Seven Celebrities Who Were Deported or Barred From Countries, From Chaplin to McCartney

Not only the general public but also celebrities sometimes face deportations. Over the years, several high-profile figures have run into trouble with immigration authorities. Some of them were denied entry due to legal issues, while others were exiled for political reasons.

From comedians and singers to actors, a number of well-known personalities have found themselves on the wrong side of immigration rules at different points in their lives. Here are five celebrities who were deported or barred from entry for varying reasons.

Legendary comedian Charlie Chaplin landed in trouble with the U.S. immigration authorities in 1952 when he traveled to England for a film premiere. Then-Attorney General James McGranery barred him from reentering the country, suspecting that the comedian was a communist sympathizer.

Instead of facing a hearing, Chaplin decided to settle in Switzerland with his family. He lived in exile for more than 20 years. In 1972, he briefly returned to the U.S. to receive an honorary Academy Award.

The Beatles star Paul McCartney had to face deportation from not one but two different countries. In 1960, a young McCartney was sent back from Germany after being caught burning a condom.

At the time, the singer was trying to make a career with the Beatles by playing at clubs in Hamburg. German authorities said the burning incident posed a fire hazard and expelled McCartney.

Twenty years later, in 1980, he faced a similar situation when he tried to bring half a pound of marijuana to Japan. He was arrested and held in detention for about ten days before being deported without charge. As a result, the Beatles were forced to cancel their tour in Japan.

In 2011, comedian and actor Russell Brand flew to Japan to attend his then-wife Katy Perry’s concert. However, immigration officials denied him entry upon arrival, citing his criminal record from his younger years in the UK.

These included charges related to drugs and alcohol. Additionally, Brand had been arrested a year earlier on suspicion of battery after he allegedly attacked a paparazzo. He was eventually turned away at the airport and forced to fly back without attending Perry’s show. The incident grabbed widespread media attention.

Rod Stewart is counted among the best-selling music artists of all time, but during his early struggles, he was sent back from Spain to Britain. In 1963, Barcelona police arrested him after finding him sleeping under a bridge. In his defense, Stewart said he was forced to sleep in the open as he had no money. However, he was still deported for vagrancy.

McCartney’s Beatles bandmate, John Lennon, also faced expulsion from the U.S. He was served with deportation papers in March 1972. The Nixon administration wanted Lennon out of the country due to his anti-war activism.

Then-President Richard Nixon’s team believed Lennon could influence public opinion and damage his re-election campaign. The musician fought the deportation order in the courts for nearly four years. He ultimately won his case and was granted permanent residency in 1976.