• 1) Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee’s Sex Tape The Baywatch babe and Mötley Crüe drummer rocked the world when their private frolicking became one of the internet’s first viral sex videos in 1997. The couple shot the tape in 1995 and locked it up in their safe, but that safe was soon stolen by an electrician working on their home. Porn was big money in the ‘90s — the tape made an estimated $77 million in the first year alone. That means, yeah, just about everybody saw it — everybody that is, except Anderson, who revealed in 2015 that she’s still never watched the infamous video that foreshadowed many celebrity sex tapes to come. Photo: Getty Images
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1) Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee’s Sex Tape

The Baywatch babe and Mötley Crüe drummer rocked the world when their private frolicking became one of the internet’s first viral sex videos in 1997. The couple shot the tape in 1995 and locked it up in their safe, but that safe was soon stolen by an electrician working on their home. Porn was big money in the ‘90s — the tape made an estimated $77 million in the first year alone. That means, yeah, just about everybody saw it — everybody that is, except Anderson, who revealed in 2015 that she’s still never watched the infamous video that foreshadowed many celebrity sex tapes to come.

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1) Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee’s Sex Tape

The Baywatch babe and Mötley Crüe drummer rocked the world when their private frolicking became one of the internet’s first viral sex videos in 1997. The

... more
Photo: Getty Images
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2) Notorious B.I.G.’s Murder

Biggie Smalls met his end on March 9, 1997, when he was killed in a drive-by shooting, just a few months after his rival Tupac suffered the same fate. That connection had media and watercooler investigations pointing to the red hot East Coast-West Coast hip-hop feud as a murder motive. Twenty years later, the case remains unsolved.

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2) Notorious B.I.G.’s Murder

Biggie Smalls met his end on March 9, 1997, when he was killed in a drive-by shooting, just a few months after his rival Tupac suffered the same fate. That connection had media

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Photo: Gallery Stock
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3) Princess Diana’s Death

The world came to a standstill when the life of the People’s Princess was suddenly taken at the age of 36. On August 31, 1997, she died of injuries from a crash that occurred while she was in the back of a Mercedes in Paris. At the time, many speculated that the crash had occurred as a result of the paparazzi hounding her, but an investigation eventually determined that the driver had also been drunk.

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3) Princess Diana’s Death

The world came to a standstill when the life of the People’s Princess was suddenly taken at the age of 36. On August 31, 1997, she died of injuries from a crash that occurred

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4) Monica Lewinsky Scandal

No list of American scandals — or scandals of any kind — would be complete without note of that time in 1998 when news broke that our 49-year-old commander-in-chief engaged in sexual relations with a 22-year-old White House intern. Bill Clinton denied it ever happened before admitting that yeah, it totally did. He was eventually impeached by the House of Representatives, but acquitted by the Senate.

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4) Monica Lewinsky Scandal

No list of American scandals — or scandals of any kind — would be complete without note of that time in 1998 when news broke that our 49-year-old commander-in-chief engaged in

... more
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5) George Michael’s Bathroom Arrest

In the ‘80s and ‘90s, George Michael was a beloved pop star known for hits like “Faith” as a solo artist and “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” as part of Wham! But in 1998, all anyone was talking about was his arrest in a Beverly Hills park bathroom for “engaging in a lewd act.” Michael had long been dogged by rumors that he was gay, so it was generally assumed this meant he’d been cruising for sex. Michael confirmed as much in a CNN interview a few days later, when he revealed he was gay and that he felt “stupid and reckless and weak for letting [his] sexuality be exposed that way.”

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5) George Michael’s Bathroom Arrest

In the ‘80s and ‘90s, George Michael was a beloved pop star known for hits like “Faith” as a solo artist and “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” as part of Wham! But

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Photo: Getty Images
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6) Marilyn Manson and the Columbine High School Massacre

When, in 1999, two seniors at Columbine High School murdered 12 students and one teacher in one of this nation’s deadliest shootings, everyone was looking for answers as to what would drive two young men to do such a thing. Fingers quickly turned to Marilyn Manson when reports surfaced that the two shooters had been fans of his, and that his music had inspired them. This was proven false, but the damage was done — Manson called the media reaction a “witch hunt” in a Rolling Stone essay that year, and in 2015 said that the controversy “shut down his career.”

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6) Marilyn Manson and the Columbine High School Massacre

When, in 1999, two seniors at Columbine High School murdered 12 students and one teacher in one of this nation’s deadliest shootings, everyone was

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7) The Club New York Shooting

Sean Combs — also known as Puff Daddy, Puffy, P. Diddy, or Diddy, depending on when you met him — was partying it up with then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez at the Midtown Manhattan club one December night in 1999 when he got into an altercation with another club-goer. Push led to shove, shots rang out in the club, and Combs and Jenny from the Block fled the scene. They were both arrested when a stolen gun was found in their trunk, but Lopez was released and Combs was ultimately acquitted.

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7) The Club New York Shooting

Sean Combs — also known as Puff Daddy, Puffy, P. Diddy, or Diddy, depending on when you met him — was partying it up with then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez at the Midtown

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Photo: Getty Images
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8) Winona Ryder’s Shoplifting Spree

You know her now for the Christmas light alphabet on Stranger Things, but in 2001, you knew her as the A-lister arrested on shoplifting charges at a Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills. The Girl, Interrupted and Reality Bites star was caught ripping the security tags off what turned out to be $5,560 worth of merchandise and placing them in her bag. The following year, she was convicted of grand theft and vandalism for the incident, and sentenced to three years of probation, 480 hours of community service, about $10,000 in fines and restitution, and mandatory psychological and drug counseling.

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8) Winona Ryder’s Shoplifting Spree

You know her now for the Christmas light alphabet on Stranger Things, but in 2001, you knew her as the A-lister arrested on shoplifting charges at a Saks Fifth Avenue in

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Photo: Getty Images
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9) Child Porn Allegations Against R. Kelly

In 2002, a tape was sent to the Chicago Sun-Times that allegedly showed R. Kelly having sex with, and urinating on, an underage girl. He was soon indicted on 21 counts of child pornography and pled not guilty. Six years later, his trial finally went to jury, and they cleared him on all the charges.

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9) Child Porn Allegations Against R. Kelly

In 2002, a tape was sent to the Chicago Sun-Times that allegedly showed R. Kelly having sex with, and urinating on, an underage girl. He was soon indicted on 21

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10) Michael Jackson’s Baby-Dangling Incident

The pop star earned his “Wacko Jacko” moniker when he stepped out onto the balcony of a Berlin hotel in 2002 to say hello to fans gathered below. That’d be all well and good if he didn’t use the opportunity to dangle his 9-month-old son Prince over the railing, obscuring the child’s face with a towel and holding on with just one arm. After the reckless move was widely condemned, Jackson apologized, calling it a “terrible mistake.”

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10) Michael Jackson’s Baby-Dangling Incident

The pop star earned his “Wacko Jacko” moniker when he stepped out onto the balcony of a Berlin hotel in 2002 to say hello to fans gathered below. That’d be

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Photo: Getty Images
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11) Martha Stewart’s Insider Trading

Once upon a time, Martha Stewart was the undisputed queen of homemaking. But her world came tumbling down in 2002 when news broke that she was being investigated for selling off 3,928 shares of ImClone Systems based upon a tip that the stock would soon be dropping drastically. By 2003, she was indicted, and by 2004, she was in prison. The following year, she was released and immediately got to work on a comeback.

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11) Martha Stewart’s Insider Trading

Once upon a time, Martha Stewart was the undisputed queen of homemaking. But her world came tumbling down in 2002 when news broke that she was being investigated for

... more
Photo: Getty Images
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12) Dixie Chicks Slam of George W. Bush

The Dixie Chicks were massive country stars in 2003 with hits including “Long Time Gone,” “Goodbye Earl,” and “Cowboy Take Me Away.” But country radio’s love of the ladies came to an abrupt halt when lead singer Natalie Maines spoke out against President Bush and the Iraq War in a March concert in London. "Just so you know, we're on the good side with y'all,” she said. “We do not want this war, this violence, and we're ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas." Radio stations began boycotting their music, and three years later, still refused to support the 2006 album Taking the Long Way. The album proved a critical and commercial hit regardless.

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12) Dixie Chicks Slam of George W. Bush

The Dixie Chicks were massive country stars in 2003 with hits including “Long Time Gone,” “Goodbye Earl,” and “Cowboy Take Me Away.” But country radio’s

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Photo: Getty Images
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13) Madonna and Britney Spears’s VMAs Kiss

Viewers may be numb to sexualized music performances these days, but in 2003, when Madonna locked lips with Britney Spears, you could almost hear the jaws across the country dropping to the floor. Christina Aguilera also got a taste of Madge’s mouth, but a camera cut-away to Justin Timberlake’s reaction has left Aguilera’s involvement a mere footnote to one of the MTV Video Music Awards’ most memorable moments.

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13) Madonna and Britney Spears’s VMAs Kiss

Viewers may be numb to sexualized music performances these days, but in 2003, when Madonna locked lips with Britney Spears, you could almost hear the jaws across

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Photo: Getty Images
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14) Child Molestation Allegations Against Michael Jackson

Police began investigating Jackson after a 2003 documentary revealed him holding the hand of a 13-year-old boy as he expressed his enjoyment of sleepovers with children. His Neverland Ranch was eventually raided, and he was subsequently arrested on multiple counts of child molestation, but he denied any wrong-doing. The highly publicized trial took place in 2005, and he was acquitted on all charges.

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14) Child Molestation Allegations Against Michael Jackson

Police began investigating Jackson after a 2003 documentary revealed him holding the hand of a 13-year-old boy as he expressed his enjoyment of

... more
Photo: Getty Images
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15) Janet Jackson’s Wardrobe Malfunction

Some other things probably happened at the 2004 Super Bowl, but the only thing they’ll be writing about in the history books is that infamous halftime show. When Justin Timberlake ripped off a piece of Janet Jackson’s bustier, her bare breast — albeit adorned with a nipple shield — was shown to the entire world. The NFL and the FCC were real mad (540,000 people filed complaints), and it ignited a national conversation about the supposed end of morality in America. Jackson’s career never really recovered — while Timberlake, who failed to come to Jackson's defense, got off scot-free — but the scandal did gift us with the now-commonplace term of “wardrobe malfunction.”

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15) Janet Jackson’s Wardrobe Malfunction

Some other things probably happened at the 2004 Super Bowl, but the only thing they’ll be writing about in the history books is that infamous halftime show. When

... more
Photo: Getty Images
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16) Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's Divorce

After seven years together, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston announced in a statement in January 2005 that they were calling it quits. At the time, rumors were already swirling that Pitt had an affair with Angelina Jolie while filming their movie Mr. and Mrs. Smith the previous year. Photos taken of the two vacationing together in the summer of ’05 make it clear that they were very much together. Thus began years and years of tabloid magazine covers declaring how horribly lonely it is to be Jennifer Aniston.

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16) Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's Divorce

After seven years together, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston announced in a statement in January 2005 that they were calling it quits. At the time, rumors were

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Photo: Getty Images
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17) Tom Cruise’s Couch-Jumping

The first rule of celebrity: do not disrespect Oprah — or her furniture. Tom Cruise learned that the hard way when he jumped on Ms. Winfrey’s talk show couch to display his love of then-girlfriend Katie Holmes. Oprah didn’t actually care, but the public found the expression bizarre and off-putting, and it began a shift in Cruise’s image from swoon-worthy heartthrob to… something else.

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17) Tom Cruise’s Couch-Jumping

The first rule of celebrity: do not disrespect Oprah — or her furniture. Tom Cruise learned that the hard way when he jumped on Ms. Winfrey’s talk show couch to display his

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Photo: Getty Images
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18) Kanye West's George Bush Comment

Kanye has said a lot of things over the years that have gotten a lot of people talking, but one of his most memorable will always be the time he went off-script during a NBCUniversal telethon for Hurricane Katrina’s victims in 2005. Appearing opposite Mike Myers, Kanye ad-libbed, concluding a speech about his relief-effort frustrations with “George Bush doesn’t care about black people.” The bold comment was the talk of cable news for days, and Dubya himself eventually called it the “all-time low” of his presidency.

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18) Kanye West's George Bush Comment

Kanye has said a lot of things over the years that have gotten a lot of people talking, but one of his most memorable will always be the time he went off-script during a

... more
Photo: Getty Images
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19) Mel Gibson’s Anti-Semitic Rant

The original Mad Max blew up his career when he was pulled over and told he’d be detained for drunk driving. Gibson responded with an anti-Semitic rant, asking the officer, “Are you a Jew?” and telling her that “The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world.” He also called her “sugar tits,” whatever that means. For a solid decade, Gibson was persona non grata, but a directing Oscar nomination this year for Hacksaw Ridge seems to indicate he’s back in Hollywood’s good graces.

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19) Mel Gibson’s Anti-Semitic Rant

The original Mad Max blew up his career when he was pulled over and told he’d be detained for drunk driving. Gibson responded with an anti-Semitic rant, asking the

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Photo: Getty Images
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20) Anna Nicole Smith’s Death

Former Playboy Playmate Anna Nicole Smith was under never-ending media scrutiny in late 2006 and early 2007 following the death of her 20-year-old son, as well as the question of who fathered her newborn daughter, Dannielynn. In the midst of that attention, Smith was found dead on February 8 from an accidental drug overdose of 9 different prescription meds. By April, a DNA test finally revealed Larry Birkhead to be Dannielynn’s father, and he’s raised her ever since.

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20) Anna Nicole Smith’s Death

Former Playboy Playmate Anna Nicole Smith was under never-ending media scrutiny in late 2006 and early 2007 following the death of her 20-year-old son, as well as the question

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Photo: Getty Images
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21) Kim Kardashian’s Sex Tape

In 2007, XXX footage of a yet-to-be-A-list Kim Kardashian fornicating with Ray J landed in the hands of the porn company Vivid Entertainment, which distributed it to millions as Kim Kardashian, Superstar. Kardashian originally sued to try to stop the tape’s release, but then settled with a deal that reportedly enabled her to cash in to the tune of $5 million. The rest is history.

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21) Kim Kardashian’s Sex Tape

In 2007, XXX footage of a yet-to-be-A-list Kim Kardashian fornicating with Ray J landed in the hands of the porn company Vivid Entertainment, which distributed it to millions as

... more
Photo: Getty Images
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22) Paris Hilton’s Jail Stint

The heiress’s bad behavior heated up in September 2006, when she was arrested for a DUI and ended up with a suspended license and 36 months of probation. But in early 2007, Hilton was caught not only driving, but speeding, so she ended up with a sentence of 45 days in jail. Thanks to credits for good behavior, the socialite got out early after just 23 days, and her release was a national event broadcast live on cable news. Now, that’s hot!

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22) Paris Hilton’s Jail Stint

The heiress’s bad behavior heated up in September 2006, when she was arrested for a DUI and ended up with a suspended license and 36 months of probation. But in early 2007,

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Photo: Getty Images
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23) Britney Spears’s Breakdown

By the time 2007 rolled around, Britney Spears was already having a real rough go of things. In the previous years, she’d married and divorced K-Fed, she was caught driving with her baby in her lap, and she’d started partying with Paris Hilton. But 2007 was rock bottom, as she checked in and out of rehab, shaved her head, gave a disastrous VMAs performance of “Gimme More,” and had her children taken away from her. On the bright side, the year also gave us her fan-favorite album Blackout, and Spears has since gotten her life on track.

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23) Britney Spears’s Breakdown

By the time 2007 rolled around, Britney Spears was already having a real rough go of things. In the previous years, she’d married and divorced K-Fed, she was caught driving

... more
Photo: Getty Images
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24) Heath Ledger’s Death

Fans of Hollywood heartthrob Heath Ledger, known for his work in movies like Brokeback Mountain and 10 Things I Hate About You, were shocked when he was found dead on January 22, 2008 in his Manhattan bed. Two weeks later, the NYC Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the cause was an accidental overdose of a prescription cocktail of painkillers, anti-anxiety meds, and sleeping pills. Ledger’s legacy lived on though with the release of his career-best work as the Joker in The Dark Knight that summer, and he earned a posthumous Oscar for the role the next year.

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24) Heath Ledger’s Death

Fans of Hollywood heartthrob Heath Ledger, known for his work in movies like Brokeback Mountain and 10 Things I Hate About You, were shocked when he was found dead on January 22,

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Photo: Getty Images
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25) Chris Brown's Assault of Rihanna

On February 8, 2009, the night before the Grammys, Chris Brown assaulted then-girlfriend Rihanna, leaving her with “major contusions,” a split lip, and a bloody nose. After Rihanna was hospitalized, Brown was charged with felony assault. It landed him five years of probation and more than 1,400 hours of “labor-oriented service.” In a 2017 documentary, Brown said his attack on the singer is “going to haunt [him] forever.”

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25) Chris Brown's Assault of Rihanna

On February 8, 2009, the night before the Grammys, Chris Brown assaulted then-girlfriend Rihanna, leaving her with “major contusions,” a split lip, and a bloody nose.

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Photo: Getty Images
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26) Michael Jackson’s Death

The King of Pop was found dead June 25, 2009, and the cause was determined to be from the surgical anesthetic Propofol. Ultimately, the death was ruled a homicide at the hands of Jackson’s personal doctor, Conrad Murray, a cardiologist who said he was giving the singer infusions of the drug to treat insomnia. A jury concluded that his monitoring was negligent, and he served two years in jail before being released in 2013.

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26) Michael Jackson’s Death

The King of Pop was found dead June 25, 2009, and the cause was determined to be from the surgical anesthetic Propofol. Ultimately, the death was ruled a homicide at the hands of

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Photo: Getty Images
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27) Kanye West Interrupting Taylor Swift

History’s most famous acceptance speech will forever be remembered not for what was said, but for what wasn’t. When Kanye West grabbed the mic from Taylor Swift at the 2009 VMAs to protest her win over Beyoncé in the category of best female video with an “I’mma let you finish, but…”, he initiated both intense backlash against himself and fervent support for the budding pop star. Of course, that was only just the beginning.

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27) Kanye West Interrupting Taylor Swift

History’s most famous acceptance speech will forever be remembered not for what was said, but for what wasn’t. When Kanye West grabbed the mic from Taylor Swift at

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Photo: Getty Images
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28) Tiger Woods’s Cheating Scandal

The golden boy of golf quickly became the worldwide face of adultery when the National Enquirer revealed in November of 2009 that he’d been cheating on his wife with a night club hostess. After Us Weekly identified a cocktail waitress as another mistress, Woods apologized and said he had “let his family down.” The number of revealed mistresses soon rose to 14, and Woods checked himself into rehab for sex addiction in December, creating everyone’s new favorite punch line.

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28) Tiger Woods’s Cheating Scandal

The golden boy of golf quickly became the worldwide face of adultery when the National Enquirer revealed in November of 2009 that he’d been cheating on his wife with a

... more
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29) Jesse James's Cheating Scandal

Sandra Bullock had just earned an Oscar for her role in The Blind Side when reports surfaced in March 2010 that her husband, Monster Garage host Jesse James, had cheated with Michelle “Bombshell” McGee. James confirmed the affair with a public apology, but four more women were soon named as mistresses. By the end of April, Bullock had filed for divorce.

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29) Jesse James's Cheating Scandal

Sandra Bullock had just earned an Oscar for her role in The Blind Side when reports surfaced in March 2010 that her husband, Monster Garage host Jesse James, had cheated with

... more
Photo: Getty Images
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30) Whitney Houston’s Death

On February 11, 2012, Whitney Houston was found dead in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. More than a month later, and after much speculation, the Los Angeles County Coroner released an autopsy report that determined the singer had died from an accidental drowning, but that cocaine and heart disease had also contributed. Marijuana, Xanax, and Benadryl were found in her body as well, but did not play a role in her death.

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30) Whitney Houston’s Death

On February 11, 2012, Whitney Houston was found dead in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. More than a month later, and after much speculation, the Los Angeles County Coroner

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Photo: Getty Images
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31) Kristen Stewart's Cheating Scandal

A 22-year-old Kristen Stewart devastated Twilight fans everywhere when photographers caught her canoodling with her 41-year-old Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders in July 2012. The affair ended Sanders’s marriage to model Liberty Ross, as well as Stewart’s relationship with Robert Pattinson. Stewart issued a public apology: “This momentary indiscretion has jeopardized the most important thing in my life, the person I love and respect the most, Rob. I love him, I love him, I'm so sorry."

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31) Kristen Stewart's Cheating Scandal

A 22-year-old Kristen Stewart devastated Twilight fans everywhere when photographers caught her canoodling with her 41-year-old Snow White and the Huntsman director

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Photo: Getty Images
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32) Lance Armstrong’s Doping

As a cancer survivor and wildly successful athlete, Lance Armstrong was long held as a national hero — remember when you were basically trash if you didn’t own a LIVESTRONG bracelet? After years of doping accusations, the biker finally admitted wrong-doing by stopping his fight against charges by the US Anti-Doping Agency in August 2012. He was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned for life.

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32) Lance Armstrong’s Doping

As a cancer survivor and wildly successful athlete, Lance Armstrong was long held as a national hero — remember when you were basically trash if you didn’t own a LIVESTRONG

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33) Hulk Hogan’s Sex Tape

It was the beginning of the end for Gawker when, on October 4, 2012, the site posted a clip of wrestler Hulk Hogan having sex with the wife of his friend, radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge. Aided by the funds of billionaire Peter Thiel, who was outed as gay by Gawker in 2007, Hogan sued the site, its publisher, and the post’s author, and a Florida jury awarded him $140 million in damages. Needless to say, Gawker.com is no more.

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33) Hulk Hogan’s Sex Tape

It was the beginning of the end for Gawker when, on October 4, 2012, the site posted a clip of wrestler Hulk Hogan having sex with the wife of his friend, radio personality Bubba

... more
Photo: Getty Images
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34) Amanda Bynes’s Breakdown

The former Nickelodeon star had a troubled 2012. There was the time she was arrested for a DUI and then pleaded with Barack Obama on Twitter to fire the cop who handled it. There were the hit-and-run accusations, the cheek piercings, the pink wig, and plans to sue every media outlet that wrote about her. And of course, who could forget the time she tweeted Drake that she wanted him to “murder [her] vagina”? Thankfully, she eventually got the help she needed and is now reportedly three years sober.

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34) Amanda Bynes’s Breakdown

The former Nickelodeon star had a troubled 2012. There was the time she was arrested for a DUI and then pleaded with Barack Obama on Twitter to fire the cop who handled it. There

... more
Photo: Getty Images
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35) Paula Deen’s Racist Slur

In June 2013, the queen of country cooking was hit with a lawsuit by a former employee who alleged that Deen had made several racist remarks. In a deposition, Deen admitted to having used the N-word in the past, such as when she told her husband that she had been held at gunpoint in the ‘80s by a robber who was black. "But that's just not a word that we use as time has gone on," she said. "Things have changed since the '60s in the South.” The case was ultimately dismissed in August, but not before her public image was tanked and many of her business partners — including the Food Network — had run for the hills.

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35) Paula Deen’s Racist Slur

In June 2013, the queen of country cooking was hit with a lawsuit by a former employee who alleged that Deen had made several racist remarks. In a deposition, Deen admitted to

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Photo: Getty Images
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36) Miley Cyrus Twerking at the VMAs

Miley Cyrus shed her Hannah Montana image for good when she backed it up on Robin Thicke during their August 2013 performance of “We Can’t Stop” and “Blurred Lines” at the MTV VMAs, wearing a nude bikini and a foam finger.

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36) Miley Cyrus Twerking at the VMAs

Miley Cyrus shed her Hannah Montana image for good when she backed it up on Robin Thicke during their August 2013 performance of “We Can’t Stop” and “Blurred

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Photo: Getty Images
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37) Dylan Farrow’s Accusations Against Woody Allen

In February 2014, The New York Times published an open letter from Dylan Farrow to her father, Woody Allen, reviving her 1992 allegation that he had sexually abused her as a 7-year-old. The director responded with his own piece in the Times, maintaining his innocence. The pair of articles incited a national debate and actors now consistently face backlash on social media whenever they sign on to a new Allen project.

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37) Dylan Farrow’s Accusations Against Woody Allen

In February 2014, The New York Times published an open letter from Dylan Farrow to her father, Woody Allen, reviving her 1992 allegation that he had

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Photo: Getty Images
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38) Jay-Z and Solange’s Elevator Fight

Elevators were never more culturally relevant than in May 2014, when footage leaked of Solange Knowles attacking Beyoncé’s husband Jay-Z following a Met Gala after-party. Ten days later, the three of them released a joint statement saying the family had “worked through it,” offering no explanation for the argument. But as Queen Bey sang in her ferocious track “Flawless,” “Of course sometimes s—t goes down when there’s a billion dollars in an elevator.”

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38) Jay-Z and Solange’s Elevator Fight

Elevators were never more culturally relevant than in May 2014, when footage leaked of Solange Knowles attacking Beyoncé’s husband Jay-Z following a Met Gala

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Photo: SplashNews
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39) The Nude Photo Hack

An enormous celebrity hacking came to light in August 2014, when nude photos of stars including Jennifer Lawrence, Kirsten Dunst, and Kate Upton were posted on 4chan. More than 100 stars had their data stolen via compromised accounts, and two men responsible ended up with prison sentences. Some of the stars involved called the photos of themselves fake, but Lawrence acknowledged the photos of her as authentic and spoke out strongly against the attack in a Vanity Fair profile, calling it a “sex crime.” “It’s my body, and it should be my choice, and the fact that it is not my choice is absolutely disgusting,” she said. “I can’t believe that we even live in that kind of world.”

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39) The Nude Photo Hack

An enormous celebrity hacking came to light in August 2014, when nude photos of stars including Jennifer Lawrence, Kirsten Dunst, and Kate Upton were posted on 4chan. More than 100

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Photo: Getty Images
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40) Taylor Swift and Katy Perry’s Feud

The world discovered the feud of the century in October 2014 when Taylor Swift told Rolling Stone about a little song called “Bad Blood,” inspired by an unnamed female artist who “basically tried to sabotage an entire arena tour.” All signs pointed to Katy Perry, who soon tweeted, “Watch out for the Regina George in sheep’s clothing.” Three years later, the filet mignon of celebrity beef is still going strong.

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40) Taylor Swift and Katy Perry’s Feud

The world discovered the feud of the century in October 2014 when Taylor Swift told Rolling Stone about a little song called “Bad Blood,” inspired by an unnamed

... more
Photo: Getty Images
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41) The Bill Cosby Accusers

Bill Cosby had long been the subject of sexual assault accusations, but things reached a boiling point in October 2014 when a clip of comedian Hannibal Buress doing a bit about Cosby’s rape charges went viral. The attention spurred women to begin coming forward about what Cosby had done to them in the past, and to date, nearly 60 have spoken out. Cosby faced criminal charges for the assault of one of these women earlier this summer, but it ended in a mistrial and a retrial won’t take place until next spring.

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41) The Bill Cosby Accusers

Bill Cosby had long been the subject of sexual assault accusations, but things reached a boiling point in October 2014 when a clip of comedian Hannibal Buress doing a bit about

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Photo: Getty Images
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42) The Sony Hack

Sony Pictures suffered a major hacking at the end of 2014, and anonymous U.S. officials believed North Korea may have been responsible. This seemed plausible due to anger over the studio’s upcoming release of James Franco and Seth Rogen’s movie The Interview, which featured the pair attempting to assassinate dictator Kim Jong-Un. The hack forced that film into a limited release, but it also revealed loads of celebrity gossip and embarrassing emails from Hollywood players. Most notably, it led to the sacking of Sony chief Amy Pascal, whose emails — including some with racist comments — had been poured over by the press.

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42) The Sony Hack

Sony Pictures suffered a major hacking at the end of 2014, and anonymous U.S. officials believed North Korea may have been responsible. This seemed plausible due to anger over the studio’s

... more
Photo: Sony
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43) Deflategate

Just one day after Tom Brady and the Patriots’ win at the AFC Championship Game in January 2015, a report arose of underinflated footballs being used during the game. Following an investigation, the NFL determined that the team’s personnel had deflated balls deliberately and that Brady was “at least generally aware” of it. The Patriots were fined $1 million, had to give up two draft picks, and Brady was suspended for four games. Brady unsuccessfully appealed, and a year-and-a-half later, accepted his punishment.

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43) Deflategate

Just one day after Tom Brady and the Patriots’ win at the AFC Championship Game in January 2015, a report arose of underinflated footballs being used during the game. Following an

... more
Photo: Getty Images
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44) Giuliana Rancic’s Comments About Zendaya

The Fashion Police personality torpedoed her career when she criticized Zendaya’s Oscar-night dreadlocks in February 2015, saying that she looked like she “smelled like patchouli oil or weed.” Zendaya responded with an Instagram post calling out the perpetuation of a racist stereotype. Rancic apologized, but her colleague Kelly Osbourne bolted from the show.

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44) Giuliana Rancic’s Comments About Zendaya

The Fashion Police personality torpedoed her career when she criticized Zendaya’s Oscar-night dreadlocks in February 2015, saying that she looked like she

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Photo: Getty Images
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45) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner’s Separation

At the end of June 2015, Hollywood power couple Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner announced they were separating after 10 years of marriage. It didn’t take long for reports to surface that Affleck had cheated with the family’s nanny, Christine Ouzounian. But it wasn’t until the following March that Garner said the rumored affair “had nothing to do with [the] decision to divorce.”

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45) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner’s Separation

At the end of June 2015, Hollywood power couple Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner announced they were separating after 10 years of marriage. It didn’t take

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Photo: Getty Images
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46) Ariana Grande's Doughnut Licking

The pop star had heads shaking side to side in July 2015 when she was caught on video licking an unpurchased powdered jelly doughnut at the counter of a California shop. If that wasn’t bad enough, she also declared in the video, “I hate America” after seeing a tray of over-sized doughnuts. Outrage was swift, and she apologized, writing, "Food is very important to me and I sometimes get upset by how freely we as Americans eat and consume things without giving any thought to the consequences that it has on our health and society as a whole."

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46) Ariana Grande's Doughnut Licking

The pop star had heads shaking side to side in July 2015 when she was caught on video licking an unpurchased powdered jelly doughnut at the counter of a California shop. If

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Photo: Getty Images
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47) Kim Kardashian's Taylor Swift Receipts

Social media users went nuts when Kim Kardashian took to Snapchat in July 2016 to post videos she had recorded of Taylor Swift and Kanye West discussing his controversial song “Famous.” Swift had been feuding with Kimye over the inclusion of the lyric, “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex / Why? I made that bitch famous.” In the video, the “sex” line was clearly discussed, but there was no mention of the “bitch” part. Still, the internet declared Kim victorious, getting the hashtag #KimExposedTaylorParty trending.

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47) Kim Kardashian's Taylor Swift Receipts

Social media users went nuts when Kim Kardashian took to Snapchat in July 2016 to post videos she had recorded of Taylor Swift and Kanye West discussing his

... more
Photo: Getty Images
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48) Ryan Lochte’s Robbery Lie

Ryan Lochte made international headlines during the 2016 Olympic Games, but not for his athletic prowess. The swimmer claimed that he and two of his teammates had been robbed at gunpoint one night in Rio de Janeiro, but it soon became clear that the incident had not occurred. Instead, Lochte had been drunk and vandalized a gas station. Lochte was forced to apologize, and then (maybe) forced to compete on Dancing With the Stars.

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48) Ryan Lochte’s Robbery Lie

Ryan Lochte made international headlines during the 2016 Olympic Games, but not for his athletic prowess. The swimmer claimed that he and two of his teammates had been robbed at

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Photo: Getty Images
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49) Donald Trump’s Access Hollywood Tape

In the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump overcame controversy after controversy, but it seemed like the Access Hollywood tape scandal might be the final nail in his political coffin. In the 2005 video uncovered in October 2016, Trump could be heard telling Billy Bush that “when you’re a star” you can “grab them by the p—y.” Half the country was appalled at the nonchalant discussion of sexual assault, but in case you didn’t notice, the scandal didn’t really move the dial — Trump still became our president. Billy Bush, on the other hand, was fired from Today.

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49) Donald Trump’s Access Hollywood Tape

In the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump overcame controversy after controversy, but it seemed like the Access Hollywood tape scandal might be the final nail

... more
Photo: Getty Images
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50) Kendall Jenner’s Pepsi Commercial

Cross your fingers that by the time 2017 comes to a close, no bigger celebrity disaster will have occurred than Kendall Jenner’s cringe-worthy Pepsi commercial. The tone-deaf ad depicted the model using the soda to make peace between police and protesters, and critics slammed it for trivializing the issue of police brutality against African-Americans and for using Black Lives Matter imagery for profit. Backlash was so strong, Pepsi pulled the ad the day after its release.

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50) Kendall Jenner’s Pepsi Commercial

Cross your fingers that by the time 2017 comes to a close, no bigger celebrity disaster will have occurred than Kendall Jenner’s cringe-worthy Pepsi commercial. The

... more
Photo: Getty Images
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A-list celebrities are always getting caught up in scandals or issues that can end up seriously tainting or even ruining their careers.

Shocking stories like Martha Stewart's arrest or Jay-Z and Solange's elevator fight have helped shaped how fans and critics view them as people, while death's like that of Princess Diana encourage the rise of conspiracy theories.

ROYAL MESS-UP: The most insane royal-family scandals heard around the world

While some of the scandals that have happened over the last twenty years have been engraved in our brains, some of them may have been forgotten until now.

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JAY-Z is opening up about how his marriage survived scandal

Media: People

From anti-Semite rants to child porn accusations, to cheating to domestic abuse, these celebrities have had their fair share of negative press.

Take a look through the gallery above to see some of the biggest, most shocking stories of the last two decades.

Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli is a digital producer at Chron.com. You can read more of her stories here and follow her on twitter at @Dani_DiNapoli.

Slideshow originally seen: Cosmopolitan