A role model is supposed to be someone with great qualities to be looked up to and to be inspired by. Role models are important, because: “studies of aggressive learning in children show that through a process known as vicarious reinforcement, we start to model the behavior of individuals whose actions seem to be getting rewarded.” according to Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D., a Professor of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts.

For example, Nelson Mandela is a role model to many, and so is Bruce Lee, or even singers like Beyonce. But recently, the world has produced a bunch of celebrities who make awful role models, even if they want to inspire creativity or individualism. Here are some of the worst role models to look up to:

1. Abby Lee Miller


Abby Lee Miller is the Director of Reign Dance Productions and the principal cast member of Lifetime’s Dance Moms. She's known to push her students over the edge to 'toughen them up' for competition. She embarrasses them, shames them, shouts and hurls insults at them or their parents, just so that her students are ready to compete and win. Her extreme attitude makes for good TV, but doesn't teach anyone about good sportsmanship or manners.


2. Kim Kardashian


She's got a pretty face, but she's climbed her way up to fame for all the wrong reasons. She first caught the media's attention by hanging out with Paris Hilton, and was offered her own reality TV series. She had a sex tape leaked, and she never worked a day in her life before her TV show started filming. She stripped for Playboy, got married for only 72 days, and is twice-divorced. She's also uneducated, endorses anything, from lollipops, to slushies, to clothing. She also attempted a singing career, which flopped, so she turned to low budget films, which later proved she could only ever be a reality TV star. Yep, probably not the person you want anyone looking up to.
 

3. Miley Cyrus


She was a cutie in Disney's Hannah Montana, and we had high hopes for her. But Miley Cyrus started on the path of controversy at the tender age of 15, when she posed for a photographer wearing only a bed sheet. Her singing career took over her acting, and she rapidly rose to fame: In 2008 Time magazine named her one of the “Most Influential People”. In fact, according to Forbes, she was earning 25 million in 2008, when she was 16. And then it went downhill from there. She posed provocatively in numerous photoshoots, and appeared on an awards show wearing a ridiculously skimpy outfit matched with a ridiculously obnoxious performance, in front of young audiences! She also indulges in drugs and alcohol, and has cancelled several tour dates, which disappointed fans. In addition to her bad professional behavior, she's had a variety of flings and admitted in interviews that she's a mess. And she's only 21-years old! But instead of focusing on her issues, she chose to focus on her career.


4. Kobe Bryant


Kobe Bryant went straight out of high school and into the NBA. He was the youngest player in NBA history in 1996 and has played the entire length of his career for the Los Angeles Lakers. Unfortunately, his talents didn't come without any problems. In 2003, he was accused of violating a 19-year old hotel worker, who later filed a civil suit against him and settled out of court. Bryant has also argued and hurled an anti-gay slur at a referee on the court, and he's cheated on his wife Vanessa countless times.
 

5. Alex Rodriguez


A-Rod came into the spotlight when he dated Cameron Diaz, but he was already a star in his own right. He played his first major league game for the Seattle Mariners when he was 18. He had an amazing talent and proceeded to become the youngest player to hit 500 career home runs. Unfortunately, he was unfaithful to his wife, causing her to file for divorce in 2008. In 2009, Rodriguez admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs during his career from 2001-2003. His admission cast doubt on his records and in 2013 he was linked with Dr. Anthony Bosch, who reported that he had kept Rodriguez supplied with these types of drugs for years. Rodriguez denied it until proof was offered up in June of 2013. 


6. Justin Bieber


He started out on YouTube, but he looks like he's forgotten his humble beginnings. He's garnered plenty of negative media attention from flashing people on the red carpet, attacking paparazzi, pissing in a janitor's bucket - and everywhere else in public, spitting at people.. He's also been involved in a hit and run accident and assaulted a bodyguard. He abandoned his pet monkey when it was detained by German customs and never went back to pick it up. He visits brothels, eggs his neighbor's house, and has been arrested and charged for driving while under the influence and resisting arrest. He's only 20-years old.


7. Kanye West


This sore loser stormed out of the American Music Awards in 2004 after he didn't win Best New Artist, and told the Associated Press, “He was robbed." His bad behavior continued in 2005 when he delivered a huge rant on live TV during a fundraising event for victims of Hurricane Katrina. He stated that “George Bush doesn’t care about black people.” When he does win, it's never enough. After winning best Hip-Hop Artist in 2006 at the MTV European Music Awards show, he lost for best video. His response? He interrupted the winner’s speech with a lengthy and profane rant of anger. On top of that, he seems to have major temper issues. He pretty much is that grown spoiled brat you don't want your kids to ever be.


8. Bill Clinton


When Bill Clinton was Governor, and a rising political star, he was involved in a shady real estate development deal, partnering to form the Whitewater Development Corporation and using his position to manipulate financial terms and appointing his banking partner and friend economic development aid. Clinton was sworn in as President of the United States of America on January 20, 1993. But as past behavior seems to be the best predictor of future behavior, it’s not surprising that there were many questionable campaign donations made to the Democratic National Committee, and half of Clinton’s cabinet resigned in 1996. Everything seemed to roll off Clinton, until 1997 when Clinton was sued for sexual harassment charges by Paula Jones. He had also groped Kathleen Willey during this period, but she didn't come forward with her allegations until later. Monica Lewinsky, a young intern at the White House was subpoenaed by lawyers in the Paula Jones case. Soon after, Lewinsky's story about her affair with the President was heavily publicized, an affair which he completely denied over and over again publically. He even perjured himself under oath and impeachment proceedings were in place when he finally admitted it was true and that he had been involved in sexual acts with Lewinsky.


9. Lindsay Lohan


Lindsay Lohan has spent most of her adult life on probation. She's been in and out of rehab and has been arrested for drunk driving. She's lost movie roles due to her inability to control herself and her excessive partying, and she's been arrested for drug possession as well. She has little regard for herself or others, missing a mandatory court hearing date which landed her back in custody in 2010. She continues to struggle to revive her career, and has tried to appear remorse about her bad reputation, but fans who had loved her when she was a child star have lost faith in her.


10. Charlie Sheen


This guy shot his then-wife Kelly Preston in the arm in 1990. He had been in and out of rehabs since, but still is addicted to drugs and alcohol. He's also been famously linked to porn stars, prostitutes, and mistresses. He was reported to have assaulted ex-girlfriends and wives, and he's had multiple restraining orders issued against him. He's been married multiple times, and has children whom he's lost custody of to former wives and girlfriends. Charlie Sheen has also bad-mouthed producers of his show, Two and Half Men and been late or not shown up many times during filming. Oh, and he’s destroyed hotel rooms and shown no remorse for any of his actions. The list goes on and on.


11. Chris Brown


He famously assaulted his then girlfriend Rihanna in 2009. In 2011, he went berserk, busting up furniture in his dressing room because he was asked about the assault charges during an interview. Then in 2012 Chris Brown got into a fight with hip hop artist Drake, supposedly over Rihanna, followed by another fight with Frankie Ocean outside of a club in 2013. That same year he was accused of faking his community service by the District Attorney’s office. Brown faced another felony assault charge later in the year for allegedly beating a man up outside of a nightclub in Washington D.C. assisted by his bodyguard. His two weeks in anger management rehab apparently didn't work, and he finally had to spend some actual time behind bars.