The Biggest Hollywood Scandals Over The Last 50 Years
  • Viral badge

From O.J. Simpson To Elvis Presley, These Are Some Of The Biggest Hollywood Controversies In The Last 50 Years

The drama is not exclusive to the sets and stages of Hollywood.

1. 1994–1995: O.J. Simpson was arrested and charged with the murder of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and friend Ronald Goldman. He was acquitted after a 10-month trial that was widely televised.

O.J. Simpson at his indictment

2. 2003–2005: Michael Jackson is charged with child molestation. He was acquitted after a four-month trial that was a complete media spectacle.

Michael Jackson testifing in Santa Maria Superior Court, 13 November 2002

3. 2005: Jennifer Aniston files for divorce from Brad Pitt after five years of marriage. Months later, he debuts his relationship with his Mr. & Mrs. Smith costar Angelina Jolie, who he was rumored to be having an affair with during filming.

4. 2009: Chris Brown was charged for assault in a domestic violence incident with then-girlfriend Rihanna. Photos of Rihanna's injuries were leaked by someone close to the star.

Chris Brown and Rihanna attend the NBA game between the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 25, 2012

5. 1973: Singer/songwriter Gram Parsons died at the age of 26 from causes that are unknown to this day. He previously expressed his desire to have his ashes scattered at Joshua Tree, but his family opted for a New Orleans burial instead. Phil Kaufman and Michael Martin, friends of Gram, were later arrested after stealing his body from LAX and driving it to Joshua Tree in a borrowed hearse. They attempted to cremate Gram by pouring gasoline all over the coffin, but the ensuing fire attracted police to the scene.

Gram Parsons of The Flying Burrito Brothers performs onstage at The Altamont Speedway on December 6, 1969 in Livermore, California

6. 2012, 2015: Whitney Houston is found dead in a bathtub during Grammy weekend 2012. Almost three years later, daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown was found unconscious under eerily similar circumstances. Bobbi Kristina was in a coma for six months before her death. She was 22.

Whitney Houston and Bobbi Kristina Brown at the 2011 Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute to Industry Icons honoring David Geffen at Beverly Hilton

7. 1977: Elvis Presley is found dead in an upper room at his Graceland mansion. Officially ruled a heart attack, many believed drug abuse was involved.

Elvis Presley wearing a jacket with a scarf in the 'convention hall' of the International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, 1st August 1969

8. 1995-1996: Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee's sex tape was stolen and leaked on the early web. The couple would later sue Penthouse publisher Bob Guccione over the stolen tape.

Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson attend the 23rd Annual American Music Awards, held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, 29th January 1996

9. 1992: Woody Allen admits he's dating former stepdaughter, Soon-Yi Previn, amidst sexual assault allegations. The pair married in 1997.

Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn at the premiere of 'Deconstructing Harry' held in Los Angeles, California in 1997

10. 1997: Mike Tyson bit off a piece of Evander Holyfield's ear during a match. Holyfield was rushed to the hospital for surgery, and Tyson faced a $3 million fine.

Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield fighting at MGM Grand in Las Vegas in June 1997

11. 2010: Sandra Bullock announces split from husband Jesse James after reports of infidelities became public, days after her Oscar win for The Blind Side. Later, it would be revealed the infidelities came out while the couple was in the process of adopting a son.

Jesse James and Sandra Bullock attend VANITY FAIR Oscar Party in March 2010

12. 1982: Ozzy Osbourne bit the head off a bat a fan threw on stage, assuming it was fake. It was not. People still debate whether the incident was real, fake, set up, or a total hoax.

Ozzy Osbourne performing in Canada in 1982

13. 2007: Kim Kardashian and Ray J's sex tape is leaked.

Ray J and Kim Kardashian posing together

14. 1977: Roman Polanski, 43, was arrested and accused of drugging and raping 13-year-old Samantha Gailey during a photo shoot the previous night at Jack Nicholson's Hollywood home.

photo of roman polanski in 1979 at Cannes

15. 1989: Todd Bridges was arrested and charged with attempted murder. He was acquitted and later charged with assault with a firearm, of which he was also acquitted.

Todd Bridges turns to spectators as jury selection begins in his trial

16. 2019–2022: R. Kelly is sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after being indicted on racketeering and sex trafficking charges.

R. Kelly appears during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on Sept. 17, 2019, in Chicago

17. 2006: Mel Gibson goes off on an anti-Semitic rant after being pulled over on suspicion of drinking and driving. He was later charged with misdemeanor drunken driving, driving with an elevated blood alcohol level, and driving with an open container of alcohol in a car.

Mel Gibson has his police mug shot taken July 28, 2006

18. 1994: Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes is arrested after setting fire to boyfriend Andre Rison's Atlanta home, leading to five years of probation.

Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes of TLC at the 2001 Teen Choice Awards August 12, 2001 at the Universal Amphitheater

19. 1978: Hogan's Heroes star, Bob Crane, was found bludgeoned to death amid an extensive collection of explicit pornography.

Bob Crane as Col. Robert E. Hogan in 'Happiness Is A Warm Sergeant', October 6, 1965

20. 1995: Hugh Grant was arrested for soliciting a sex worker while dating Elizabeth Hurley.

Elizabeth Hurley and Hugh Grant attend Closing Ceremony of the 48th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 28, 1995

21. 1984: Marvin Gaye was shot and killed by his father the day before his 45th birthday in an argument over insurance paperwork.

Marvin Gaye performs onstage during the "Sexual Healing" tour in New York in May 1983

22. 2004–2005: Martha Stewart was arrested and charged with a number of felonies, including conspiracy and making false statements to investigators, resulting in a five-month stint in prison.

Martha Stewart boards jet in W. Virginia on way to $16M estate in Westchester County

23. 1978: Sid Vicious attempts to die by suicide after being released from jail, when he was charged with the death of Nancy Spurgeon. He died of a drug overdose in early 1979.

Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen in their London flat in 1978

24. 1994: Anna Nicole Smith marries 89-year-old oil baron J. Howard Marshall II at 26.

Anna Nicole Smith poses for Guess Sportswear in February 1993

25. 2004: Justin Timberlake rips off a piece of Janet Jackson's costume during their Super Bowl performance, exposing her nipple on live TV.

Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake perform during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXVIII

26. 1996–2003: Robert Downey Jr. undergoes a number of arrests, including one for driving high and naked down the Sunset Strip throwing imaginary rats out of his car window. He does jail time and numerous rehab stints before meeting his now-wife, Susan Downey, and committing to sobriety.

Robert Downey Jr arrives for a bail hearing in July 1996

27. 2019–2021: Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman are charged with a massive college admissions cheating scam to get their children into the colleges of their choice. Both did federal jail time as a result.

28. 1984: Vanessa Williams resigns as Miss America after backlash for nude photos taken in 1982 that were later published in Penthouse.

Vanessa Williams resigns her Miss America title July 23, 1984 in New York City

29. 1972: Jane Fonda travels to Hanoi, Vietnam in the midst of the Vietnam War and implored members of the military to stop targeting farmland and civilian areas. She later apologized for insulting military members by insinuating they were exaggerating the conditions they faced in the country.

American actress Jane Fonda pays visit to the Truong Dinh residential center in the Nai Ba Trung District in Hanoi

30. 2011: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver divorce after his affair with the family’s former housekeeper, Mildred Patricia Baena, came to light. It was revealed that Baena's son was Arnold's child, conceived while Shriver was pregnant with their youngest child and born just days apart.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver pose together at an event in 2011

31. 1977: Freddie Prinze dies by suicide in front of his manager at 22 years old.

Freddie Prinze and wife Katherine Cochran in Los Angeles in May 1976

32. 2012: Katie Holmes leaves Tom Cruise after five years of marriage.

Katie Holmes appears on the Late Show with David Letterman, September 7, 2010

33. 1987: Matthew Broderick and Jennifer Grey are involved in a fatal car crash in Ireland that led to the death of a mother and daughter. The accident took place just days before Dirty Dancing came out in theaters. Broderick was later convicted of careless driving.

Jennifer Grey and Matthew Broderick attend the Writers Theatre Special Benefit Reading of 'Poor Richard's Theatricks' on October 26, 1987

34. 2009: Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift on stage as she accepts her MTV VMA, saying Beyonce deserved the award, beginning a very long, very weird feud.

Kanye West jumps onstage after Taylor Swift won the "Best Female Video" award during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on September 13, 2009

35. 1975: Sonny & Cher announce their divorce after 13 years together and six years of marriage. Four days after it was finalized, Cher married Gregg Allman.

Sonny and Cher at a press conference in 1975

36. 1988: Rob Lowe's sex tape with two Atlanta women, one who was underage at the time. Lowe denied having knowledge of her age and was never charged with a crime, but settled a lawsuit with her family.

Rob Lowe during "Young Guns" Premiere at Coronet Theater in Los Angeles

37. 1992: Sinead O’Connor tore up a picture of Pope John Paul II while performing Bob Marley’s "War" on Saturday Night Live to comment on child abuse within the Roman Catholic Church.

Sinead O'Connor attends the "Saturday Night Live" After Party on September 29, 1990

38. 2011: Charlie Sheen bragged about having "tiger blood" and #winning in a public meltdown.

Charlie Sheen on "Today" in 2011

39. 1988: Brenda Harvey Richie was arrested after allegedly catching Lionel Richie cheating on her with Diane Alexander and drop-kicking each of them. Police were said to have walked in on her assaulting Diane.

40. 1997: Ellen DeGeneres' sitcom was canceled after both the character and the comedian came out as gay.

Ellen DeGeneres and Laura Dern in "The Puppy Episode" of "Ellen" where Ellen comes out

41. 2018: Bill Cosby is charged with sexual assault after more than 50 women come forward with accusations. He was sentenced to a prison sentence that was later overturned.

Bill Cosby departs the Montgomery County Courthouse after a preliminary hearing, May 24, 2016

42. 1974–1976: Elizabeth Tayor and Richard Burton get divorced ('74), remarry ('75), and split up again ('76).

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton on their yacht in August 1967

43. 2014: Leaked security footage shows Solange Knowles assaulting brother-in-law Jay Z in the elevator leaving the 2014 Met Gala, with Beyoncé on board.

Solange, Beyonce and Jay Z during 2006 MTV Video Music Awards

44. 2004: Britney Spears has a quickie Vegas wedding with childhood friend, Jason Alexander, that was annulled within hours. Later that year, she marries dancer Kevin Federline.

Britney Spears and Kevin Federline during 2004 Billboard Music Awards - Arrivals at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada

45. 1980: Paul McCartney was arrested in Japan for traveling with 7.7 ounces of marijuana. He was later released and deported.

Arrival of Paul McCartney at Schiphol Airport after deportation by Japan due to possession of Marijuana

46. 1989: Milli Vanilli were caught lip-synching in a live MTV performance and it was later revealed they weren't the voices behind their biggest hits.

Milli vanilli in France on October 03, 1989

48. 2001: Winona Ryder is arrested for shoplifting at the Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills.

Winona Ryder passes through security at the Beverly Hills Superior Court for shoplifting charge in 2001

49. 1977: Farrah Fawcett leaves the hit series Charlie's Angels after the first season and gets sued for breach of contract.

Farrah Fawcett on season one of Charlie's Angels

50. 2011: Kim Kardashian and Kris Humprhies get divorced after 72 days of marriage.

Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2011

What do you think of the ranking? What did we miss? Let's discuss in the comments!