James Corden rose to fame when he starred on Gavin and Stacey (Image: Getty)
’s meteoric rise in Hollywood was as unexpected as it was groundbreaking.
The British comedian, best known in the UK for co-creating and starring in , surprised everyone when he was announced as the host of US talk show, The Late Late Show, in 2015.
Over eight years, he transformed late-night television, introducing segments like Carpool Karaoke, which featured global stars like Adele, BTS, and Stevie Wonder, and became a viral sensation.
The Emmy-winning entertainer further cemented his place in American pop culture by hosting the Grammys and Tonys multiple times and starring in films like Into the Woods and Ocean’s Eight.
Despite these accomplishments, Corden’s time in has been overshadowed by controversies, ranging from accusations of bad behaviour to public clashes that challenged his “good guy” persona.
As one reputation management expert put it, “I don’t think he’s finished, but I do think he’s going to be in celebrity purgatory for a bit.” Here’s a look at the incidents that have tarnished his legacy.
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Corden was banned from a celeb hotspot for his rude behaviour (Image: Getty)
Restaurant Ban
One of the most damning blows to Corden’s reputation came in 2022 when Keith McNally, owner of the famed New York City restaurant Balthazar, publicly called him out for allegedly abusive behavior toward staff.
McNally described the comedian as “a tiny cretin of a man” and “the most abusive customer to my Balthazar servers since the restaurant opened 25 years ago.” According to McNally, multiple complaints about Corden’s conduct prompted him to issue a temporary ban.
The incident caused a media frenzy, forcing The Gavin & Stacey co-creator to publicly apologize. McNally later lifted the ban but not without the damage being done.
For many, the incident confirmed longstanding whispers about Corden’s alleged difficult personality, tarnishing the “good guy” image he had cultivated on television.
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Corden’s Carpool Karaoke skit was a huge hit (Image: Getty)
On-Set Diva
James Corden’s reputation suffered another blow when director Craig Duncan, who worked with him on a 2013 skit for A League of Their Own, detailed his negative experience in a candid YouTube video.
Duncan, a seasoned director with over 60 credits to his name, did not hold back in describing Corden as “the most difficult and obnoxious presenter” he had ever encountered during his career.
Recalling their time on set, Duncan alleged that Corden repeatedly berated him and his team, going as far as to insult his work and dismiss his efforts.
“If you’ve had a big celeb yell at you—it impacts you for a long time,” Duncan explained in the video. He added: “This video is me standing up to it and citing James as an example of the bad behaviour that the industry ignores all the time.”
Duncan also accused Corden of calling him “stupid” during the production, further fuelling his frustrations. Reflecting on the experience, Duncan said: “The most difficult and obnoxious presenter I have ever worked with was James Corden. I hope I never, ever work with him again.”
Corden was accused of stealing a joke on his talk show (Image: Getty)
The Joke Stealing Scandal
In November 2022, Corden faced another scandal when he was accused of stealing a joke from during a monologue on The Late Late Show.
The joke, which had originally been delivered by Gervais, was almost word-for-word identical to one of his stand-up bits. Corden claimed the plagiarism was unintentional, calling Gervais to apologise the next day.
Corden addressed the situation through The Late Late Show’s official Twitter account, stating: “Inadvertently told a brilliant Ricky Gervais joke on the show last night, obviously not knowing it came from him. It’s brilliant, because it’s a Ricky Gervais joke.”
Gervais, for his part, seemed to downplay the incident, implying the matter was resolved. However, the timing of the incident further fueled accusations about the star’s lack of authenticity, coming amid a wave of negative headlines he was already grappling with.
Mel B once appeared on his chat show (Image: Getty)
Mel B Feud
Former Spice girl Mel B left guests on The Big Narstie Show in shock by branding James Corden the “biggest d***head celebrity” in showbiz.
She promptly listed the once darling of late-night TV host James Corden among others, stating: “I think you always have to be nice to the people that you work with, whether it be production, camera guys, sound, lighting. We all work for the same thing, so you should always be nice and he hasn’t been very nice.”
The Wannabe songstress reiterated her stance in December 2023 on Late Night Lycett, when host Joe Lycett posed a quiz question about which Spice Girl had made the remark about Corden. She raised her hand and confirmed enthusiastically “Me!”
Corden will return to his roots with a Gavin & Stacey Christmas special (Image: Tom Jackson)
Future in Doubt
Speaking about his attempts to regain public trust, Hannah Yelin, a media expert, summed up the public’s reaction to Corden’s controversies.
She said: “When a public image is built around an impossible performance of Peter Pannish good cheer, it’s fun to watch the darkness everyone knew must be there spill out by accident.”
Reputation management expert Mark Goldman agreed, stating: “For the foreseeable future, I can’t fathom Corden capturing the imagination of a new audience.”
While his achievements as a groundbreaking host and entertainer cannot be denied, his fall from grace serves as a reminder of the pressures and pitfalls of celebrity culture. Despite the bad press, the one-time Broadway star has several projects in the pipeline since moving back to the UK.
Corden will return to his roots with a Gavin & Stacey Christmas special airing December 25 at 9:00 PM on One. He will also star in the play The Constituent at London’s Old Vic Theatre, marking his return to the stage.