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Top 10 Celebrity Scandals You've Never Heard Of

Top 10 Celebrity Scandals You've Never Heard Of
VOICE OVER: Kirsten Ria Squibb WRITTEN BY: Don Ekama
These celeb scandals will blow your mind! For this list, we'll be looking at the most notable incidents involving high-profile individuals that, for some reason, have largely gone unnoticed by the public. Our countdown includes Bruno Mars' Arrest, Charlie Chaplin's Marriages, Ben Affleck's Family History, and more!

Top 10 Celebrity Scandals You’ve Never Heard Of


Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Celebrity Scandals You’ve Never Heard Of.

For this list, we’ll be looking at the most notable incidents involving high-profile individuals that, for some reason, have largely gone unnoticed by the public.

What obscure celebrity scandal did we miss? Whisper it to us in the comments.

#10: Chuck Berry’s Voyeurism

The late Chuck Berry was a singer, songwriter and guitarist who left a lasting legacy on R&B and rock music. By the late 1980s, Berry branched out, notably purchasing the Southern Air Restaurant in Wentzville, Missouri. To the oblivion of the employees and customers at his restaurant, Berry installed video cameras in private areas, which were eventually found by one of the cooks. A total of about 200 women filed a class-action suit against Berry in 1990, for infringing on their rights to privacy. Although he claimed no wrongdoing, Berry opted to settle his accusers, and paid out over $1.2 million.

#9: Bruno Mars’ Arrest

Just when his career as a solo pop star was taking off, Bruno Mars fell into some trouble with the police. During an indulgent night out in Vegas, he was caught in possession of illicit substances at the Hard Rock Casino and was swiftly arrested. He ended up pleading guilty in court. The “Uptown Funk” crooner enrolled in an education program, doled out a few thousand dollars, and put in hours of community service as penance. As such, his record was expunged, and the story has largely remained obscure… that is, until today. Luckily, the incident taught Mars a big lesson that mistakes like this could flush all of his hard work down the drain.

#8: David Letterman’s Secret Affairs

David Letterman became one of the most beloved figures in America with his long-running late night talk shows. But the renowned host found himself in a scandal in 2009 when Joe Halderman, one of the producers of “48 Hours,” attempted to blackmail him for millions. Letterman had been romantically involved with some of the female staffers who worked for him, and Halderman threatened to expose the affairs. Letterman got ahead of him, setting up a sting with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, which resulted in Halderman’s arrest. All of this was made public in an episode of “The Late Show,” by the host himself.

#7: Lana Turner & the Johnny Stompanato Scandal

As one of Hollywood’s most glamorous leading ladies, Lana Turner’s romantic life was the subject of much interest and talk. By the late ‘50s, Turner became involved with Johnny Stompanato, a mobster who was reportedly very possessive and violent. On April 4th 1958, the two had gotten into an intense fight while Turner’s daughter Cheryl Crane was home. Concerned for her mother’s safety, Crane fatally wounded Stompanato. The death and subsequent trial became the talk of town, with dozens of reporters swarming the court during the hearings. Both Turner and Crane were exonerated, but that didn’t stop the rumors around Tinseltown. Still, this story has since largely been forgotten.

#6: Charlie Chaplin’s Marriages

You can’t talk about the silent era of film without mentioning Charlie Chaplin and his body of work. Through his Tramp persona, he charmed his way into the hearts of millions around the world. But what many may not know about Chaplin is that behind the on-screen antics, he showed a disturbing attraction for much younger women. Indeed, three of his marriages were with minors, despite the fact that he was well into his adult years. These stories made some waves at the time. Yet despite the unlawful activity, Chaplin’s name and legacy don’t seem to have been tarnished too badly…

#5: Manny Pacquiao’s Harmful Remarks

The world famous boxer Manny Pacquiao hung up his gloves briefly in 2015 when he decided to run for a Senate seat in his home country of the Philippines. During his campaign the next year, he made disparaging remarks about the LGBTQ+ community in a televised setting. After the segment aired, Pacquiao was hit in the face with a flood of criticism, with many local celebrities calling for a boycott of the famed boxer. In addition to the online backlash, he lost his endorsement deal with Nike. Pacquiao eventually apologized for his statements, although he didn’t exactly change his stance. Still, he was elected.

#4: Mae West’s Salacious Plays

Throughout her limitless career, Mae West was known for heralding sexual liberation through her art. She was seen as rather bold for her time period, and was therefore no stranger to controversy. Before she drew large audiences to the box office for her steamy movies, West was already an established playwright and stage actress. Using the pseudonym Jane Mast, she penned a highly controversial Broadway play that debuted in 1926. The show was deemed too indecent for public viewing, leading to West being arrested and spending 10 days in prison. Another work of hers, “The Drag,” which was about a closeted gay socialite, was similarly controversial, and didn’t even make it to Broadway.

#3: David O. Russell’s Assault Allegations

In between his acclaimed movies “The Fighter” and “Silver Linings Playbook,” David O. Russell got embroiled in a huge scandal that somehow flew under the radar. The Hollywood director was alleged to have assaulted his then-underrage niece Nicole Peloquin. According to Peloquin, Russell had been assisting her during a gym session when he engaged in non-consensual touching. Although he admitted to the occurrence, Russell asserted his innocence, claiming that Peloquin had invited the interaction. At the end of the day, no charges were filed against the director due to a lack of evidence, so the case never even went before a court of law.

#2: Matthew Broderick’s Costly Accident

In the summer of 1987, Hollywood actor Matthew Broderick was vacationing in Northern Ireland with his then-girlfriend, actress Jennifer Grey. The two had hit it off on the set of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and began a relationship which they had largely kept hidden from the media. While driving one night, Broderick crashed directly into another car after veering off into the wrong lane. Broderick and Grey survived the accident with significant injuries, but the passengers in the other car, mother-daughter duo Anna Gallagher Margaret Doherty, passed away. Broderick got off on a careless driving charge and was ordered to pay a small fine, a move that was referred to as “a travesty of justice” by the family of those lost.

#1: Ben Affleck’s Family History

The PBS documentary series “Finding Your Roots” brings on different celebrities every episode and traces their ancestral roots. In 2014, Ben Affleck appeared on the show and found out, along with everyone watching, about some of his relatives, like his mom, who was a civil rights activist. Behind the scenes, however, the program’s genealogists had discovered that one of Affleck’s ancestors was a slave owner in Georgia. Feeling embarrassed about the revelation and not wanting the information out in public, Affleck pressured the show’s producers to edit that segment out. It all came to light during the 2015 Sony Pictures hacking scandal, when the story was leaked to the public.
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