Minka Kelly might not be a familiar name to many people, but those who have religiously watched the NBC drama series Friday Night Lights would remember her as Lyla Garrity. Some of her appearances in popular franchises included 2009’s 500 Days of Summer, 2011’s Charlie’s Angels revival, and 2022’s Euphoria.
With a mix of French, Irish, Dutch, and Indonesian ancestry, one would think Kelly had a very interesting background. The actress has been very open about her dark past, which also involved a couple of controversies that made it difficult for her to land jobs. Here are some of the reasons why she’s no longer a favorite in Hollywood.
1. Minka Kelly Was Accused by Fans of Lacking Acting Conviction
Fans acknowledged that Kelly has very attractive features, but this could never save her alleged terrible acting skills. While she had a decent amount of movie and television projects, she’s only had a couple of main roles, and it’s safe to say that none of them were memorable.
On Reddit, fans discussed her less-than-stellar performances, which they believed were the reason she’s not really been in any other iconic productions. They claimed that it was solely her looks that carried her in every project she’s been in.
2. Minka Kelly Once Got Into Fistfights That Landed Her A Juvenile Record
Kelly had a rough childhood, which involved enduring a beating from her mother’s boyfriend. This had an effect on her when she attended school, where she had gotten into horrible fistfights that resulted in assault charges.
She had a juvenile record and was given two years of community service. She admitted in her interview with The Cut, “I re-create dysfunction in my life because that’s what’s familiar to me,” after mentioning that she has a high threshold for pain.
3. Minka Kelly Worked In The Adult Entertainment Industry
At age 17, Kelly performed in peep shows at an adult video store to support herself. Her mother, a stripper as well, was the one who introduced her to the adult entertainment industry.
The actress was still in high school during this time, and it was a part of her life that she was ashamed of. Actors in the adult industry sometimes find it hard to make it to Hollywood because of the nature of their controversial job.
4. Minka Kelly Didn’t Get Along With Her Friday Night Lights Co-stars
When Kelly landed her role in Friday Night Lights, it seemed like a great opportunity for her to start anew, but this was not the case. The set was reportedly filled with tension, admitting in her book, Tell Me Everything: A Memoir, that “there was often stress between the people I’d thought of as my friends.”
It was later reported that her relationship with co-star Taylor Kitsch was the cause of this tension, as Kelly paid more attention to her ex-boyfriend. This got even worse when they broke up, and she couldn’t turn to her castmates for comfort.
5. Minka Kelly Reportedly Slapped A Crew Member During Filming
There was a report from TMZ that Kelly slapped a crew member of the Charlie’s Angels production because he reportedly slapped her behind.
The stories varied from one source to another, with one saying the actress indeed retaliated and hit the guy after he touched her, but another insider said she didn’t strike him and only told him not to disrespect her ever again. The crew member was later fired from the job.
6. Minka Kelly Admitted to Protecting Harvey Weinstein’s Behavior
Kelly also had a creepy encounter with disgraced media mogul Harvey Weinstein. The latter once suggested that she should date him, promising her a lavish lifestyle. The actress refused and told him that she likes to keep things professional, but would keep his proposition a secret.
When Weinstein was later convicted of r*pe and s*xual assault, Kelly regretted that she became complicit in his behavior by staying silent.
Why do you think Minka Kelly isn’t a favorite in Hollywood anymore? Share your thoughts in the comments!
