(As Appeared July 2010, WSB-TV.com)
We pay attention to our celebrities. They represent our moods and demeanors—tough, fun, sensitive, deep, courageous—like a film or a song, but in human form. So when we adore them, we buy what they endorse, “better eat your Wheaties”; we buy what they put their name on—Tim McGraw cologne—yee haw!
But they’re also lightning rods of drama when things aren’t so positive in their world. Oh, how we love our scandals! Like gawkers looking at a car crash, we can’t turn away. And sometimes the one-liners given by them in these circumstances are remembered for years and years. Here’s a list of five such scandalous quotes sure to bring back the cringe and humor they so well elicit.
Celeb Scandal Quote #5: Lettin’ her have it…
#5 Alec Baldwin’s “rude, thoughtless little pig.”
Aw, parenthood. You raise a child and love them more than anything. That extraordinary attachment can cause some extraordinary outbursts. And if you’re a celebrity, you hope they never get out.
Sorry, Alec, welcome to the age of information dissemination. Not long ago, celebrity tempers were only rumored. Now they are caught on tape.
In April of ’07, Mr. Baldwin’s directed his derogatory diatribe toward his 11-year-old daughter, Ireland, for missing a scheduled phone call. (Apparently she had done this before.) So, he left a profanity-filled voicemail chastising her and her mother, and his ex, Kim Basinger, for their behavior.
Soon after it was out of his mouth, it was on the Internet and on Hollywood gossip shows. As public as the tirade had become, so was the inevitable apologies that included appearances on The View and good ‘ole Dr. Phil.
Celeb Scandal Quote #4: A little bathroom humor…
#4 Larry Craig “I am not gay. I never have been gay.”
This one will make you think twice when in the stalls, guys.
In June 2007, Larry Craig, the senator from Idaho, was arrested in a sting operation looking for reported sexual shenanigans in a Minneapolis airport men’s room.
How did this go down?! Well, apparently, a common tell between consenting men is a bit of toe tapping into each other’s stalls. Craig’s foot maneuvering into the stall occupied by an undercover officer led to his arrest.
Like a tryst in a public bathroom, he tried to keep the arrest on the down low, so he quickly settled in court. But realizing the confession that this amounted to (whoops!) he tried to reverse his plea and went on a PR campaign to clear his name when he made the above quote.
But his attempts to reverse the conviction failed and other accusations of questionable behavior surfaced. Admonished by his peers in Washington, he did not seek reelection.
Celeb Scandal Quote #3: Who’s a Ho?!
#3 Don Imus’s “Nappy-Headed Hos”
Don Imus, the folksy, but in-your-face radio personality made a name for himself for his candid expression and served as a popular platform for leaders in national politics.
But it all came to a screeching halt on April 4th, 2007 for uttering one more of his snide remarks. He discussed the outcome of the NCAA Women’s Championship game, and while viewing footage made his infamous comment in regards to the Rutgers’ players.
Despite a rich history of sexist and racist slang used on his show, this one comment didn’t go in society’s ear and out the other. It stuck and caused an eruption of reaction from the black community and he was fired.
This episode raised a lot of questions about who can what about whom in America.
Today, he is back on the air.
Celeb Scandal Quote #2: This one even got the KKK upset…
#2 John Lennon “We’re more popular than Jesus now.”
This quote literally created a firestorm, infuriating the bible belt and spurring like protests around the Christian world.
In March 1966, a British writer interviewed Lennon when he made the above statement in regards to the decline of Christianity in England. His words were published in a British newspaper with no controversy.
Then five months go by and an American magazine called “Datebook” published the quote to immediate uproar. His words were presented and interpreted as a spitting satire of their faith. (Who does that John Lennon think he is?!) Album burnings, banning airplay, and concert cancellations resulted.
The quote was a catalyst for the resultant hysteria involving everyone from the Pope to the KKK. And the wrap-up of the Beatles’ controversial, American tour later that year proved to be their last commercial performance.
Celeb Scandal Quote #1: Presidential denial…
#1 Bill Clinton “I did not have sexual relations with that woman”
Anything the President does is big news. When it’s an affair involving perjury, recorded conversations and physical evidence—whoa—we’ve got a real hum-dinger!
Following the Republican takeover in 1994, poor Clinton had a tough time in office. In walked sexy intern Monica Lewinsky. They had chemistry and occasionally enjoyed some private time between 1995-97.
Well, rumors spread, but Clinton convincingly declared the above quote, denying the allegation. Little did he know, Lewinsky saved her unwashed, blue dress that had his DNA on it. (A little keepsake, I guess.) He finally admitted to an “improper physical relationship”, and became just the second president in history to be impeached.
What’s more, it is argued that this scandal swayed results for Al Gore’s 2000 run for president. That being the case, it is hard to overstate the significance of this scandal.
