Top 10 Celebrity Scandals of the 2000s

By 2001, Winona Ryder had been nominated twice for an Oscar and had a long string of massive box-office hits behind her. With so much success under her belt, fans were shocked when she was arrested for shoplifting at a Saks Fifth Avenue store in Beverly Hills. Convicted and sentenced to probation, community service, and several fines, the world was surprised to see someone of such status stealing clothes. Citing depression as the cause, Ryder has since expressed how the incident allowed her to take the real break from acting that she needed.

Isaiah Washington was a member of the principal cast for the first three seasons of “Grey’s Anatomy” as Preston Burke. However, Washington’s use of homophobic language allegedly describing his co-star T. R. Knight led to his exit from the show in 2007. The actor issued an apology, even appearing in a PSA for GLAAD. But when he continued to use offensive language in interviews at the Golden Globes, it triggered a wave of backlash that eventually saw the actor being shown the door at the end of Season Three. Washington continues to be a controversial figure, especially when it comes to his former costars.

They were one of Hollywood’s biggest couples. Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt got engaged in 1999, married in 2000, and by 2005, it was all over. When Pitt began shooting “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” in 2004, rumors started spreading that he and co-star Angelina Jolie were having an affair. The rumor mill apparently had it right as Jolie has since gone on record to state they’d fallen in love on set. Given Aniston’s status as “America’s Sweetheart,” fans rallied in her favor as Pitt and Jolie eventually went public. After more than a decade together, Jolie and Pitt parted ways in September 2016.

Who would have ever thought the likes of Paris Hilton and Martha Stewart would have something in common? Stewart built an empire around her “Martha Stewart Living” brand. From magazines, television programs, and merchandising, Stewart is arguably more associated with home living than anyone in history. So, fans were understandably shocked when Stewart was arrested and charged on various counts related to insider trading. She had used non-public information to sell off shares in a pharmaceutical company named ImClone which was about to tank. Convicted, Stewart served five months in prison and was released in 2005 under a supervised release program.

Oh, Kanye. It seems this hip-hop artist is as famous for his controversies as he is for his music. During the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, Taylor Swift won Best Female Video. During her acceptance speech, Kanye got up on stage and proceeded to hijack Taylor’s moment by telling audiences Beyoncé had a better video. Boos could be heard, and both Knowles and Swift were visibly stunned. West took the brunt of it as Pink apparently tore into him backstage, while Beyoncé herself cried in embarrassment. The blowback after the show was worse with countless industry individuals criticizing West’s actions.

Mel Gibson has been a part of some of the biggest films and franchises in movie history, including “Lethal Weapon,” “Braveheart,” and “Mad Max.” He’s also someone whose career took a sharp turn in July 2006. After being detained for driving under the influence, the arrest report was leaked to TMZ which highlighted Gibson’s antisemitic rant. Apologies inevitably followed, but the damage had been done. It was made worse by a subsequent incident involving far more offensive language targeted towards his then-girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva. Gibson’s career took a hit for more than a decade, but he has slowly begun to resurface with films like “Hacksaw Ridge.”

Going against the grain, Moss made a name for herself in the 1990s as more of an anti-supermodel than anything. But her extracurricular activities were certainly not model behavior. In 2005, screen grabs from a hidden video showing Moss using illegal substances were published in the British tabloid paper, the Daily Mirror. Stories of her alleged drug use had surfaced before but none as explicit as these photos. Shortly thereafter, she lost her modeling contracts with H&M, Chanel, and Burberry. She did however check herself into rehab and did return to modeling.

Having been called the “King of R&B,” Chris Brown’s early career as a musician was one filled with success. But there was a directional change as a result of a violent incident in 2009. Brown voluntarily turned himself into the LAPD after a heated argument led to physical violence with his then-girlfriend, Rihanna. News of the assault spread quickly, as did the photos from Rihanna’s hospital visit. The public reaction was swift and unfavorable as many media outlets pulled the plug on anything that had his name attached to it. Brown continued to release music, but his abhorrent behavior has certainly altered the course of his career.

With hits like “...Baby One More Time”, “Oops!... I Did It Again” and countless others, Britney was the quintessential teen-pop star. But with that kind of fame came an unprecedented amount of public scrutiny and industry pressure. In February 2007, it seemed Spears had reached her breaking point when she was recorded by paparazzi entering a hair salon where she proceeded to shave her head. Fans worried for her mental health, and she eventually checked herself into a facility. Given what we know now about the conservatorship puts Britney’s behavior into context.

On February 1, 2004, Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake helped coin the now-famous term, “wardrobe malfunction.” During the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show, the two were performing when Timberlake pulled off a part of Jackson’s costume, resulting in her breast being momentarily exposed. A massive backlash ensued, with more than half a million people filing complaints against the FCC citing the incident as being “indecent.” Multiple lawsuits were filed, and both Jackson and Timberlake made public apologies. However, it was Jackson who received the brunt of the backlash and repercussions.