15 People Share Horrible Things Celebrities Did That Everyone Forgot Except Them

Celebrity scandals have a strange way of disappearing from the public conversation. Something can dominate headlines for a few weeks, become a punchline, and then slowly fade as the person involved continues their career. Meanwhile, some people never forget what happened, especially when they remember the story from a completely different angle than the version that became part of pop culture. Reddit users recently shared the incidents involving famous people that still bother them, including stories that are genuinely disturbing and others that are simply bizarre. These fifteen examples come from that discussion, with the details presented carefully since some involve allegations, disputed accounts, or serious misconduct.

Eddie Murphy and Mel B

Eddie Murphy initially refused to acknowledge his daughter with Mel B, publicly denying the relationship and only recognizing the child after a paternity test and legal proceedings settled the matter.

Jerry Seinfeld and a 17 Year Old

Jerry Seinfeld dated a 17 year old when he was 38, including reportedly picking her up from high school, an old story that tends to get surprisingly little attention compared with his otherwise spotless sitcom legacy.

Nikki Sixx and the Hotel Bathroom

One Reddit user recalled Nikki Sixx urinating in a workplace break room sink, dish rack, and counter because the employee bathroom was occupied and he apparently did not want to use the public bathroom downstairs.

Ted Kennedy and Chappaquiddick

Ted Kennedy drove his car off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island with Mary Jo Kopechne inside, survived the crash, and did not report the accident to authorities for hours, an episode that remained a major controversy throughout his political career.

Karl Malone and a Teenage Girl

Karl Malone impregnated a 13 year old girl when he was 20 and initially did not acknowledge the daughter, a part of his history that continues to surprise people who primarily remember him as an NBA legend.

Matt Lauer and Ann Curry

Matt Lauer was accused of years of sexual misconduct during his time at NBC, while Reddit users also pointed to his role in the professional downfall of fellow Today anchor Ann Curry.

Steven Tyler and His Teenage Girlfriend

Steven Tyler’s relationship with teenage model Julia Holcomb has received renewed attention because of allegations about how young she was and the unusual legal arrangement that Tyler’s family reportedly used to allow her to travel with him.

David Bowie and a 14 Year Old

David Bowie’s history with underage girls has periodically resurfaced, including allegations concerning a 14 year old girl, something that can feel especially jarring when his cultural legacy is discussed without mentioning the darker stories surrounding his early career.

Chris Brown and Rihanna

Chris Brown’s 2009 assault of Rihanna became a major scandal, but the police account of the incident documented an exceptionally violent attack that some Reddit users argued has been minimized as Brown’s career continued.

Russell Crowe and a Hotel Employee

Russell Crowe was accused of throwing a telephone at a hotel employee during an argument in New York in 2005, an incident that became a memorable example of the actor’s volatile reputation during that period.

Blake Shelton and the Turtle

One Reddit user claimed that Blake Shelton intentionally ran over a turtle that was on the side of the road, a seemingly small incident that stuck with the person because of how deliberately cruel the act appeared to be.

Charlie Sheen and Heidi Fleiss

Charlie Sheen was reportedly one of Heidi Fleiss’s most prominent celebrity clients before later cooperating with authorities after their illegal prostitution operation was exposed, a strange chapter that can easily disappear beneath the larger chaos of his career.

Simone Moro and the Sherpas

Mountaineer Simone Moro was accused of directing racial slurs at Sherpa workers on Everest after a confrontation over a dangerous situation involving a team fixing ropes, a story that received far less attention than many of his climbing achievements.

Peter Yarrow’s Criminal Conviction

Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary was convicted of sexually assaulting a 14 year old girl in 1970, later receiving a presidential pardon from Jimmy Carter, a part of his biography that some Reddit users said was largely omitted from later tributes to him.

Tom Cruise Criticizing Brooke Shields

Tom Cruise publicly criticized Brooke Shields for using antidepressants to deal with postpartum depression, arguing that psychiatric medication was unnecessary, a position that drew widespread criticism and prompted Shields to respond publicly.