Paris Hilton and Rick Salomon (2003/2004)
The night-vision tape 1 Night in Paris leaked just before The Simple Life premiered. Hilton initially tried to stop its release but later profited from it. It helped launch her into super-stardom.
Colin Farrell (2005)
A private tape with a Playboy Playmate was leaked. Farrell successfully sued to prevent its distribution, but clips still circulated online.
Kim Kardashian and Ray J (2003/2007)
The tape leaked in 2007 and is widely credited with launching Kim’s career and the entire Kardashian empire. She has spoken about the emotional toll it took.
Rob Lowe (1988)
- One of the first major celebrity sex tape scandals.
- At age 24, during the 1988 Democratic National Convention in Atlanta, Lowe picked up two women at a nightclub and recorded a threesome in his hotel room.
- One woman was 23, the other 16 (Lowe claimed he didn’t know her age; the club was 21+).
- The tape leaked, was screened at private parties, and even aired on public access TV. It severely damaged his “Brat Pack” heartthrob image at the time.
- Lowe later called it a turning point that helped him get sober. His career recovered in the ’90s. He even spoofed it on SNL.
Jayne Kennedy (early 1990s)
- Pioneering Black actress, model, and sportscaster (first Black woman to do NFL play-by-play).
- A private, consensual VHS tape of her having sex with her then-husband (actor Leon Isaac Kennedy) was stolen (reportedly by a family member) and leaked after their divorce.
- She has described it as an intimate married moment, not a “sex tape,” and said it caused deep depression, career setbacks, and public humiliation. She largely withdrew from the spotlight afterward but has recently opened up about it in her memoir Plain Jayne.
Classic Hollywood Rumors (1930s–1960s Era)
These are mostly unverified whispers, as actual film reels were rare and hard to distribute:
- Marilyn Monroe: Long-running rumors of a 1940s–1950s stag film or “sex tape” showing her in explicit acts (including oral sex with an unidentified man). Some claimed it involved Kennedy connections. A purported film sold privately for big money ($1.5M in one story), but it has never been publicly released or definitively proven. Many experts say similar clips are lookalikes (e.g., model Arline Hunter) or fakes. Monroe did pose nude for calendars early on, which she openly addressed.
- Joan Crawford: 1920s–1930s rumors of her appearing in “blue movies” (silent stag films) before stardom. These remain unconfirmed folklore.
Rose McGowan (2017)
In 2017, private nude photos and an explicit sex tape of the Charmed actress were leaked online without her consent as part of the “Fappening 2.0” wave. McGowan publicly condemned the hack, contacted the Department of Justice, and stated she would pursue legal action against those responsible.
The Fappening (2014 Celebrity Nude Photo & Video Leak)
The Fappening (also known as Celebgate) was one of the largest mass leaks of private intimate material in history. More than 100 celebrities had their iCloud accounts hacked, with nude photos and some videos released on 4chan and Reddit in August–September 2014 (with additional waves in later years, including 2017).
Main Celebrities Affected (most notable names):
- Jennifer Lawrence – The highest-profile victim; she publicly confirmed the photos were real and described the leak as a “sex crime.”
- Kate Upton
- Rihanna
- Kim Kardashian (additional images)
- Mary Elizabeth Winstead
- Kaley Cuoco
- Kirsten Dunst
- Selena Gomez
- Vanessa Hudgens
- Alison Brie
- Emma Watson (mainly in later waves)
- Amanda Seyfried
- Miley Cyrus
- Anne Hathaway
- Demi Lovato
- Lucy Hale
- Kate Hudson
- Rosario Dawson
Other notable victims included Abigail Spencer, Christina Hendricks, Hope Solo, Anna Kendrick, Cara Delevingne, Avril Lavigne, and many more.
Other Notable Mentions
- Dustin Diamond (Saved by the Bell) — Released his own.
- Brett Favre — Unsolicited explicit pics/tapes sent to a reporter.
- Hulk Hogan — Tape with a friend’s wife (part of Gawker lawsuit).
- Tupac Shakur — (reported 1991 tape, mentioned in recent discussions).
- Vivid Entertainment deals: Several reality stars like Tila Tequila, Sextette types.
- Athletes: Multiple NBA/NFL players have had leaks (e.g., Kyrie Irving rumors, others).
