As the year 2020 begins, many are wondering what the next big thing in Hollywood will be. In the past year, the industry has shifted dramatically, with more and more people switching to working remotely while keeping their jobs. This trend has led to a few big changes both in how people look and how much they are willing to spend on new projects. As the world continues to fight the pandemic, the entertainment industry has faced great changes.
While many are still wondering about whether or not they will be able to navigate the pandemic successfully, one thing remains certain: nobody (not even the celebrities!) is safe from scandal.
This is especially true of those in the public eye. One of the biggest stories of 2020 involved actor Robert Pattinson and his alleged involvement in a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a makeup artist. After years of being mostly private, Pattinson finally decided to address these accusations head-on in a court of law. He vehemently denied these claims and won the lawsuit. Still, it was a major milestone for the actor, who in 2019 was at the center of a global meltdown when news broke that he and his girlfriend, Amal Alamuddin, were expecting their first child together.
Although he continued to make headlines in the following months with his controversial decision to walk away from the sequel to the Twilight franchise, The Cursed Child, and the arrival of his first child with Alamuddin, his legal troubles seemed to be behind him. Then, just as suddenly as it began, the scandal resurfaced when several women came forward with their own allegations of sexual misconduct against the actor. In less than one week, Pattinson was removed from the King Charles III private residence in London, where he was currently filming the aforementioned sequel. The decision was later reversed, but not before the world got a peek at the turmoil that comes with being a celebrity. This is, however, just one of the many high-profile cases that arose in the entertainment industry in the last year. Here’s a look at five other celebrities who were in the news in the last year.
Kardashian Family Feudotious
Even before the start of the pandemic, the Kardashian family was facing off against the Hultgrens in a family feud that was being covered by the media. The Kardashians and the Hultgrens were set to battle it out in a game of celebrity ‘Feudotiety’ on the Thanksgiving holiday in November 2019. The game, which pits families against one another and was created by popular YouTube personality Antony Liu, was quickly picked up by the mainstream media and became one of the most popular stories on the internet in the days leading up to the big game. A lot of fans were holding their breath, hoping that the Kardashians would emerge victorious. After a dramatic last-minute switch by the Hultgrens, the game was settled with the Kardashians emerging as the ultimate victors. This was undoubtedly a big win for the family, who in the past has had lots of public disputes that have made them some of the most well-known figures on social media. This year, however, was different. In the months leading up to the feud, the Kardashian family had mostly stayed silent about the ongoing scandals that surrounded their members. Rumors swirled about the family’s woes, especially after the youngest daughter, Kylie, announced that she was splitting from her husband, Travis Scott, citing irreconcilable differences. It was also reported that Khloé and Lamar Odom, the husband of the famous basketball player, were about to put their differences aside and get back together. The family’s troubles were front-page news, and it was hard not to feel for them. As the year ends, it seems that the Kardashians are finally starting to rebuild their fractured family and move on from their personal crises. Hopefully, this will lead them to become better, stronger people who can continue to thrive even in the most adverse of situations. The family continues to be one of the most popular subjects of TikTok, with memes and jokes about their ongoing problems dominating social media platforms in the months leading up to and since the release of the feud game.
Stormy Daniels May 2020 Release
Adult film star, director, and writer Stormy Daniels has been a public figure for decades, but in recent years she has been making headlines for all the right reasons. In October 2019, she was arrested and charged with violating federal law by engaging in commercial sex acts while in the presence of a minor. Her lawyer successfully negotiated a plea deal, and Daniels will now be required to pay $250,000 in fines and penalties. However, the case has still not been fully settled, and Daniels’ legal team is fighting to get the charges dismissed. If she does end up settling with the government, it will be one of the biggest wins for women’s rights in US history.
Daniels first became famous for her relationship with now-President Donald Trump. She was ‘Stormy Daniels’ back in 2016, after the then-candidate for president exposed himself to a reporter and suggested that she have sex with him. Since then, she has stayed in the headlines almost entirely by choice. In the last year, she has maintained her silence about Trump, despite numerous interview requests and a major motion picture deal that fell through at the last minute. With the nation’s attention focused on the president and his family, it is quite possible that Stormy Daniels will be able to put her legal problems behind her and get back to living her life. Hopefully, she will be able to do so without any more incidents.
Colton Hayworth’s Suicide Attempt
Former actor Colton Hayworth was best known for his role as ‘Prince Charming’ in the Disney adaptation of the classic 1950s fairytale, Cinderella. He was also the subject of one of the most popular memes of the last year, which imagined what would happen if the actor jumped off a tall building. The internet began to make the joke after the young starlet committed suicide in May 2020, a few months after emerging from a rehab hospital. At the time of his death, Hayworth was only 24 years old.
The actor’s death was a major blow to those who knew and loved him, and the internet hasn’t stopped mourning his loss. Prior to the start of the pandemic, Hayworth was already struggling with severe anxiety and depression. After he revealed that he was seeking help, many speculated that his condition was exacerbated by the high pressure of being in the public eye. Just a few months before his death, he was arrested for assault after reportedly throwing a tantrum during an argument with his wife. His anxiety and depression continued to get the better of him, and, unfortunately, he was unable to overcome them. While some may blame his tragic end on his mental health issues, it is more likely that his addiction to pills, alcohol, and crystal meth were the true cause of his death. Still, the 24-year-old star’s untimely passing continues to have reverberations throughout Hollywood, with many wondering whether or not his condition was a result of the intense media scrutiny that he faced. The role of prince charming may have propelled him to fame, but it also became a curse that consumed him and ultimately led to his untimely death.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’ Kids’ Book Fair Appeal
While many actors and musicians are using their privilege to help those in need, members of the British royal family are taking a more traditional route to do their bit for charity. In late 2019, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, and her husband, Prince Harry, launched #DukeandDuchessRead, an appeal to get kids’ books published and into the hands of as many children as possible. The couple’s first-hand experience of how difficult it can be to find suitable literature for young readers inspired the campaign. They hoped that, by creating more opportunities for kids’ books, they could ensure that no child would be limited in choice due to a lack of suitable books available.
The initiative focused on getting picture books published and into UK schools. In partnership with renowned children’s book illustrator Kate Greenaway, the royals wanted to ensure that every child could experience the beautiful stories and illustrations that Greenaway is known for. Over the course of 10 weeks, the couple read to hundreds of students at royal prep schools across the country, as well as to children in North America and the Middle East, through a program called #StargazingSpeak. Many of the schools the couple visited had not seen books in years, and the program gave the pupils an opportunity to experience what a real book feels like and the joy that reading can bring.