No one likes to know about their favorite celebrities doing terrible things. But there’s no question that celebrities are often not the heroes their adoring fans think they are. They are human, after all. And although we sometimes forget this because of the way they’re treated in the media, celebrities disappoint us in ways similar to regular folk.
Many fans are familiar with the dark side of celebrity culture, but it’s surprising how many famous people have served time for crimes. Though you may have expected more from your favorite celebs, this list proves that some celebrities are not so squeaky clean. This article lists seven celebrities who have been convicted or charged with crimes. Let’s get started.
Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby was the highest-paid comedian in television history, known for bringing levity to dark, tragic, and disturbing topics. Yet since 2004, more than 60 women have accused him of sexual assault, sexual battery, and sexual misconduct incidents stretching back to the 1960s. These accusations led to criminal charges being leveled against Cosby in 2015. Back in 2018, he was also convicted of aggravated indecent assault, but the charge was vacated by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in June 2021. It’s high time for Bill Cosby fans to take a second look at this controversial figure and see him for who he really is – a flawed man whose accusers are not out for his money.
Chris Brown
Chris Brown pleaded guilty to assaulting his ex-girlfriend Rihanna in June 2009, and also pleaded guilty to violating his probation. The assault took place during an argument about another woman. Chris Brown was placed on probation for five years, but after violating that probation, he served time in jail for seven months.
Charlie Sheen
On Christmas Day in 2009, actor Charlie Sheen was arrested for felony menacing and criminal misdemeanor after allegedly assaulting then-wife Brooke Mueller. Sheen was released from jail the same day. Following the incident, Sheen was fired from the hit television series “Two and a Half Men” (CBS) and replaced with Ashton Kutcher. In June 2010, Sheen pleaded guilty to the charge of felony menacing and received a deferred sentence in lieu of three years of supervised probation. In October 2010, a report stated that he would stay on probation for his assault charge as part of a deal that was reached with prosecutors
Bill Gates
Yes, everyone’s favorite tech expert, Bill Gates, has been arrested twice. The first time he had a run in with the law was in 1975. Gates was caught driving without a license and speeding. The second arrest was in 1977 when Gates was driving without a license again — and didn’t stop at a stop sign. But he seems to have cleaned up his act since then.
O.J. Simpson
Although evidence was stacked up against Simpson, that didn’t stop NFL fans from giving him a standing ovation after his acquittal in the 1994 murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. In 2007, O.J. Simpson would be caught when he broke into a hotel room in Florida and stole memorabilia, including two championship rings. OJ was found guilty on 12 charges, including kidnapping, and was sentenced to 33 years in prison and ordered to pay more than $33 million in restitution.
Will Smith
It’s true that the famous star Will Smith has been in some awesome movies. It’s true that Will Smith is filthy rich. But, it’s also true that Will Smith was convicted of being a perpetrator of aggravated assault. Unfortunately, most fans forget about that part. Smith, and his former bodyguard, were accused of assaulting William Hendricks in 1989. The case was later dismissed at Will’s request by the prosecutor.
Mark Wahlberg
In Hollywood, Mark plays tough guy characters who are devious and cunning. In real life, his crime spree was just as notorious. Mark Wahlberg spent close to six months in a correctional facility after he was charged as an adult for attempted murder. He was arrested on April 8, 1988, for assaulting two Vietnamese people. Mark was accused of throwing rocks at African-American civilians as well.