Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Share The People The Media Did Dirty

Make us preferred on Google

I was recently thinking about Winona Ryder, an actress I've always loved, who was crucified by the media because of her shoplifting arrest. Ryder dealt with emotional problems for several years and she was treated terribly at trial. The media circus cost her acting work and she took a long break before re-emerging as a character actress and slipping back into more substantial roles.

It was grossly unfair, and an example of the power the tabloid press can wield. Ryder is fortunate to have a successful career and has for the last few years starred on Netflix's Stranger Things. But she is sadly not the only person to be crucified by the media.

People shared their thoughts after Redditor Mush_Committee_9335 asked the online committee,

"Who was someone done dirty by the media?"

Christopher Jefferies

"Christopher Jefferies who had the bad luck to be a bit strange-looking and eccentric and be the close neighbour of a murdered woman. Originally questioned over the murder and released, he was hounded by Britain's tabloid papers right up to the point where it was proved that someone else was the murderer."

jwelshuk

The Lost Honour of Christopher Jeffries is such a good miniseries.

Lindy Chamberlain

"Lindy Chamberlain was charged with her baby's murder and jailed for several years. It wasn't until someone found the baby's bloodied jacket beside a dingo den that she was released. The trauma of that is unimaginable. You lose your baby AND get thrown in jail for her murder."

llamaunepredo

Perhaps the most well known miscarriage of justice on the part of the Australian justice system.

Richard Jewell

"Richard Jewell. He was a hero that likely saved dozens of lives. Instead of praising for the hero he was, the FBI and the media rushed to judgement and labeled him a terrorist."

Thatguy755

Too bad the film about his story didn't seem to do him much justice.

Brendan Fraser

"Brendan Fraser. Was shamed and blacklisted for admitting to being sexually assaulted in the industry. Wow."

[deleted]

And he's enjoying quite the comeback! The Whale looks amazing.

Britney Spears

"Britney Spears. They loved her mental breakdown."

TraditionalLiving

And she's free now! Thankfully!

Lindsay Lohan

"Lindsay Lohan. David Letterman made fun of her for going to rehab on national television, to the point where she began to cry. She had her demons, but was treated disgustingly."

Catwymyn

I remember that. It was terrible. No wonder she was on a downward spiral for such a long time.

Stella Liebeck

"Stella Liebeck. Nearly died from 3rd degree burns courtesy of McDonald’s coffee, gets them to stop serving coffee at a hazardous temperature, and what does she get? Her name synonymous with stupid lawsuits and even Darwin-esque awards for stupidest lawsuits."

LegalAssassin13

All she wanted was for them to cover her medical expenses and they refused. She had no option but to sue or go bankrupt.

Monica Lewinsky

"Monica Lewinsky. There's a huge issue of power going on here and it was mostly ignored like she was the temptress who lured poor innocent Bill into her den of iniquity."

eddyathome

Thankfully opinions on her have changed as culture has changed. Sadly, we probably don’t know the worst examples because we’ll never hear their side of the story.

Jake Lloyd

"Jake Lloyd. Not his fault much of Phantom Menace was cringe, especially the dialogue. Personally, I think Anakin should’ve been introduced and played by a teenager. Would’ve made his relationship with Padme less creepy. But that was all Lucas. Kid didn’t need to crapped on by fans and the media."

MurkyConflict3737

He was later diagnosed with schizophrenia. He's had a sad life since that film exposed him to so much mockery.

Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson. Also why did people care so much; it's a breast. I've never understood America's obsession with nudity. Put as much violence on the screen for my kid as possible, but god help you if you show the little boob for half a second."

HairyTesticleMonster

The public freakout over this was RIDICULOUS. It absolutely hurt her career and should not have.

Consider: Would you want to be treated the way these people were treated? Think before you pass judgment. You don't always know the whole story.

Have some observations of your own? Feel free to tell us more in the comments below!

Want to "know" more?

Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Donald Trump; Screenshot of JD Vance and Donald Trump cartoons from 'Rick and Morty' style video
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images; @TheWhiteHouse/X

Trump Ripped After White House Shares Ultra-Cringey 'Rick And Morty'-Style Video To Promote MAGA

The Trump administration is facing criticism after the White House shared an altered version of the opening credits for the popular animated cartoon Rick and Morty, instead starring President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

The video depicts Trump and Vance piloting a flying saucer while being pursued by a winged demon. Other surreal scenes include Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer peeling off his face to reveal a robot underneath, space aliens being arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, and appearances by MAGA hats, Diet Coke and other imagery.

Keep Reading Show less
Donald Trump; Screenshot of Dylan Mulvaney
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images; @dylanmulvaney/TikTok

Dylan Mulvaney Claps Back At Trump After His Vile Attack On Her At White House Correspondents' Dinner

Transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney—who recently starred on Broadway in Six—took to TikTok to criticize President Donald Trump after he attacked her in a cruel joke at the White House Correspondents' Association (WCHA) dinner.

CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins received an award celebrating her journalistic achievements thus far from the WHCA; the award was presented to her by her CNN colleague Wolf Blitzer.

Keep Reading Show less
Robert Pattinson
Universal Pictures

A Clip Of Robert Pattinson From 'The Odyssey' Is Going Viral—And The Memes Are Too Good

Christopher Nolan's adaptation of The Odyssey has taken over social media as people discuss the movie's best moments, Nolan's hatred of CGI, the unique soundtrack, and even people rediscovering classic literature.

But one of the funniest things to come out of all of the discourse around the film has to be people's discussion of Robert Pattinson's portrayal of Antinous, the foremost suitor of Anne Hathaway’s Penelope. Antinous was, at best, a cowardly bully of a character who had no nerve when it was time to prove himself.

Keep Reading Show less
Aubrey Plaza
Udo Salters/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

Aubrey Plaza Just Showed Off Her Huge Baby Bump As Her Due Date Nears—And Her Expression Says It All

Agatha All Along star Aubrey Plaza revealed back in April that she was expecting her first child, and now, she's inching up on her due date with a very pronounced baby bump.

In a recent Instagram story, she stood in front of a full-length mirror and took a selfie. She'd pulled her shirt up over her belly and stood sideways, showing just how defined her baby bump has become.

Keep Reading Show less
Katy Perry
Borja B. Hojas/Getty Images

'Appalled' Katy Perry Blasts White House After They Use 'Firework' In Video Of Military Strikes

Singer-songwriter Katy Perry's 2010 hit song "Firework"—written by Perry, Ester Dean, Sandy Wilhelm, and production duo Stargate—is billed as an anthem of self-empowerment and recognition of inner worth. The lyrics encouraged people feeling lost, weak, or unloved to realize they had a unique spark and power to shine like a firework.

Perry said the song was her favorite from her "Teenage Dream" album. With lyrics like "Cause baby, you're a firework, Come on, show 'em what you're worth" the song's "fantastic message" would become "an anthem that's not cheesy."

Keep Reading Show less