13 Of The Most Impressive Celebrity Comebacks In Recent History

These stars have done the miraculous and changed public opinion about them entirely, going from hated to loved in a few short years.

Channing Tatum

Channing Tatum

What people thought: Launching onto the acting scene in the mid-2000s with movies like Step Up and Supercross, Tatum was, to most people, just a pretty face on a very bro-y, brawny body (or, to some, a not-so-pretty face) not deserving of his success.

When it turned: Tatum made a bunch of movies that didn't help his cause, like Dear John and The Vow, but by playing a male stripper in Steven Soderberg's Magic Mike last year and being actually funny in 21 Jump Street, people started to take him seriously.

What they think now: He's expecting a baby with his wife Jenna Dewan, whom he met filming Step Up, and they seem very happy and content. Plus he's got a bunch more "serious" movies in the works.

Image by Warner Bros. / AP

Josh Groban

Josh Groban

What people thought: One rando describes him as such: "His voice is irritating and he overdoes it with the vibrato. Whenever I hear him sing, I have the intense urge to bang my head against a wall to unconsciousness." At the start of his musical career, Groban just seemed like another classical music star, easily confused with someone like Michael Bublé.

When it turned: When he started to show a personality: Groban was on Glee a couple times, as well as The Office, and was very much "Is that dude Josh Groban?" in Crazy, Stupid, Love as Emma Stone's boyfriend.

What they think now: No one's really in love with him (unless we're talking about your mom), but he is now making fun of himself more (see above at the Emmys with Jimmy Kimmel), which is enjoyable.

Image by Lucy Nicholson / Reuters

Steve-O

Steve-O

What people thought: Launched into the world via MTV's Jackass in 2000, Steve-O and Johnny Knoxville proved exactly how dumb people could be; Senator Joe Lieberman condemned the show for setting a bad example for children and potentially endangering lives. Outside of his Jackass participation, Steve-O was arrested multiple times and eventually went to rehab for substance abuse issues.

When it turned: Participating as a cast member of Dancing with the Stars changed his image from an idiot to someone who was trying to get his life together. He made it through six rounds before being eliminated.

What they think now: Steve-O is actively involved with PETA, is a vegan, and has been sober for over four years, which he credits to his two dogs (seriously).

Image by Mark Davis / Getty Images

Michelle Money

Michelle Money

What people thought: A contestant on Brad Womack's second season of ABC's The Bachelor, Money was despised. She seemed evil and fit the type that one girl in every season must fit, which is the one who is TOTALLY different around the girls than she is around the Bachelor.

When it turned: At the "Women Tell All" reunion episode, it was revealed that Money just had a dark sense of humor and that a lot of the women really liked her.

What they think now: She has a funny web series of hair and makeup videos, and she was runner-up in Bachelor Pad, so missing out on Brad's love has worked out well for her. Plus, her last name is Money, so she's always going to be rollin' in it.

Image by Rick Rowell/ABC


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