Celebrity missteps often lead to public shunning but in extreme instances, they could also result in travel restrictions.
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Take former president Donald Trump, for example. After he was found guilty of 34 felony counts in his hush-money case, reports emerged that he could potentially face significant travel bans himself — an ironic turn of events for a former politician who attempted to implement these same restrictions on others. He might be the first person to hold the highest office to be convicted of a crime, but he definitely isn’t the first celebrity to be turned away from a country.
Over the years, countless well-known names from the U.S. and abroad have been banned from entering certain countries.
Some of these celebrities, like Paris Hilton, have been turned away from certain borders due to prior court convictions. Others, such as Katy Perry, have been accused of offending specific cultures and their practices, which have, in turn, gotten them banned.
Below is a list of 21 celebrities who are currently banned or have been banned from entering certain countries.
1.
Donald Trump
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Okay, this one was a no-brainer. In the wake of his recent conviction on 34 counts of falsification of business records in the first degree, Donald Trump will likely be barred from entering 37 countries, which could be an issue in foreign relations if he returns to office. According to People, these countries include key American allies, such as Canada, Australia, and the UK, along with other countries like Mexico and Israel. The publication cited the World Population Review, which states that felons are barred from entering these countries and roughly 30 others.
2.
Tyson Fury
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Love Island star and boxer Tommy Fury confirmed that he and his brother, Tyson Fury, have been barred from entering the United States during an appearance on the MMA Hour podcast. Tommy said, “Me and Tyson just can’t get into America at the minute and that’s the way it is.” According to The Sun, U.S. officials banned them from entering the country due to their connection to Daniel Kinahan, a boxing promoter who has been suspected of being a high-ranking figure in organized crime.
3.
Chris Brown
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In 2010, Chris Brown pleaded guilty to one count of felony assault on his ex-girlfriend Rihanna, leading several countries, such as Canada, the UK, and Australia, to bar him from entering. Though he has since managed to return to Canada and the UK, Australia remained firm on their position. According to CBS, Australian government officials denied Brown a visa to enter the country in 2015. However, Chris Brown announced tour dates in Australia this fall so we’ll see if things will change.
4.
Justin Bieber
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In 2017, Beijing’s Culture Bureau said that Justin Bieber was not allowed to perform in the country due to “bad behavior,” BBC reported. They didn’t necessarily elaborate any further, but they did refer to him as a “controversial foreign singer.” “We hope that as Justin Bieber matures, he can continue to improve his own words and actions, and truly become a singer beloved by the public,” read the statement.
5.
Paris Hilton
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In 2010, Paris Hilton was on pace to promote a new fashion and fragrance line in Japan, though the country turned her away. The socialite’s previous guilty plea on two misdemeanor charges of cocaine possession resulted in one year of probation as part of her deal. As reported by The Guardian, Japan has strict immigration policies and often refuses entry to those found guilty of drug-related offenses.
6.
DJ Zedd
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In 2019, Zedd revealed that he had been banned from China over a social media interaction. “I just got permanently banned from China because I liked a @SouthPark tweet,” he wrote. His publicist confirmed to CBS this was true but couldn’t provide any more information.
7.
The Game
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Even with a legion of fans in Canada, the border patrol declined to let him enter the country. The rapper was turned away in 2019 and forced to cancel his Canadian tour after he was denied a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP), according to a statement issued by International Touring Agency. Canadian Customs previously banned The Game from performing in Canada in 2011 “due to new information received that Game is affiliated with organized crime and is an active member of the Bloods street gang,” the promoter was told, per TMZ.
8.
Katy Perry
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A dress from a 2015 performance in Taiwan resulted in Perry’s ban from China two years later. According to Page Six, the singer was refused a visa to enter the country for the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Shanghai. The dress in question included sunflowers — a symbol associated with anti-Chinese protesters. She also waved Taiwan’s flag, similarly upsetting Chinese officials.
9.
Elton John
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Egypt officials banned Elton John from performing at a private ceremony in 2010 due to his sexual orientation, the Jerusalem Post reports. This came after the musician commented on LGBTQ+ rights in the Middle East during an interview with Parade Magazine. “I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems. On the cross, he forgave the people who crucified him. Jesus wanted us to be loving and forgiving. I don’t know what makes people so cruel. Try being a gay woman in the Middle East — you’re as good as dead,” he said.
10.
Snoop Dogg
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According to Spin, Snoop has been turned away from several countries in the past, including Norway, the Netherlands, the UK, and Australia. He was banned from the UK in 2006 after an altercation at Heathrow Airport, where a duty-free store was vandalized. He was allowed back into the country in 2010. Australian authorities also prevented him from entering when he was set to host the MTV Australia Video Music Awards, though they reversed the decision the following year. Similarly, the Netherlands denied him entry in 2010. In 2012, Norway placed a two-year ban on Snoop after he tried entering the Nordic country with 8 grams of weed.
11.
Brad Pitt
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Another celebrity banned from China, Brad Pitt, joins a long list of other Hollywood stars who’ve faced pushback from the country’s government. According to Interview Magazine, his 1997 film, 7 Years In Tibet, infuriated officials because of its portrayal of China and its positive representation of the Dalai Lama, resulting in a ban from entering the country. His co-star David Thewlis and the film’s director Jean-Jacques Annaud were also banned. However, Pitt eventually returned to China on two separate occasions; in 2014 and 2016.
12.
Martin Scorsese
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Similar to Pitt, Scorsese was also reportedly banned from China for upsetting officials over the portrayal of the 14th Dalai Llama in Disney’s Kundun. Scorsese, along with several other members of the cast and crew, were barred from entering the country, while Disney CEO Michael Eisner reportedly had to do damage control as the company’s relationship with China became fractured.
13.
Mike Tyson
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Although one of the most celebrated boxers of all time, Mike Tyson’s professional career has been fraught with controversy. His 1992 conviction for the rape of Desiree Washington resulted in several countries reportedly denying him entry, including New Zealand in 2012 and Australia in 2001, and the UK in 2013.
14.
Boy George
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In 2008, the pop star was denied a visa to enter the United States, and he had to cancel 30 tour dates across North America. According to CNN, this came as he awaited trial for false imprisonment charges relating to a 2007 incident, though he posted bail and maintained his innocence.
15.
Giggs
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UK Rap heavyweight Giggs is barred from entering the United States due to a conviction relating to a gun charge. In an interview with Ebro Darden on Apple Beats 1, he explained the significant setback he faced due to the travel restriction. “I miss America rough, differently rough…The only way I can explain it, it’s like parole. You’re trying to get parole,” he said. “You never know when you’re going to get parole. You might get knocked back, they might give you parole. That’s like me trying to get into America. Are we going to let him in?”
Things have changed since, and earlier this year, the rapper visited New York and reportedly attended the Roc Nation Brunch during his stay in the U.S.
16.
Selena Gomez
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According to Billboard, Russian officials denied Selena Gomez’s visa in 2013 in what many believe to be a result of her support for LGBTQ+ rights. She’s also banned from China, the New Zealand Herald reports, after she took photos with the Dalai Lama.
17.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
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Australia denied Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s visa in 2015 because of his history of violence toward women, according to The Daily Mail.
18.
Claire Danes
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Claire Danes didn’t have many good things to say about the Philippines after filming Brokedown Palace. In an interview with Vogue, she described Manila as a “ghastly and weird city” and proceeded to state that it “smelled of cockroaches, with rats all over.” Manila’s city council declared her a “persona non grata,” meaning that she’d be barred from entering the country while her movies were banned from being shown, earning a co-sign from the then-president Joseph Estrada, as reported by CBS News.
19.
Akon
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Akon’s collaboration with David Guetta on “Sexy Chick” got him banned from Sri Lanka. According to The Guardian, the music video, which featured subtle shots of a statue of Buddha in the background, was deemed “controversial” and offensive, leading hundreds of demonstrators to Maharaja television network headquarters in Colombo to protest his upcoming concert. While Akon apologized, the Sri Lankan government denied his visa.
