The 12 Most Controversial Celebrity Commercials of All Time

The 12 Most Controversial Celebrity Commercials of All Time

Advertising and celebrity endorsements can be a match made in heaven—or a PR disaster waiting to happen. Over the years, brands have turned to famous faces to give their products an instant boost. But sometimes, the campaigns create more headlines than sales, and not for the reasons anyone intended.

From tone-deaf attempts at “wokeness” to sexy spots banned from TV, these commercials sparked debates, backlash, and even boycotts. Whether they made you cringe, laugh, or roll your eyes, they all remind us of one thing: when celebrities and corporations collide, controversy is never far behind.

1. Paris Hilton – Carl’s Jr.

Few fast-food ads have stirred as much buzz as the one featuring Paris Hilton washing a Bentley in a bikini while biting into a burger.

Carl’s Jr. leaned heavily into sex appeal, betting that Paris—then at the height of her Simple Life fame—would grab attention. And she did. The spot was labeled “too hot for TV” in some markets, and watchdog groups accused it of being little more than soft-core advertising.

Despite the outrage, sales reportedly spiked after the ad’s release. Love it or hate it, the commercial cemented Carl’s Jr.’s reputation for pushing boundaries, and it gave Paris another notch in her “famous for being famous” legacy.

2. Kendall Jenner – Pepsi

It’s hard to forget the backlash Pepsi faced when Kendall Jenner “solved” a protest by handing a police officer a soda.

The ad was accused of trivializing serious social justice movements like Black Lives Matter. Critics argued it painted over systemic issues with a sugary drink and a smile, turning real struggles into a fashion-forward photo op. The outrage was swift, and Pepsi pulled the ad within 24 hours.

For Kendall, the spot became a career lowlight, sparking memes and endless online ridicule. For Pepsi, it was a cautionary tale in how not to capitalize on cultural conversations.

3. Bob Dylan – Victoria’s Secret

When one of the greatest folk icons of all time appeared in a lingerie commercial, fans didn’t know what to think.

Bob Dylan, long celebrated for his anti-establishment stance, showed up alongside models in a sultry Victoria’s Secret ad. The spot featured him strumming his guitar while angels strutted past in lace. Many longtime fans accused Dylan of “selling out” and betraying his countercultural image.

On the flip side, younger audiences who hadn’t grown up with his protest songs thought the whole thing was simply bizarre. Whether it was a payday move or an experiment in reinvention, the commercial remains one of the strangest mashups in advertising history.

4. Britney Spears – Pepsi

Back in the early 2000s, Britney Spears was America’s pop princess, and Pepsi tapped into her star power with a glitzy, music-video-style commercial.

The ad was a smash hit with Pepsi’s target audience, but it also sparked criticism. Parents and advocacy groups argued that the hyper-sexualized presentation of Britney was inappropriate, especially since much of her fanbase consisted of tweens and teens. The spot blurred the line between pop stardom and product marketing in a way that left many uncomfortable.

Still, it became iconic—so much so that it’s remembered as one of Pepsi’s most recognizable celebrity campaigns, controversy and all.

5. Kim Kardashian – Skechers Shape-Ups

Skechers thought they had a marketing goldmine when Kim Kardashian endorsed their Shape-Ups sneakers, but the gamble backfired spectacularly.

The ad showed Kim dumping her trainer in favor of the shoes, claiming they gave her the same benefits as workouts. Unfortunately, the FTC later slapped Skechers with a massive fine for making unsubstantiated health claims. Consumers who bought into the hype felt duped, and the Kardashian connection became part of the fallout.

While the scandal wasn’t Kim’s fault directly, it highlighted the risks of attaching a celebrity face to misleading products. In the end, Skechers took the hit, but Kim’s involvement ensured the controversy stayed in the spotlight.

6. Sydney Sweeney – American Eagle

Hot off her breakout role in Euphoria, Sydney Sweeney became the face of American Eagle, but not everyone was impressed.

The campaign leaned into her sultry screen persona, with ads some viewers thought were too provocative for a brand traditionally aimed at teens and college students. Fans of the actress defended her, saying she was simply embracing her star power, while critics accused the brand of pushing boundaries inappropriately.

The uproar turned the ads into a trending topic online, drawing more attention than American Eagle likely anticipated. For Sydney, it showcased the growing tension between her wholesome and daring images. For the brand, it was a lesson in knowing your audience.

7. Ozzy Osbourne – I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!

Of all the endorsements Ozzy Osbourne could have chosen, few expected him to pitch margarine.

The commercial showed the Prince of Darkness fumbling humorously with the product, but many fans were left scratching their heads. Rock purists thought it cheapened his edgy image, while others just found the pairing absurd. Was Ozzy really that strapped for cash, or was it all just part of his offbeat sense of humor?

Either way, the ad became notorious for its sheer oddity. While not offensive in the traditional sense, it stands as a reminder that sometimes controversy comes from confusion, not outrage.

8. Madonna – Pepsi

In the late ’80s, Madonna was no stranger to pushing boundaries, and her Pepsi partnership proved explosive.

The campaign initially seemed like a coup for the brand—until her “Like a Prayer” music video dropped, filled with burning crosses, stigmata, and interracial romance. Religious groups erupted in outrage, accusing Madonna and Pepsi of blasphemy.

Pepsi yanked the ad after just a couple of airings, but Madonna got to keep her multimillion-dollar payday. Far from hurting her, the controversy boosted her rebel persona and helped “Like a Prayer” become a cultural milestone. For Pepsi, it was a harsh reminder of the risks in aligning with unpredictable artists.

9. Scarlett Johansson – SodaStream

Not even a Super Bowl spot could save SodaStream from a storm of criticism after their Scarlett Johansson ad.

The glamorous commercial showed Johansson sipping SodaStream in a sleek, seductive style. But the controversy wasn’t about the tone—it was about the company itself. Activists criticized SodaStream for operating a factory in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, sparking protests and political backlash.

The ad was also banned from airing during the Super Bowl because Pepsi and Coke, both competitors, were sponsors. For Scarlett, it marked an awkward moment in her otherwise successful career as a brand ambassador. For SodaStream, it was proof that politics and soda don’t mix easily.

10. Charlize Theron – Dior J’Adore

Golden statues, glittering gowns, and a goddess-like Charlize Theron—it had all the makings of a luxury masterpiece.

But critics argued that Dior’s J’Adore ad crossed into the territory of deception. The actress was digitally enhanced to near-perfection, with retouching so extensive that watchdog groups accused the brand of setting impossible beauty standards. Some even called for regulations to curb such misleading practices.

Charlize herself remained untouched by the backlash, but the campaign became part of a broader debate about digital manipulation in advertising. To this day, the spot is remembered less for its glamour and more for its role in fueling conversations about authenticity in beauty campaigns.

11. David Beckham – H&M Underwear

When David Beckham stripped down for H&M, the campaign was impossible to ignore—but not everyone was cheering.

The soccer icon’s underwear ads generated a flood of complaints from viewers who said the spot was too racy to be shown during family-friendly programming. Parents argued it was borderline inappropriate, while others accused the brand of shamelessly objectifying Beckham.

Of course, the controversy only boosted sales, and the images became iconic in their own right. Beckham shrugged off the backlash, saying he was comfortable in his own skin. For H&M, the ad was proof that sometimes pushing boundaries is worth the outrage.

12. Caitlyn Jenner – MAC Cosmetics

When Caitlyn Jenner partnered with MAC for a lipstick campaign, reactions were as polarized as her public image.

Some praised the collaboration as groundbreaking, celebrating visibility and representation for transgender women in mainstream beauty ads. Others dismissed it as a cynical cash grab, claiming MAC was capitalizing on Jenner’s notoriety rather than genuinely supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

The debate spilled over into social media, with both supporters and detractors making their voices heard. While the ad itself was simple, its impact was magnified by the weight of Jenner’s celebrity. Love it or hate it, the campaign sparked conversations about inclusion, commercialization, and the politics of beauty.