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 Mimi

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Cheater or not, Jesse is still hot. *Sighs*

By Kodaq

i think we should all learn to mind our own business, and not worry about things going on in the lives of other people

By RSF Morgans

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I'm curious, if you were "minding your own business" as you suggest we all do, why did you bother to read the article and then post about it?

Tuesday 27 April

By Dan

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Once the media makes a news story about the actions of a public figure (celeb, politician, pro-athlete, celebutant spouse, etc) it's public knowledge and any1 has a right to express an opinion about it. If U think it's private and none of our business, why were U even here reading it?

By Leroy

If She didn't get JJ then her only option was some gay guy in Hollywood.

By Correctioncaeer

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Was Jessie still married when Sandra starting messing around with him? I think so, even if he was just separated. I remember the tabloids talking about Sandra messing around with him when he was married and she denied it. Now people feel sorry for her?

By rene

People won't forget what J.J. did to Sandra. His name is not forgetable for one thing and she won an Oscar. But as far as caring, people won't. It's no one's business anyway. It's their personal life.

By Julie

Jesse was a NOBODY until he married Sandra. He will go back to being a NOODY, except now he is a CHEATING, NASTY NOBODY.

By floyd

sex addiction what A bunch of BS all of us men are addicted some just have better opportunities.

By tothepoint

I agree with what you say about Jesse and Tiger. Their wives will not have to worry about anyone leaving them broke and down and out like millions of other women. Sandra has her own money and Tiger's wife and children will continue to live the same life style. We need to worry about women and men who cannot live a decent life after divorce or abandonment.

By KC

Jesse James never crossed my mind before he made headlines-don't see that changing.....

By Oliver

Sandra should focus her energy towards her work. The less she thinks about what he did the better for her well being. I have the perfect solution for her, going for another academy award. I read the book "To Prove His Innocence" and Sandra would be perfect playing the role of the sister, Tonja Brown whose brother, Nolan Klein, had been wrongfully convicted. Just a thought.

By Randy Cooley

i dont hate him at all, we all knew him and sandra was a bad match. i support him, he is more of a superstar than she is. Oh she won an oscar, he won over any and everybody that is into chicks, bikes, tats, and tv. go bang whoever you want JJ, what do you expect any damn way, he is related to an outlaw.

By Vegaslyn

This is absolutely none of our business!! Who are we to JUDGE, forgive or not to forgive? They did nothing to any of us. What these men did certainly hurt or disappointed their families, friends and their God. People get so excited for the victims, take sides and slam them as though they were harmed by the behavior. But it sells newspapers and boosts radio and TV ratings to get the "scandal" alive. We the people neither gain or lose anything. They make their huge salaries because we the people flock to see them do their thing. At age 60 plus, I have known men personally that have behaved in this manner. Nothing under the sun is new or unique and I really don't believe there is such a thing as "sex addiction" Men generally do this because they can. I don't feel sorry for any of these women because they all knew what kind of men they married or in the Allen/Farrow relationship lived with. The women felt that they alone were strong or woman enough to change these men. A leopard doesn't change it's spots. This is the first time that I've ever posted anything..........all I wanted to say was PEOPLE GET A LIFE. You don't KNOW any of these characters. Look around you at the people you can impact and get up in their lives as much as you demonsrate your morality in others!!!

Sunday 04 April

By bigwhitedog

in some cases I do have a right to judge. For instance Tiger presented himself as squeaky clean and endorsed products for us to buy. That is called misrepresentation.

By Dori

AMEN AND AMEN!!! Now I'm out of here. Was just curious what the hoopla was all about. HAPPY EASTER YA'LL!!! Forget these creeps, think about something wholesome!

By Jean

I don't hate them. You left Bill Clinton's photo out. He got off to easy with his wife, but I guess it was no surprise to her that he was a low life cheating SOB. I'm disappointed in all of them, and I think they are all dogs.

By John

This is what is wrong in America these days, NO ONE is held accountable anymore. This is why the US is going down the tubes, just like GM did, and you think the US is TOO BIG TO FAIL, think again!!

By Paulie

Actually if you read the scandal of all three men you see that none of them where married, Mia Farrow was Woody Allens girlfriend not wife. Jesse James and Tiger Woods were both married and didn't just have a boring run of the mill affairs but gorged themselves on tramps and trash while they had quality at home. That is what makes them so disliked by the public.

By BRAD

SO MANY OF THESE MEN AND WOMAN THINK THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS STUFF BECAUSE THEY ALSO THINK THEY ARE "STARS"!! AND LOOK AT THE PUBLICITY THEY GET! THEY LOVE IT. UNFORTUNATELY J J IS A LOSER FROM THE WORD "GO"!! AND REMEMBER, FOR EVERY MAN, IT ALSO TAKES A WOMAN!! AND FOR EVERY WOMEN, THERE IS A MAN. i GUESS THAT WOULD BE, UNLESS YOU ARE GAY! THEY WILL BE FRONT PAGE NEWS, AND THEN THEY WILL BE GONE.

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