20 Famous Faces Banned From Visiting Certain Countries
Fame doesn’t guarantee entry. Some celebrities are celebrated for their talent, but others have become just as well-known for being told, sorry, you cannot come in.
Countries around the world have barred famous faces for reasons ranging from political statements to legal troubles and bold fashion choices. Explore the surprising stories behind 20 stars who faced closed borders and see how fame can meet international limits in the most unexpected ways.
1. Martha Stewart
Getting turned away at the airport is rough for anyone, but imagine being Martha Stewart and being denied entry to the United Kingdom. Back in 2008, British authorities refused her entry because of her 2004 felony conviction for securities fraud in the United States.
Even her perfectly folded linen and flawless pie crusts could not charm the UK border agents. Stewart was reportedly heading there for a book tour.
Sometimes, a criminal record truly does travel with you.
2. Katy Perry
Who knew a sunflower dress could start an international incident? At a 2015 concert in Taiwan, Katy Perry wore a gown decorated with sunflowers, a symbol strongly associated with Taiwan’s pro-independence movement.
Chinese officials were not amused.
China banned her from entering the country, and just like that, one wardrobe choice rewrote her world tour map. Perry has never officially performed in mainland China since.
Fashion really does make a statement, sometimes louder than the music.
3. Snoop Dogg
Few artists have collected travel bans quite like Snoop Dogg. Norway banned him in 2012 after he was caught with marijuana at the border.
The UK has also blocked his entry multiple times following a brawl at Heathrow Airport back in 2006.
Australia initially refused him entry on character grounds too, though that decision was later reversed. Snoop has called multiple countries home at various points, but not every country has been equally welcoming.
Quite the travel record!
4. Harrison Ford
Indiana Jones could escape ancient traps and outrun boulders, but he could not escape China’s political radar. In 1995, China banned Harrison Ford after he publicly supported the Dalai Lama and the cause of Tibetan independence at a high-profile event.
Chinese authorities took the statement very seriously, and Ford found himself persona non grata in the country. His advocacy cost him access to one of the world’s largest entertainment markets.
Even Han Solo has limits, apparently.
5. Elton John
The most famous sir of them all, Elton John, performed for royalty and millions of fans worldwide, but Egypt drew a hard line in 2010. After he publicly referred to Jesus Christ as a super-intelligent gay man during an interview, Egyptian authorities were deeply offended and banned him from performing in the country.
Religious sensitivities run deep in Egypt, and his comment crossed a line officials were unwilling to overlook. Elton has never performed there.
Some stages simply stay off-limits, no matter how iconic the artist.
6. Lady Gaga
Who’s no stranger to controversy? Of course, Lady Gaga!
Indonesia found her 2012 Born This Way Ball tour far too edgy for comfort. Religious and conservative groups in the country protested loudly, calling her show immoral and threatening public order.
Facing enormous pressure, Indonesian authorities denied her the necessary permits to perform, effectively banning her concert. Gaga canceled the Jakarta show entirely rather than risk conflict.
How you express yourself on stage can determine which stages you ever get to stand on.
7. Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus once had a concert canceled and was effectively barred from performing in the Dominican Republic in 2014. Local religious leaders and conservative groups argued her show would be indecent and contrary to the country’s values.
Authorities sided with the protesters and pulled the plug on her scheduled performance. Though not a formal government travel ban, the cultural shutdown sent a clear message.
Sometimes public pressure carries as much weight as official policy, especially when the crowd is that loud.
8. 50 Cent
According to 50 Cent, Canada takes its border screening seriously. He was denied entry into Canada on multiple occasions due to his criminal history, which included past convictions in the United States before his rise to fame.
Canadian immigration law allows officials to refuse entry to individuals with certain criminal backgrounds, and 50 Cent’s record triggered that rule. Even chart-topping hits could not override the paperwork.
Canada’s border agents, it turns out, are not easily impressed by platinum albums.
9. Chris Brown
Travel bans have followed Chris Brown in several countries after the 2009 assault conviction involving Rihanna. Australia repeatedly denied a visa, citing criminal records and character concerns under immigration laws.
The UK also blocked entry on similar grounds. Appeals in Australia were attempted multiple times, but officials held firm.
Legal history has followed him across continents, proving that a criminal conviction can close more doors than any hit song can open.
10. Richard Gere
Richard Gere is one of Hollywood’s most famous Tibet supporters, and China has never forgotten it. His outspoken advocacy for Tibetan independence and his close relationship with the Dalai Lama made him unwelcome in China years ago.
Gere was reportedly even removed from the list of Oscar presenters in 1993 after making unscripted political remarks on stage. China’s film industry has essentially blacklisted him.
Standing up for what you believe in sometimes means certain borders stay permanently closed to you.
11. Selena Gomez
Hot water with China erupted after Selena’s Instagram post in 2016 showed the Dalai Lama. Chinese social media exploded with criticism, and reports suggested authorities were considering blocking entry into the country.
Planned concerts in China were quietly shelved following the controversy. While no formal ban was ever confirmed, the message from officials was crystal clear.
One single post can apparently rewrite an entire world tour itinerary.
12. Maroon 5
Trouble with China erupted after a birthday tweet to the Dalai Lama in 2012. Fans reacted furiously, and authorities made it clear Maroon 5 was not welcome.
Planned performances in China were canceled as a result. One simple online message cost access to a massive fan base and became a costly international lesson in the power and reach of social media.
13. Paris Hilton
Japan turned Paris Hilton away at the border in 2010 after she attempted to enter the country. Hilton had pleaded guilty to a drug charge in the United States just weeks earlier, and Japan’s strict immigration policies do not welcome visitors with recent drug convictions.
She was detained at the airport and sent back home before she could attend any scheduled events. Japan enforces its entry rules firmly, regardless of celebrity status.
Fame truly does not come with a free pass at every passport control.
14. Mike Tyson
A criminal record has made international travel complicated for Mike Tyson. The UK denied entry multiple times due to the 1992 rape conviction, for which prison time was served.
British immigration officials cited the serious criminal background as grounds for refusal.
Canada has also turned him away on similar grounds. Even after years of rehabilitation and reinvention as a cultural icon, past actions continue to limit passport freedom.
Not every comeback story comes with an open border.
15. Björk
Icelandic singer Bjork made headlines in China for all the wrong reasons in 2008. During a concert in Shanghai, she spontaneously shouted Tibet!
Tibet! at the end of her song Declare Independence, causing an immediate uproar.
Chinese authorities were furious, and she was subsequently banned from performing in the country again. Officials also announced stricter screening of future foreign performers.
One unexpected shout turned a concert into a geopolitical incident. That is some serious vocal power beyond the music itself.
16. Brad Pitt
Starring in the 1997 film Seven Years in Tibet led to a lasting fallout with China. The movie portrayed Chinese rule over Tibet in an unflattering light, prompting authorities to ban entry shortly after its release.
The ban reportedly lasted for years, becoming one of Hollywood’s most discussed political blacklists. Pitt never publicly walked back involvement in the film.
Sometimes the roles actors choose follow them far beyond the movie screen.
17. Sharon Stone
A jaw-dropping comment in 2008 following the devastating Sichuan earthquake in China sparked immediate and enormous backlash. Suggesting the disaster might be karma due to China’s treatment of Tibet outraged citizens and authorities alike.
She was effectively banned from China, and L’Oreal, a major sponsor at the time, pulled her image from Chinese advertisements. One careless sentence cost access to one of the world’s biggest audiences, proving that words carry real-world consequences.
18. Eminem
Eminem’s sharp lyrics and provocative content have stirred controversy globally, but Malaysia took official action. The country banned him from performing there in 2001, with authorities citing his lyrics as morally harmful and offensive to public decency standards.
Malaysia’s government has consistently enforced strict content guidelines for foreign entertainers, and Eminem’s music did not come close to passing the test. His concert plans were shut down before they ever got started.
Apparently, not every mic drop is welcome on every stage.
19. Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj was set to headline the 2019 Saudi Arabia music festival Jeddah World Fest, but she pulled out citing human rights concerns, particularly around women’s rights and the LGBTQ community. While she withdrew voluntarily, Saudi authorities had reportedly already placed conditions on her performance.
Those restrictions effectively would have banned her from performing her full show. Her decision sparked widespread conversation about artists using their platform to take a stand.
Sometimes saying no to a stage sends a louder message than any performance ever could.
20. Akon
Sri Lanka banned Akon from performing in the country in 2010 after a music video he released was considered deeply offensive to Buddhists. The video featured a woman dancing near a statue of Buddha, which caused significant outrage among religious communities and government officials.
Authorities revoked his performance permits and declared him unwelcome. Religious sensitivity is taken extremely seriously in Sri Lanka, and the video crossed a line that could not be uncrossed.
Even a global hit can land very differently depending on where it plays.
