Celebrity Squabbles for the Ages

FRENEMIES

Vincent van Gogh vs. Paul Gauguin (1888)

What: The two painters moved in together before their clashing personalities got out of hand

Peak: Van Gogh cut off his ear after a fight

See also: Paris Hilton vs. Kim Kardashian (2009); Russell Westbrook vs. Kevin Durant (2016)

SIBLING RIVALS

Olivia de Havilland vs. Joan Fontaine (1935–2013)

What: The sisters competed for roles, lovers and awards

Peak: Fontaine beat her sister for an Oscar in 1942–and rejected her attempt to congratulate her on the way to collect it

See also: Dear Abby vs. Ann Landers (1956); Stephen Baldwin vs. the rest of the Baldwin brothers (2016)

TWITTER FINGERS

Taylor Swift vs. Kimye (2009–present)

What: Kanye West name-checked Swift with a vulgar lyric; he said she’d approved, but Swift cried foul

Peak: Kim Kardashian revealed proof of an amicable phone call between the two

See also: Jennifer Weiner vs. Jonathan Franzen (2010); Drake vs. Meek Mill (2015)

OH NO SHE DIDN’T

J. Lo vs. Mariah Carey (2001–present)

What: Jennifer Lopez allegedly stole Carey’s idea to sample Yellow Magic Orchestra’s disco track “Firecracker”

Peak: When asked about J. Lo, Carey uttered the now famous phrase “I don’t know her”

See also: Aretha Franklin vs. Tina Turner (2008); Axl Rose vs. Slash (1991)

YA BURNT

Coco Chanel vs. Elsa Schiaparelli (1930–1954)

What: Creative rivalry turned violent

Peak: According to one Vogue editor, Chanel “steered” her rival into some candles at a ball, setting her aflame

See also: Madonna vs. Courtney Love (1995); Joe Frazier vs. Muhammad Ali (1971)

GRAND LARCENY

Debbie Reynolds vs. Elizabeth Taylor (1958–1966)

What : Grieving widow Taylor found solace in singer Eddie Fisher, who was still married to her friend Reynolds

Peak: Reynolds divorced Fisher

See also: Louis CK vs. Dane Cook (2004); Taylor Swift vs. Katy Perry (2014)

NO, I’M THE GREATEST

Prince vs. Michael Jackson (1982–2009)

What: The Purple One and the King of Pop openly sparred for total domination of the music industry

Peak: Prince played his bass guitar directly in front of Jackson’s face during a concert

See also: Nas vs. Jay Z (1996); Gwyneth Paltrow vs. Martha Stewart (2014)

PROBABLY FOR THE RATINGS

Jay Leno vs. David Letterman (1991–2014)

What: Johnny Carson picked Leno over Letterman as his successor, launching the “late-night wars”

Peak: Beside barbs in the press, Letterman received his own show that aired at the same time as Leno’s

See also: Blac Chyna vs. the Kardashian-Jenners (2015)