It’s no simple job being in the spotlight. From paparazzi stalkers to invasive interviews, brain-dead career decisions to downright shameful speculation, the average celebrity is constantly at risk of misbranding themselves, making poor PR decisions, and projecting an image that just isn’t real. We’ve all seen celebrity PR disasters first-hand, whether through the news, the tabloids, or simple word of mouth.

We’ve tracked down eight celebrity PR disasters which truly define poor personal branding. From on-air meltdowns to bizarre public behavior, these eight displays show just how hard it can be when the cameras are always pointed at you. Sit back, enjoy a healthy dose of schadenfreude, and enjoy a not-so-public life with these eight celebrity PR disasters.

1. Britney Spears’ Public Meltdowns

Source: http://tinyurl.com/3ypurzo

Britney Spears was transformed from a nobody into one of the world’s biggest stars in just a couple of years, and it appears her PR downfall was just as brisk. The former teen star caught the attention of the press after shaving her head and taking on interviews in a bizarre English accent.

Amazingly, Britney’s public actions became even more strange over the following months. After nearly dropping her young child in public, rumors flew around about the star being an unfit mother. From calls of ‘mental issues’ to explanations of overwhelming professional pressure and public paparazzi ‘hunting’, Britney’s management team took hold of the nearly endless bad PR in 2009.

2. Tom Cruise and the Couch, Scientology, and Everything Else

Source: http://tinyurl.com/38y5l8z

Tom Cruise suffered a Roman Empire scale PR meltdown beginning in 2005. The ultra-popular actor, once considered one of Hollywood’s most bankable and well-liked stars, caught the attention of almost every critical media outlet after his bizarre couch dance on the Oprah Winfrey show.

With couch-gate in full effect, the media found a new unusual part of Cruise’s personal life: his cult-like attachment to the controversial Scientology religious group. From unusual leaked videos to flat out scary religious doctrine, Cruise’s reputation took a massive dive – celebrity popularity polling put him down 40 percent following the release of Oprah tapes and the Scientology PR meltdown.

3. Quentin Tarantino’s Paparazzi Hatred

Source: http://tinyurl.com/2v9h5ma

Quentin Tarantino has certainly found success in the film industry. The former video store employee gained a cult following with his 1992 independent film Reservoir Dogs, and became one of Hollywood’s most popular and critically acclaimed directors after the 1994 release of Pulp Fiction.

However, Quentin Tarantino’s public life seems to mirror that of his film characters – primarily the unethical, publicity-hating mobsters he so loves to write about. No stranger to controversy, the actor/director has been caught up in numerous fights, arguments, and lifelong rivalries with paparazzi photographers and members of the press over the years.

But for Quentin, this PR ‘disaster’ may actually be a good thing. The director certainly has a reputation for being spontaneous and aggressive, giving these public outburst as much power for marketing ‘good’ as for potential PR problems.

4. Ashley Simpson’s Lip-Syncing Debacle

Source: http://tinyurl.com/34jdmpa

When Ashley Simpson appeared on Saturday Night Live, her plans revolved around album promotion. Unfortunately, the young singer ended up catching a very different feeling in the studio – public humiliation and certain PR failure.

After sound technicians cued the wrong backing track for her performance, the singer was caught out lip-syncing in front of millions of home viewers. The performance was quickly cancelled, Ashley disappeared off the stage, and thousands of viewers took to online forums and celebrity gossip communities to share information about her PR downfall.

5. Mel Gibson’s Anti-Semitic Ranting

Source: http://tinyurl.com/2wdzx8n

Thanks to The Passion of the Christ, actor/director Mel Gibson is one of Hollywood’s wealthiest residents. The Australian actor is no stranger to the public eye, but his 2006 drunken arrest resulted in a little more negative publicity than the actor is used to. Spurred by his drunken anti-semitic remarks, Gibson’s publicity team worked overtime to ensure that things didn’t get too out of hand.

Unfortunately, once the media caught wind of the story things took a sour turn. Labeled an ‘anti-semite’, ‘bigot’ and other career-crushing names by the media, Gibson was forced to plead guilty to drunk driving charges and seek help for his alcoholism.

6. Gary Coleman and The Insider Blow-up

Source: http://tinyurl.com/33m9qmb

After a January 2010 arrest for supposed domestic violence, former child star Gary Coleman was forced into the public eye once again. The arrest certainly wasn’t the first public PR disaster for Coleman, who has been labeled as violent and abusive by media outlets since the early 1990s.

Unfortunately, Coleman’s already troubled PR efforts took a giant hit following his appearance on talk show The Insider. When questioned about his violent past, Coleman began to scream obscenities at the show’s presenters, before walking off the set and suffering a brief seizure.

7. Tiger Woods’ Very Public Affairs

Source: http://tinyurl.com/347faru

How can a small car crash turn into one of the world’s biggest media blow-ups? Ask Tiger Woods’ public relations team – a group so uncertain about how to protect the sports superstar’s reputation that they, well, ruined it.

After a minor car crash outside Woods’ home sparked media interest, over ten women came forward with information about their affairs with Tiger. The formerly ‘all-good’ golfer suffered one of the biggest PR meltdowns in history, losing hundreds of millions of dollars in endorsement income and causing almost $5 billion in damages to the company’s he represented.

8. Russell Crowe’s Frequent Public Punch-Ups

Source: http://tinyurl.com/2wlg54g

Known for his iconic performances in LA Confidential and Gladiator, Australian actor Russell Crowe is considered one of Hollywood’s most talented and bankable actors. However, he’s also well-known for his behavior off the movie set, primarily his frequent fights with studio employees, nightclub security guards, and fellow actors.

After a series of very public fights in the mid-2000s, Crowe refocused his PR efforts and embraced his acting skills above his short temper. While South Park fans may remember him as a short fused brawler, Crowe’s efforts have been largely rewarded – he received his own star on the Hollywood ‘Walk of Fame’ in early April 2010.