We Hate Jesse James Now... But Will It Last?

By Brooke Tarnoff Posted Apr 3rd 2010 08:30AM

Fans were furious when Tiger Woods' many sexual indiscretions came to light -- and yet, their anger pales in comparison to Jesse James' nosediving popularity. Maybe it's because no one really knew Elin Nordegren before her husband's infidelity put her name in headlines for a solid month. Maybe it's because we identify so strongly with Sandra Bullock, the charming, refreshingly down-to-Earth starlet James betrayed. Despite a much shorter marriage and probably one-third the number of mistresses, a vast majority of PopEater readers think Jesse James made the bigger mess.

We don't disagree that James failed Bullock spectacularly -- or believe he doesn't deserve the tidal wave of criticism. That being said, we've checked out some of the most shocking celebrity sex scandals of the last few decades, and we learned a little something: you might be angry now, but in a couple years, you won't give a hoot. We offer proof after the jump.

Hugh Grant

Handsome, debonair actor Hugh Grant had everything a man could want -- a thriving career and a long-term romance with one of the world's most beautiful women, Elizabeth Hurley -- but it didn't stop him from paying a streetwalker for a $60 sex act in the front seat of his BMW. The resulting arrest cost Grant $1,180 in fines, two years' summary probation and the esteem of his fans. Grant was public enemy number one after the scandal in '95 -- men who would have loved to be faithful to Hurley hated the 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' star for wasting his good fortune, and women loathed him for highlighting a world where even a flawless model couldn't keep her man from straying.

And now? Fifteen years later, Grant's career his going strong. He starred opposite Julia Roberts in the 1999 film 'Notting Hill,' which was, at the time, the biggest hit in the history of British cinema. His roguish character in 'Bridget Jones' Diary' poked fun at his public persona, and despite his personal failings, has continued to sell tickets to romantic comedies like 'Love Actually' and 'Two Weeks Notice' (with Sandra Bullock).

Paul Reubens

Comedian Paul Reubens -- AKA Pee-wee Herman -- was a cult hero and host of a popular Saturday morning kids' show before his arrest for indecent exposure in an adult movie theater in 1991. The media blitz following his arrest caused CBS to stop airing reruns of 'Pee-wee's Playhouse,' and Disney-MGM Studios suspended a studio tour video that showed the actor explaining how voiceover tracks were made. A subsequent inquiry by police on suspicion of collecting child pornography torpedoed his reputation ... though the charges were eventually dropped.

And now? The comedian talked to Larry King about his indecent exposure arrest: "That didn't seem like a crime to me. It didn't seem like anyone's business but my own." Many fans and celebrities agreed -- just days after his first arrest, Reubens had a panel of supporters. He's made numerous, celebrated cameos in movies and TV shows, and as of January 2010, revived the live performance of 'Pee-wee's Playhouse' in Los Angeles. Due to high demand, the show moved to a larger venue.

Rob Lowe

Brat Pack member Rob Lowe was a much-loved heartthrob before his 1988 sex scandal -- the 'St. Elmo's Fire' star filmed a sexual interlude with two women... one of whom was 16. When the videotape surfaced, Lowe swore he did not know that his sex partner was a teenager and it was confirmed that the two had met at a bar. Lowe checked into a rehab clinic for sex addiction, much like his current counterparts in scandal, Woods and James. As James Wolcott wrote in Vanity Fair, "It took years for Lowe's career and image to recover from the scandal, not only because it cracked his Clark Kent façade, but because one of the young ladies on the receiving end was a minor."

And now? A seven-year stint on 'The West Wing,' his current role in 'Brothers & Sisters' and a recent turn in the film 'The Invention of Lying' say Lowe's indiscretion with an underage girl was at worst a career hiccup -- and apparently, a distant memory.

Woody Allen

Acclaimed writer, actor and filmmaker Woody Allen scores the highest on the sex scandal ick-o-meter -- Allen's one-time girlfriend Mia Farrow ended their twelve-year relationship after discovering nude photographs of her adopted daughter, Soon-Yi Previn, that Allen had taken. After the relationship ended with Farrow in 1992, Allen continued his relationship with Soon-Yi, and the couple married in 1997. They have two adopted daughters. Allen and Farrow's biological son said, "He's my father married to my sister. That makes me his son and his brother-in-law. That is such a moral transgression. I cannot see him. I cannot have a relationship with my father and be morally consistent ... I lived with all these adopted children, so they are my family. To say Soon-Yi was not my sister is an insult to all adopted children."

And now? Many would say that Allen's tarnished reputation has never fully recovered. However, in the time since his breakup with Farrow, Allen has directed 17 major motion pictures -- including 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona,' which snagged a best supporting actress Oscar for Penelope Cruz.

Comments

(288)

Saturday 03 April

By judejaded

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well,....no. the media tell us we should hate these dudes, so ppl think: "yeah, i hate this dude". then, when all the hype dies down, ppl "don't give a hoot". personally i never gave a hoot about any of these guys, and could care less about jessie james. i'm already a misanthropist and nothing surprises me about human nature. i hate you fat heads in the media more.

By Tee

Yeah, it will last! Paul Reubens is a pervert, Woody Allen is a pervert, a nasty human being and as old as he is, he has no moral, Jesse James, a sex addict? Of course not, a cheater, plain and simple back to his kind of people/world. But for the last three, Hugh Grant and Rob Rowe were just stupid. Tiger Woods was a cheater/sex addict and hope that rehab cures him.

By NEWYORKRAIL

You hit the nail on the head! Jesse James just prefers skank women.

By your mom

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judejaded, marry me. you said it all!

By jmslotnick

The only one of the men mentioned in this article that was married when they did what they did was Woody Allen with his adopted daughter who he is still married to and with to this day. The others were not. Jesse James was married to Sandra Bullock who was so deeply in love with him and what he did to her was disgusting. He I will not forgive. He hurt Sandra and his children and deserves no sympathy at all.

By Daverino

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It takes what it takes... got to stop an addiction before it gets worse, They are all progressive illnesses with no borders. no matter what the "Drug" of choice is.. I had to go to treatment 5 times over 15yrs. to get sober 8 yrs. and I'm 46!
I would find myself homeless,in jail,no self- esteem. The police all knew me by my first name! It was crazy! No matter what, Jessie James has got to get help while money can still help him!!! Sandra IS his Angel!! She is triggering the rescue! Don't you see what's going on here!? She has to get him through this untill DEATH do we part. That a Biker CREDO.. get it? we work hard for glory. Besides a lot of people run into trouble with too much money.

By Joe711

Dude, I have no idea why in the hell I was even reading these posts but I'm glad I did when I got to yours. Good luck brother and God Bless You.

By Mdx

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I don't hate JJ. I just think he is a OTC Dance Hall King type.

By Sumy

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Sandra loves this type of guy. She also probably loves the controversy. She wanted to marry a Billy Bad a who is intimidating to many people which she really likes. She probably doenot want to really divorce this billy bad a type charcter. She will stick with this a-h most likely. She doent want a nice good man she want a billy bad a. She made her bed so she should lay in it. In the meantime he will lay in everybody elses bed. They are both legends in their own minds.

By Lilly Anne

Well, many are angry at Jesse now because it was Sandra Bullock who he betrayed and she is idolized by so many. If it were some actor or actress that wasn't so loved. Would any one really care? i say NOT! as a movie watcher of Sandra Bullocks fllms we identify with her on many levels. Jesse added to the picture by being a regular guy which made Sandra Bullock even more human as a celebrity. Sadly we all feel for her..So if she makes up with Jesse..most will forgive him along with her.Most.Not all..but don't we who like Sandra as an actress & want her to be happy? so if Happiness for her is forgivness to Jesse. Than we shall forgive along with her. Maybe not understand but maybe learn from her ability to forgive, Bullock is so adored that if she forgives and Jesse ever does it again? Sandra would walk & never look back. There would be no question about it! Jesse will be more scrutnized than any forgiven clebrity in the last twenty years. Forgivenes once by Sandra but never twice! The qestion now I think is? Can Jesse endure a life of scrutiny by the Media?
It may be more torture for what he has done than if he just sad goodbye and walked.

By mary

WHO?

By dianne

there is definitely a difference...Sandra went on television and gave a glowing tribute to the guy...I love you ...you have my back...obviously it is humiliating to Sandra to find out the truth...he never had her back..he just used the time away to cheat...what a piece of crap...

By mydownthere

These four guys don't belong in the same category. Peewee Herman got cought chocking the chicken at an adult movie theatre, and that was funny. Hugh Grant cheated on his girlfriend with a street walker, and we couldn't believe he would do such thing when his girlfriend, Elizabeth Hurly is so beautiful.
Tiger and Jessee are in the same garbage category. They cheated multiple times with the lowest of the low.

By Tess

All these guys will be remembered for what they did. Whoever wrote this thinking people forget, is wrong. New suggestion for a perfect match: Jesse James and Angelina Jolie. She's got the look he likes, the personality and character traits (or lack thereof), AND tatoos. Perfect!

By Dan

Aside from being married to Sandra Bullock what exactly is Jesse James famous for? Prior to this scandal I never even heard of him. Like Tom Arnold (aka Mr. Rosanne), I'd like to see this fool just disappear from media attention.

By tothepoint

Jesse James, the nazi surf board guy, who is a disgrace, sells motorcyles that he builds and sells for sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars, he has a TV show and is a muti-millionaire. Although he is a disgrace and is now seen by many as a racist, as well as a cheater, give the devil his due, he is a self-made millionare.

Tuesday 27 April

By Pat

He was famous (but just to this particular crowd) for his body work and how to jack up hot rods.
Now, he's right down there with Buttafooco. (sp?) You know...the mechanic who got famous for getting a BJ from a young GIRL, that wound up blowing half of his wife's face off.
Sandra is just lucky he didn't hook up with the likes of Lorena or Lolitta. LOL

By patti

Not excusing what Jesse James did, but I think we should leave it up to Sandra and Jesse to figure out what to do..........stay married or not...........as far as scandals,there are always going to be cheaters, men and women, it's just sad when you have a good partner that you would cheat.........and all the celebrity news people I'm sure have things they have done which they wouldn't want known...............

Grant was with a prostitute and the last I heard, that is illegal. Lowe was with a girl that was 16 which is illegal, but he claimed he did not know her age. Tiger and Jesse are the stupid cheating ones.

By NukinFuts

"You're likely furious at what Jesse did to Sandra, & maybe you won't forgive" Why would/does anyone care? Why would Jesse care if someone he doesn't know has go some sort of grudge?

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