code on them. I also bought a really cool 4K camera that I now use for my social media.
Thanks Taylor! You really know how to sparkle. We love her colorful, creative vibe. You can follow Sustainable Sparkle Bar on Instagram @sustainablesparklebar.
Let Office Depot OfficeMax help you stand out in the crowd. From signs, posters & banners to promote your business, to marketing materials to keep your customers informed, Office Depot OfficeMax offers a full suite of business services & solutions to help you & your business get noticed.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.