Celebrities are just like us! As ludicrous as that sounds, it’s actually true to some extent. When we look at celebs, we can hardly see beyond the glitz and glamour. From afar, their lives seem almost perfect and devoid of the everyday struggles of the common man. However, most of these self-made stars did not become famous overnight, and they have had their share of failures too. Do you not believe us? Check out these stories of celebrities who got fired from their regular jobs. Some of these are just too relatable!

1 Liam Neeson was fired from his job as a school teacher when he punched a student for pulling a knife on him.

Though most people know him from the Taken films, Liam Neeson has had a long and celebrated career, filled with hits such as Batman Begins, Star Wars, Schindler’s List, and more. Over the years, he has received multiple, prestigious award nominations including Golden Globe Awards, BAFTA Awards, and Academy Awards. However, before this actor from Northern Ireland came under the spotlight, he held an array of odd jobs. Though he studied computer science and physics in college, he dropped out to work as a forklift operator for the Guinness Brewery. He also considered becoming a professional soccer player!

At one point, Neeson was also training to become a teacher at a college in Newcastle upon Tyne. The man with “a particular set of skills” found teaching to be especially challenging. In an interview, Neeson admitted that he faced issues with disciplining his pupils, and one time things took a rather serious turn. When trying to calm down a class filled with boisterous students, Neeson told a particularly difficult teen to leave the classroom. In response, the 15-year-old pulled a knife on him. In an act of self-defense, Neeson, who has practiced boxing since the age of nine, punched the student. However, instead of reprimanding the student, the school authority ended up firing him. (1, 2)

2 Bill Hader used to work as an usher at a movie theater but he was fired for telling noisy patrons the end of Titanic and spoiling the movie for them.

Bill Hader has a long list of talents to his name. Besides being an established comedian, he is also known for his work as an actor, voice actor, producer, writer, and director. From 2005 to 2013, he was a regular cast member on the popular late-night TV show called Saturday Night Live. He won the Peabody Award along with four Emmy nominations for his stint on SNL. He has also been a writer for the hit adult, animated sitcom South Park since 2008. Most recently, however, he was lauded for his IFC series called Documentary Now! and HBO’s dark comedy show called Barry.

However, before he found success as a comedian, he had a number of bizarre jobs including one where he had to bring coffee to adult movie stars! Other than that, he worked as a chauffeur, a crew member, and also as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s assistant on the set of Collateral Damage. In an interview back in 2011, Hader said that he also worked at some movie theater in Tempe, Arizona as an usher. One time, the theatre was rented out by a group of sorority girls who were loud and rude. So, he knew just how to teach them a lesson. He told them the end of Titanic and completely spoiled their fun! Although that was quite a funny revenge, his boss at the theater did not quite appreciate Hader’s sense of humor and ended up firing him! (1, 2)

3 Hugh Jackman worked at a 7-Eleven until he was fired for chatting too much with the customers!

One of Hollywood’s most beloved stars, Hugh Jackman, is famous for playing Wolverine. He first appeared in this role back in 2000 in Bryan Singer’s X-Men, and he bade goodbye to it in 2017 with Logan. He even holds a Guinness World Record for playing a Marvel superhero for the longest time. His other notable movies include Prisoners, Les Misérables, Australia, The Fountain, The Prestige, Van Helsing, Kate & Leopold, and more. The Greatest Showman, his latest musical, won the Grammy for best soundtrack. In 2004, Jackman won the Tony Award for his role in the musical The Boy from Oz.

Even though he always loved acting, Jackman did not see himself making a living out of it. Naturally, he had to hustle much like others to find work. As a teenager, Jackman would deliver brochures and pamphlets to houses in the local community. However, his first real job was at a 7-Eleven. Despite having excellent customer service skills, Jackman was eventually fired. The reason was that he talked too much to his customers! Looking back, the 50-year-old actor says that every job, no matter how menial it was, taught him something important, like the importance of fulfilling his role and taking responsibility. (1, 2)

4 Madonna once got a job at a Dunkin’ Donuts in Times Square, but she got fired before she could finish her day for spraying jelly all over one of her customers.

We know her as the “Queen of Pop.” A fierce performer, Madonna has been an icon for generations. So far, her legacy includes 14 studio albums, a list of hit singles, and an array of prestigious awards and accolades. Many of her notable songs such as Like a Virgin, Like a Prayer, La Isla Bonita, Vogue, Frozen, Take a Bow, Hung Up, Music, and 4 Minutes topped record charts all over the world. She has been a prominent figure in the music industry for over three decades. She is also one of the top-eight best-selling musicians in the world, and the only woman to hold that position.

Today, Madonna’s net worth is somewhere between $590 million and $800 million. So, it is hard to imagine where she came from. After attending the University of Michigan for two years on a dance scholarship, Madonna dropped out and moved to New York City. When asked about the experience, she mentioned that it was the first time she had ever been on an airplane and taken a cab. She arrived in the city with only $35 in her pocket. In her own words, New York City was not what she hoped it would be. She lived in a tiny apartment which was broken into on three separate occasions. She was also held at gunpoint and molested.

All that did not deter her spirit. In fact, she kept her dream alive and supported herself by working as a backup dancer and singer. She also worked as a waitress. One time, she got a job at a Dunkin’ Donuts. However, she got fired from the low-paying gig after she accidentally squirted jelly all over one of her customers. Her story shows the true power of perseverance and hard work even in the face of adversity. (1, 2)

5 Walt Disney once lost a job at a newspaper company because the editor thought he wasn’t creative enough.

Walter Elias Disney, a pioneer in the American animation industry, was an entrepreneur, voice actor, animator, and a film producer. Through fearless strength and never-ending hard work, he built a legacy – the Wonderful World of Disney. From theme parks and merchandise to television and films, Walt Disney is associated with it all. Over the years, Disney’s production house has received 59 Academy Award nominations, 22 of which they actually won. Walt Disney also received an Emmy Award along with two Special Achievement Awards at the Golden Globes.

While he was in high school, Walt Disney directed his attention toward photography and drawing. He would also contribute to his school’s paper. He also took night classes at the Academy of Fine Arts to better his skills. It was around that time that he realized his love for wildlife and nature. His love for drawing was encouraged by his mother and brother. At one point, Walt Disney got a job at a newspaper company called the Kansas City Star. However, his editor found him to be lacking creativity, and as a result, he was fired from the position. (1, 2)