In the ever-competitive world of celebrity branding, standing out is both an art and a science. But in 2025, some stars decided to toss logic aside and go for pure shock value. Whether bizarre, hilarious, or borderline genius, this year’s most outrageous PR stunts had the internet talking, fans debating, and publicists either celebrating or quietly sweating.
From fake feuds to pet weddings, here are the weirdest (and wildest) celebrity PR stunts of 2025 that made headlines, trended for days, and left everyone wondering, “Was this real… or just really clever?”
1. Ranveer Singh “Goes Silent” for 21 Days
Stunt Summary:
Ranveer, Bollywood’s loudest style icon, stunned everyone by announcing a 21-day vow of silence for “artistic recalibration.” He stopped attending events, posting on social media, or even speaking in public.
Why It Was Weird:
A full press release was sent out to media houses—without a single quote. Instead, his PR team distributed a series of artistic black-and-white photos with “silent captions.”
What Actually Happened:
Turns out, it was all part of a campaign for a brand-new meditation app. Once the app launched, he “broke silence” with a loud, theatrical commercial.
Impact:
Confusing at first, but undeniably viral. #RanveerGoesSilent trended for a week.
2. Billie Eilish “Announces” She’s Retiring… Then Releases an Album
Stunt Summary:
In a cryptic Instagram post, Billie claimed she was retiring from music due to “creative fatigue.” Fans were devastated, tributes poured in, and media went into overdrive.
Why It Was Weird:
Just six days later, she surprise-dropped a full album called The Last Lie—a concept album about fake narratives, disinformation, and media hype.
What Actually Happened:
The retirement was never real. The drama was part of the album’s marketing message.
Impact:
Genius or manipulative? Opinions were split. But the album hit #1 in 20 countries within 72 hours.
3. Kylie Jenner’s Fake “Face Tattoo” Scandal
Stunt Summary:
Kylie debuted a bold, face-covering “tattoo” on Instagram—an intricate design snaking down her cheek and jaw. Outrage, praise, and endless memes followed.
Why It Was Weird:
Just as fans were debating if it was permanent or filtered, she revealed it was a temporary skin-sticker product from her new brand: KYLIE INK.
What Actually Happened:
The tattoo wasn’t real. The “scandal” was orchestrated to promote her line of customizable face decals.
Impact:
Controversial, yes—but KYLIE INK sold out in 3 hours.
4. Harry Styles “Marries Himself” in Italy
Stunt Summary:
Photos emerged of Harry Styles in full white tuxedo, walking alone down the aisle of a scenic Tuscan villa. A wedding? To who? Turns out—to himself.
Why It Was Weird:
This solo ceremony was part of a PR campaign for his new fragrance, “Commitment.”
What Actually Happened:
The brand message was about “self-love and devotion to your own essence.” The wedding was staged and filmed for a commercial that dropped a week later.
Impact:
The stunt divided fans—but the ad campaign won multiple digital awards.
5. Doja Cat Launches a “Fake Cult” for Album Promotion
Stunt Summary:
Doja Cat launched a cryptic website with eerie videos, secret codes, and digital “initiation rites” under the name Cult of Venus. Fans thought she had truly lost it.
Why It Was Weird:
Followers were asked to post selfies with red eye makeup, chant phrases, and “swear loyalty” to Venus (a mysterious persona Doja created).
What Actually Happened:
It was all an elaborate viral lead-up to her new concept album Venus Ascends, where she plays a cosmic cult leader.
Impact:
Bizarre? Yes. But undeniably creative—and a PR masterstroke.
6. Tiger Shroff’s “Disappearance” Before Movie Launch
Stunt Summary:
A week before the release of his action-thriller Shadow Strike, Tiger “disappeared.” No public appearances, no Instagram activity, and even his team refused to comment.
Why It Was Weird:
Fans speculated everything—from a secret health issue to a method-acting experiment gone wrong.
What Actually Happened:
The vanishing act was part of a campaign simulating the plot of the film, where the protagonist goes off-grid.
Impact:
When he reappeared—doing a real-time parkour stunt outside a cinema hall—it made national news.
7. Lady Gaga “Sells Her Voice” as an NFT
Stunt Summary:
In a press release, Lady Gaga’s team announced she was auctioning her “voice rights” for a limited period via NFT technology. The idea? A fan could “own” her voice for one commercial or project.
Why It Was Weird:
People were baffled: Was she selling her voice like The Little Mermaid?
What Actually Happened:
The NFT sold for $3 million to a perfume brand, who used AI to generate a Gaga-style voice for a single ad—with her full approval.
Impact:
Mixed reactions, but it opened major conversations about AI, celebrity rights, and deepfake ethics.
8. Vicky Kaushal & Katrina Kaif’s “Pet Wedding” for a Luxury Brand
Stunt Summary:
Their dogs—Pluto and Leo—were “married” in a lavish, private ceremony complete with outfits, dog cake, and celebrity dog guests.
Why It Was Weird:
Guests wore custom outfits from a new designer petwear brand. Vows were written. A priest was present (yes, really).
What Actually Happened:
The wedding was a PR launch for Fetch Luxe, India’s first luxury pet lifestyle label.
Impact:
Adorable or absurd? It trended for days, and the brand raked in major press attention.
9. Zendaya Fakes a Fall on the Red Carpet
Stunt Summary:
At a major fashion awards event, Zendaya appeared to trip dramatically on the red carpet, causing media frenzy. Paparazzi captured the “fall” in high definition.
Why It Was Weird:
Hours later, her stylist posted: “Watch till the end.” The fall was a stunt—and she got up laughing, revealing her heels were part of a collapsible tech shoe campaign.
What Actually Happened:
Zendaya collaborated with a wearable tech brand to launch self-adjusting heels.
Impact:
A fake fall? Weird. A viral fashion stunt? Brilliant.
10. Ananya Panday’s “Alien Roommate” TikTok Series
Stunt Summary:
Over several weeks, Ananya began posting bizarre clips on TikTok of her living with an “alien roommate” named “Zoltar.” Fans were equal parts confused and obsessed.
Why It Was Weird:
The skits featured UFO sightings, glowing snacks, and Ananya trying to teach Zoltar how to do yoga.
What Actually Happened:
It was a promo for a quirky rom-com where she plays a girl who falls in love with a disguised alien.
Impact:
The clips went viral, racking up 200M+ views, and made the film an instant pre-release hit.
2025 proved that in the age of short attention spans and infinite scroll, the weirder the PR stunt, the bigger the buzz. From fake retirements to pet weddings and digital cults, celebrities and their teams aren’t just promoting projects—they’re building viral moments that make people stop, laugh, question, and, most importantly, talk.
Not all weird PR moves succeed, but the ones that do live rent-free in our minds—and our timelines—for years.
