10 Scandals You Missed Due to Other Bigger Scandals

10 Scandals You Missed Due to Other Bigger Scandals

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re examining our picks for the biggest scandals or world events that were vastly overshadowed by a larger controversy or news story occurring around the same time.

McDonald's Monopoly Fraud

Overshadowed by: The September 11 Attacks
On September 11, 2001, the world was rocked by the news of al-Qaeda hijacking four commercial airplanes, three of which crashed into their intended targets. The fourth plane was unsuccessful due to a brave revolt by the passengers, but they all sadly lost their lives. Altogether, 2,996 people perished from the horrifying attack. This tragic event completely buried news regarding the trial of Jerome Jacobson, the mastermind behind McDonald’s Monopoly fraud, which began just the day before. Jacobson, who worked for the company that ran the promotion, stole the most valuable game pieces. He then worked with Jerry Colombo, a member of a mafia family, as well as other collaborators to defraud McDonald’s of millions. Jacobson served three years in prison for his part.

Several Corruption Cases

Overshadowed by: The Calciopoli
In 2006, European football was in turmoil due to several corruption scandals. The main spotlight was on the Calciopoli scandal in the Italian football leagues Serie A and Serie B. Several big teams, such as Juventus and AC Milan, were implicated in securing certain referees to get favorable results. Consequently, Juventus was stripped of titles and relegated. Although this was the major news story, a series of lesser-known scandals unfolded concurrently in other countries. In England, managers like Harry Redknapp and Sam Allardyce were accused of “tapping up” players for transfers or accepting bribes. Also, in Portugal, the Apito Dourado scandal, which first emerged in 2004, escalated as several people, such as FC Porto’s chairman, Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, were accused of bribing referees.

The Alhambra Decree

Overshadowed by: The Voyages of Christopher Columbus
Nowadays, most people know of Christopher Columbus’ exploits in “discovering” the “New World.” But around the same time of his first voyage, a controversial edict called the Alhambra Decree was passed in Spain which has now largely faded into obscurity. In 1478, the Spanish Inquisition began to identify heretics in the country. 14 years later, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon issued the decree, ordering the expulsion of Jewish citizens who refused to convert to Catholicism. These individuals were given only four months to leave, forcing them to sell their land for a vastly reduced sum. While the exact figure of those affected is disputed, it’s believed that at least 40,000 were expelled and over 200,000 converted to Catholicism.

The Presidents Club Harassment

Overshadowed by: Logan Paul & the Japanese Forest
In early 2018, most of the world was fixated on the uproar surrounding Logan Paul’s controversial video, which featured a deceased person in a Japanese forest. However, around that same time, another scandal quietly unfolded. The Presidents Club was a UK charity that held annual dinners with famous and influential people to raise money for good causes. But in January 2018, two Financial Times journalists attended the event undercover as hostesses. After being asked to sign an NDA without reading it, the duo and other workers experienced sexual harassment and assault from the guests. The scandal caused the Club to close its doors, and comedian David Walliams, who hosted the event, had his children’s books banned from several stores.

The Texas City Disaster

Overshadowed by: The First Black Player in the MLB
On April 15, 1947, the legendary Jackie Robinson became the first black player to play in the MLB when he stepped onto the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers. While the moment was praised on the whole, some stirred controversy by criticizing the decision. The day after this baseball milestone, however, a tragedy occurred at the Texas City port in Texas, which became the biggest industrial accident in US history. A fire aboard the French vessel SS Grandcamp ignited its cargo, leading to a massive explosion that sparked a catastrophic chain reaction of further blasts and a tsunami. In total, over 5000 people were injured by the carnage, and at least 581 lost their lives.

Boy George Convicted

Overshadowed by: O. J. Simpson Sentencing
On December 5th, 2008, former NFL star O.J. Simpson was sentenced to 33 years in prison for his role in a 2007 armed robbery at the Palace Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Simpson spent only nine years behind bars before he was released on parole in 2017. While this case is well-known, many aren’t aware that on the same day as Simpson’s sentencing, another famous face was convicted of a crime. Musician Boy George was found guilty of the assault and false imprisonment of Norwegian model Audun Carlsen. The following month, George was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, although he was granted early release after four months, on the condition that he wear an ankle monitor for the remainder of his sentence.

1972 Olympic Protest

Overshadowed by: The Munich Massacre
The 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany is best known for the infamous massacre. Members of the extremist group Black September launched an attack on the Israeli Olympic team, altogether claiming 12 lives. At the same event, a protest took place that’s often been overlooked. US athletes Vincent Matthews and Wayne Collett finished first and second, respectively, in the men’s 400-meter event. During the medal ceremony, they ignored the American national anthem, chatting with each other and playing with their medals instead. Collett later explained that he didn't believe in the anthem’s lyrics due to the struggles faced by the Black community in the US. As a result, the duo was banned from the Olympics for life, a decision that was only rescinded in 2022.

The Czech Political Corruption Scandal

Overshadowed by: Edward Snowden’s Leaks
On June 5th, 2013, NSA contractor Edward Snowden began leaking classified information he had collected during his time at the agency to various journalists. The documents revealed extensive global surveillance programs involving the NSA and the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. Eight days later, Czechia faced its own lesser-known scandal after members of the government were arrested for corruption. Those involved were accused of bribing other politicians and abusing their power by illegally spying on people. During police raids, authorities seized $8 million in cash and pounds of gold. The scandal led to the resignation of Prime Minister Petr Nečas, especially because one of the main suspects was his chief of staff, Jana Nagyová, who he was also dating. In 2014, Nečas was charged with bribery.

The Horse Meat Scandal

Overshadowed by: Lance Armstrong’s Doping Confession
January 2013 was a big month for shocking news. After years of denial and a ban by the United States Anti-Doping Agency in 2012, Lance Armstrong finally admitted in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that he had been doping. Only a few days before this sport-shattering confession, Europe was grappling with the realization that food labeled as beef actually contained other animals, such as pigs and horses. This discovery meant that some people had unknowingly consumed meat from animals forbidden by their religion. It also raised concerns that animal medicine might have contaminated the food industry. Several ringleaders were arrested and sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy.

The Pope’s Beatification

Overshadowed by: Assassination of Osama bin Laden
On May 1st, 2011, US President Barack Obama confirmed that Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind 9/11, had been assassinated by Navy SEALs in Pakistan. It was a huge news story around the world that unwittingly led to the suppression of other news, most notably, the beatification of Pope John Paul II on the same day. While this was celebrated by some, many found it deeply controversial. John Paul II had been heavily criticized for his inadequate response to the Catholic sexual assault scandal, and was even accused of covering it up. Throw in his opposition to contraception and the ordination of women, and it’s understandable to see how the Pope getting this honor was uncomfortable for some.

What forgotten scandals do you think deserves to get a lot more attention than it received? Let us know below!