Top 10 Celebrities with Secret Children
celebrity, celebrity scandal, celebrity news, celebrity kids,
Script written by Dale Anthony Cook
It would seem that the celebrity lifestyle drastically increases your chances of becoming a parent - whether you want to be one or not! Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten celebrities with secret children.
For this list, we’re looking at famous people and high profile individuals with offspring that they initially denied or tried to keep from the public. We’ll also be including celebrities with children that (at one point) were apparently a secret even from them.
This Columbus-born rapper, real name Shad Moss, was only a child himself when he crashed the music scene as a 13-year-old hip-hop prodigy as Lil’ Bow Wow. The thing is, even child prodigies have to grow up someday. When it was first reported that he had fathered a child with model Joie Chavis back in 2011, Bow Wow was a little bit reluctant to accept the truth - he vehemently denied it in press for a few months. Luckily for his young daughter, Shai Moss, he eventually decided to step up to the plate and accept his fatherly duties, as well as acknowledge the truth to his fans. Take a bow, Bow Wow.
Like his co-stars, Mr. DelVecchio is well known to Jersey Shore fans for his late night shenanigans (and we’re not talking DJ sets here). This promiscuity continued as he took the road as a DJ, with one such incident - a one night stand in Las Vegas - leading to the birth of a daughter, Amabella, in 2013. Unfortunately, the child’s mother, Amanda Markert was in a relationship when she fell pregnant and so decided to tell her boyfriend that the baby was his. When the truth finally came out, it was followed by a slanderous public custody battle following a paternity test. Now finally settled, Pauly D is embracing his role as a father.
As John Kerry’s running mate during his 2004 US presidential campaign, the sky was seemingly the limit for this democratic politician. Ultimately, the campaign ended in loss, and Edwards landed himself in hot water in 2007 when it was reported that he had been having an extramarital affair with a campaign worker, Rielle Hunter. Despite the fact that the affair led to the birth of his child, Edwards continuously refused to admit it ever took place. He then admitted to the affair but denied having fathered the child. Finally, in 2010, he came clean and accepted responsibility for his daughter, Frances Quinn.
The popular memes inspired by his exploits joke that actor and renowned martial artist Chuck Norris can quite literally do the impossible. In reality however, he’s as fallible as the rest of us, and in the 1960s he had an extramarital affair. A member of the US Air Force at the time, he had a brief fling with a woman named Johanna while stationed in California. It wasn’t until many years later that Chuck opened a letter from his by then-adult daughter informing him that he was her biological father. We can only imagine that Dina and Chuck had a lot of catching up to do.
A civil rights activist, minister and politician, Jesse Jackson has often been looked to as a moral example and leader. Like so many people in the limelight however, his closet is not entirely free of skeletons - he’s made mistakes. In 2001, his public image was rocked to its core when it was revealed that he had had an extramarital fair in the late’ 90s with Karin Stanford, a member of his staff at the time. According to a spokesperson for Jackson, he chose to make a public statement about the affair and his child in 2001 only after word got out that the tabloids had discovered the truth and would be publishing about it imminently.
This charming English actor has charmed his way into more than a few love affairs over the years; two of which have led to love children. We understand the basic mechanics as to how this keeps happening to him, but we can’t help but wonder if he was too busy honing his acting abilities to attend basic sex ed growing up. Flings with different women in 2008, and 2014 led to the births of his daughters, Sophia and Ada. The mother of Sophia, Samantha Burke, kept the identity of the father a secret for much of the pregnancy. With Ada, Law’s team confirmed the rumors after weeks of public speculation.
Another suave Brit, another secret lovechild. Rock star Gavin - who has three sons from his 14 year marriage to Gwen Stefani - had to wait roughly 15 years to be informed that he had fathered a child back in 1989. That was when his ex and longtime friend Pearl Lowe dropped the bombshell that he was the father to her 14 year-old daughter, Daisy. Up until that point, he’d only been known to Daisy as her godfather. After the reveal, the father-daughter relationship reportedly got off to a rocky start, but they’ve seemingly become quite close over the years.
Toronto’s arguably finest rap export was himself the child of separated parents, and has let it be known multiple times that he didn't want to recreate that same situation for his own child. Well, guess what? History done repeated itself. After months of speculation, rumors, and even a diss track about his supposed love child with former adult actress, Sophie Brussaux, Drake finally came clean. Fans of the star need not worry; Drake has since seemingly taken to the role quite fully; even publishing gushing posts on social media about his son. When the going gets tough, hopefully he can reassure himself with the knowledge that it is just a part of God’s plan.
This famous father and daughter team cemented their legendary status with the movie Armageddon, but for the first decade of Liv’s life, they had no idea they were even related. It was only when Liv as around 10 or 11 -after meeting the Aerosmith frontman- that she realised it was Steven and not fellow rock star Todd Rundgren - as her mother had informed her - who was her father. The cover up was reportedly an attempt by her mother to protect Liv from her biological father’s debaucherous lifestyle. Once the two had connected however, it seems that Steven wanted to be her in life - likely because he didn’t want to miss a thing.
Long known to fans as The Terminator, and even the Governator for a while, Arnie added “the Inseminator” to his list of titles in 2011 after it was revealed that an affair with his housekeeper had led to the birth of a secret love child. Schwarzenegger’s wife, Maria Shriver, became suspicious of the fact that their employee’s son, Joseph was growing to look increasingly like her husband. When she confronted the pair about this, the truth was finally revealed that Arnie and Patty had indeed conceived the child together. This revelation understandably broke up Arnie and Maria’s marriage, but at least Arnold ultimately owned up to his mistakes. He has also reportedly provided for his secret son “from the start and [has] continued to provide support."
Top 10 Celebrities with Secret Children
It would seem that the celebrity lifestyle drastically increases your chances of becoming a parent - whether you want to be one or not! Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten celebrities with secret children.
For this list, we’re looking at famous people and high profile individuals with offspring that they initially denied or tried to keep from the public. We’ll also be including celebrities with children that (at one point) were apparently a secret even from them.
#10: Bow Wow
This Columbus-born rapper, real name Shad Moss, was only a child himself when he crashed the music scene as a 13-year-old hip-hop prodigy as Lil’ Bow Wow. The thing is, even child prodigies have to grow up someday. When it was first reported that he had fathered a child with model Joie Chavis back in 2011, Bow Wow was a little bit reluctant to accept the truth - he vehemently denied it in press for a few months. Luckily for his young daughter, Shai Moss, he eventually decided to step up to the plate and accept his fatherly duties, as well as acknowledge the truth to his fans. Take a bow, Bow Wow.
#9: Pauly D
Like his co-stars, Mr. DelVecchio is well known to Jersey Shore fans for his late night shenanigans (and we’re not talking DJ sets here). This promiscuity continued as he took the road as a DJ, with one such incident - a one night stand in Las Vegas - leading to the birth of a daughter, Amabella, in 2013. Unfortunately, the child’s mother, Amanda Markert was in a relationship when she fell pregnant and so decided to tell her boyfriend that the baby was his. When the truth finally came out, it was followed by a slanderous public custody battle following a paternity test. Now finally settled, Pauly D is embracing his role as a father.
#8: John Edwards
As John Kerry’s running mate during his 2004 US presidential campaign, the sky was seemingly the limit for this democratic politician. Ultimately, the campaign ended in loss, and Edwards landed himself in hot water in 2007 when it was reported that he had been having an extramarital affair with a campaign worker, Rielle Hunter. Despite the fact that the affair led to the birth of his child, Edwards continuously refused to admit it ever took place. He then admitted to the affair but denied having fathered the child. Finally, in 2010, he came clean and accepted responsibility for his daughter, Frances Quinn.
#7: Chuck Norris
The popular memes inspired by his exploits joke that actor and renowned martial artist Chuck Norris can quite literally do the impossible. In reality however, he’s as fallible as the rest of us, and in the 1960s he had an extramarital affair. A member of the US Air Force at the time, he had a brief fling with a woman named Johanna while stationed in California. It wasn’t until many years later that Chuck opened a letter from his by then-adult daughter informing him that he was her biological father. We can only imagine that Dina and Chuck had a lot of catching up to do.
#6: Jesse Jackson
A civil rights activist, minister and politician, Jesse Jackson has often been looked to as a moral example and leader. Like so many people in the limelight however, his closet is not entirely free of skeletons - he’s made mistakes. In 2001, his public image was rocked to its core when it was revealed that he had had an extramarital fair in the late’ 90s with Karin Stanford, a member of his staff at the time. According to a spokesperson for Jackson, he chose to make a public statement about the affair and his child in 2001 only after word got out that the tabloids had discovered the truth and would be publishing about it imminently.
#5: Jude Law
This charming English actor has charmed his way into more than a few love affairs over the years; two of which have led to love children. We understand the basic mechanics as to how this keeps happening to him, but we can’t help but wonder if he was too busy honing his acting abilities to attend basic sex ed growing up. Flings with different women in 2008, and 2014 led to the births of his daughters, Sophia and Ada. The mother of Sophia, Samantha Burke, kept the identity of the father a secret for much of the pregnancy. With Ada, Law’s team confirmed the rumors after weeks of public speculation.
#4: Gavin Rossdale
Another suave Brit, another secret lovechild. Rock star Gavin - who has three sons from his 14 year marriage to Gwen Stefani - had to wait roughly 15 years to be informed that he had fathered a child back in 1989. That was when his ex and longtime friend Pearl Lowe dropped the bombshell that he was the father to her 14 year-old daughter, Daisy. Up until that point, he’d only been known to Daisy as her godfather. After the reveal, the father-daughter relationship reportedly got off to a rocky start, but they’ve seemingly become quite close over the years.
#3: Drake
Toronto’s arguably finest rap export was himself the child of separated parents, and has let it be known multiple times that he didn't want to recreate that same situation for his own child. Well, guess what? History done repeated itself. After months of speculation, rumors, and even a diss track about his supposed love child with former adult actress, Sophie Brussaux, Drake finally came clean. Fans of the star need not worry; Drake has since seemingly taken to the role quite fully; even publishing gushing posts on social media about his son. When the going gets tough, hopefully he can reassure himself with the knowledge that it is just a part of God’s plan.
#2: Steven Tyler
This famous father and daughter team cemented their legendary status with the movie Armageddon, but for the first decade of Liv’s life, they had no idea they were even related. It was only when Liv as around 10 or 11 -after meeting the Aerosmith frontman- that she realised it was Steven and not fellow rock star Todd Rundgren - as her mother had informed her - who was her father. The cover up was reportedly an attempt by her mother to protect Liv from her biological father’s debaucherous lifestyle. Once the two had connected however, it seems that Steven wanted to be her in life - likely because he didn’t want to miss a thing.
#1: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Long known to fans as The Terminator, and even the Governator for a while, Arnie added “the Inseminator” to his list of titles in 2011 after it was revealed that an affair with his housekeeper had led to the birth of a secret love child. Schwarzenegger’s wife, Maria Shriver, became suspicious of the fact that their employee’s son, Joseph was growing to look increasingly like her husband. When she confronted the pair about this, the truth was finally revealed that Arnie and Patty had indeed conceived the child together. This revelation understandably broke up Arnie and Maria’s marriage, but at least Arnold ultimately owned up to his mistakes. He has also reportedly provided for his secret son “from the start and [has] continued to provide support."
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