14 Movie Cameos People Were Probably Very Excited About at the Time That Are Now Pretty Problematic

Everyone loves a cameo — a brief, often unexpected appearance in a movie from someone who either seems like they’re too famous to show up for such a small part, or someone who only those in the know will recognize. So you either have an A-lister showing up for a fleeting moment, which is fun as it creates the impression that the movie industry is all about friends helping friends and doing projects for a laugh, rather than a reasonably soulless corporate machine. Or you have a quick appearance from someone adjacent to it all — the director, say, or another Hollywood bigwig — which works as an in-joke to those that notice it and passes everyone else by harmlessly.

They’re fun! However, sometimes subsequent events and revelations make revisiting a pre-downfall movie an odd experience. A cameo that was funny or impressive at the time can, with the knowledge the person involved is actually a massive piece of shit, be rather jarring.