Meg Ryan's career experienced a significant downturn following the 2000 release of Proof of Life, partly due to the intense scrutiny of her personal life, specifically her relationship with co-star Russell Crowe.
The media framed their romance as an "affair," as Ryan's separation from her then-husband, Dennis Quaid, became public around the same time.
This portrayal damaged her image as "America's Sweetheart" and led to her being labeled a "scarlet woman," which hurt her professional reputation. Ryan later clarified that her marriage to Quaid had been troubled due to his infidelity, which had not been widely publicized at the time
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In contrast, Russell Crowe's career remained largely unaffected by the scandal. At the time, Crowe was riding high on the success of Gladiator and continued to take on high-profile roles.
His public persona, often described as rugged and intense, seemed less vulnerable to the same type of reputational damage. Additionally, Crowe managed to avoid the "bad guy" narrative that Ryan faced, which highlighted a double standard in how Hollywood and the media treated men and women involved in similar controversies
Ultimately, while Crowe went on to thrive professionally, Ryan's career struggled to recover, showcasing the contrasting ways in which the industry and audiences reacted to their personal choices.