She’s really made a mark for herself in the comedy world, once touted as one of the brightest up-and-comers. But along the way, she’s found herself in some pretty public spats and sticky situations.
Remember that whole thing with Chingy? Yeah, Tiffany Haddish has this habit of oversharing, and sometimes it’s just cringeworthy. Back in 2019 on The Ellen Degeneres Show, she dropped the bombshell that she’d hooked up with rapper Chingy back in the early 2000s. Cue the raised eyebrows and disbelief. When Chingy caught wind of it, he wasted no time setting the record straight on Instagram, calling her out for spreading lies. According to him, Tiffany was just really into him, but they never got physical. Then Tiffany herself chimed in, firing back at Chingy’s denial. She insisted they did hook up, although she didn’t exactly rave about the experience. She even spilled the beans about catching Chingy making out with one of her pals at his music video shoot, which understandably ticked her off. And to add another twist, she admitted to getting cozy with Chingy’s brother afterward.
But wait, there’s more! After some back-and-forth, Chingy ended up deleting his post and doing a 180 after chatting with his brother, who confirmed Tiffany’s side of the story. Chingy blamed his earlier denial on being too wasted to remember what went down. Drama, drama, drama!
Tiffany spilled some tea about her past, admitting that many of the guys she hooked up with during her wild days probably wouldn’t recognize her now. Now, let’s talk about the big question: who bit Beyoncé? Back in 2018, Tiffany lucked her way into Jay-Z’s concert after-party, where Queen Bey herself was in attendance. But after mingling with the industry elite, Tiffany couldn’t resist dishing out the gossip. She spilled the beans to GQ magazine, revealing that an unnamed actress got a little too feisty and allegedly took a bite out of Beyoncé’s face. As soon as word got out, Beyoncé’s loyal fans went into full investigative mode, starting the hashtag #WhoBitBeyoncé, which took over social media. Many fingers pointed at Sanaa Lathan, but despite the accusations, Sanaa denied any wrongdoing, declaring her love and respect for Beyoncé in Health Magazine, saying, “I adore Beyoncé. I would never do anything malicious like that to her or to anyone.” Now, Beyoncé is known for handling things with class, but some think she may have thrown a subtle jab at Tiffany in her song “Top Off.” You know the lyrics: “If they’re trying to party with the queen, they’re gonna have to sign a non-disclosure, hey.” And guess what? Tiffany later confirmed during an Instagram live that she did indeed sign an NDA after talking about the biting incident. It seems Beyoncé and her team were not messing around and were ready to shut down Tiffany’s loose lips. Tiffany tried to redirect attention to more important matters, but one person who wasn’t letting go of the drama was Beyoncé’s stepdad, Richard Lawson.
Richard shared with ABC Radio that Tiffany had blown the story out of proportion. He also claimed she was just seeking attention and that the whole thing was nonsense. Now, onto the drama with Fifth Harmony. During the 2018 MTV VMAs, Tiffany gave a shoutout to Camila Cabello for her solo success post-Fifth Harmony, which clearly didn’t sit well with the remaining members. Lauren Jauregui took to Twitter to express her disappointment, advocating for women to support each other. And even Nicki Minaj chimed in during her acceptance speech, defending Fifth Harmony against Tiffany’s remarks. This incident sparked the next chapter in Tiffany’s feud saga: Who called her out this time? After Nicki’s public criticism, Tiffany remained silent for three years until she finally responded during a 2021 Clubhouse chat. Someone compared her to Nicki Minaj, which Tiffany didn’t appreciate. She retorted, “Unlike Nicki, I treat everyone with respect.” But the leaked conversation led to a wave of backlash from Nicki’s fans, who urged Tiffany to let go of the past and move on.
During the 2018 Emmys, Tiffany found herself in a tough spot when a reporter pointed out the lack of diversity among winners. Tiffany, known for her comedic prowess, struggled to offer a solution, admitting she hadn’t studied such issues and felt out of her depth. While she could craft a joke like nobody’s business, navigating complex social issues wasn’t her forte. Her response disappointed many, with some criticizing it as a reinforcement of racial stereotypes.
In another incident, Tiffany’s public support for Bill Cosby, despite his criminal convictions, stirred controversy. Her seemingly nonchalant attitude towards his actions, especially considering her own experiences, drew widespread criticism for insensitivity towards victims. Tiffany defended her remarks as part of her comedic persona, but they still struck a nerve with many.
Fast forward to 2021, Tiffany found herself embroiled in yet another controversy, this time on Clubhouse. Reports emerged of her joining other celebrities in spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and targeting black doctors. This sparked concern and outrage, highlighting the dangers of spreading false information, especially during a public health crisis.
When a black female doctor dared to voice her concerns about the pandemic in an online chat, she faced a barrage of verbal attacks and doxxing, allegedly orchestrated by Tiffany and others. Things took a darker turn when rumors started swirling on Twitter, claiming that the doctor had attempted suicide after the Clubhouse session. Amidst this turmoil, the doctor’s family pleaded for privacy, urging everyone to refrain from publicly mentioning her name.
In the wake of these events, calls for Tiffany’s suspension from Clubhouse grew louder.
Switching gears, Tiffany’s ex-husband, William Stewart, took center stage in her memoir, depicted as an abusive and stalking presence, possibly even linked to the tragic loss of their unborn child. However, William vehemently disputed these claims, filing a lawsuit against Tiffany, accusing her of fabricating stories in her book. He went on to assert that they had lost their child due to Tiffany’s decision to terminate the pregnancy.
In an exclusive interview with V103, William disclosed that Tiffany had cautioned him about the book’s contents before its release, warning him of its potentially inflammatory nature. Seeking retribution, he pursued legal action, demanding a hefty sum of one million dollars for defamation, libel, and slander.
As per court documents obtained by The Jasmine Brand website, Tiffany’s ex-husband brought Beyoncé into the mix as a potential witness. He alleged that Tiffany had a history of stretching the truth, with various individuals, including celebrities, able to attest to her tendency for fabrication, particularly regarding the Beyoncé incident. This revelation must have been incredibly embarrassing. Tiffany later confessed on Snapchat that some parts of her book had been exaggerated during the editing process, adding weight to suspicions that she might have a habit of embellishment. Unfortunately, the outcome of the case remains undisclosed.
In August 2022, Tiffany and Aries Spears were accused by a woman and her younger brother of coercing them into filming inappropriate comedy sketches back in 2013 when they were minors. Tiffany, described as a close family friend, was accused of taking advantage of her relationship with the children. While Tiffany expressed deep regret over the incident, Aries’ lawyer dismissed the lawsuit as an attempt at extortion. By September 2022, the plaintiff had requested the dismissal of the suit, leading to speculation that it was settled out of court.
Despite the dismissal, Tiffany expressed her gratitude but also lamented the toll the ordeal had taken on her career. With diminishing opportunities and no new projects on the horizon, she faced an uncertain future. However, in January 2023, it was announced that Tiffany would reprise her role in the Girls Trip sequel. Despite calls for her replacement and threats of boycotts, Hollywood seemed poised to move past Tiffany’s controversies, though public sentiment remained harsh.