Scandals That Shocked Hollywood

When it comes to Hollywood, entertainment can be found both on and off the screen. Show business thrives on rumors, gossip, and celebrity news, driven by the industry’s big stars and magnetic personalities.

For many, the more provocative the news is, the better. Sensational stories involving Hollywood’s elite capture the nation’s attention like little else. Consider the recent college admissions scandal. Had popular actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman not been involved in the scandal, it’s doubtful the crime would have drawn as much attention.

Hollywood has a long history of scandals, many of which are shocking and unseemly. The entertainment industry is notorious for bad behavior, so to scandalize the town one must behave in a way that is often beyond the pale — and often outside the law. Hollywood’s shocking scandals frequently result in ruined relationships, destroyed careers, and sometimes even death.

24/7 Tempo has compiled a list of 24 scandals that shocked Hollywood. We created our list based on the impact a scandal has had, such as the sexual abuse accusations that led to the #MeToo movement. The movement, in turn, led to more revelations of misconduct and to some of 2018’s biggest scandals. Some of the scandals we included refer to events that, while in themselves were not true — such as the salacious accusations against 1920s film star Clara Bow — may have hastened the end of the career of a celebrity. 24/7 Tempo drew on media reports, book excerpts, and online resources to develop the list.