All that glitters isn’t gold. The aftermath of adultery isn’t pretty for anyone involved, but when it’s a Hollywood A-lister who’s been unfaithful, it can be especially detrimental. Celebrity relationships may look just as glamorous and perfect as the actors they play on screen, but in many cases, they are just as crazy and complicated as the relationships that the rest of us are in. Fame can come at a huge cost, with the paparazzi following your every move and waiting for you to make one big (or small) misstep. So, when a cheating scandal shows up in Hollywood, it can have pretty damaging effects on stars on and off screen. Here are seven celebrities who had affairs that ruined their careers. Their infidelity and breakups were highly publicized and took a major toll on their professional lives.

Meg Ryan

There was a time when Meg Ryan was America’s favorite on-screen sweetheart, with her playing the romantic lead in a wide range of successful movies, including “Sleepless in Seattle,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “City of Angels” and “You’ve Got Mail.” This all came to a screeching halt when the tabloids got word of her affair with “Proof of Life” co-star Russell Crowe. Many perceived this as the reason for her divorce from her husband of nine years, Dennis Quaid. This also led to a major decline in her popularity.

Ryan Philippe

Fans were furious when they discovered that Ryan Philippe cheated on Reese Witherspoon. The pair had starred together in the romantic drama “Cruel Intentions” and attracted a generation of followers who were just as invested in their eight-year marriage as they were in their acting careers. In her 2006 Oscar winner speech for “Walk the Line,” Witherspoon thanked her “wonderful husband” for “loving her so much.” That same year, Philippe reportedly stepped out on Witherspoon with his “Stop-Loss” co-star Abbie Cornish. The actor once featured in films like “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “Flags of Our Fathers,” but he never recovered from the negative press associated with his affair.

LeeAnn Rimes

LeeAnn Rimes is probably recognized more for her social media wars and shocking headlines surrounding her marriage to actor Eddie Cibrian than she is for her reputation as a country music artist. Rimes met Cibrian, who was then married to future “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Brandi Glanville, while she was on the set of the TV movie “Northern Lights.” Rimes was also married to dancer Dean Sheremet at the time. Her relationship with Glanville, the mother of Cibrian’s two children, got pretty ugly with nasty exchanges on social media. Rimes was already struggling to get her acting career off the ground, and the controversy surrounding her first film didn’t make things any better.

Jesse James

Sandra Bullock and Jesse James’ marriage imploded just after Bullock’s Oscar win when it was revealed that the motorcycle mogul had cheated on the actress with former Ashley Madison spokesmodel Michelle McGee and several other women. In an interview with Men’s Journal, James appeared to take little responsibility for his actions. “I never shied away from anything I did. I took full responsibility. I cheated on my wife. Guess what? So do millions of other men,” James said. “To be honest, it was unfair for me to even be in a relationship.” It probably comes as no surprise that his career continued to suffer after that mind-blowing interview.

Jude Law

Jude Law was an A-list actor with leading roles in films like “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” “Cold Mountain” and “Closer.” However, when his affair with his children’s nanny became public and the world learned of all their romantic details, his career took a major hit. He issued his apology after the affair, but it wasn’t enough to undo the damage that had already been done. It also wasn’t the first time he was accused of stepping out, but the high-profile nature of his relationship made this affair especially harmful. He has starred in a few indie films since the scandal, including “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” “Don Hemingway,” and “Peter Pan & Wendy,” but he has kept a relatively low profile for the most part since the scandal.

Robin Thicke

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Robin Thicke became a megastar after his song “Blurred Lines” became the song of the summer in 2013. Based on the song’s lyrics, what happened next shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Despite being married to actress Paula Patton, Thicke was caught touching a fan inappropriately while the two were taking a picture in front of a mirror. Amidst that story and several other claims that he continued to cheat on Patton, she called it quits on their marriage. Robin then turned his next album into one long attempt to win Patton back. Sadly, the record failed to duplicate his previous success, selling only 550 copies in Canada, 530 copies in the UK, and 158 copies in Australia.

Rupert Sanders

The British director’s career was off to a promising start with his first feature film debut, “Snow White and the Huntsman.” However, only a few weeks after the movie’s release, Sanders and his Huntsman star, Kristen Stewart, were seen in such a compromising position together that they issued public apologies for cheating on their significant others. Sanders's affair resulted in a divorce from his wife, Liberty Ross, with whom he had two children. Both Sanders and Stewart were unsurprisingly absent from the film’s sequel. Stewart’s career continued to take off after the scandal, but Sanders's career was still broken more than half a decade later.

It can be tough to deal with the price of fame when it comes to cheating. Public scandal can have big consequences for stars. The public seems to have an obsession with celebrity scandals. Do these affairs send a message about the risks and damage involved in their behavior, or does it lead to greater desensitization about people having affairs? You be the judge.