There has always been a mix of glitz and drama in Hollywood. The silver screen lets us live out our fantasies, but the real lives of its stars and executives are often much more interesting than any script. These scandals didn’t just make the news; they also made people think about what is right and wrong, who has power, and how to stay mentally healthy.
These are ten of the biggest Hollywood scandals that still have an effect on the history of the entertainment industry:
The Trials of Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle (1921) The Scandal:
Roscoe Arbuckle, a silent film star who was one of the highest-paid actors of his time, was accused of rape and manslaughter after actress Virginia Rappe died at a private party. The Result: Even though Arbuckle was found not guilty in three very publicized trials, the public outcry and media frenzy ruined his career. The Motion Picture Production Code, also known as the Hays Code, was created because of this case. It is a strict set of moral rules that are meant to make Hollywood look better and keep the government from censoring movies.
The Blacklist in Hollywood (1947–1960) The Scandal:
During the Cold War’s “Red Scare,” the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) looked into claims that Communists were having an effect on Hollywood. People who wrote, directed, or acted were called to testify. People who refused or were thought to be connected to communism were put on a blacklist and not allowed to work in the industry. The Result: This was a big mark on Hollywood’s history. It hurt a lot of people’s careers and made it hard for people to be creative for more than ten years. It showed how politics can change the way people in the entertainment business work.
The Strange Death of Marilyn Monroe (1962) The Scandal:
Marilyn Monroe, a well-known actress, died in her home from taking too many drugs. People thought it was a suicide. But the rumors that she slept with President John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert Kennedy, as well as the supposed spying by the FBI and CIA, led to decades of conspiracy theories about a possible cover-up. The Effect: Her tragic death made her a used-up icon and a symbol of the dark side of Hollywood fame and how weak powerful women can be.
The Rob Lowe Sex Tape (1988) The Scandal:
A video of actor Rob Lowe having sex with two women in an Atlanta hotel room came out, and it caused a huge media storm. It got worse when it came out that one of the women was a child. The event put a stop to his career for a short time, but it also changed how celebrity gossip worked. Tabloids started to care about a star’s private life, especially when it was caught on camera. This marked the start of the modern era.
The Murder Trial of O.J. Simpson (1995) The Scandal:
The murder trial of O.J. Simpson, a former NFL star and actor, was mostly a true crime case, but it was also a media circus in Hollywood. People all over the world were very interested in the Trial of the Century. The trial changed how cable news covered events (it started 24/7 analysis) and showed how divided people in America are when it comes to race, celebrity status, and justice.
The Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee Stolen Tape (1995) The scandal:
Someone broke into the homes of actress Pamela Anderson and Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee and stole a private sex tape. After that, they put it on the internet. The Effect: The scandal was one of the first big viral hits of the internet age and it started the trend of sex tapes with famous people. Recent documentaries have made people change their minds about the event. It used to be a juicy piece of gossip, but now people think it’s horrible that Anderson was taken advantage of and her privacy was invaded.
Britney Spears’ Breakdown (2007–2008) The Scandal:
The intense media attention on pop star Britney Spears caused a public mental health crisis that ended with her being put under a very strict court-ordered conservatorship in 2008. The Effect: This time period led to the #FreeBritney movement and a lot of public debate about the morals of the paparazzi, how young female stars are treated, and how the legal system is used wrong.
The #MeToo Movement and Harvey Weinstein (2017) The Scandal:
For years, many women said that powerful producer Harvey Weinstein had sexually assaulted and harassed them. The Effect: The news was a big part of what started the #MeToo Movement, which led to a worldwide reckoning in the industry and beyond. It changed the rules for how people should act at work forever, took down a lot of powerful people, and showed the casting couch culture that had been a problem in Hollywood for generations.
Will Smith Hits Chris Rock (2022) The Scandal:
Will Smith hit comedian Chris Rock on stage at the Academy Awards because Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. The Result: The event quickly became the biggest news story in the world for the year. There was a lot of talk online about toxic masculinity, celebrity privilege, and what is and isn’t okay to do on a live global broadcast. Smith couldn’t go to the Oscars for ten years after that.
The Depp v. Heard Trial (2022) The Scandal:
The highly publicized defamation trial between actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard became a global spectacle, broadcast live on television and streaming services. The Effect: The trial showed how hard it can be to prove domestic abuse and how social media can change how people talk about and think about big legal cases.
The biggest Hollywood scandals that turned out to be true are explored in this video: Top 30 Celebrity Rumors That Turned Out To Be True.
