15 Times Celebrities Had The Last Laugh After Being Told They Weren't Good Enough
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Fame isn't created overnight, and these major celebs are solid proof of that:
1.Lady Gaga was dropped from her first record label.
At the young age of 19, Lady Gaga signed to Island Def Jam records. But just three months after landing a major record deal, they dropped her. Former Def Jam boss LA Reid reportedly admitted that he made the decision after listening to a few of her unfinished demos while having a "bad day." Gaga's "Marry the Night" music video actually deals with her label rejection.
LA Reid has opened up about his regret for letting Gaga go, but with movie deals, sold-out tours, and 13 Grammy wins under her belt, it's clear she's not losing any sleep over it.
2.Harrison Ford was told by an unknown Hollywood executive that he didn't possess the star quality needed to become successful in the industry.
During a 2013 interview, Harrison told Conan O'Brien about his first role as a bellboy in a hotel, where he had to deliver a telegram to James Coburn. "My lines were, 'Paging Mr Jones; Mr Jones, paging Mr Jones' and he raised his hand and I went over and said, 'Mr Jones? Room 204?' and he said, 'Yes,' and I gave him the note and that was my job."
Later, Harrison met with a guy in charge of the new talent program for Columbia Pictures. "He called me into his office and he said, 'Sit down kid. I saw the rushes from yesterday; you're never going to make it in the business. Just forget about it.'"
Nearly 15 years later while Harrison was at a studio commissary, a waiter brought over a business card sent over by that very man that read, "I missed my bet." Harrison is now one of the highest-grossing actors in North America, with over 80 films under his belt.
3.Oprah Winfrey was told that she was "unfit for television news."
Before becoming the face of daytime television, Oprah Winfrey worked as an evening news reporter at Baltimore's WJZ-TV, but she was ultimately fired because she was allegedly "unfit for television news and couldn’t sever her emotions from her stories."
As a demotion, producers moved her to daytime television. It was there that Oprah found her true calling, which led her to create her own talk show, becoming a multi-award-winning journalist and a household name on TV.
4.Walt Disney was told he "lacked imagination."
Walt Disney was fired from the Kansas City Star newspaper in 1919, because his editor said he "lacked imagination and had no good ideas." Walt would later go on to start his own animation studio called Laugh-O-Gram, which he eventually drove into bankruptcy.
But he never let this deter him. Walt went on to build one of the biggest animation studios in the world, which led to 22 Academy Awards, theme parks, and iconic cartoons.
5.Shakira's teacher banned her from choir class.
When Shakira was in grade school, she'd constantly get made fun of because of her voice. They would tell her that she sounded like a goat because of her vibrato range. When she tried out for choir, the choir teacher even went as far as telling Shakira she had a bad voice and refused to let her join the choir during school.
But with 11 top-selling albums under her belt and an unforgettable Super Bowl performance, it looks like Shakira is having the last laugh.
6.Steven Spielberg was rejected from film school three times.
Steven was rejected from the University of Southern California School of Theatre, Film, and Television three times. He even landed an in-person interview with the school, but they turned him down to his face.
But that didn't discourage him. After his 1968 independent film Amblin' was noticed by Sid Sheinberg, who was President of Universal Television at the time, Steven was offered a seven-year contract to direct television for the company. The rest is history. Steven went on to become one of the most regarded directors in the industry.
7.Beyoncé's girl group lost on Star Search.
Before becoming one of the bestselling girl groups of all time with Destiny's Child, and long before she became a multi-Grammy-Award-winning solo artist, Beyoncé was a part of an amateur girl group called Girls Tyme in her preteen years. Girls Tyme, which comprised of six members including Kelly Rowland, competed on Star Search in the '90s, but ultimately lost to a group called Skeleton Crew — earning three stars to Skeleton's four.
8.Stephen King's first book was rejected 30 times.
Renowned horror and suspense author Stephen King has written over 64 books, sold more than 350 million copies, and even had several of his books turned into movies (i.e. It, Misery, The Shining, The Green Mile, Cujo, Pet Sematary, etc.). But before his writing career truly took off, Stephen definitely faced a few obstacles.
Because critics told him he didn't know how to write from a woman's perspective, Stephen actually threw his Carrie draft in the trash — “So I threw it away…after all, who wanted to read a book about a poor girl with menstrual problems," Stephen wrote in his memoir. Thankfully, his wife, Tabitha (who's also an author), saw the potential in Carrie and dug it out of the trash. She gave him tips on writing and molding female characters, and nine months later he finished his first draft. Despite being rejected by 30 publishers, he sold the paperback rights to Carrie for $400,000 to Signet Books.
9.Gisele Bündchen was turned down for numerous model casting opportunities because of her facial features.
The former Victoria's Secret Angel has walked plenty of runways, but back when she was younger and trying to kick off her modeling career in Brazil, a lot of people didn't think she had what it took to make it in the modeling business. She was often turned down during casting calls because they thought her nose was too big and her eyes were too small.
"I remember some people telling me that I could never be on a magazine cover," Gisele told People. "It wasn't easy to be 14 and hear that kind of criticism. It made me feel insecure."
Good thing she didn't listen to them, because she's now one of the highest-paid models in the world.
10.Lucky Daye was eliminated from American Idol.
As a teenager, Lucky Daye, whose real name is David Brown, auditioned for Season 4 of American Idol with the song "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke. He received a "yes" from all four judges, thus sending him to the next round. He made it to the Top 24, where he sang "Never Can Say Goodbye" by the Jackson 5, earning enough votes to remain "safe." He later progressed to the Top 20, where he sang "All in Love Is Fair" by Stevie Wonder, but unfortunately that's where his American Idol journey ended. After receiving the second-lowest votes, he was eliminated.
But Lucky Daye was determined to show the world what he can do, so he didn't give up. Today, he's a multi-Grammy-nominated artist who took home his first Grammy this year for Best Progressive R&B Album.
11.Lucille Ball was told she "had no talent."
When Lucy was younger and eager to get her hands wet in the industry, she left her hometown and set out to New York to take acting lessons. But her step to break into show business was cut short.
“She left Jamestown, New York, where she was born and she went to New York City and she tried to take acting lessons,” Lucy's daughter Lucie Arnaz told the Television Academy Foundation. “And they sent her home, they said she had no talent and her mother was wasting her money.”
Audiences today would strong disagree with those acting coaches because Lucy went on to solidify herself as a Hollywood icon, most known for her popular sitcom named after her: I Love Lucy.
12.Elvis Presley was told he'd never make it as a singer.
Before he was dubbed the "King of Rock & Roll," Elvis Presley had a hard time convincing others of his musical talents. In the early 1950s, while working at Crown Electric company as a truck driver, Elvis landed an audition with rockabilly singer and guitarist Eddie Bond for an open vocalist position in a band. Eddie rejected Elvis, telling the young aspiring singer, "Stick to driving trucks in Memphis, because you're never going to make it as a singer."
But Elvis ended up having the last laugh, because he is now recognized as a cultural icon and still holds the Guinness World Record for the Bestselling Solo Artist of All-Time.
13.Marilyn Monroe was told she'd only be a secretary.
Marilyn was an actor, a model, and a bona fide Hollywood sex symbol who has gone on to become one of the most enduring actors of all time. Widely known for playing the "blonde bombshell" in comedic roles, Marilyn ultimately became a figure of inspiration for many women around the world.
But before Marilyn hit it big, she was hit with a lot of "no's" in the business. In fact, Frank H. Ferguson, the former assistant director of 20th Century Fox, reportedly told her she'd never be anything more than a secretary.
14.Chicken Soup for the Soul's co-authors Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield were rejected by over 100 publishers.
With nearly 300 books in the franchise, it's hard to believe so many publishers couldn't see the potential of Chicken Soup for the Soul. According to Jack, the book was rejected by 144 publishers. The franchise, known for inspirational stories and self-help tips, has since went on to top multiple NYT Best Seller lists.
"If we had given up after 100 publishers, I likely would not be where I am now," said Jack. "I encourage you to reject rejection. If someone says no, just say NEXT! Here are other rejection letters...and given the success of the people who received them, they clearly did not let the rejection stop them."
15.Lastly, the Beatles' audition tape was rejected by Decca Records.
The Beatles auditioned for Decca Records A&R executive Dick Rowe on New Year's Day in 1962. But Dick was not impressed, reportedly telling the band that "guitar groups are on their way out.” Following the audition, they were also told that "they had no future in show business."
But the boys knew they had a gift and continued to audition. Shortly after being turned away from Decca Records, the Beatles signed with EMI, and the rest is history. The Beatles went on to become one of the biggest bands in music history!
