12 Iconic Celebrity Moments So Petty, They Deserve Their Own Netflix Docuseries

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08-04-2025

Mariah Carey's 'I Don't Know Her' About J.Lo
MOODMAN / Via giphy.com
Mariah was asked about fellow diva Jennifer Lopez in an interview and responded with a blank stare and the now-legendary phrase, 'I don't know her.' No follow-up, no clarification. Just vibes. It became the shade heard 'round the world and a cultural reset for petty comebacks.
Taylor Swift's 'Blank Space' Music Video
Taylor Swift / Via giphy.com
Taylor clapped back at critics who painted her as a boy-obsessed man-eater by leaning all the way in. Think burning roses, smashing cars, and eyeliner-fueled rage—all wrapped in pastel mansion realness. A cinematic, self-aware roast of the media. Petty with production value? Yes please.
Zayn Malik Quitting One Direction Mid-Tour
The Graham Norton Show / Via giphy.com
Zayn dipped from one of the biggest boy bands in the world without so much as a group hug goodbye. Then he dropped solo music like immediately and started liking shady tweets about his former bandmates. It was the ultimate 'you can't sit with us' moment—but Zayn was the one walking out of the cafeteria.
Nicki Minaj vs. Miley Cyrus at the VMAs
MTV / Via giphy.com
After Miley threw shade in an interview, Nicki took to the VMA stage and finished her acceptance speech with a direct 'Miley, what's good?' in front of millions. The audacity. The energy. The meme potential. And yes, we still quote it.
Chrissy Teigen's Unfiltered Twitter Era
2016 Oscars / Via giphy.com
Back when Twitter was the Wild West, Chrissy was the sheriff. She dragged trolls, clapped back at celebs, and dropped iconic tweets like 'I don't care about your sad little life' without breaking a nail. She basically made 'petty but hilarious' her brand.
Kanye Interrupting Taylor at the 2009 VMAs
Channel 9 / Via giphy.com
No one saw it coming—Kanye stormed the stage, took the mic from a stunned 19-year-old Taylor Swift, and declared Beyoncé had 'one of the best videos of all time.' It was messy, it was controversial, and it sparked a years-long on-and-off feud that included songs, tweets, and even snake emojis.
Katy Perry's Left Shark Moment at the Super Bowl
Katy Perry / Via giphy.com
While Katy belted out her halftime hits, Left Shark became an overnight icon for dancing to the beat of its own drum. What followed? Internet war. Memes. Merch. And Katy embracing the chaos like a true queen of controlled petty. Some say Left Shark was her alter ego. We say: legend.
Cardi B Throwing Her Shoe at Nicki Minaj
2024 MTV Video Music Awards / Via giphy.com
At a Harper's Bazaar party, Cardi reportedly confronted Nicki about some behind-the-scenes drama—and things escalated fast. A shoe was thrown. A knot appeared on Cardi's forehead. And the tabloids lost their minds. It was Fashion Week meets fight night, and it was wild.
Ariana Grande's 'Thank U, Next' Music Video
Ariana Grande / Via giphy.com
Ari turned her exes into Easter eggs, burned her burn book onto film, and served up a tribute to every early-2000s teen romcom we've ever loved. Not only was it petty—it was empowering. A breakup anthem dressed in Mean Girls glitter. She won.
Drake and Meek Mill's Diss Track Battle
Apple Music / Via giphy.com
After Meek accused Drake of using ghostwriters, Drake responded by dropping not one—but two—diss tracks, including 'Back to Back,' complete with a cover photo of Meek looking defeated at a baseball game. Petty. Calculated. Devastating. The rap beef equivalent of 'bless your heart.'
Britney Spears' Instagram Caption Era
Britney Spears / Via media.okmagazine.com
Once Britney gained more control over her social media, her posts turned…cryptic. Think dance videos, rants with 37 emojis, and very pointed captions that seemed to call out everyone from her family to the media. It was chaotic, petty, and undeniably Britney. Internet sleuths were thriving.
The Selena Gomez / Hailey Bieber / Kylie Jenner Eyebrow Saga
Shutterstock / Via j-14.com