Entertainment
21 Celebs You Forgot About Who’ve Been Arrested
21 Celebrities Known for Their Notorious Arrests
In the world of fame and celebrity, brushes with the law aren’t quite uncommon. Some celebrity arrests become infamous for their sheer absurdity or scandalous nature. Here’s a look at 21 celebrities who’ve had their run-ins with the law, and some of their stories might just surprise you.
- Hugh Grant
- In 1995, heartthrob Hugh Grant found himself in a tricky situation when police caught him engaged in a sexual act with a sex worker in a car. Both Grant and the worker pled no contest, ultimately receiving probation and fines, along with a mandatory AIDS education program.
2. Winona Ryder
Winona Ryder’s 2001 arrest for stealing around $5,000 worth of clothing from Saks Fifth Avenue sparked a media frenzy. Ryder’s insistence on fighting the charges, despite the store wanting to dismiss the case, led to her conviction for grand theft and shoplifting. It also led to a long-lasting friendship with designer Marc Jacobs, whose items she was convicted of stealing.
3. Martha Stewart
In 2003, Martha Stewart’s world came crashing down when the SEC accused her of insider trading. Although they couldn’t prove the trading itself, Stewart’s multiple lies to federal investigators resulted in a conviction for obstruction of justice, leading to a five-month prison sentence, followed by house arrest.
4. Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr.’s struggles with drug addiction led to multiple arrests in the 1990s and early 2000s. With charges ranging from cocaine to heroin possession, his battles with the law included several prison sentences. Downey’s early exposure to drugs through his father complicated his trajectory.
5. Justin Bieber
Bieber’s 2014 Miami arrest for DUI and resisting arrest made headlines when he was pulled over while driving a Lamborghini. He infamously quarreled with the officers, claiming they wouldn’t understand what it was like to be 19 with millions in the bank. Bieber later reflected on this tumultuous time, expressing regret and a desire for forgiveness.
6. Paris Hilton
After her first DUI arrest in 2006, Hilton continued to face legal woes. By 2010, she found herself pleading guilty to charges of possession of marijuana and cocaine as well as obstructing an officer. Community service and probation were part of her sentence.
7. Justin Timberlake
Timberlake’s 2011 DUI arrest drew attention after he was caught running a stop sign and failing sobriety tests. Humorously, Timberlake told officers he only had one martini, lamenting that the situation could ruin his world tour.
8. Chace Crawford
The Gossip Girl star was apprehended in Texas in 2010 for possession of marijuana. Fortunately for him, after completing community service, all charges were dropped.
9. Frank Sinatra
In 1938, Sinatra was arrested under unusual circumstances related to seduction and later for adultery stemming from his relationship with a married woman. Ultimately, after a brief legal battle, he paid a bond to resolve the matter.
10. Tim Allen
In 1978, Tim Allen faced serious charges when he was found with over a pound of cocaine at a Michigan airport. After pleading guilty, he served more than two years behind bars, later facing a DUI in 1997, which put him on a path to sobriety.
11. Bill Gates
An early encounter with the law marked Bill Gates’s youthful years when he was arrested for not having a driver’s license after running a stop sign in 1977. He famously spent a night in custody alongside people charged with more serious offenses.
12. Tiger Woods
Woods’s 2017 DUI arrest involved five different drugs, leading to a guilty plea for reckless driving after initially facing harsher charges.
13. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
Both members of the iconic band the Rolling Stones found themselves embroiled in drug possession charges in 1967. A public backlash followed the arrest, especially considering Jagger was pursuing a libel case against tabloids at the time.
14. Johnny Depp
Depp’s turbulent relationship with the law included a wild 1994 arrest for hotel room destruction following a fight with Kate Moss. Although charges were dropped later, the damages cost him significantly.
15. Shailene Woodley
In 2017, Woodley was taken into custody during a protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline. The live-streamed arrest brought media attention, as she later revealed the intensive search she endured while being detained.
16. Lindsay Lohan
From 2007 to 2012, Lohan’s list of charges included DUI, possession, and grand theft. This chronological saga painted a picture of a troubled star battling various personal demons.
17. Bill Cosby
Faced with accusations from over 60 women, Cosby was eventually arrested and tried for a 2004 crime. After significant legal battles, he was sentenced to prison but later had the conviction overturned on technical grounds.
18. Jane Fonda
Fonda’s 1970 arrest at a Cleveland airport for suspected drug smuggling turned out to be a misunderstanding, as the supposed “drugs” were merely vitamins. The incident reflected the political tensions of the era.
19. Woody Harrelson
In a peculiar 1982 arrest, Harrelson was taken into custody for dancing on a busy street and resisting police. His rebellious spirit positioned him as a unique figure in Hollywood lore.
20. Jay-Z
In 1999, Jay-Z was arrested for stabbing a record executive. Although he initially pled not guilty, he later altered his plea to guilty, receiving probation. The victim later publicly stated he believed Jay-Z was innocent.
21. Matthew McConaughey
In a bizarre incident in 1999, McConaughey was arrested at home for public disturbance after police responded to a noise complaint. Naked and playing the bongos, his run-in with the law attracted unexpected cheers from onlookers during his court appearance.
These celebrity encounters serve as a reminder that fame often comes with its own set of challenges, not all glamorous.
