Celebrity culture is notorious for attention-grabbing antics, but some famous figures have taken it to the extreme. From fabricated illnesses to bizarre proposals, these are the top 20 instances where celebrities went above and beyond to keep the public’s gaze fixed on them.

20. Faked Medical Documents

In an infamous scandal, a reality TV personality tried to fake medical documents to support a false cancer claim. After discrepancies in the documents were discovered, the truth was revealed, leading to widespread backlash. Despite admitting to falsifying the documents, they maintained the cancer diagnosis was real.

19. Bow Wow’s Private Jet Lie

Rapper Bow Wow tried to showcase his luxury lifestyle by posting a picture of a private jet, implying he was about to travel on it. Shortly after, fans caught him on a commercial flight, unmasking his deception. The incident sparked the viral #BowWowChallenge, with users parodying his fraudulent claim by comparing real versus fake photos.

18. Kathy Griffin’s Trump Mask Controversy

Comedian Kathy Griffin sparked massive outrage after posing with a bloody mask resembling then-President Donald Trump. Criticized across the political spectrum, Griffin lost major endorsements and faced a federal investigation. She later apologised, only to retract the apology months later.

17. Jake Paul’s Dangerous “Bird Box” Challenge

Inspired by Netflix’s thriller Bird Box, YouTuber Jake Paul participated in a challenge where individuals perform tasks blindfolded. Paul took it further, navigating a busy street blindfolded and even driving a car. The stunt drew heavy criticism, especially after Netflix urged fans to stop the dangerous trend.

16. Dennis Rodman Marries Himself

In 1996, basketball legend Dennis Rodman pulled off one of the most outlandish stunts by dressing in a wedding gown and announcing that he was marrying… himself. This headline-grabbing move was part of a book promotion and cemented his reputation for eccentricity.

15. Kevin Spacey’s Creepy Christmas Video

In 2018, Kevin Spacey released a bizarre video, adopting his House of Cards character Frank Underwood. Released amid serious allegations against him, the cryptic monologue in the video was widely criticised as inappropriate, especially given its timing.

14. Lochtegate – Ryan Lochte’s Fake Robbery

During the 2016 Rio Olympics, swimmer Ryan Lochte claimed he was robbed at gunpoint. However, surveillance footage later revealed he and teammates had vandalised a gas station. The scandal tarnished Lochte’s reputation and cost him sponsorship deals.

13. Tonya Harding’s Boxing Career

After her figure skating career ended in scandal, Tonya Harding attempted a career in professional boxing. While she won half of her matches, her boxing career was short-lived due to health issues.

12. Joaquin Phoenix’s Fake Retirement

In 2008, Joaquin Phoenix shocked the world by announcing he was quitting acting to become a rapper. His chaotic behaviour on talk shows had many concerned, but it was later revealed to be a stunt to promote a mockumentary.

11. Shia LaBeouf’s Paper Bag Moment

At the premiere of Nymphomaniac, actor Shia LaBeouf wore a paper bag over his head that read “I’m not famous anymore.” This stunt, along with other strange behaviour, was viewed as performance art, but left fans confused.

10. Kim Kardashian’s 72-Day Marriage

Kim Kardashian’s 2011 wedding to NBA player Kris Humphries was highly publicised, but just 72 days later, the couple filed for divorce. Many accused the marriage of being a publicity stunt, especially as the wedding was aired as a TV special.

9. DJ Khaled’s Fake Proposal to Nicki Minaj

In 2013, DJ Khaled made headlines when he publicly proposed to Nicki Minaj on MTV. It was later revealed the proposal was a promotional stunt for an album.

8. Kanye West Interrupts Taylor Swift

In one of the most infamous moments in pop culture history, Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift’s 2009 VMA acceptance speech to declare that Beyoncé deserved the award. The incident sparked years of drama and tension between the two artists.

7. Farrah Abraham’s Misleading Sex Tape

Reality TV star Farrah Abraham initially denied the existence of a sex tape, only to sell it later for $1 million. The tape’s release led many to accuse her of misleading the public for attention.

6. The White Stripes Pretend to Be Siblings

For over a decade, the rock duo The White Stripes maintained that they were siblings, despite being ex-spouses. This misleading narrative added an air of mystery to the band until the truth was revealed.

5. Garth Brooks’ Alter Ego

Country music star Garth Brooks adopted the persona of “Chris Gaines” in 1999. Despite promoting this alter ego with an album and television appearances, the experiment was a commercial flop.

4. Ashanti’s Label Sends Threatening Emails

To promote a music video, Ashanti’s label created a website that sent users fake threatening emails. The controversial stunt was quickly criticised, and the campaign was scrapped.

3. Brian Williams Exaggerates His Iraq Story

News anchor Brian Williams falsely claimed to have been in a helicopter that was hit by an RPG in Iraq. When the truth came to light, Williams faced suspension and public disgrace.

2. Steve Rannazzisi’s 9/11 Lie

Comedian Steve Rannazzisi falsely claimed to have been in one of the Twin Towers during the 9/11 attacks. After the truth surfaced, he apologised but lost a major endorsement deal.

1. Jussie Smollett’s Staged Attack

In 2019, actor Jussie Smollett claimed to have been attacked in a hate crime, only for investigations to suggest he staged the incident. The scandal led to his conviction and temporary imprisonment.