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Chris Brown, Mel Gibson, Lindsay Lohan and Jesse James all have one thing in common. They have all done terrible things and the world has not forgotten what they have done, yet. There will come a time when people will probably forget that Chris beat Rihanna, that Mel was a racist, that Lindsay lived in rehab and that Jesse cheated on Sandra Bullock, but that time is not now. One day, they might be adored again. The following celebrities prove that famous people can do terrible things and eventually, people will forget and forgive. Here are ten horrible things famous people have done that we have forgiven or forgotten.
10. Charles S. Dutton
Sixty-three year old actor, Charles S. Dutton has starred in films like Rudy, A Time To Kill, Gothika and Alien 3. Although he has one-hundred and eight actor credits under his belt, Dutton has a very dark past. At the age of seventeen, he got into a fight and it resulted in the death of the other man involved. Dutton was convicted of manslaughter and was sentenced to seven years in prison. After his release, Charles was arrested again for possession of a deadly weapon and was sentenced to another three years in prison. While incarcerated, Dutton found his love for plays and started a drama group with other prison inmates. He then obtained his GED and a two year degree while serving time. After he was released from prison a second time, he attended Towson University and received his Bachelor's degree in Drama. Dutton went on to earn his Master's degree in acting from the Yale School of Drama. After making it in Hollywood, his manslaughter conviction has long been forgotten.
9. Robert Downey Jr.
Most know forty-nine year old actor, Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, but there was a time when Robert wasn't much of a hero to anyone. From 1996 to 2001, Robert Downey Jr. faced a number of arrests in relation to his drug abuse. Robert was arrested for use and possession of cocaine, heroine and marijuana six times in that five year period. In 1997, he was sentenced to four months in jail for missing a court ordered drug test. In 1999, he was sentenced to three years in prison, but only served one year. In 2001, he was sentenced to three years probation and was sent to a drug rehabilitation center for a fourth and final time. After five years of battling a drug addiction, which Robert Downey Jr. stated actually started at the age of six, Robert turned his life around. He made a career comeback and was able to captivate America's hearts once again.
8. Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick is best known for his iconic role as Ferris Bueller in the hit 1986 film, Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The character of Ferris Bueller was known for being a rule breaker, but what Matthew Broderick did off set made Ferris Bueller's mischievousness look like child's play. In 1987, while vacationing with then girlfriend, Jennifer Grey in Northern Ireland, Broderick was involved in a fatal car accident. Matthew was driving a rented BMW and crossed into the wrong lane, hitting a Volvo head on. Twenty-eight year old, Anna Gallagher and sixty-three year old, Margaret Doherty were in the Volvo and were killed instantly upon impact. Broderick suffered fractured ribs, a collapsed lung, a fractured leg and a concussion. Jennifer Grey had minor injuries. When questioned by authorities, Matthew claimed he did not recall the incident or even the day. Broderick was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and faced up to five years in prison. The charges were later reduced to careless driving and Matthew received a fine of $175.
7. Tim Allen
Tim Allen was 'Tim the Toolman Taylor' for eight years on the hit family sitcom, Home Improvement. The famous question, "Does anyone know what time it is?" was always answered, "Tool Time" but in 1978, the correct answer would have been, "Jail Time." Tim Allen was arrested at Kalamazoo International Airport on October 2, 1978 for possession of 650 grams of cocaine. Tim was facing a life sentence in prison for drug trafficking, but he struck a deal to reduce his possible sentence to three to seven years. In exchange for this reduction, Tim Allen provided the names of the other drug dealers and he ended up only serving two years and four months for his crime.
6. Laura Bush
Laura Bush, the wife of the 43rd U.S. President, George Bush was not always known for being the First Lady. Laura Bush was born, Laura Welch and in 1963, Ms. Welch's inattentive driving was the cause of a fatal accident. On the night of November 6, 1963, Laura ran a stop sign and collided with another vehicle. The driver, Michael Dutton Douglas, a fellow classmate of Laura's died as a result of the collision. Seventeen year old Laura and her passenger suffered minor injuries from the accident. Laura Welch was never charged in relation to the accident.
5. Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley is referred to as 'The King of Rock n' Roll' and he is considered one of the most important cultural icons of the 20th century. He was known as a southern gentleman who believed in family values, but there was a dark and twisted side to, 'The King.' Elvis had a thing for young virginal girls that were still children and preferred to date them, because according to reports, he was insecure with his lovemaking skills. At the age of twenty-four, Elvis began dating fourteen year old, Priscilla Beaulieu, who he later married and had a daughter with. They divorced and shared custody of their daughter, Lisa Presley. Elvis continued dating young teenage girls throughout his life, which he called his 'cherries.'
4. Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton is a three time inductee in the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame and he has ranked 2nd in Rolling Stone's list of '100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.' Although Clapton is considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time, he is also considered a huge racist. At a concert in 1976, Clapton voiced his support for Enoch Powell, a controversial political candidate that was against immigration. Clapton announced on stage, "Britain is in danger of becoming a black colony." He went on a clearly drunken and racist rant stating, "....we should send them all [anyone who wasn't white] back," and "England is for white people" and he ended his rant with, "Keep Britain white!" Eric Clapton was widely criticized for his racist comments and he later responded that he wasn't a racist.
3. Vince Neil
Vince Neil is an American singer and is best known for being the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Motley Crue. He was also a cast member for the first season of the reality show, The Surreal Life. In 1984, Vince Neil got a serious dose of reality when him and Hanoi Rocks drummer, Nicoholas Razzle Dingley took a drive to a liquor store after partying for hours. Neil, who was driving, lost control of the car and veered into oncoming traffic, colliding head on with another vehicle. Both people in the other car were seriously hurt and suffered brain damage. Vince's passenger, Dingley was killed on impact. Neil's blood alcohol content level was .17. Vince Neil served fifteen days in jail, was given five years probation, required to complete 200 community service hours and was ordered to pay $2.6 million to the victims of the crash.
2. Rebecca Gayheart
Rebecca Gayheart is an actress and is best known for her roles in Urban Legend and Jawbreaker. She has been married to actor, Eric Dane since 2004 and they have two daughters together. On June 13, 2001, Rebecca's vehicle struck nine year old, Jorge Cruz Jr. when he was crossing a Los Angeles street after school. Reports indicate that several cars in front of Rebecca stopped to let the boy cross, Rebecca went into the left lane passing the cars and accidentally ran over the third grader. The young boy died the next day from his injuries and Gayheart was charged with vehicular manslaughter. In November 2001, Rebecca was sentenced to three years probation, a $2800 fine, 750 hours of community service and her license was suspended for one year. Rebecca paid for the young boy's funeral and settled a suit out of court with the family for the wrongful death of Jorge Cruz Jr.
1. Sean Penn
Sean Penn, an American actor, screenwriter and director is best known for his Academy Award winning roles in the films, Milk and Mystic River. Penn married the 'Queen of Pop,' Madonna in 1985 and there was nothing mystical about that four year marriage. In June 1987, Madonna went to the hospital after being struck in the head with a baseball bat by Sean. She did not file a report against him, because Penn was already set to serve time for attacking a film extra. The couple were constantly fighting throughout their entire relationship. On December 28, 1989, Sean broke into Madonna's Malibu house, where she was home alone. Madonna attempted to leave, but Sean reportedly tied her up to a chair with twine and an electrical cord. Penn verbally and physically abused her for hours, while taking swigs of liquor out of a bottle. He left the house to get more alcohol and returned a little while later to continue the abuse. After a total of nine hours, Penn untied Madonna after she agreed to perform a sexual act on him. She fled the house to her vehicle and locked herself in the car, while calling the police. Sean banged on the windows of her vehicle, until she drove away. Madonna filed for divorce a week later and withdrew the assault charges against Sean Penn.
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