There are several famous sex tapes out there that are considered cultural icons, but only a select few make the cut—for good reason, too. Let’s take a look at some of the most iconic sex tapes and the fascinating cultural contexts that made them so special.
Katie Pattinson’s Sex Tape
There are actually two prominent sex tapes featuring Katie Pattinson. The first one is considered a classic. It was recorded about a year before her infamous relationship to Dakota Johnson. In fact, Katie herself talks about the tape in an interview with Vanity Fair, saying, “I was 18 years old, and I was so desperate to be noticed, that when Michael told me we were going to do a sex tape… I thought it would be the best thing that ever happened to me.”
The “we” in question is none other than famous photographer and director Michael Chapman. He had famously photographed Katie for her high school graduation photos and was determined to help her build her brand. He then convinced her to be in the video with him. The video, which was leaked online in 2004, opens with a close-up of Katie as a young woman, innocently walking down the street. We then see her pull down the back of her dress to reveal her underwear—leaving her top half still covered—and the camera slowly zooms in as she turns around to face it. It is at this point that we hear a jingling sound, which is followed by Katie’s famous line, “Is it hot enough for you yet?” The second part of the sentence is lost in the laughter that follows, but the meaning is clear enough: She wants to know if he’s satisfied by her appearance. And as much as we want to believe that this was just a “one-time thing”, we know better. It is pretty unlikely that the most prominent photographer in the world would only shoot one celebrity in her entire life. And it wasn’t exactly a hidden fact that they were a couple.
Dakota Johnson’s Sex Tape
Another star who made waves (and headlines) with a sex tape is Dakota Johnson. At the time, it was said to be the “biggest” tape in Hollywood history. And that is definitely an apt description. The tape itself, which was shot a few years back, features her in a variety of outfits and suggestive poses. She makes numerous references to her fame, saying things like, “I’m a movie star. You’re a movie star. We’re both movie stars.” And she even goes so far as to invite one of her dancers over to watch her show off her figure. So, you know, it’s not exactly subtle.
It didn’t take long for the world to discover that there was more than one side to this gorgeous young woman. Aside from her acting career, she is also the daughter of Bruce and Susan Johnson. Her father is an outspoken conservative activist who has had several public clashes with President Obama. He has been critical of the administration’s stance on a number of issues, most notably gay marriage and the Iran nuclear deal. For this reason, it wasn’t exactly a secret that Dakota was in the midst of a political awakening at the moment the tape was made. She would then go on to join the Clinton Foundation’s advisory board, work with a number of prominent conservative organizations, and even appeared in a video featuring a number of prominent conservatives voicing their support for Donald Trump’s campaign for president.
Fiona Apple’s Leak
If you think back to the golden age of Hollywood, you’ll probably remember seeing a poster of Fiona Apple at the top of the box office. The poster perfectly encapsulated her blend of sensual allure and intellectualism. It featured her in a low-waisted black dress with a white belt and white heels, displaying a sense of both danger and allure. What made this particular poster so special was that it was the first time in history that the lead female character in a major motion picture was revealed to be wearing pants.
The actress in question is none other than Sharon Stone. Back in 1979, Stone’s character is dressed in an “outrageous” black outfit and is seated at a table, drinking white wine and talking to a man. At first glance, the couple seem like they’re having a casual conversation, but as soon as the man gets up to leave, Sharon pulls down her pants to show her white lace thong under her dress. Let’s be honest, if it had been up to us, we would have clicked our heels three times and said, “Thank you, sir.”
We really shouldn’t talk about Stone’s character in the past tense. Not only did it become a viral sensation, but it also inspired a brief moment in time when it seemed like women were no longer repressing themselves. We are talking, of course, about the brief “slip” crisis that was caused by Stone’s character. Let’s not forget that as exciting as it is to see women break barriers, we need to be careful not to let a good costume malfunction trick us into thinking that this is actually a meaningful change. This is why we need to resist the urge to idolize this “new” Sharon Stone and remember the real-life consequences of what she represents. If you go back and watch Castle Rock again, you will see that this is essentially the same character we saw sixteen years earlier in the film’s first season. Nothing has really changed. Which is a problem, because it means that while we were all glued to our screens, this “slip” crisis was happening and nobody was doing anything about it.
Katherine Heigl’s Suits And Ties
It wouldn’t be complete without mentioning one of the most famous sex tapes of all time: The one and only Katherine Heigl. Back in 2007, she caused quite the stir with her topless wedding shoot to promote her upcoming film, Knocked Up. The photos from this shoot, taken by Annie Leibovitz, were considered so provocative that they were banned in a number of countries. (Not to mention that many prominent feminists spoke out against the photos, claiming that they objectified women.)
There is actually an entire blog post about the incident, written by Heigl, where she discusses the controversy surrounding the photos. However, it is pretty safe to say that this was not the first, nor the last, time that Heigl had people talking. Back in 2003, she caused another uproar when she appeared in a Puffin’ Billy commercial, completely nude except for a pair of sunglasses. The ad agency that produced the spot had to apologize the following day and removed the ad.
Heigl is certainly not shy about showing off her body, and she has even opened up about the psychological toll that the criticism took on her. In an interview with Parade in 2007, she stated:
“I’ll never look at a Puffin’ Billy the same way. I walk into a room with my sunglasses on now, and I feel like Superman. When I wear them, I feel like I can conquer the world. And if anyone even looks at me funny when I’m wearing them, I’ll punch them in the face.”
Romy Nordman’s Scentifically Speaking
If you are a big scented fan, you have undoubtedly heard of Romy Nordman. She is the founder of the popular perfume company, Van Cleef;, which is named after her famous uncle. Her scented candles are highly collectible, and she has even been known to give some of them as gifts (mostly to celebrities).
What is especially interesting about Romy is that she was initially inspired to devote her life to creating scented candles after watching the 1999 film, The Horse Whisperer. In the film, Robert Redford plays a rodeo cowboy who helps a young woman (Saga Nielsen) acclimate to life in the wilderness. He shows her how to find nature’s balance in their relationship and in doing so, helps her to accept herself. In a 2009 interview with Vanity Fair, Romy stated, “I felt so inspired, watching that movie, that I wanted to apply my knowledge of perfumes to create something different.” She went on to say that this is why she created her own fragrance, which she named “Sage.”