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Personal-Scandal Firings and Resignations

From corner offices to campaign stages and classroom podiums, personal missteps have toppled careers across every walk of life. Whether it’s a CEO’s ill‑timed public display, a teacher’s viral moment, a politician’s hidden affair, or a celebrity’s social‑media backlash, these stories reveal a universal truth: in an era of constant connectivity, our private actions can…

A triptych collage showing (left) a solemn CEO in his office griping paperwork, (center) a politician at a lectern staring downward, and (right) a celebrity shielding her face from photographers.
From boardrooms to campaign trails and red carpets, three public figures confront the turning point when their off‑duty actions became headline fodder.

Public figures—from corporate leaders to entertainers and everyday employees—aren’t just acting on their own behalf; they carry the reputations of their companies, institutions, and the teams they lead. Whether standing at a boardroom podium or taking the stage, their personal choices ripple out to colleagues, shareholders, fans, and the broader public. In an era of instant social‑media sharing and relentless news cycles, a single misstep can eclipse years of accomplishment. Recognizing that they symbolize more than just themselves, these individuals must exercise the utmost care in both private and public life.

CEOs and Executives

  • Andy Byron – CEO of data-software firm Astronomer. In July 2025 a viral video showed Byron in an apparent romantic kiss with the company’s head of HR during a Coldplay concert. Facing public outcry, he resigned as CEO the next day (Jul 2025).
  • Alan Shaw – CEO of Norfolk Southern railroad. In Sep 2024, an internal probe found he had an “inappropriate consensual relationship” with the company’s chief legal officer (a subordinate). The board fired Shaw immediately for violating ethics policy (Sep 2024).
  • Steve Easterbrook – President & CEO of McDonald’s (2015–2019). In Nov 2019 Easterbrook admitted to a consensual relationship with an employee, violating corporate policy. McDonald’s dismissed him on Nov 3, 2019 for “poor judgment” (Nov 2019).

Celebrities and Media Figures

  • Roseanne Barr – Actress/comedian and star of Roseanne. In May 2018 Barr posted a racist tweet about Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett (likening her to an “ape”), prompting ABC to cancel her hit sitcom. The network called Barr’s comment “abhorrent” and dropped her show immediately (May 2018).
  • Hartley Sawyer – Actor (played Ralph Dibny on The Flash). In June 2020, old tweets surfaced showing Sawyer making racist, misogynistic and homophobic jokes. The CW Network stated Sawyer’s social-media posts were “antithetical” to its values and fired him (removing him from Season 7) (June 2020).
  • Paula Deen – Celebrity chef and Food Network star. In June 2013, deposition transcripts revealed Deen had used the N-word multiple times. Within 24 hours, Food Network announced it would drop Deen and not renew her contract, effectively firing her after 11 years (June 2013).
  • Gina Carano – Actress (played Cara Dune on The Mandalorian). In Feb 2021 Carano published social-media posts comparing Jews during the Holocaust to modern politics (among other controversial posts). Lucasfilm stated she is “no longer employed” on the series and fired her, citing “abhorrent” comments about cultural identities (Feb 2021).
  • Kevin Spacey – Actor (House of Cards). Following multiple sexual-assault and harassment allegations in 2017, Netflix and producers fired Spacey from House of Cards. A judge later awarded producers damages, noting Spacey’s alleged misconduct “forced his removal” from the show (Oct 2017).
  • Shane Gillis – Comedian. Hired as a new cast member on Saturday Night Live in Sept 2019, Gillis was dropped after videos surfaced of him using racial and homophobic slurs in a 2018 podcast. NBC said the clips were “offensive, hurtful and unacceptable” and fired him before he ever appeared on the show (Sept 2019).
  • John Galliano – Fashion designer (former Dior creative director). In Mar 2011 a video leaked of Galliano making anti-Semitic and racist rants in a Paris bar (including “I love Hitler”). Christian Dior immediately sacked Galliano for that behavior (Mar 2011).
  • Megyn Kelly – Television news host (formerly Fox News, then NBC). In Oct 2018 Kelly questioned why dressing in blackface at Halloween was offensive. After a public backlash, NBC cancelled her “Today” show spin-off and effectively ousted her from the network that week (Oct 2018).

Politicians

  • Tan Chuan-Jin – Speaker of Singapore’s Parliament (PAP party). In July 2023 Tan and fellow MP Cheng Li Hui admitted to an extramarital affair. Singapore’s Prime Minister said their conduct fell “short of high standards” and accepted their resignations (Jul 2023).
  • Cheng Li Hui – Singaporean Member of Parliament (People’s Action Party). Alongside Tan Chuan-Jin, Cheng resigned in July 2023 over the disclosed affair (Jul 2023).
  • Damian Green – UK Member of Parliament and former Cabinet minister. In Dec 2017 Green was accused of possessing pornographic images on his Commons computer and of misleading investigators. After an inquiry found he broke the ministerial code, Prime Minister Theresa May sacked (forced the resignation of) Green as First Secretary of State (Dec 2017).
  • Monica Toro Lisciandro – Private-school teacher in Florida. In Nov 2019 the Covenant Christian School in Palm Bay fired Lisciandro after learning she was in a same-sex relationship. The school openly stated that her being gay violated its policies and dismissed her (Nov 2019).
  • Jim McGreevey – Governor of New Jersey (Democrat). In Aug 2004 McGreevey admitted to an extramarital affair with a male aide and announced “I am a gay American,” then immediately resigned the governorship amidst the scandal (Aug 2004).
  • Van Taylor – U.S. Congressman (Texas Republican). In March 2022 Taylor acknowledged an extramarital affair and abruptly ended his reelection campaign. He announced he would serve out his current term but would not seek another term after the scandal was made public (Mar 2022).

Other Employees (Case of Media Attention)

  • Kristin Pitzen – California high-school English teacher. In Aug 2021 a viral TikTok video showed Pitzen telling students to pledge allegiance to a Pride flag instead of the U.S. flag. The school district removed her from the classroom (placed on leave) pending investigation, stating “the teacher is no longer in the classroom” (Aug 2021).
  • Unnamed Spartanburg, SC Teacher – High-school teacher (Spartanburg District 6). In Apr 2023 the teacher distributed an article about “gay bear” LGBTQ culture to a 10th-grade class without approval. The district first put her on leave and then fired her for using unapproved materials (Apr 2023).
  • Citigroup Employee – Financial sector worker (location undisclosed). In late 2022 a Citigroup employee posted an antisemitic remark on social media praising the Holocaust. Citi’s spokesperson said the post was “revolting” and the bank terminated the employee immediately (Oct 2022).
  • Air Canada Pilot – Airline pilot (Canadian airline). In Nov 2017 a photo showed the pilot in uniform holding a sign referencing Hitler during a far-right rally. Air Canada publicly denounced the post and removed the pilot from flight duty, effectively firing him from service (Nov 2017).
  • Russian Paramedic – Emergency medical worker. In 2015 a paramedic posted Instagram photos of herself posing disrespectfully with unconscious and injured patients. After the images were publicized, the ambulance service fired her for gross misconduct (2015).
  • Taco Bell Employee – Fast-food worker. Also in 2015, a Taco Bell employee posted a Twitter photo of himself urinating on a customer’s nachos while in uniform, taunting followers. This led to his immediate dismissal for unsanitary, offensive conduct (2015).

These stories remind us that accountability extends far beyond professional achievements. Organizations must set clear expectations and consistently enforce ethical standards—while individuals must remain ever mindful that personal actions carry public consequences. In today’s hyper‑connected world, the line between private misjudgment and professional crisis has all but vanished. By learning from these high‑profile firings and resignations, companies can foster cultures of integrity, and individuals can better appreciate that representing an organization means preserving its trust as vigilantly as one’s own reputation.

Sources

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