In a world of renown and wealth, celebrities often show perfect faces to the public. Yet, the glittering world of stardom is not bereft of darker undertones. Behind the spotlights and red carpets, some stars have encounters with the law, sometimes in ways that are tough to reconcile with their public images. Let’s examine the unexpected pasts of these 20 celebrities who, unknown to many, have had their own brushes with crime.
Vanilla Ice
Rapper Vanilla Ice has quite a prolific criminal record.
Not only has he been arrested for drug charges and threatening a homeless man with a gun, but he was also caught breaking into an abandoned house in 2015.
Matthew McConaughey
What started as a routine noise complaint would go on to get McConaughey arrested for the most bizarre incident in Hollywood history.
When neighbors called the cops on the actor, they found him dancing and playing the bongos while unclothed.
Will Smith
Long before the infamous “slap-gate” at the 2022 Oscars, there was another violent episode.
In 1989, Smith was charged with an assault so severe it almost left the other party completely blind.
Khloe Kardashian
Many fans will remember Khloe’s brush with the law that got her slapped with a jail sentence in 2007.
Kardashian was arrested for drink-driving and then later violated the terms of her parole, which saw the star briefly behind bars.
Jay-Z
Before Mr. Beyoncé made it on the music scene, he narrowly avoided an attempted murder charge.
In 2009, the rapper stabbed a man in the stomach during an altercation and was charged with aggravated assault.
Woody Harrelson
In the early 1980s, Zombieland actor Woody Harrelson was arrested for arguably the most adorable crime in the world.
He was charged with “disorderly conduct” for dancing in the middle of a street!
Bruno Mars
Before Mars hit the big time as a smooth-tongued, candy-heeled performer, he was a naughty boy.
In 2010, Mars was arrested for possessing cocaine, which led to a hefty fine, community service, and drug counseling.
Carmen Electra
Electra was married to basketball legend Dennis Rodman for barely a year, and in that time, the relationship went very south.
In 1999, Electra was arrested for battery during a dispute with Rodman, which saw the judge order the pair to stay away from each other.
Stephen Fry
Funnyman and QI host Fry was quite the teen tearaway in the day!
The much-loved English star was sentenced to three months in prison at 17 for stealing a pal’s credit card and, as he put it, “going ape.”
Winona Ryder
A-lister Winona Ryder shocked everyone in 2001 when she was arrested for stealing over $5000 worth of clothing from a Beverly Hills Saks store.
Ryder was charged with grand theft and later blamed her medication for making her act “out of character.”
Mick Jagger
Pouty hip-thruster Jagger was quite the little rascal back in his heyday.
In 1972, when Jagger was 29, he was arrested and charged with assault after a squabble with a paparazzi turned physical.
Bill Gates
Gates may come across as straight-laced, but the 1970s was a crazy time!
In 1977, Gates was arrested for a series of traffic offenses – and cheekily smiled during his mugshot!
Hugh Grant
If you Google “awkward,” Hugh Grant’s infamous mugshot will appear… Okay, it won’t, but it should.
Floppy-haired Grant was embroiled in a scandal in 1995 that saw him arrested for, ah, receiving a favor from a Sunset Strip prostitute.
Keanu Reeves
Shock, horror! Everyone’s favorite nice guy, Reeves, has a record?!
Yup, back in 1993, the actor was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Naughty Keanu!
Colin Farrell
Farrell took his “bad boy” image to a whole other level when he was a teenager – albeit without meaning to.
When the actor was a youngun, he was arrested for murder in Australia during what would transpire to be a case of mistaken identity.
Christian Slater
Somehow, Heathers star Christian Slater has maintained a prolific career, despite numerous tangoes with the law.
During his career, the actor has been arrested for assault, boarding a plane with a gun, inappropriate touching, DUI, and domestic violence.
Heather Locklear
Actress Heather Locklear was arrested and charged in 2010 for a misdemeanor hit and run.
Luckily, it was just a “Stop” sign she mowed down, not a pedestrian.
Mel Gibson
Mel famously worsened a bad situation when he was arrested for a DUI in 2006.
Not only did the What Women Want star unload a belligerent anti-sematic rant, but he also referred to a female officer a certain name.
Mark Wahlberg
Before Wahlberg made a name for himself in movies, he was arrested for a series of hate crimes in the 1980s.
The actor has a prolific criminal record – all race-based violence.
Robert Downey Jr.
Before the Iron Man actor earned his way into the hearts of Marvel fans everywhere, he had a rough ride.
Downey allegedly dabbled in drugs at six, which inspired a long, messy relationship with narcotics.
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