Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Writers And Performers Divulge Their Worst Rejection Stories

They can't all be winners...

Part of being an artist or creative of any kind is getting used to rejection - and a lot of it. Your family may not "get" what you do. Your friends aren't likely to be super supportive and buy your work. Most publishers and record companies only want re-hashes of things that have been successful in the past. Even J.K. Rowling was rejected a kajillion times before Harry Potter made it to the public eye.


Writers and performers are going to get rejected. It's just a fact. Twitter has been having a good time with rejections lately, though. The hashtag #ShareYourRejections has turned into a strangely inspirational, often hilarious, celebration of failure.

And yeah... it's both epic and really helping people remember the wise words of Dory the fish... just keep swimming. Here are some of our favorites.


Phil LaMarr Gets A Do-Over

Giphy

I played a character on a TV show. The next time the character appeared, they put out a casting notice to replace me. But they said I was welcome to come audition again. I thought "hey, I've sucked before but never gotten a do-over!" I re-auditioned & got it! #ShareYourRejections

- Phil LaMarr

This Author Decided To Decorate

This Book of Life's Best Rejections

Giphy

I was fired from a Disney show as a character designer. I deserved it.

We had 5 pilots at WB, Disney and Nick that did not go to series.

The Book of Life was rejected by every studio except for Fox.

Sandra said no the first time I asked her to marry me. #ShareYourRejections

- Jorge R. Gutierrez

This Poets Bloodbath

Subjective Rejection

Giphy

While querying, I once got a rejection that said they, "hated the voice but loved the plot". In the SAME DAY, I got a rejection saying they, "loved the voice but hated the plot." You guys, publishing is SO SUBJECTIVE. #ShareYourRejections

- Samantha Joyce

Savage-ly Rejected

Giphy

Every single label, company, publisher and manager in Australia rejected Savage Garden until one man, John Woodruff, took a risk. It only takes one believer. #ShareYourRejections

- Darren Hayes

Frame It!

My Big Fat Greek Reject

Giphy

My agent told me I wasn't pretty and dumped me, my manager told me actors can't be writers and dumped me. A year later I starred in my first screenplay, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. #ShareYourRejections

- Nia Vardalos

Rejected For Not Knowing Yourself?

Giphy

I had a paper rejected once because I "didn't seem to know the work of Jo Sharp well enough" - I am Jo Sharp!!! #ShareYourRejections

- Professor Jo Sharp

H/T: Twitter

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost
Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment

Colin Jost Hilariously Reacts To Wife Scarlett Johansson Becoming World's Highest-Grossing Actor

Scarlett Johansson has been acting professionally since she was 9 years old, with her film debut in North in 1994. Since then, she's appeared in movies that span practically every genre and garnered two Academy Award nominations.

With such a long and diverse resume, it's not completely surprising that, at age 40, Johansson just became the highest-grossing actor at the worldwide box office ever, with $14.9 billion of box office revenue for her 68 films.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Stevie Wonder
@RNB_Radar/X

Stevie Wonder Epically Shuts Down Rumor That He's Not Really Blind In Powerful Viral Clip

Legendary musician Stevie Wonder spoke out during a stop on his Love, Light & Song mini-tour to address rumors that he is not really blind, telling those in attendance that his blindness—which has been the case since shortly after birth—has also been a "blessing."

The long-standing rumor that Stevie Wonder can actually see has circulated for decades and even been echoed by fellow celebrities including singer Lionel Richie, who said in a 2019 interview that he's "been spending my whole life with him [Wonder] thinking he can see."

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Dr. Mehmet Oz
Fox News

Dr. Oz Slammed For Tone Deaf Health Advice For Americans On Medicaid And Medicare

Dr. Mehmet Oz—now the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services—was criticized after he offered Americans unsolicited health advice during a Fox News appearance, saying that Americans shouldn't "eat carrot cake" as millions face cuts to their government-funded health insurance.

The passage of President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" will cause 17 million people to lose valuable Medicare and Medicaid coverage. Under the bill, individuals earning just above the federal poverty line would be required to start paying out of pocket for certain Medicaid services, such as doctor visits and lab tests.

Keep ReadingShow less
A man and woman kissing with the woman's hat covering their faces.
woman in white hijab sitting on chair

The Biggest Lies People Told In Order To Sleep With Someone

When you meet someone you're attracted to, your first inclination is to try to impress them.

Sometimes, purely in hopes of getting them into bed.

Keep ReadingShow less
Adam Schiff; Donald Trump
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Adam Schiff Calls Out The Real Reason Trump Is Accusing Him Of 'Fraud'—And Yeah, That Tracks

California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff fired back at President Donald Trump after Trump accused Schiff of "possible mortgage fraud" in a Truth Social post—prompting Schiff to point out that Trump's attack is another attempt to take attention away from Trump's association with the late financier, pedophile, and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump, without citing evidence, said Fannie Mae’s financial crimes division found that Schiff had a “sustained pattern of possible Mortgage Fraud" that involved misstating which home Schiff used as a primary residence, allowing him to secure a cheaper mortgage.

Keep ReadingShow less