Celebrity scandals often have more to them than meets the eye. Join us as we unravel the truth behind some of the most misunderstood controversies, from Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction to Lance Armstrong's doping scandal, and discover the real stories behind these headline-making moments.
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00:00I mean she's moved on. I've moved on. It's part of history that will always be with us.
00:05Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most common misconceptions
00:10and preconceived beliefs people have about notable celebrity scandals.
00:14Did you help Kim release her sex tape?
00:19It's okay. No.
00:22Number 10. Lance Armstrong doping scandal. Not the only one.
00:26Lance Armstrong's fall from grace after being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles
00:30not only rocked the cycling world, but shocked his massive fan base.
00:34Yes or no. In all seven of your Tour de France victories,
00:39did you ever take banned substances or blood dope?
00:43Yes.
00:43The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency even described it as the most sophisticated
00:48doping program in sports history. However, despite what many believe,
00:51Armstrong's doping was far from an isolated case.
00:54There was cortisone, and then the EPO generation began.
01:02In fact, at the height of his career, the sport was deeply entrenched in
01:06performance-enhancing drug use, with many other top cyclists also involved.
01:10We've come too far in the fight against doping to return to our past.
01:15Cycling has a future, and something like this must never happen again.
01:20But despite the widespread issue with unprofessional cycling at the time,
01:23Armstrong is largely remembered as the sole villain.
01:26Number 9. Winona Ryder's Shoplifting Arrest, Not Blatant Theft
01:31Actress Winona Ryder's 2001 shoplifting arrest became instant tabloid fodder,
01:35with many outlets portraying it as nothing more than a reckless act of stealing.
01:39He said the actress walked past three cash registers with a pile of clothes
01:43and handbags before leaving the store.
01:46However, the truth is far more complex. You see, at the time, Ryder was reportedly
01:51struggling with mental health issues and was said to be on heavy painkillers for a broken arm.
01:55In a 2024 Esquire interview, Winona opened up about the incident, saying,
02:00''I think I just checked out. There was a period when I was not in season.''
02:03She added, ''It wasn't what people think.''
02:05Despite the scandal damaging her career, Ryder has since made a comeback,
02:09putting the unfortunate and largely misunderstood occurrence behind her.
02:13Number 8. Matt Lauer's Alleged Misconduct, No Door Locking Button
02:17Just moments ago, NBC News chairman Andy Lack sent the following note to our organization.
02:22''Dear colleagues, on Monday night, we received a detailed complaint from a colleague
02:26about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer.
02:30It represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our company's standards.''
02:35When the serious allegations against Matt Lauer surfaced in November 2017,
02:40one of the most shocking details to emerge was a claim that he had a secret button
02:44under his desk to trap women in his office.
02:46''And they say he had a button under his desk to lock his office door without getting up.''
02:51However, it has since been revealed that,
02:53while Lauer did have a button to close his office door,
02:56it was a standard feature used by many executives for convenience.
02:59Notably, the mechanism did not lock the door from the inside, nor prevent anyone from leaving.
03:04Lauer himself would go on to make the clarification
03:06in an official statement regarding his alleged misconduct.
03:09Number 7. College Admission Scandal, William H. Macy's Involvement
03:13''I've created this kind of side door, because with the back door, there's no guarantee.
03:18They're just going to give you a second look. My families want a guarantee.''
03:24When Felicity Huffman was sentenced for her part in the college admissions scandal,
03:27a scheme where parents illegally pay to secure their children's college enrollment,
03:31many people assumed that her husband, actor William H. Macy, had no part in the crime.
03:36While Huffman did take full responsibility,
03:38court documents revealed that Macy was not so innocent. In fact,
03:42it's shown that the shameless actor was part of the conversations with a consultant behind the
03:46scheme. But, since Macy was never charged with anything, his appearances were viewed
03:51merely as support for his wife, despite his certain awareness of the crime.
03:55Number 6. Depp vs. Heard, Didn't Completely Exonerate Johnny
03:59The Depp-Heard defamation trial was, without question,
04:02one of the most publicized court cases in recent memory.
04:05However, following the verdict on June 1, 2022,
04:15many people mistakenly believed Johnny Depp was fully absolved of any wrongdoing.
04:26In reality, the court found that both Depp and Heard had defamed each other in different ways.
04:31While yes, the jury ruled largely in Johnny's favor,
04:34they also found that Depp had defamed Heard in one instance.
04:44The court proceedings also revealed that both parties took part in troubling behavior.
04:49Judging by the court of public opinion, though, Johnny's character was given a blanket vindication.
04:54Number 5. Kim Kardashian and Ray J's Tape, Not Leaked by Kim
05:02Kim Kardashian's rise to fame began when a certain explicit tape,
05:06involving her and then-lover Ray J, was leaked to the public. It's been long rumored that the
05:10X-rated video was deliberately disclosed by Kim and her mother Kris Jenner for publicity.
05:21However, despite the widespread speculation, both have repeatedly denied any involvement,
05:26and there's no concrete evidence proving they orchestrated its release. In fact,
05:30it's public record that Kim tried hard to prevent the release of the tape by suing the
05:34company that distributed it, Vivid Entertainment. The matter was settled in February 2007,
05:38and the tape has since been viewed more than 150 million times.
05:42Number 4. Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn's Relationship, Not His Adopted Daughter
05:47The now decades-long relationship between Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn has sparked
05:52extensive debate, this due in part to the couple's 35-year age difference.
06:00Many also believed Soon-Yi was Allen's adopted daughter when their romance began.
06:12This, however, is false, as Soon-Yi was adopted by Allen's ex-partner Mia Farrow and her former
06:17husband, Andre Previn. And while Woody was a father figure to Mia's children during their
06:21relationship, Soon-Yi has stated that she never saw him in that way.
06:31The controversial couple married in 1997 and share two adopted children. Mia Farrow,
06:47meanwhile, continues to assert that Allen indecently assaulted her other daughter,
06:51Dylan, when she was a child.
06:53Number 3. Attack on Nancy Kerrigan, Not Planned by Tonya Harding
06:58I mean, what kind of friggin' person bashes in their friend's knee? Who would do that to a friend?
07:05The targeted attack on professional figure skater Nancy Kerrigan
07:08captured the nation's, scratch that, the world's attention.
07:15And while it's often assumed that Kerrigan's rival, Tonya Harding,
07:18masterminded the plot with detailed planning,
07:21the true facts behind the events reveal a more complex situation.
07:24It has been revealed that Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Golully, was the one most involved in the
07:29scheme, pulling the strings and coordinating the events with associates. Harding has since said
07:34she knew something was up, but was nowhere near the puppet master many believed. Regardless,
07:38Tonya's legacy has suffered dearly, and the shocking incident has defined both her and Nancy's careers.
07:44I mean, she's moved on, I've moved on. It's part of history that will always be with us.
07:50But I'm also noted as the one and only American woman that did the first triple axel.
08:03For decades, Yoko Ono has been blamed for breaking up the beloved English rock band,
08:08The Beatles. And sure, while her presence was said to have created some tension among the members,
08:12the band was already unraveling due to personal, creative, and financial conflicts.
08:20In fact, by the late 1960s, the group's dynamic had mostly deteriorated,
08:29with members evolving artistically and personally in their own ways. Simply blaming Yoko Ono,
08:34John Lennon's wife and fellow musical artist, distorts a much more complex situation,
08:39ignoring the many other internal struggles that ultimately led to one of music's most famous
08:43breakups. Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified
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08:581. Janet Jackson's Super Bowl Halftime Flashing, Not a Publicity Stunt
09:14During the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, viewers were left shocked after Janet Jackson
09:19was exposed on stage, the result of Justin Timberlake tearing a piece of her outfit.
09:23Many continued to believe that this was all a planned stunt to grab attention.
09:27After all, it happened with the lyrics.
09:32However, the now-infamous wardrobe malfunction excuse rings true. It's been said that the costume
09:37tug was supposed to reveal a red bustier, but something went wrong. The fallout of the accident
09:42not only negatively impacted Janet's career, Timberlake not so much, but also led to stricter
09:47regulations for live performances. What major celebrity scandal do you remember following?
09:52Share the controversies in the comments below.
09:54What was Mia's reaction when she found out about Sunni?
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