# 11 Celebrities Whose Partners Sabotaged Careers

> 11 celebrities claim partners blocked their careers through sabotage, control, or abuse.
- Title: 11 Celebrities Whose Partners Sabotaged Careers · BuzzFeed
- Summary: 11 celebrities claim partners blocked their careers through sabotage, control, or abuse.
- Keywords: sondra locke, clint eastwood, mandy moore, ryan adams, marilyn monroe, joe dimaggio, mariah carey, tommy mottola, randy travis, elizabeth hatcher, calvin harris, rita ora
- Source: BuzzFeed — https://buzzfeed.com/kristenharris1/celebrities-whose-partners-sabotaged-their-careers
- Published: 2026-11-10T03:31:03+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: sondra locke, clint eastwood, mandy moore, ryan adams, marilyn monroe, joe dimaggio, mariah carey, tommy mottola, randy travis, elizabeth hatcher, calvin harris, rita ora
## Sondra Locke and Clint Eastwood
Sondra Locke sued Clint Eastwood for sabotaging her career after their 1989 breakup.

> He was a very powerful figure in town, and no one wanted to get on his bad side.
## Mandy Moore and Ryan Adams
Mandy Moore claimed Ryan Adams blocked her music career after their 2009 marriage.

> He would always tell me, 'You're not a real musician, because you don't play an instrument.'
## Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio
Marilyn Monroe married Joe DiMaggio in 1954 but felt controlled by his jealousy and possessiveness.

> I'm extremely unhappy... He doesn't want to know about my work as an actress.
## Mariah Carey and Tommy Mottola
Mariah Carey claimed Tommy Mottola controlled her music career and limited her creative freedom.

> You might want to picture a child bride. There was a conscious effort to keep me as this all-American girl.
## Randy Travis and Elizabeth Hatcher
Elizabeth Hatcher sued Randy Travis for interfering with her job after their 1991 marriage.

> He intentionally interfered with my job, had his lawyers fire me without written notice.
## Calvin Harris and Rita Ora
Calvin Harris allegedly blocked Rita Ora from performing his song at the Teen Choice Awards.

> I was at that point in my relationship where I felt he could do no wrong.
## Esther Williams and Fernando Lamas
Esther Williams claimed Fernando Lamas forced her to choose between him and her kids and retired her from the spotlight.

> Fernando had asked me years ago not to be in the movies or television or do interviews anymore.
## Rita Hayworth and Eddie Judson
Rita Hayworth married Eddie Judson in 1937 but he controlled her career and abused her.

> He forced me to fork over all the money I'd made before we met and slapped me when we fought.
## Jaclyn Smith and Roger Davis
Jaclyn Smith claimed Roger Davis blocked her career by having an affair with her real estate agent.

> I couldn't imagine how two people I trusted could have betrayed me.
## Olivia d'Abo and Patrick Leonard
Olivia d'Abo claimed Patrick Leonard blocked her acting career by pressuring her to pursue music.

> He threatened to divorce me if I accepted a Broadway role.
## Michael Keaton and Michelle Pfeiffer
Michael Keaton blocked Michelle Pfeiffer from being cast as Catwoman in Batman Returns.

> At the time, Michael told me he was trying to get back with his ex-wife.
## Key takeaway

11 celebrities say partners sabotaged their careers through control, abuse, or career interference.