The 7 biggest celebrities scandals in the 80s

From Rob Lowe's sex tape to Madonna's "Like a Prayer" clip.


For pop -obsessive culture, looking back the scandals of the past can be a particularly interesting way to see how times have changed - and how they did not do it. While a celebrity arrested will make a juicy entertainment for a decade for a decade, certain events that were scandalous in the past would not increase much eyebrows today. Just look at the 80s Celebrity scandals below. Although it is easy to imagine that an award -winning musical group in progress so as not to actually interpret your own music would justify a major online discussion now, it is more difficult to see an artist publishing a clip on the theme Religious making international news and obtaining an entire announcement campaign canceled.

Continue to read for stars scandals that were great news in the 80s, whether or not they are a blow today.

In relation: 5 television episodes so controversial that they have sparked demonstrations .

1
The fall of Mill Vanilli

Milli Vanilli in 1988
Bernd Muller / Redferns via Getty Images

At the end of the 80s, the Music Vanilli music duo fell from Grace as quickly as they had reached glory. Fab Morvan And Rob Pilatus released their first album, My daughter, you know it's true , in early 1989 (it had been published before as All or nothing In Europe at the end of the 88s), and they won the Grammy Award for the best new artist in February 1990. But, during this year, suspicions began to circulate on the question of knowing if Morvan and Pilatus really sang their songs.

For example, in July 1989, the recording they were synchronized started to jump during a performance . "I knew right away, it was the start of the end of the Vanilli bill," said Pilatus Los Angeles Times In 1990. "When my voice was stuck on the computer, and she continued to repeat and repeat, I panicked. I didn't know what to do. I just got out of the scene."

But the group was not only synchronized with lips during performance - it was not even their own voices in which they moved. The voices of their album were recorded by several session singers.

Speaking to Times ,, Pilate blamed producer Frank Farian And said that the faces of the Vanilli bill wanted to record their own songs. "The last two years of our life have been a total nightmare. We had to lie to everyone. We are real singers, but this maniac Frank Farian would never allow us to express ourselves," he said. Their Grammy was then revoked.

In 2023, A documentary on the scandal Created at the Tribeca Film Festival.

2
Vanessa Williams photo scandal

Vanessa Williams after winning Miss America in 1983
Bettmann / Getty images

In 1983, Vanessa Williams History as the first black winner of the Miss America competition. But, 10 months after her reign, her honor was tainted when naked photos of her were published by Penthouse without his permission.

As indicated by history, Williams took the photos Before participating in the competition and he was told that they would be shot in silhouette and that it would not be identifiable. Once she has become famous as Miss America, the photographer sold the photos to Penthouse . Williams was forced to resign as Miss America and the second winner, Suzette Charles , has taken its place for the past two months until a new Miss America is crowned.

As indicated by The New York Times , when Williams returned to the competition as a judge in 2015, She received official apology of the Miss America organization. The singer and actor described the "so unexpected but so beautiful" apology.

3
Madonna's "Like A Prayer" video

Madonna Has aroused controversy since she struck the music scene, and one of her first scandals and the greatest - came in 1989 with the release of the clip for "like a prayer". He was even condemned by the Vatican.

The musical clips "like a prayer" present the character of Madonna, testifying to a woman who is murdered by a group of white men, then a black man being wrongly for the crime. The visuals include Madonna in a church and many Catholic images, including stigmata and a statue of a black saint that Madonna kisses after coming to life. The pop star also dances in front of burning crosses.

As indicated by Entertainment tonight ,, The Vatican spoke out against the video And tried to prevent Madonna's tour from coming to Italy. "I am aware that the Vatican and certain communities accuse my show of being guilty and blasphemous, that they are trying to prevent people from seeing him," said the singer at the time. "I think I offer certain groups, but I think people who really understand what I do are not offended by this."

In addition to the backlash it has received from the church, the video also had an impact on one of Madonna's approval agreements. Pepsi paid $ 5 million For a campaign with her, but pulled the announcement after the release of the video "like a prayer", as CNN reported. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

4
Mattheww Broderick's car accident

Jennifer Grey and Matthew Broderick in New York City in 1987
Ron Galella Collection / Ron Galella via Getty Images

In 1987, Matthew Broderick And Jennifer Gray attended after playing together in the 1986 Ferris Bueller's leave day . Their relationship included an extremely traumatic event. The pair entered a car accident in Northern Ireland while Broderick, then 25, was driving and Gray, then 23, was in the passenger seat. Broderick went on the wrong track and struck another car head on. The two passengers of the other car were a mother and a daughter, who died immediately.

As indicated by the New York Post ,, Broderick was in the hospital For four weeks with a concussion, a collapsed lung and a leg and fractured ribs. Gray has undergone minor injuries. At the time, he would have said: "I don't remember the day. I don't even remember getting up in the morning. I don't remember having made my bed. What I remember First, it is to wake up in the hospital, with a very strange feeling in class in my leg. "

Broderick initially known up to five years in prison for the accusation of provoking death by reckless driving , as indicated by The New York Times . But he was convicted of an imprude accusation of conduct and sentenced to a fine of $ 175.

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5
Brooke Shields Calvin Klein advertisements

Calvin Klein and Brooke Shields at Studio 54 in 1981
Tom Gates / Getty Images

Brooke Shields' The start of a career as a model and actor was marked by a few projects which would not be acceptable today but which were already controversial at the time. At 11, she played as sex worker in the film Pretty baby , and at 15, she posed for a suggestive announcement by Calvin Klein Jeans.

Calvin Klein 1980's announcement received wide attention and caused an uproar. Pose in the brand's jeans, the teenager offers the risky slogan: "You want to know what is between me and my pendants?" Nothing. " At that time, Shields was asked inappropriate questions of older investigators on advertising and his personal life. The actor spoke in 2021 of an interview with Barbara Walters , which she called "practically criminal".

The same year, Shields approached the Denim campaign with Vogue And said she didn't know it was going to be so controversial. "I was absent when they got out, then I started to hear that the advertisements were prohibited," she said. "The paparazzi shouted me and my mother," how could you! "It just struck me as if ridiculous." She added: "I did not think it was underwear or sexual nature. I was naive."

In relation: 'Child star of the 80s founded fans after a revolutionary appearance of talk show .

6
Rob Lowe's sex tape

Rob Lowe at the Starlight Foundation Benefit in 1988
Ron Galella Collection / Ron Galella via Getty Images

At the end of the 80s, ROB LOWE was a member of the Hollywood BRAT Pack and had already played in films that Exterior ,, Fire of St. Elmo, and About last night . But, in 1988, the Heartthrob received a new attention when a sex tape he had filmed with a 16 -year -old girl and a 22 -year -old woman when he was 24 years old was disclosed. As indicated by People ,, Lowe argued that he did not know That one of the two young women he met in a nightclub was a teenager. He was not accused of a crime and settled a lawsuit with his family.

Lowe has thought about the incident in an interview The show Jess Cagle In 2019. "This is one of the reasons why I have become sober," he said. "I woke up one day and I said to myself:" What am I doing with my life? "I am 29 years old and I love people, but it's the best thing that has ever happened to me. Honestly, I do it because it sober, sober married me. I have been married since 29 years old and I have two big sons. I don't think it all happens without going through this scandal. "

7
The attempted murder of Todd Bridges

Todd Bridges at Spar Change Project Rock N Bowl Tournament in 1988
Ron Galella, Ltd./ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Todd bridges is best known as older brother willis jackson Difficulty , which took place from 1978 to 1986. But, at the end of the 80s, the actor made the headlines for something else.

In 1989, Bridges was accused of having shot a sentenced drug trafficker appointed Kenneth "Tex" Clay eight times. The 25 -year -old was acquitted in two trials. As indicated by the Los Angeles Times ,, Bridges was first acquitted On an accusation of attempted murder with great bodily injuries (Clay survived the shooting). In a second trial, he was recognized as not guilty of the assault with lower charges by firearm. Bridges was represented by the future O.J. Simpson lawyer Johnnie Cochran , who said Bridges was addicted to cocaine and victim of the drug epidemic, reported the Times .

Bridges, who also had drugs, continued to use and treat after the tests. In his book Kill Willis ( via Today ), he wrote about the arrest in 1992 after a firearm and a speed were found in his car. He said he had called Cochran in prison and he was said to him: "This is the last time I will help you with anything. If you don't straighten your life, I have finished."

He continued: "Johnnie had always been there for me ... He had represented me in my attempt as an attempted murder in 1989. And when my own father did not visit me, even once, when I was In prison for nine months before this trial, Johnnie had been like a father for me. The idea of not having him there to help me fill me to panic. "The bridges stopped using drugs in 1993 .


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