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 elei

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Jesse James isn't a major celeb anyway, he became more popular after he married Sandra. He and Sandra obviously are cut from two different cloths after all. If it wasn't for reality TV he would have been famous for his Chopper thing and that's about it. He was probably an aspiring porn star before .

By Parissa

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The faces shown above ~ Jesse James, Hugh Grant, Tiger Woods and Pee-wee Herman ~ all have a negative 'vote' from me. No, I've not forgotten ~ nor will I forget ~ their respective abominable behaviors! Nor will I forget Woody Allens or Rob Lowes nor so many others who have behaved so badly toward those they supposedly loved and cherished (wives; children; parents; friends; co-workers; etc.)! Indeed, life goes on, but, I for one, have never been to a Woody Allen film since his behavior became public ... and I've never seen ONE SHOW OR SEASON of anything Rob Lowe has been (or is) in. Of all these 'men', Hugh Grant was the biggest and most surprising disappointment. I've seen one or two of his films since but as I watch him on screen I can't help but wonder what the actresses he's working with think of him as he puts his arms around them or reads his lines of 'love and devotion.' Eeeeewh! And with Hugh Grant, I can't help but ask, 'WHY!?' He could have 'had' a goodly number of women had HE stood on the street corner and just smiled!? With regard to both Tiger and Jesse, there are just simply no words to excuse or explain or justify their respective behaviors! None whatsoever. And as far as I'm concerned they can both apologize into oblivion and it would NEVER be enough. I'll never have a kind or sympathetic word for Tiger ... and as to Jesse James ... who's he? I certainly wouldn't tell either Elin or Sandra what to do with regard to their marriages (stay or leave), they have to follow their own hearts and judgements, and whatever they decide to do, I as their public, will honor, but as to ever having respect for these cheating men again, ARE YOU KIDDING? No, I haven't forgotten and I doubt a good number of other women have, either.

By Danny Warren

.....Okay, I`m a GUY! But that does not mean that ALL guys are the same. I never thought James was good enough for her, but she, (Sandra) got too close to the kids and probably fell in love with HIM thru them. It`s the KIDS I am now thinking about. I really hope she can find the time to be with them without dealing with James. He may be TRYING to get help, but after a "GRACE" period he WILL be back at the old habits. He just is not the LOYAL type.

By BRAD

RIGHT ON JOHN. LOOK AT THE 12 Year old who is sueing her city for doodling on her desk. when i was a kid, i would have been thrown out of school and then get a beating from my dad!!

By June

Bill Clinton was the saint of all.

Friday 09 April

By the randyman

and then you woke up RIGHT!!

By Ty

Oh, so you guy's present the red herring, a menu of choises that are much worse than JJ. This is suppost to make everything Okay? Many in the movie and entertainment industry made the mechanic-fabricator famous. A good story, hard worker, and talented blue collar type rarely get recongition. Public opinion and the entertainment industry can change just a quickly. At 70 I could see him at a motorcycle dive with his tatooed hog(s) telling his story.

By jim

How can any of this be news-worthy? I guess the tens of thousands of 'journalist' out there have to try and make print filler out of something.

By IAN

I followed the links on the LA Times on the Jesse James story, where he and a knife wielding flunkey attached a paparazzo on public property, then went to the story with pictures of this character dressed in Nazi gear, next to a model in the same attire. What kind of freaks is "America's Sweetheart" attracted to???? Are "we" going to hate him for long? I'd like to close with a quote from Tonto: "we white man?"

By wjj

I'd give up a kidney to have a babe like that..or an eye, lung..

By Jose M.

Since the begining of that relationship btwen this two.
I say to me: Why She mes/with a motorcicle trash?
Now I have my R......

By Ezeestreet

I hope there is an end to that Jesse James story. Don't we have anything else to talk about? What nonsense every day.Get a life people

By Bennetts

What is popular is not necessarily right. Integrity is still something to strive for. Just because someone is popular does not mean they should be chosen to be a role model. It is wrong when people try to excuse their own behavior by imitating what they believe to be popular.
True fidelity does exist. Many real people who are not popular idols do make it to their 50th wedding anniversary with integrity and they should be the role models.

By Pat

I've never forgotten what these guys did to mess up their lives, marriages or whatever. Maybe that's because I continue to have morals -- even in this trashy world we live in?

By eileen

Nothing could beat the old Debbie, Eddie and Liz triangle.

By Jamie

It shouldn`t matter to anyone but Sandra so where do all these people get off trying to judge someone else? Take care of your own lives and quit trying to act like anyone of us out there are any better. So when one of you can walk on water maybe your judgement will be better received

By Dudeman

How old is this guy? 45? 50? Physically a guy that age can only get so many erections a week. If his wife was taking care of him at home, this wouldn't have happened.

By RSF Morgans

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That statement might have been true in the past, but now you have Cialis and Viagra to "enhance" your cheating...er...love life.

By rggirt

Although you're basically right, there are many variables that can make for may erections per night. Remember, it's a function of blood flow, arteriolar dilation, intact sympathetic nervous system, physical conditioning, psychological stresses, and drug use. For example, even a small amount of meth. can give erections all night, as can cocaine. Jesse is not an ordinary guy and he could surely have 5 to ten erections per night under the right conditions.

By mike

I dont give a hoot now and 15 yrs later I still wont give a hoot, hes a skank and always will be a skank look at him lol enough said!

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