20 Shocking Celebrity Scandals You Probably Forgot About
Celebrity scandals always hook us in, right? Especially when it’s messy Hollywood breakups, shocking celebrity cheating scandals, or even wild celebrity arrests. These drama-filled moments remind us that behind all that red carpet glam, even the biggest stars have their flaws. From ugly celebrity divorces and billion-dollar lawsuits to viral award show meltdowns, these stories take over entertainment news and rack up millions of clicks online.
Back in the day—before TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Twitter/X—these scandals blew up on TV and magazines but faded fast. Some were swept under the rug by slick celebrity PR teams, while others just disappeared from pop culture news. But imagine if they happened now? We’d see viral hashtags everywhere, nonstop gossip blogs, reaction videos, and endless fan drama across social media.
So in this list, we’re digging up 20 celebrity scandals you probably forgot. Think wild love triangles, jaw-dropping confessions, messy cheating drama, and unforgettable award show controversies. These were the headlines that once had the whole world talking.
If you’re into Hollywood gossip, juicy celebrity news updates, or just love a good throwback to the scandals that shook Hollywood, this one’s for you. Grab your popcorn—it’s time to relive the drama.
#1 Neil Patrick Harris And David Burkta’s Amy Winehouse Food Platter
Just months after the heartbreaking death of Amy Winehouse, Neil Patrick Harris and his husband David Burtka stirred up one of the most shocking Hollywood controversies. At their private Halloween party in 2011, they served a food platter made to look like Amy’s body. Yeah, really.
For a while, nobody really noticed. But when photos resurfaced in 2022, the backlash online was brutal. Fans called it disrespectful, insensitive, and downright disturbing. The story spread across celebrity news sites, social media gossip pages, and had everyone in shock.
Neil later apologized, admitting it was a terrible idea and saying he deeply regretted it. He even told Entertainment Weekly, “Amy Winehouse was a once-in-a-generation talent, and I’m sorry for any hurt this image caused.”
It just proves how even a “private joke” can turn into a viral celebrity scandal in today’s internet-driven world.
#2 Sandra Bullock’s Cheating Ex
Right after Sandra Bullock won her Oscar for The Blind Side in 2009, her personal life blew up. Her husband Jesse James was exposed in one of the biggest celebrity cheating scandals of the decade. Multiple women came forward, claiming affairs, and Sandra’s fairytale marriage crumbled overnight.
Jesse later admitted he cheated, telling The Daily Mail, “Yeah, I did cheat on my wife. I stood up and took accountability.” But the damage was done. Paparazzi swarmed his house, headlines exploded, and Sandra had to deal with the fallout under the world’s spotlight.
At the same time, the couple had just started adopting their son, Louis. After filing for divorce, Sandra continued the adoption on her own and raised Louis as a single mom. It’s still remembered as one of the most heartbreaking celebrity divorces in Hollywood.
#3 Angelina Jolie Kissing Her Brother On The Lips
When Angelina Jolie won her first Oscar for Girl, Interrupted, she shocked everyone by kissing her brother James on the lips during her acceptance speech. She even said, “I’m so in love with my brother right now.”
Of course, celebrity gossip blogs went wild, and tabloids turned it into a massive scandal. Angelina later explained to People magazine that it was nothing weird—just a loving sibling moment taken out of context. Still, the moment went viral and remains one of the most unforgettable award show controversies.
#4 Jon Hamm Assaulting A Student In College
Long before Mad Men made him famous, Jon Hamm was caught in a disturbing college scandal. Back in 1991, while at the University of Texas, he and his fraternity brothers were accused of brutally hazing another student, Mark Allen Sanders.
Sanders claimed Jon and others physically attacked him and even set his pants on fire. The case was eventually dropped in 1993, but the story resurfaced years later, adding to the list of shocking celebrity scandals from Hollywood’s past.
In 2018, Jon told Esquire the situation was “blown out of proportion” but admitted it was a dark chapter in his life.
#5 Kenneth Branagh Cheating On Emma Thompson With Helena Bonham Carter
Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson were once the “golden couple” of British acting royalty. They married in 1989 and starred together in films like Henry V. But by 1995, their picture-perfect marriage fell apart after Kenneth’s affair with Helena Bonham Carter.
The two met while filming Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and began a secret romance. Emma later admitted she was blindsided, saying, “I was utterly blind to the fact that he had relationships with other women on set.”
This messy celebrity breakup became tabloid gold in the UK and remains one of the juiciest Hollywood cheating scandals ever.
#6 Alec Baldwin Calling His Daughter A “Little Pig”
During his messy celebrity divorce and custody battle with Kim Basinger, Alec Baldwin landed in a huge celebrity family scandal when a voicemail leaked of him calling his then-11-year-old daughter, Ireland, a “rude, thoughtless little pig.” Yeah… not his finest moment.
Years later, Ireland proved she could laugh about it. At his Comedy Central Roast in 2019, she joked, “Mission: Impossible is what I call getting my dad to apologize.”
This moment showed how ugly Hollywood custody battles can get when family drama spills into the public eye.
#7 Billy Bob Thornton Dumping Laura Dern For Angelina Jolie
Talk about messy love triangles! In 1999, Billy Bob Thornton shocked fans when he dumped actress Laura Dern and quickly married his Pushing Tin co-star Angelina Jolie.
Laura said in 2000, “I left our home to work on a movie, and while I was away, my boyfriend got married, and I’ve never heard from him again.” Ouch.
Billy Bob and Angelina went on to have one of Hollywood’s wildest romances—blood vials, PDA, the works—before splitting in 2003. Still, this remains one of the juiciest celebrity breakups in Hollywood gossip history.
#8 Jussie Smollett’s Hate Crime Hoax
In 2019, Jussie Smollett shocked the world after claiming he was attacked in a brutal hate crime in Chicago. The story immediately made national headlines as a heartbreaking celebrity victim case.
But then came the twist—police revealed he staged the attack with two acquaintances to boost his career. Smollett was later convicted of filing false reports, sentenced to 150 days in jail, and given probation.
He still denies it all, but this remains one of the most infamous celebrity legal controversies and viral hoaxes in modern Hollywood.
#9 Jennifer Grey And Matthew Broderick’s Car Crash
In 1987, just before Dirty Dancing made Jennifer Grey a superstar, she and her boyfriend Matthew Broderick were in a deadly car crash in Northern Ireland. Their car collided head-on with another vehicle, killing a mother and daughter.
Matthew was convicted of careless driving and fined $175. Jennifer later called it the most traumatic event of her life, saying she still thinks of the family often.
This heartbreaking celebrity accident cast a long shadow over what should’ve been Jennifer’s big Hollywood breakthrough.
#10 Johnny Cash Setting A Forest On Fire And Destroying 53 Condors
The Man in Black wasn’t always squeaky clean. In 1965, Johnny Cash accidentally set fire to California’s Los Padres National Forest. The flames destroyed three mountains and nearly wiped out the endangered California condor population.
When questioned, Johnny famously joked, “I didn’t do it, my truck did. And it’s dead, so you can’t question it.” He eventually paid $82,000 in damages.
This bizarre case remains one of the most jaw-dropping celebrity legal scandals in music history.
#11 Vanessa Williams Resigning Her Miss America Title
Vanessa Williams made history in 1983 as the first Black woman crowned Miss America. But less than a year later, she was forced to resign after unauthorized nude photos of her appeared in Penthouse magazine.
The photographer had promised the pictures would never be released, but they were sold without her consent. The scandal was brutal, but Vanessa bounced back with a powerhouse career in music and film, earning Grammy nominations and Hollywood success.
Decades later, the Miss America Organization apologized for how she was treated. Today, this story is remembered as one of the greatest celebrity comeback stories ever.
#12 Matthew Mcconaughey’s Midnight Bongo Scandal
Alright, alright, alright… this one’s legendary. In 1999, police showed up at Matthew McConaughey’s home after a noise complaint. What did they find? The Oscar winner—completely naked, playing bongo drums, and smoking weed at 2:30 a.m.
Cops wrestled him to the ground, arrested him, and later fined him $50. Matthew laughed it off, but it’s still one of the most iconic celebrity arrest stories in Hollywood.
#13 Russell Crowe’s Arrest After Assaulting A Hotel Employee
In 2005, Russell Crowe got arrested in New York after hurling a phone at a hotel employee. The reason? He was furious he couldn’t reach his wife in Australia.
Crowe admitted he lost his temper, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, and avoided jail. But the damage was done—this became one of the most infamous Hollywood assault scandals of the 2000s.
#14 Kristen Stewart Cheating On Robert Pattinson
In 2012, the world of Twilight fans shattered when Kristen Stewart was caught cheating on Robert Pattinson with director Rupert Sanders—who was married at the time. Paparazzi photos of them kissing were everywhere, and the scandal became one of the biggest celebrity cheating scandals of the decade.
Kristen later said, “I did not f**k him,” but admitted, “when you make out with a dude in public, it definitely looks like you did.” She even believes the drama cost her a role in The Huntsman sequel.
This messy affair remains a hot topic in Hollywood relationship drama and forever changed her public image.
#15 Orlando Bloom And Justin Bieber’s Feud
In 2014, a fight broke out in Ibiza, Spain, between Orlando Bloom and Justin Bieber, and it instantly became one of the most viral celebrity feuds ever. Reportedly, Justin made a comment about Orlando’s ex-wife, supermodel Miranda Kerr, and Orlando responded by punching him.
Justin fueled the fire by posting (and later deleting) a picture of Miranda online. Fans on both sides went crazy, making it one of the most talked-about celebrity gossip stories in entertainment news.
#16 Christian Slater’s Arrest For Harassing A Woman
Christian Slater may be a Hollywood star, but he’s had plenty of celebrity legal issues. In the late 1980s, he served time for drunk driving and assault. In the ’90s, he spent 90 days in jail, rehab, and treatment after assaulting his girlfriend.
In 2005, Slater was arrested again—this time for harassing a woman while intoxicated. During the #MeToo era, he lashed out at reporters instead of showing remorse.
His history of celebrity arrests has left a complicated mark on his Hollywood career.
#17 Owen Wilson’s Being Absent From His Daughter’s Life
Owen Wilson often plays the lovable dad in movies, but in real life, his relationship with his daughter Lyla is complicated. Lyla’s mom, Varunie Vongsvirates, revealed Owen has never even met his daughter, despite dating Varunie for five years.
While Owen helps financially, Varunie says, “Lyla needs a father.” Meanwhile, Owen spends time with his two sons from other relationships and follows what he calls a “single-dad schedule.”
This heartbreaking story continues to spark celebrity family drama headlines.
#18 Winona Ryder’s Shoplifting Incident
Back in 2001, Winona Ryder was arrested for shoplifting almost $5,500 worth of designer clothes from Saks Fifth Avenue. She was later convicted of grand theft, making it one of the most shocking celebrity arrest scandals in Hollywood history.
Winona said painkillers she was on at the time caused confusion, and she didn’t feel guilty since “no one was physically hurt.” Still, the incident stalled her career for years before her big comeback on Stranger Things.
#19 Mariah Carey’s 2001 Public Breakdown
In 2001, Mariah Carey stunned fans when she showed up on MTV’s Total Request Live pushing an ice cream cart and stripping on live TV. Host Carson Daly looked confused, and the chaotic moment quickly went down as one of the most bizarre celebrity controversies ever caught on camera.
Her team later confirmed she had an “emotional and physical breakdown” from exhaustion. The clip went viral again years later, proving how unforgettable this Hollywood meltdown really was.
#20 Ben Affleck’s Slave-Owning Ancestor
In 2015, Ben Affleck faced backlash after it was revealed one of his ancestors owned slaves. He even asked PBS to remove that part of a family history episode, later admitting on Facebook that he was embarrassed.
Controversy flared up again in 2022 when Ben married Jennifer Lopez at his Georgia mansion—styled like a Southern plantation. Many fans found the timing and symbolism hard to ignore.
This uncomfortable celebrity controversy shows how even family history can ignite heated debates in Hollywood news.
