As the curtain falls on 2025, the world of celebrity has once again proven that even the brightest stars in Hollywood's firmament are rarely without their enemies. While chart-topping rap wars and headline-grabbing legal sagas captured the public's attention, a quieter, stranger category of conflict simmered away in the background. These are the bizarre, overlooked, and enduring feuds that briefly flared, resurfaced unexpectedly, or have simply refused to die.
Family Rifts and Legendary Grudges
Some of the most poignant clashes of the year unfolded within families and between former friends. The Beckham family feud escalated publicly just before Christmas, when Cruz Beckham revealed his older brother Brooklyn had blocked their entire family on Instagram. Cruz insisted his parents, David and Victoria, would never unfollow their son, stating they had simply "woke up blocked." This social media snub confirmed a deep communication breakdown, with Brooklyn opting to spend the festive season with his wife Nicola Peltz's family in Miami, having already missed his father's 50th birthday celebrations and failing to acknowledge David's knighthood.
In a blast from the past, writer-director Mike Binder shed new light on a long-rumoured grudge between two Hollywood titans. On a podcast in November, Binder claimed Steven Spielberg once refused to work with Ben Affleck in the mid-2000s. Spielberg allegedly warned Binder against casting Affleck in 'Man About Town', citing a previous box office bomb and "other problems." These reportedly stemmed from Affleck's past relationship with Spielberg's goddaughter, Gwyneth Paltrow, and an alleged incident where a furious Affleck threw one of Spielberg's young sons into a pool during a family holiday in Spain. The rift was eventually buried in 2013, the same year Affleck's 'Argo' beat Spielberg's 'Lincoln' for Best Picture.
Unexpected Call-Outs and Cultural Reckonings
Other feuds emerged from surprising quarters, revealing tensions that had been bubbling under the surface for years. Never one to mince words, Sharon Osbourne delivered a stunning takedown in 2023, labelling Ashton Kutcher the "rudest" celebrity she'd ever met during a game with her daughter Kelly. The unfiltered comment, for which she offered no specific details, instantly created waves online.
Meanwhile, the long-simmering tension between Katherine Heigl and Shonda Rhimes was revisited, with Heigl offering her most candid reflection yet in 2023. She admitted to being "naive" and overly confident when speaking out during her time on 'Grey's Anatomy', which led to her being branded "difficult." Former co-star Ellen Pompeo offered a sympathetic take, suggesting Heigl was simply "a little early" in an era before such public airings of grievance became more common.
In a digital-age clash, Bella Thorne and Whoopi Goldberg faced off in 2019 after Goldberg criticised Thorne for taking private nude photos that were later hacked. A tearful Thorne responded in an Instagram video, accusing Goldberg of victim-blaming and asking, "if I go out to a party drinking and want to dance, do I deserve to be raped too?" The exchange sparked a wider debate about shame, consent, and digital exploitation.
Enduring Rivalries and Eventual Thaws
Some conflicts have spanned decades, becoming part of pop culture folklore. The bitter rivalry between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone defined 1980s Hollywood, with the two action stars openly bad-mouthing each other and competing fiercely. Schwarzenegger later admitted they "hated each other," even recalling how he sabotaged Stallone by feigning interest in the film 'Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot'. Their reconciliation began with a business partnership in the Planet Hollywood franchise, eventually leading to friendship and collaboration.
Music has seen its share of legendary spats. Sir Elton John and Madonna feuded for years, beginning in 2002 when Elton called her Bond theme "the worst ever" and famously declaring "Madonna, best live act? F*** off" at the 2004 Q Awards. The feud reignited multiple times, including over award show wins, before finally thawing in 2016 when Elton apologised after a chance meeting in France.
Perhaps the most consequential musical feud of all was ignited by The Chicks (formerly Dixie Chicks) in 2003, when lead singer Natalie Maines told a London crowd they were "ashamed" President George W. Bush was from Texas. The comment triggered massive boycotts in the US, derailing their country music career overnight. In 2020, Maines stated she had "no regrets," but acknowledged the band no longer felt part of the country music genre.
As 2025 concludes, these stories serve as a reminder that in the glamorous yet cutthroat world of celebrity, conflicts range from the deeply personal to the purely professional, from fleeting social media spats to grudges that last a lifetime. While some find resolution, others simply become part of the enduring tapestry of Hollywood lore.
