19 Celebrity Scandals That Shocked Everyone Then Vanished

Celebrity scandals often dominate headlines, but not all of them stand the test of time. Some of the most bizarre and shocking controversies once captivated the public, only to quietly fade from memory as new headlines took their place.

In this slideshow, 24/7 Tempo revisits 19 strange celebrity scandals that were once everywhere but are now largely forgotten. From unexpected controversies to truly odd moments in pop culture, these stories show just how quickly even the biggest scandals can disappear.

With a relatively polished look and image, Matthew McConaughey was surprisingly arrested in 1999 after police responded to a noise complaint at his home. The actor was found celebrating his college alma mater's win, and he was using a bong while dancing naked with a bongo, and refused police commands to get into a patrol car.

Alongside Cruise's jumping on Oprah's sofa, his leaked Scientology video in 2008 has long been a source of frustration for Cruise. Scientology has long been someone who says crazy things about his love for Scientology, but this video, which was around three hours long, really showed just how far down this rabbit hole cruise had gone, and it was a massive scandal at the time.

In an episode of "What on Earth Were They Thinking," Neil Patrick Harris and husband David Burkta held a Halloween party that included a meat platter that looked like Amy Winehouse's corpse. The utter madness of this entire event quickly made a media firestorm in 2011, but it wouldn't be until 2022 when Harris finally apologized. Even so, Harris has since gone on to star in popular shows and movies with no harm to his career.

When Justin Bieber visited the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam in 2013, it created another moment in what would become a slew of bad media moments for the popular singer. Bieber wrote in the guest book that he hoped Frank would have been a "belieber," which many took as ignoring the plight of Frank and her brutal murder just for being someone of Jewish faith.

Winona Ryder has enjoyed the benefits of fame for decades, which made her 2001 shoplifting incident at Saks Fifth Avenue all the more shocking. At the time, this was a juicy scandal as the actress was accused of stealing more than $5,500 of designer clothing. Ryder blamed the incident on painkillers and took a career hiatus before returning to the big screen.

In yet another incident involving a hot actor from the 1980s, Slater found himself spending 100 days in rehab after assaulting his then-girlfriend and a police officer. In fact, Slater has had multiple incidents involving crimes, including another in 2005 when he was arrested for grabbing a woman while intoxicated. Still, Slater's image remains popular, and he isn't lacking for work.

At the time of this scandal, Jussie Smollett was on one of television's hottest shows, Empire, and yet he decided he needed a bit more attention. As a result, he allegedly conceived of a hate crime and allowed himself to be attacked outside his apartment. Smollett was accused of making false police reports and served 150 days in jail, although he continues to deny that the attack was staged.

Jon Hamm is on fire right now with multiple shows on Apple TV and has been a huge star thanks to the likes of Mad Men. However, a 1991 scandal involving Hamm and a fraternity incident where Hamm allegedly hazed new pledges surfaced, and it was a scandal that was over as quickly as it began. Hamm has since called the report "sensationalized," and it hasn't interfered with his ability to get work.

The world's most prolific swimmer and the most awarded Olympian ever, Michael Phelps' image is far from bulletproof. In early 2009, photographs showing Phelps using marijuana surfaced, and he received a suspension from his sport. Thankfully, he returned to training and would go on to become the centerpiece of American sports during the next Olympics and remains hugely popular to this day.

The focus of Tiger Woods as of late has been mainly on his son Charlie's golfing skills and his return to the tournaments that cemented him as one of the world's best golfers. However, in 2009, Woods lost endorsement deals and a ton of public goodwill after his multiple affairs were exposed seemingly all at once due to a domestic incident at home with his wife. He did lose millions in endorsement deals, but his commercial appeal remains popular.

While certain groups have certainly not forgotten about Mel Gibson's antisemitic DUI arrest, the world has seemingly moved on. On July 28, 2006, Gibson was arrested for a DUI after being pulled over for erratic driving in Malibu. Gibson was then caught on tape making antisemitic remarks and received widespread criticism as a result. Gibson tried to make amends for his actions, and 19 years later, the world has moved on.

The King of Pop will be forever remembered for many things, including questions around his sexuality and child molestation. In this case, the focus is on a November 2002 scandal when Jackson strangely hung his 9-month-old baby over a hotel balcony in Berlin, and it really riled up the media and fans as soon as the event took place. Needless to say, it was a careless thing to do, and it exists as a moment that has quietly started to break down Jackson's public image.

Another beloved 80s movie star and the one and only Ferris Bueller, Matthew Broderick, once dated another popular 80s star, Jennifer Grey. In 1987, the couple was driving in Ireland and were involved in a fatal car crash when the vehicle Broderick was driving killed two women. He was convicted of careless driving, but served no time, and it had very little impact on his career.

Russell Crowe may be the commander of the Armies to the North and General of the Felix Legions, as his Gladiator character announces, but he's also someone who has had a bad temper. In 2005, Crowe threw a phone at a NYC hotel clerk after being unable to connect a call to his wife back in Australia. The scandal was quickly over, but it came at a time when Crowe's career was flying high.

Whether or not Rob Lowe truly ages may be a scandal on its own, but all the way back in the 1980s, he got himself into a real, forgotten scandal. The actor was filmed having sexual relations with multiple women, including one who was 16 at the time. While he didn't face criminal charges because he was above the age of consent, and Lowe claimed she didn't know his age, Lowe's presence as a member of the Brat Pack made this a juicy scandal for the day.

It's hard to remember that Hugh Grant, whose career resurgence has been well documented, was once arrested for "lewd conduct" with a sex worker. Considering Grant was dating Elizabeth Hurley at the time, herself a popular actress, the scandal was prominent, and headlines were everywhere. On the plus side for Grant, he remains an iconic leading man to this day, and any memory of his scandal is just a minor thing that happened in his past.

When Vanessa Williams was just 21 years old, she was featured in a 1984 issue of Penthouse. The photo shoot was done under the guise that it wouldn't feature any nudity, but of course, Penthouse is Penthouse, and it did its thing and published photos without Williams' consent. As a result, Williams had to give up her title as Miss America.

One of only a handful of women to ever be declared "America's Sweetheart," Sandra Bullock is a beloved actress. However, her marriage to reality TV star Jesse James was marred by affairs, nazi photography, and other rumors. What's worse is that this whole scandal came right on the heels of her first Oscar win, making for even more juicy headlines.

If you have watched any Comedy Central roast featuring Martha Stewart, you'll be reminded a dozen times that she went to prison. However, most of the world has moved on from this scandal thanks to Martha's unique friendship and appearances with Snoop Dogg, which rehabilitated her image. In 2004, Martha was convicted of insider trading and served five months in jail.