Stars are just like us, they're ordinary folks with their own share of low moments in life. Take Marilyn Monroe for example, whose life was fraught with tragic personal struggles, like having several miscarriages before the age of 29. Here are some more celebrity secrets that will hopefully remind you that you aren’t alone in your battles.
Mike Tyson Was Abducted in His Boyhood
If you're a big fan of heavyweight boxing, you will surely know Mike Tyson who was famous for his ferocious boxing style. So, it is hard to imagine that a tough guy like him was once kidnapped. Yes, we aren't kidding! When "Iron Mike" was only seven, something illicit happened to him.
A man not only abducted the poor child but also molested him by touching his private parts. This awful event changed Tyson and caused him to endure turbulence in his personal life, charges, and substance abuse. Yet, we are only glad that he did move on in his life.
Jack Nicholson’s Sister Was Actually His Mom
Back in the '30s, society shunned women who got pregnant before getting married, so when Jack Nicholson's mom had him at 17, her parents took the actor in as their own son. It wasn't until both of Nicholson's parents passed away that he found out the sister he thought he had was actually his mom.
While everyone thought that the truth would negatively impact the Batman star, that wasn't the case. He knew without a doubt that his grandparents and mum adored him, so he had nothing to complain about. According to Nicholson, the only thing that changed after learning the truth was understanding why certain things were as they were.
The Shocking Truth About Rihanna’s Dad
Many of us know that Rihanna was born in Barbados. After leaving the beautiful island, the Grammy Award-winning star's fame instantly skyrocketed. Yet, do you know what transpired in-between? Well, the songstress had to endure her dad's ill habits in her childhood. So, naturally, the father-daughter relationship was not very great. That's not all!
Rihanna also discovered that her father had a second family that he always tried to keep a secret. All these emotional shocks greatly worsened her health and led to several physical symptoms. The pop sensation had to endure severe headaches until her parents got divorced.
Mariah Carey’s Sister Is a Survivor
To all the world, Mariah Carey’s life seems perfect. Little did we know that, behind closed doors, she was facing unimaginable trauma at the hands of her sister. Mariah’s older sister was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder. The mental illness affected her moods and made her erratic and, often time, abusive. Sadly, the young Mariah was on the receiving end of that abuse.
Mariah’s sister struggled for years with her mental illness and eventually spiraled down into a life of pros***ution. After a few risky encounters, she contracted HIV. That is sad indeed. In recent years, Mariah has come out to make a statement regarding her experience. She stated that "…there is no benefit in trying to protect people" who don’t protect her.
Michael Phelps’ Constant Battle With Depression
Michael Phelps is one of the most celebrated Olympians who won over 20 gold medals among several prestigious honors. Yet, did you know that the legendary swimmer had been fighting depression and anxiety all along? Yes, after every competition, he went through severe depression even after smiling with those medals.
Michael also revealed that he sometimes had suicidal thoughts and even turned to substances to take his own life. For this reason, he now helps people with stress management programs through the Michael Phelps Foundation and saves thousands every year. After all, Mike realized that sometimes it is okay to not be okay!
Lady Gaga Has a Devastating Secret
The Queen of Pop has a secret that almost cost her her life. For years, Lady Gaga complained about recurring pain. She thought that smoking might help ease her suffering, but she was wrong. It was only later on that she rediscovered the real reason she was in constant pain.
Fibromyalgia is a nerve disorder that causes constant pain throughout the patient’s body. The pop star opened up about how devastating the illness is and how awful she feels on a day-to-day basis. The worst part is that the world is uncaring in the face of her suffering as many believe that it is all made up. We believe you, Gaga, and we hope you get the help you need!
Not the Right Place to Grow Up
Only a few comedians have managed to bring groundbreaking changes to the comic world. Among the ones we know, Richard Pryor is a name that we have to include in the list of comics who stuck by his rules and beliefs while performing on stage. Although his life as a humorist has been iconic, his life before fame was traumatic.
Despite having both parents alive, the late performer lived the most of his childhood in neglect. Richard's mother was a female escort, so he grew up in a cathouse run by his grandmother. We have often heard the Stir Crazy star make jokes about his tragic past on stage. This is because he has learned to live with it.
Kathy Griffin’s Brother Was Her Childhood Nightmare
It is no doubt that Kathy Griffin has taken the entertainment industry by storm thanks to her prolific comedy and sense of humor. She is the only comedian to have written and appeared in 20 stand-up specials on television and for which she got inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records.
Kathy enjoys a massive fan base, but with all that love showered upon her by the people, it's hard for her to trust someone. Unfortunately, she has a past that is hard to recover from, but the Suddenly Susan star stood against it. Kathy's older brother began to violate her when she was merely seven. Tragic, right? Yet, it hasn't stopped the performer from making it big on her own.
Charlize Theron Witnessed Something Tragic
We can't imagine how traumatizing it must have been for the then-young Charlize Theron to witness her mother end her dad's life. Theron's dad had been physically abusive to the actress' mum for years until she had enough and fought back by shooting him at close range.
Contrary to what many may assume, Theron has no ill feelings towards her mum. If anything, the Monster performer is thankful that her family's circumstances forced her mother to be a strong woman who did what was best for her and her children while teaching them the importance of standing up for themselves.
Billy Bob Thornton's Daughter Was Imprisoned For a Toddler's Death
Though they're estranged, Billy Bob Thornton does have a daughter named Amanda Brumfield. In 2008, her best friend's 1-year-old daughter died in what the medical examiner deemed a homicide when her skull was found fractured. Amanda was arrested on first-degree murder charges, though at her 2011 trial she was convicted of only aggravated manslaughter. Nevertheless, she received a sentence of 20 years in prison.
She maintained her innocence all the way through, saying that the child had been injured from falling in her playpen. The Innocence Project took on her case, and indeed helped Amanda be released early in 2020 after serving 8.5 years of her sentence. One of the conditions of her release was that she agreed to stop "pressing her innocence in court.”
Yolanda Hadid May Have a Secret Illness
Everyone and their aunts know who the Hadid sisters are. Regardless, some may forget that it was their mother, Yolanda Hadid, who set the supermodels up for stardom at a young age. After a freak encounter with a toxic tick, Yolanda’s life changed forever. She contracted Lyme disease. Sadly, her daughter Bella also contracted the same syndrome and both of these superstars have been suffering from it ever since.
It is easy to assume their lives are perfect, but Yolanda says that it’s a constant battle on their part. She complained about fatigue and pain. Nevertheless, the Hadid women are nothing if not powerful and both Yolanda and Bella continue to push through in their careers despite their conditions.
Whoopi Goldberg Terminated a Pregnancy at 14
Scared and certain that she was incapable of raising a child at such a young age, Whoopi Goldberg resorted to terminating a pregnancy at 14. Goldberg didn’t talk to anyone about being pregnant or what her plans were with her unborn child but instead did what she thought was best, at the time, for her and the baby.
The actress would try different methods of abortion that she had learned about from her peers, from sitting in hot baths for hours to drinking unusual concoctions, which eventually led to her becoming seriously ill. When those techniques didn’t work, Goldberg used a coat hanger, which ended her pregnancy.
Marilyn Monroe Got Pregnant Twelve Times
Marilyn Monroe is an icon when it comes to the entertainment industry. She enjoyed unreal popularity and love from people all around the world. Men fancied her, and women wanted to be her. It looked as if the actress never even knew that struggle existed in the world. Yet, there is darker truth hidden in her life - take a closer look at her bump in this picture...
The artist was an active supporter of spontaneity when it came to acts of passion, and this is what gave her a hard time in her life. According to the biography written by Norman Mailer, her photographer revealed that Marilyn had gotten pregnant at least 12 times by the age of 29, a hefty cost even for her lifestyle.
Woody Harrelson’s Dad Was an Assassin
Woody Harrelson's dad was hardly around when the actor was growing up. Unfortunately, the Venom performer's father was one of the most notorious hitmen of his time, which would later have him locked up for life.
While Harrelson occasionally got into trouble during his early years, he soon turned away from his rebellious ways and committed to living a life of purpose. His childhood may have been rough, and his dad might not have been the best role model, but Harrelson's life today is proof that one's background and pain don't have to define them, which is commendable and something we all can learn from.
Father-Daughter Relationship Gone Wrong
Born Margarita Carmen Cansino, Rita Hayworth is one of Hollywood's iconic stars to grace our screens. With appearances in over 60 films, including You Were Never Lovelier, Separate Tables, and Gilda, the actress' career of more than 30 years was indeed a successful one.
Yet, underneath all that glitz and glamour, the Love Goddess, as she is fondly called, had had her share of teenage trauma. At a young age, Rita was molested by her father, with whom she trained how to dance. The devastating experience might have been the cause of her failed marriages. Nonetheless, it was a sad discovery.
Two of Bing Crosby's Sons Took Their Own Lives
Famed crooner Bing Cosby had seven children. And while it might seem that having seven kids could get a little rowdy, you'd be mistaken to think that he allowed any sort of wildness. In a 1977 interview with Barbara Walters, he revealed that he would disown any child of his who went against his Catholic religion and lived with a partner out of wedlock. He also confirmed he believed in corporal punishment up to the age of 10 or 12, saying, "I used to whack them pretty good [with] a hairbrush, oh sure. Up until the time they're ten or 12 - otherwise, they hit you back."
Indeed, after Bing's death, his eldest son Gary released a memoir calling his father out for physical abuse, among other things (though his memoir was criticized by some of his siblings for being untrue). Two of Bing's sons, Lindsay (who had supported his father's memory after his brother's memoir accusations) and Dennis, ended their own lives with self-inflicted gunshot wounds in their 50s.
The Perfect Gigi Hadid and Her Health Challenges
Gigi Hadid began her modeling career at two, and by the time she reached her teens, she had made a name for herself. We have seen her transform over the years, and the last decade has indeed been kind to her. Apart from good looks, the supermodel also possesses an enviable physique, though her journey to maintaining her body had its challenges.
Not many know the American model suffers from an autoimmune disorder known as Hashimoto's disease. For those who don't know, in this condition, antibodies in a person's body attack the thyroid tissue, causing swelling of the gland. Nonetheless, Gigi has kept her health under check by maintaining a proper diet and medication.
Nick Jonas and a Daily Shot of Insulin
We often look at celebs and believe that they live a perfect and healthy life. Nonetheless, there is more to it than meets the eye, and like us, even stars go through life challenges, including battling disorders. One of them is singer Nick Jonas who is dealing with an ailment and cannot miss out on a day without medication.
Behind all the smiles and a picture-perfect life, the actor is battling type 1 diabetes. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition, and Nick has to take insulin shots every day to regulate blood sugar levels. Nevertheless, the Camp Rock star remains optimistic and has worked his way around the ailment by working out and eating healthy.
Sofia Vergara’s Family Almost Fell Apart
Sofia Vergara, the Colombian actress, is a household name for starring in the widely famous show Modern Family. Sofia remained the highest-paid actress in the American television industry for seven years, so naturally, no one could guess that the actress ever had to face any kinks in her life.
Sofia had to deal with a lot during her life in Colombo. In an unfortunate turn of events, she lost her big brother in a kidnapping attempt back in 1989. As hurtful as it was, the tragedy was far from over as her younger brother took up substances in its aftermath. Yet, the artist persisted and rose above it all.
Mackenzie Phillips Experienced a Terrible Teenage
Mackenzie Philips won our hearts with her fabulous feats in numerous television series and films. Yet, not everyone knows that the stunning actress has a terrible past that still haunts her. On one occasion, the So Weird cast disclosed how she was groomed into maintaining a decade-long incestuous affair with her father.
Reportedly, Mackenzie's dad, John Phillips, the lead singer of 'The Mamas & the Papas' band also injected her with illegal substances. So, it is not surprising that she remained an addict for years. We are only glad that the actress overcame her gloomy days and is now enjoying a successful career and marriage.
Rose McGowan Was in a Cult
The star of Charmed has changed directions in life and taken on the role of an activist. Rose McGowan’s name reached new levels of notoriety during the #MeToo scandal. She revealed all of Harvey Weinstein’s inappropriate behavior with his female co-stars in Hollywood. The worst part was that it was not the first time she witnessed this kind of behavior.
When Rose was younger, she was manipulated into joining a cult by her parents. This cult preached wellness and love, sometime between adults and children. Even as a child, Rose was not willing to follow the flock. She recalled fighting back against the immoral behavior. Go, Rose!
Jane Fonda's Shock of Life
One of Hollywood's accomplished stars, Jane Fonda, has an impressive career portfolio. It isn't only triumphs throughout her life as she has had to deal with a few traumatic incidents. The Grace and Frankie star has opened up about her struggles of having a parent who suffered from bipolar. As a result, Jane's mother was often in and out of institutions.
As if this wasn't enough for the actress to deal with during her childhood, she was surprised when she found out about her mum's demise after reading it in a magazine. In her documentary, Jane calls that incident a defining moment of her life.
Hysterectomy Ended Lena Dunham’s Endometriosis Battle
Lena Dunham suffered from Endometriosis, a medical condition that affects the reproductive health of one in every ten women in the world. This disorder results in extra tissue growth outside the uterus which, unlike the normal uterus lining, does not shed through the va**na during menstruation. Naturally, the blood accumulation causes immense pain in one's back and lower abdomen.
To get cured of this painful health issue, the actress had to eliminate all her reproductive organs through the procedure of total hysterectomy. Now, although Lena is disease-free, she can never become a natural mom. Still, the Girls star can always adopt!
Ronda Rousey’s Dad Took His Own Life
After suffering a back injury that greatly impacted his motor skills and led to his struggle with depression, Ronda Rousey’s dad took his own life when the wrestler was only eight. According to Rousey, nothing broke her heart more than knowing that her family did everything within their power to make sure her dad got better, and yet still, he gave up on himself.
Now we understand why Rousey’s principal value in life is to fight for oneself and those who cannot fight for themselves. Not the best of circumstances to learn from, but it took losing her dad for the WWE star to realize the importance of not backing down.
This Is Iron Man’s Kryptonite
Robert Downey Jr. is the man that put the Marvel Universe on the map for millions of people around the world. His portrayal of Iron Man single-handedly started the superhero craze of the early 2000s. What the world couldn’t see behind Robert’s millions of dollars and A-list lifestyle were the emotional scars he’s carried since he was a boy.
Robert’s father was an alc**olic and forced him to start drinking and using illegal substances well before Robert reached the age of 10. Thankfully, our favorite billionaire superhero managed to get clean and propel himself into a life most of us only dream about. Attaboy, Robert!
Lil Wayne Suffered Self-Imposed G**shot Injury
Grammy award-winning rapper Lil Wayne has opened up on mental health issues he battled as a young kid. When he learned that his mother would not allow him to pursue his dream of rapping, he was willing to give it his all. At age 12, Lil Wayne suffered a self-inflicted g**shot wound to the chest. He was aware of his mother's revolver in the bedroom and proceeded to get it, but not before calling the cops.
Fortunately, an off-duty police officer at the scene, whom he fondly calls Uncle Bob, insisted on accompanying him to the hospital rather than waiting for an ambulance. To date, the rapper credits Uncle Bob with saving his life.
The Almost Perfect Beauty Goddess Fights Skin Condition
Kim Kardashian is an American reality TV star and social media personality. So when the fashion mogul posted pictures of a skin disease called psoriasis on social media, it caught everyone off guard. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that creates scaly areas on the skin, particularly on the scalp, elbows, and knees. She began experiencing symptoms at the age of 25 and has been dealing with them for more than a decade.
Undoubtedly, this ailment can aggravate an influencer who relies on her beauty for a living, and it is much scarier because there's no cure. Yet, Kim has remained confident and optimistic, which is fantastic news.
Spy Fell in Love With a Substance Dealer
Jackie Chan is one of the most prolific action movie stars of his generation. He earned the hearts of admirers with his excellent martial arts and comic skills. Yet, what many probably don't know is that the Hong Kong superstar's dad was a secret agent and his mum a dr*g dealer.
After Jackie's father arrested his mother for possession of illegal narcotics, the two fell in love. How interesting! Despite his mum's quick money scams, the action hero has been able to bring genuine family fortune through his hard work and dedication.
Queen of Talk Refuses to Have Kids
Chelsea Handler is a talk show host and comedian. She admitted to terminating two pregnancies at 16 in an interview with Rosie O'Donnell. If the TV host had her way, she would not have had an abortion since she was excited about the prospect of having a child, but her parents persuaded her differently, and she has never regretted her decision.
Although the pregnancies were unplanned, she is grateful that she could have legal abortions that did not endanger her health. In addition, Chelsea has insisted on not having any children. According to Chelsea, she doesn't want to have kids because she doesn't think she'd be a great mother.
Gisele Bündchen Was Fighting Panic Attacks Secretly
Gisele Bündchen is a fashion model from Brazil who reigned in the world of fashion and ramp ever since she started her career in 2001. In 2007, she was declared the 16th richest woman in the entertainment industry. From the outlook, one would guess that Gisele had it all, and there wasn’t anything to worry about.
Still, the reality was far from the shiny façade. Gisele had been actively fighting panic attacks, never knowing the reason for their surfacing. Reportedly, she struggled with those because they could not be explained, for she was doing very well in her professional and family life. Nevertheless, the model had to spend a lot of energy keeping them under control.
Anderson Cooper Lost His Brother in His 20s
Anderson Cooper is an American broadcast journalist and a political analyst. Anderson has widespread fame as a hard-hitting journalist and is a household name. Nevertheless, very few people know about his personal struggle with the loss of his brother, one that he contemplates frequently.
Anderson’s older brother, Carter, jumped from the 14th floor of their NYC penthouse at the budding age of 23. The broadcaster was only 21 years old at that time and had a close relationship with his brother. The loss weighed heavily on him, especially because of the possibility that it could have been because of the meds he was on.
Freddie Prinze Jr. Grew up Without His Father
Freddie Prinze Jr., the American actor, is a fairly successful guy in Hollywood. He has several hit titles to his name, and it seems as if the actor has had a good life throughout. Yet, Freddie has had struggles of his own with regard to his family, which had a deep impact on him.
The actor’s father, Freddie Prinze, who was also a star comedian, ended his life very early on when Prinze Jr. was just a baby. Growing up, Freddie immensely missed his father and yearned for that connection. Nevertheless, now that he is a father himself, he is trying to become one since he didn’t have such while growing up.
The Guitarist With a Story to Tell
Like many celebrities, Carlos Santana also got his own slice of struggles that took a long time to overcome. The Mexican-born Grammy Award winner was brought to America at the very young age of ten. With his love for music, he went on to become an enviable success but it started with a bitter pill.
His arrival into America was met with series of sexual abuse by the man who took him across the border. Living with the pain was tumultuous for Carlos as he even started to think it was his fault. Thank goodness, his wife lured him with the idea of therapy and since then, he’s been better and even helping communities through his experience.
Gabrielle Union’s Resoluteness and Joy
Gabrielle Union’s journey to being a mother was not a smooth one. While the actress kept on being an amazingly loving mother to her step kids, quite a cascade of troubles went on behind the curtains before she eventually had her own. Drawing the curtains then and you would have known she was dealing with quite a series of miscarriages; but she kept on being strong, not giving the situation a chance to beat her.
The doctors diagnosed her with a condition called Adenomyosis; it meant that her endometrial tissue grew into her uterine wall. When it all seemed hopeless, her resolve found a way as she and her supportive husband, Dwayne Wade, had a daughter in 2018 via surrogacy.
Was It Really a Heart Attack?
It is certainly a serious brand of heartbreak getting to know that one’s personal tragic story that had stayed with one all their life did not happen the way they thought it did; that it happened even more tragically. Melissa Gilbert thought her father passed from a heart attack. She was 11 years at the time.
After a successful career in the arts, and one might even say, in politics; achieving feats like being the President of the Screen Actors Guild, she found out her father took his life; this was 34 years after. Melissa, however, being resolute through the pain, came to peace with it, proclaiming she understood his decision; even so much as saying that she honored it.
It Did Not Matter if Common Was Nine
Common is a popular figure in Hollywood, lighting up music stages and movie sets throughout his career but did you know this A-lister, one time, in his life, was a victim of se**al abuse? It would seem that the rapper even threw the situation out of his mind into oblivion. We wouldn’t blame him; these things can be very traumatizing.
It is actually very amusing how the John Wick star remembered. He was at work and the vaulted memories of when he was nine years old came rushing like a trance that made him gobsmacked. Such a sad situation to deal with! We hope the rapper has completely healed from the mental bruise that the situation caused.
Music Is Ginuwine's Father and Mother
Tragedy is no respecter of persons! Ginuwine was orphaned at a very young age from devastating situations—his father took his life and his mother was plagued with terminal cancer. Despite the calamities, fans have come to love the musician, how he channels these personal terrors into his songs, and how brutally honest he has been as a lyricist.
Growing up was tough for the acclaimed songwriter. He, however, through a lot of strength and determination, has gotten things going smoothly for him. If fame is a smokescreen, please look through it as Ginuwine’s story is more than just his stardom and should serve as an inspiration to everyone.