Media coaching is a common practice for celebrities, equipping them with the skills to enhance their public image. However, this doesn’t completely deter them from indulging in occasional pettiness. We’ve gathered five instances where stars have veered off-script and let their true feelings show. Can you think of any celebrity antics that top these?

Julia Roberts made a homemade t-shirt to shade her husband’s ex

Julia Roberts and Danny Moder’s love story began with a touch of complexity. When they met on the set of The Mexican in 2000, Moder was still married to makeup artist Vera Steimberg, and Roberts was deeply involved with actor Benjamin Bratt. Although both deny that they left their partners for each other, Roberts made her sentiments about Moder’s former spouse quite clear early in their relationship.

In a surprisingly candid moment, Roberts was snapped casually sipping a drink while wearing a homemade t-shirt that declared “A Low Vera.” The context—her relationship status and Moder’s ongoing divorce—made it obvious the shirt was a jab at Steimberg. This stunt left fans unsettled, deeming it rather juvenile considering the circumstances.

Patti Lupone sued Andrew Lloyd Webber, then built the Andrew Lloyd Webber Memorial Swimming Pool with the settlement

In the early 1990s, the celebrated stage actress Patti LuPone was cast as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, initially in the London production with a promise to transition to Broadway. Yet, she was ultimately replaced before the Broadway debut. This led LuPone to sue the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber for breaking their agreement. The court ruled in her favor, awarding her $1 million.

LuPone chose to channel the settlement into a backyard transformation, building a swimming pool at her Connecticut home. The truly cheeky part came with the pool’s christening: she named it the Andrew Lloyd Webber Memorial Pool—despite Webber being very much alive. The pool endures as a monument to one of the most iconic acts of celebrity pettiness.

Lana del Rey put up a billboard for her new album in her ex’s hometown

Lana Del Rey didn’t take her breakup with Sean Larkin well. Del Rey was so deeply bothered by the split that she decided to be as petty as possible when releasing new music. Del Rey funded exactly one billboard to promote her album, Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd. According to People, she dropped the billboard in Larson’s hometown of Tulsa to get back at him.

What makes the move even more outrageous is how short the relationship actually was. Del Rey and Larkin dated for about six months before splitting in 2020. Del Ray’s album dropped in 2022, releasing it on her ex’s birthday. In 2023, she continued to shade the now-married Larkin with song lyrics.

Demi Lovato told papparazzi to “ask Taylor” about Selena Gomez

Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez grew up together on different sets and were inseparable until they reached their late teens. They were actually best friends once upon a time. When Selena Gomez started to get close to Taylor Swift, Lovato didn’t take it well. In one very petty moment, Lovato told the papparazzi they should “ask Taylor” when they asked her how Selena Gomez was doing.

It’s all water under the bridge now. While Lovato and Gomez are no longer close, there doesn’t seem to be bad blood either. Gomez gushed about Lovato and her talent during a 2025 podcast appearance, and Lovato insisted she was thrilled that Gomez was happy during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. Lovato and Swift seem to be on decent terms, too.

Drake used Kim Kardashian’s voice to shade Kanye West in one of his songs

Drake has been the victim of petty celebrity moments, but he’s also pulled a few punches, too. The music artist’s longstanding feud is no secret, but did you know he shaded his nemesis by sampling Kim Kardashian’s voice on one of his songs?

In 2023, Drake released the single “Search & Rescue,” which samples a clip of Kim Kardashian talking about her decision to divorce Kanye West. In the song, Kardashian is heard telling her mother, Kris Jenner, “I didn’t come this far to come this far and not be happy…” While the song was a hit, West’s fans were outraged at Drake’s decision to throw a subtle jab, by way of Kardashian, at the rapper. Later rumors that Drake and Kim Kardashian were actually dating made the move seem even more petty.