Dive into the world of forgotten celebrity scandals that have been buried by time. From shocking personal histories to controversial incidents, we're uncovering the most obscure and jaw-dropping stories that somehow slipped through the cracks of public memory.
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00:00And that car struck another one, and it ended two lives.
00:03Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most obscure
00:07celebrity scandals throughout history that have somehow managed to fly under the radar.
00:11Those were just terrible, bad days for me and for the actor, together.
00:1820. D'Angelo Solicitation Arrest
00:21Over the years, several high-profile careers have been completely or almost destroyed
00:26by scandals involving sex workers. Just ask Hollywood actor Hugh Grant and former New
00:31York Governor Eliot Spitzer.
00:33I sinned, I erred. That is a fair critique.
00:36However, some stars, like R&B singer D'Angelo, have managed to emerge from such messes with
00:42their reputations barely scratched. Back in 2010, while on a prolonged hiatus from music,
00:48D'Angelo was caught allegedly trying to pay an undercover cop posing as a sex worker $40.
00:53The handcuffs were promptly slapped on his wrists, and he was charged with solicitation.
00:58While the arrest made headlines briefly, it subsequently vanished into the abyss of forgotten
01:02tabloid news. These days, the incident is so obscure that it doesn't even appear on
01:07the singer's Wikipedia page.
01:1519. Dante Stallworth Vehicular Manslaughter
01:19In March of 2008, NFL player Dante Stallworth was riding high, having just signed a seven-year
01:24contract with the Cleveland Browns worth $35 million. However, just one year later, his
01:30life took a tragic detour.
01:31On the field, Dante Stallworth is known for his extraordinary hands. But now, it's his
01:37extraordinary sentence after a deadly drunk driving accident.
01:40In the early hours of March 14, 2009, Stallworth, who had spent the night drinking at a hotel
01:46bar, fatally struck a 59-year-old pedestrian with his car. To his credit, he called 911
01:51and remained at the scene, but his blood alcohol level was well above the legal limit.
01:55Stallworth was facing a potential 15-year prison sentence, but he pleaded guilty to
02:00manslaughter and only received a 30-day jail term. Perhaps aiming to avoid a prolonged
02:05media scandal, he quickly settled with the victim's family for an undisclosed amount.
02:09I have to do this. There's no other way for me to make amends for what I did, unless I'm
02:20out here speaking out. It's something that will live with me for the rest of my life.
02:2318. Errol Flynn Sexual Assault Trial
02:26You may have heard of Errol Flynn, the dashing Australian-born actor who charmed audiences
02:31during the golden age of Hollywood with his swashbuckling roles.
02:34Errol Flynn is a screen legend, an icon, whose film roles as the swashbuckling man
02:41of action and romantic lover remain unequaled.
02:43But you may not know why his career took a nosedive in the early 1940s. Flynn was just
02:48as famous for his on-screen roles as he was for his off-screen sexual escapades. This
02:53all came to a head in 1942 when he was accused of statutory sexual assault by two underage
02:59girls. The resulting trial became a media sensation as crowds flocked to the courthouse
03:04to show their support for Flynn. Though he was ultimately acquitted of the charges, the
03:08damage was done. The scandal left his reputation in tatters, effectively sinking his career
03:13as a romantic leading man.
03:15The trial changed everything for Flynn. Thereafter, the image of the great lover was a burden.
03:21It haunted him for the rest of his life.
03:2317. The Dave Matthews Band Bus Incident
03:26For the passengers aboard Chicago's Little Lady on August 8, 2004, it was a messy case
03:32of right place, wrong time. There's a sticker on the Kinsey Street Bridge that's a reminder
03:37of a messy mistake made on August 8, 2004. Just as the open-top sightseeing boat cruised
03:43underneath the Kinsey Street Bridge in Chicago, they were greeted by an unplanned and utterly
03:48disgusting shower of 800 pounds of human waste. The foul downpour came courtesy of a Dave
03:54Matthews Band tour bus, whose driver, Stefan Voll, thought it was wise to empty the vehicle's
03:59septic tank while crossing the bridge. Although the band wasn't on board at the time of the
04:03incident, they still faced legal fallout, and had to cough up $200,000 towards environmental
04:10protection.
04:11It certainly contributed to us being able to do the work we need to do to help people
04:15really think about the river differently. There's nothing that came good out of the
04:19event because what happened to those people on that boat is just too awful to imagine.
04:23As for Voll, he pleaded guilty to reckless conduct, receiving 18 months probation and
04:28a $10,000 fine.
04:3016. Lena Dunham – Molestation Allegations
04:33Throughout her career, writer and filmmaker Lena Dunham has found herself at the center
04:37of multiple controversies, so it's no surprise that this particular one slipped under the
04:41radar.
04:42I'm aware of the criticisms and I'm able to live with it.
04:47In September 2014, Dunham published her memoir, Not That Kind of Girl, which included a passage
04:52about her sexually experimenting with her younger sister in the past. Conservative
04:57commentator Kevin D. Williamson jumped on these excerpts, claiming it wasn't merely
05:01a case of innocent curiosity, as Dunham portrayed, but outright molestation.
05:06Dunham rejected this interpretation, emphasizing that she does not condone such behavior under
05:10any circumstances. Her stance found backing from some child psychologists, who argued
05:15that the events described in the book fell within the norms of childhood sexual behavior.
05:20Child psychologist Dr. Fran Walfish says curiosity is normal for young children.
05:26It's helpful to normalize it, but still create reasonable boundaries for children.
05:3415. P.T. Barnum and the Joyce Heth Hoax
05:372017's The Greatest Showman spins a sanitized tale of P.T. Barnum's life, skipping over
05:43how he came into the show business.
05:44Shame of the city. The protests cement Mr. Barnum's reputation as a purveyor of the offensive
05:50and indecent.
05:51In 1835, Barnum launched his career by exhibiting Joyce Heth, an enslaved black woman he claimed
05:57was 161 years old. Barnum reportedly made $1,500 weekly by showcasing Heth for prolonged
06:04periods. Although skeptics questioned his claims, many believed him, thanks to Heth's
06:09frail appearance. Rumor has it that Barnum may have even removed her teeth to make her
06:13look older.
06:14After Heth's death in 1836, Barnum continued to exploit her. He arranged a public autopsy,
06:20charging spectators $0.50 for admission. The autopsy revealed that Heth was around
06:2480 years old, exposing Barnum's deception.
06:27But this barely put a dent in his career.
06:3014. Bill O'Reilly's campaign against Dr. Tiller
06:33As one of the only doctors in the U.S. specializing in late-term abortions, Dr. George Tiller
06:38attracted no shortage of detractors.
06:40Services had just begun when 67-year-old George Tiller, a doctor in the middle of the abortion
06:46debate for 35 years, was gunned down in the church lobby while serving as an usher.
06:51Leading the charge was conservative TV host Bill O'Reilly, who regularly attacked Tiller
06:55on his Fox News show. O'Reilly dubbed him Tiller the Baby Killer and even compared him
07:00to terrorist groups.
07:02So when Tiller was fatally shot on May 31, 2009 by an anti-abortion extremist, many couldn't
07:07help but connect the dots between O'Reilly's incendiary rhetoric and the heinous act.
07:12He was accused of painting a target on Tiller's back, especially since an earlier attempt
07:16on the doctor's life had already occurred in 1993.
07:20While he condemned the murder, O'Reilly insisted his campaign wasn't to blame for the violence.
07:24The accusers object to my using the term Tiller the Baby Killer, which was the doctor's well-known
07:30nickname.
07:3113. Brandi's car collision
07:33Singer and actress Brandi Norwood has spent most of her career steering clear of controversy.
07:38But in 2006, it found her.
07:40It's been four years. We know that the last two especially have been tough for you.
07:44Yes, absolutely.
07:45Almost two years to the day that you were involved in that accident that killed a young
07:49mother.
07:50On December 30th, Norwood's car rear-ended another vehicle during a multi-car collision
07:54on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles.
07:57The driver in the other car was a mother-of-two named Awatef Abdihaj, who sustained severe
08:02injuries, which she later succumbed to in hospital.
08:05Abdihaj reportedly faced no criminal charges for the accident, as prosecutors lacked sufficient
08:10evidence to guarantee a conviction at trial.
08:12However, she was hit with four wrongful death lawsuits from Abdihaj's family and other drivers
08:18involved in the collision, all of which were eventually settled out of court.
08:22Being involved in something that tragic, and I just, I couldn't believe it. And I don't
08:34like to think about it because I don't think that's something I could ever get over.
08:4112. Carl Malone impregnates minor
08:44To date, Carl Malone remains one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history, earning the
08:48nickname The Mailman for his unmatched delivery skills.
08:51Ten to go on the shot clock, it's Malone, wide open.
08:54Malone had enjoyed a pristine reputation since he began his professional career in 1985,
08:59but that all changed in 1998 when the globe dropped a bombshell.
09:04The tabloid alleged that Malone had fathered three children in the 80s with two women,
09:08one of whom was a teenager named Gloria Bell.
09:11While Malone managed to escape any legal repercussions for the crime, he had already reached a quiet
09:16settlement with Bell's family years before the story surfaced.
09:20Even after the controversial publication, Malone's career carried on without a hitch,
09:24until he officially retired in 2005.
09:2611. Coco Chanel's ties to the Nazi Party
09:30A revolutionary fashion designer, Coco Chanel redefined women's style in the early 20th
09:35century.
09:36From impoverished orphan to international fashion icon, self-taught and self-made, Gabrielle
09:42Coco Chanel was one of the most emblematic designers of the 20th century.
09:46Her legacy remains iconic, however it has been marred by the revelations about her ties
09:51to the Nazi Party.
09:52During World War II, Chanel resided in the Hotel Ritz in Nazi-occupied Paris alongside
09:57high-profile German personnel.
10:00She became romantically involved with Hans-Gunther von Dinklage, a Nazi intelligence officer,
10:05and allegedly worked as a spy under the codename Westminster.
10:09Back in 1940, Gabrielle Chanel worked as a Nazi spy, recruiting agents for the Third
10:15Reich across Europe.
10:17She was number F-71-24, her codename Westminster.
10:23Chanel also reportedly participated in Operation Modelhut, a failed plot to exploit her connection
10:28to Winston Churchill to sway British diplomacy.
10:31After the war, she was investigated by French authorities but escaped prosecution, supposedly
10:36due to Churchill's intervention.
10:38She subsequently fled to Switzerland before returning to Paris in 1954 to revive her brand.
10:4410.
10:45Chuck Berry's Voyeurism
10:47The late Chuck Berry was a singer, songwriter, and guitarist who left a lasting legacy on
10:52R&B and rock music.
10:54Chuck Berry was a pioneer in his field, often referred to as the father of rock and roll,
10:59who influenced a generation of musicians.
11:02By the late 1980s, Berry branched out, notably purchasing the Southern Air restaurant in
11:07Wentzville, Missouri.
11:09To the oblivion of the employees and customers at his restaurant, Berry installed video cameras
11:14in private areas, which were eventually found by one of the cooks.
11:21A total of about 200 women filed a class-action suit against Berry in 1990 for infringing
11:28on their rights to privacy.
11:30Although he claimed no wrongdoing, Berry opted to settle his accusers and paid out over $1.2
11:36million.
11:379.
11:38Bruno Mars' Arrest
11:48When his career as a solo pop star was taking off, Bruno Mars fell into some trouble with
11:53the police.
11:54Check out this mugshot of Bruno Mars, all smiles, after he was busted in Las Vegas early
11:59Sunday morning for narcotics possession.
12:01During an indulgent night out in Vegas, he was caught in possession of illicit substances
12:06at the Hard Rock Casino and was swiftly arrested.
12:10He ended up pleading guilty in court.
12:12The uptown funk crooner enrolled in an education program, doled out a few thousand dollars,
12:18and put in hours of community service as penance.
12:26As such, his record was expunged, and the story has largely remained obscure, that is,
12:32until today.
12:33Luckily, the incident taught Mars a big lesson that mistakes like this could flush all of
12:38his hard work down the drain.
12:468.
12:47David Letterman's Secret Affairs
12:50David Letterman became one of the most beloved figures in America with his long-running late-night
12:55talk shows.
13:03But the renowned host found himself in a scandal in 2009 when Joe Haldeman, one of the producers
13:09of 48 Hours, attempted to blackmail him for millions.
13:22Letterman had been romantically involved with some of the female staffers who worked for
13:26him, and Haldeman threatened to expose the affairs.
13:30Letterman got ahead of him, setting up a sting with the Manhattan District Attorney's Office,
13:35which resulted in Haldeman's arrest.
13:38All of this was made public in an episode of The Late Show, by the host himself.
13:517.
13:54Lana Turner and the Johnny Stompanato Scandal
13:58As one of Hollywood's most glamorous leading ladies, Lana Turner's romantic life was subject
14:03to much interest and talk.
14:14By the late 50s, Turner became involved with Johnny Stompanato, a mobster who was reportedly
14:19very possessive and violent.
14:22On April 4, 1958, the two had gotten into an intense fight while Turner's daughter,
14:27Cheryl Crane, was home.
14:29Concerned for her mother's safety, Crane fatally wounded Stompanato.
14:48The death and subsequent trial became the talk of town, with dozens of reporters swarming
14:52the court during the hearings.
14:55Both Turner and Crane were exonerated, but that didn't stop the rumours around Tinseltown.
15:04Still, this story has since largely been forgotten.
15:166.
15:17Charlie Chaplin's Marriages
15:18You can't talk about the silent era of film without mentioning Charlie Chaplin and his
15:23body of work.
15:32Through this tramp persona, he charmed his way into the hearts of millions around the
15:36world.
15:37But what many didn't know about Chaplin is that behind the on-screen antics, he showed
15:42a disturbing attraction for much younger women.
15:47Indeed, three of his marriages were with minors, despite the fact that he was well into his
15:57adult years.
15:58These stories made some waves at the time, yet despite the unlawful activity, Chaplin's
16:03name and legacy doesn't seem to have been tarnished too badly.
16:08Chaplin returned to the US to receive an honorary Oscar in 1972.
16:13In 1975, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth.
16:165.
16:17Manny Pacquiao's Harmful Remarks
16:20The world-famous boxer Manny Pacquiao hung up his gloves briefly in 2015 when he decided
16:26to run for a Senate seat in his home country of the Philippines.
16:37During his campaign the next year, he made disparaging remarks about the LGBTQ community
16:43in a televised setting.
16:51After the segment aired, Pacquiao was hit in the face with a flood of criticism, with
16:55many local celebrities calling for a boycott of the famed boxer.
16:59In addition to the online backlash, he lost his endorsement deal with Nike.
17:15Pacquiao eventually apologised for his statements, although he didn't exactly change his stance.
17:20Still, he was elected.
17:224.
17:23Mae West's Salacious Plays
17:27Throughout her timeless career, Mae West was known for heralding sexual liberation through
17:31her art.
17:40She was seen as rather bold for her time period, and was therefore no stranger to controversy.
17:46Before she drew large audiences to the box office for her steamy movies, West was already
17:51an established playwright and stage actress.
17:54Using the pseudonym Jane Marst, she penned a highly controversial Broadway play that
18:00debuted in 1926.
18:13The show was deemed too indecent for public viewing, leading to West being arrested and
18:18spending 10 days in prison.
18:20Another work of hers, The Drag, which was about a closeted gay socialite, was similarly
18:25controversial, and didn't even make it to Broadway.
18:333.
18:36David O. Russell's Assault Allegations
18:39In between his acclaimed movies The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook, David O. Russell
18:44got embroiled in a huge scandal that somehow flew under the radar.
18:54The Hollywood director was alleged to have assaulted his then-underage niece, Nicole
18:58Pellequin.
18:59According to Pellequin, Russell had been assisting her during a gym session when he engaged in
19:04non-consensual touching.
19:09Although he admitted to the occurrence, Russell asserted his innocence, claiming that Pellequin
19:14had invited the interaction.
19:17At the end of the day, no charges were filed against the director due to a lack of evidence,
19:21so the case never even went before a court of law.
19:302.
19:31Matthew Broderick's Costly Accident
19:34In the summer of 1987, Hollywood actor Matthew Broderick was vacationing in Northern Ireland
19:40with his then-girlfriend, actress Jennifer Grey.
19:43Grey's star was on the rise when she landed her breakout role in the 1986 film Ferris
19:48Bueller's Day Off, where she met her boyfriend, Matthew Broderick.
19:51The two had hit it off on the set of Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and began a relationship
19:56which they had largely kept hidden from the media.
19:59While driving back one night, Broderick crashed directly into another car after veering off
20:03into the wrong lane.
20:05Broderick and Grey survived the accident with significant injuries, but the passengers in
20:09the other car, mother-daughter duo Anna Gallagher and Margaret Doherty, passed away.
20:23Broderick got off on a careless driving charge and was ordered to pay a small fine, a move
20:28that was referred to as a travesty of justice by the family of those lost.
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21:01Number 1.
21:02Ben Affleck's Family History
21:04The PBS documentary series Finding Your Roots brings on different celebrities every episode
21:09and traces their ancestral roots.
21:17In 2014, Ben Affleck appeared on the show and found out, along with everyone watching,
21:23about some of his relatives, like his mum, who was a civil rights activist.
21:28Behind the scenes, however, the program's genealogists had discovered that one of Affleck's
21:33ancestors was a slave owner in Georgia.
21:42Feeling embarrassed about the revelation and not wanting the information out in public,
21:47Affleck pressured the show's producers to edit that segment out.
21:51It all came to light during the 2015 Sony Pictures hacking scandal when the story was
21:56leaked to the public.
22:13Are there any other obscure celebrity scandals that you think should be resurfaced?
22:17Share them with us in the comments below.