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This century was, hands down, a total circus of celeb scandals: Chris Brown's assault on Rihanna, Harvey Weinstein's sexual misconduct, Ariana Grande and her doughnut-licking incident, Taylor Swift and Kanye West's feud, Ellen Degeneres' maltreatment of employees, and about a gazillion more. 

However, the media is also known for blowing things out of proportion, so today, we're going to focus solely on overhyped controversies that surrounded our beloved (or not) stars!

More info: Reddit

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar Britney Spears when she had her meltdowns. The woman was bullied and harassed at such an insane level, it would make anyone snap.

Elle12881 , Drew de F Fawkes Report

Final score:
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"Reddit, what outrage over a celebrity was way overblown?" – a netizen who goes by u/vantae-bts recently took to one of the platform's most informative and thought-provoking communities, inviting its members to share famous celeb dramas that really weren't that big of a deal. The thread garnered nearly 11K upvotes as well as 12.1K comments containing some pretty interesting answers.

Now, it's your lucky day because Bored Panda has managed to get through to the author and pose them a couple of questions!

The OP is a college student in the US who was inspired to post the question online after having a conversation with their mom about the outrage. BP then asked the web user to shoot back and answer their own question, to which they replied: “I'm thinking the Britney Spears and Madonna kiss.”
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#2

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar Monica Lewinsky- America did her dirty.

Letsgosomewherenice , monica_lewinsky Report

Final score:
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Ross “Sarcastic Dad”
Ross “Sarcastic Dad”
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not that it makes it ok, but her story is really inspiring. She managed to learn a lot about herself and came out the other end an amazing person. Fun to follow on Twitter. Very funny.

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For those of you who don’t know or perhaps had not yet been born when the "scandal" occurred, u/vantae-bts is talking about the famous on-stage kiss Madonna shared with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera during the performance of one of her biggest hits, "Like a Virgin," at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. 

Due to the rather conservative views in the early noughties and the fact that public display of affection, let alone a same-sex one, was fairly uncommon on TV, the smooch sparked quite a stir and gripped the headlines for weeks! 
#3

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar When the female soccer player won and took off her shirt, and had a sports bra under it. My God, you would have thought all of the world just witness their first look at a stomach

Creepy_Society5958 , Karolina Grabowska Report

Final score:
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Luke Branwen
Luke Branwen
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And then a female beach volleyball team got heavily fined because they decided to wear shorts instead of skimpy bikini.

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#4

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar Any female celeb who was shamed for existing. Anne Hathaway when paparazzi took and published an up-skirt photo when she was exiting a car. Miley Cyrus for legally smoking salvia with her friends in her home, or when a world famous photographer took a photo that the media deemed whore-ish, despite it not being her idea and she was a kid AND was covered. Brittani Spears for being a human and not perfect, etc. the media is hard af on women for just being human.

ODB247 Report

Final score:
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We hope that you've enjoyed this interesting collection of celeb scandals that folks online believe were blown way out of proportion! Let us know which one you agree with the most, and don't hesitate to add your own examples in the comments section down below.

#5

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar People were angrier at Billie Eilish mouthing an anti-Asian slur from a Tyler the Creator song when she was 15 than actually being angry at Tyler the Creator for ADDING THAT SLUR INTO THE SONG in the first place.

carissadraws , billieeilish Report

Final score:
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BW Gibson
BW Gibson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This!! Talk abt gender -based double standards, at best, but more likely misogyny

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#6

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction.

ripplerider , janetjackson Report

Final score:
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Kat Lyle
Kat Lyle
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This - Justin was the one that actually ripped her top off but she took all the blame and shame.

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#7

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar George Michael being asked by an undercover cop if he wants to see his thing, he said sure. So everyone found out he was gay and that was a huge no no. Gay meant pervert back then. Really sad and he never recovered mentally. Pisses me off. Just wasn't fair.

has2give , georgemofficial Report

Final score:
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ॐBoyGanesh
ॐBoyGanesh
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This comment seems like someone who wasn’t around or is too young to have related rewriting history. Gay meant gay back then. I know, I was very out & gay back then. Gay may have meant pervert in some places or with some people back then, as it still does today. There wasn’t some paradigm shift where everyone thought he was a pervert (most people I know thought it was sad that was the only way he could have physical connection) & now everyone feels horrible for how he was treated. To be clear, he was cruising for secs with other men in the restroom. Cottaging. Cruising. He was arrested for that. It wasn’t a random sting, but a common over-policing of an innocuous crime, albeit still a crime.) Guys are still getting arrested every day for this all over the world, because it’s typically not legal to have secs in public restrooms. The issue was how he couldn’t live his authentic self as “Yog” and still maintain his success as “George” if he were outed.

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#8

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar Simone Biles not being able to perform at the Olympics.

Fox News got outraged over an athlete, who was having issues and couldn’t perform

I remember people crying about how she “stole” from other athletes who would have otherwise taken her spot. “There’s a young woman who could have gone to the Olympics if *she* didn’t want to do her job!”

I also vaguely remember when people screamed about her taking adderall. Which she was prescribed, and wasn’t taking it as a PED.

Also, keeping up with the US women’s gymnastics - when people got up in arms ahout Gabby Douglas not putting her hand over her heart for the national anthem. Bro, she represented your country, she clearly isn’t anti-American

marilern1987 , simonebiles Report

Final score:
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madbakes
madbakes
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes. Her not being able to connect her mind and body could end up with her paralyzed if she performed.

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#9

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar Obama being distracted and [not returning a salute](https://youtu.be/Np7lObaDiBk) from a Marine while boarding Marine One, despite immediately going back down the stairs to acknowledge the guy and shake his hand.

Idiots at the time claimed the pilot wouldn't let him board, as if any serving officer would end their career disrespecting the Commander in Chief who as a civilian was under no obligation to return a salute in the first place.

Also the time Obama did salute, but had a coffee cup in his hand.

cruiserman_80 , CNN Report

Final score:
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talliloo
talliloo
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

anything that obama did was put under a microscope and criticized. it wasn't about the man in the tan suit - it was about the tan man in the white house.

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#10

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar The Chicks (formerly Dixie Chicks) and the whole thing with George W Bush

anon , Wasted Time R Report

Final score:
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#11

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar Kaepernick kneeling

cadcamm99 , Daniel W. Hartwig Report

Final score:
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BW Gibson
BW Gibson
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This even more!! I come from a military family, and I worked for US Navy & USMC for 23 years - extremely patriotic husband , family, etc. And I will attest to anyone that the way he did it was NOT disrespectful . He showed the utmost respect for.flag & national anthem, while protetsing a serious injustice. Yet all the conservatives want to speak on our behalf. KMA, he was right, he was respectful, then he was villified and run out by the NFL. M****f***ers

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#12

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar No doubt that Martha Stewart was accused of insider trading and put in prison, yet every politician in Washington become millionaires from insider information. The amount she made was minuscule compared.

minigopher , marthastewart Report

Final score:
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#13

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar Obama’s brown suit

magicmann2614 , CNN Report

Final score:
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#14

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar Remember when Lizzo played that glass flute and ~~racists~~ conservatives lost their s**t because she was "disrespecting the history" or some nonsense?

VVillyD Report

Final score:
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#15

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar Remember when Jessica Simpson wore that hideous outfit and every news outlet everywhere talked about how huge she was and how much weight she had gained and she was like 105 lbs? Yet everyone was outraged that she was so “huge” and not that these crazies were calling a 105lb woman “huge”…

goldlion0806 , jessicasimpson Report

Final score:
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#16

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar The controversy about Meghan Markle being mixed.

So f*****g what?

TheMegatrizzle , Northern Ireland Office Report

Final score:
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#17

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar Michael Phelps ripping a bong

Tshimanga21 , m_phelps00 Report

Final score:
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Luke Branwen
Luke Branwen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Infinitely funny how conservative people are OUTRAGED about weed but regularly binge alcohol and chain-smoke.

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#18

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar Charlie Chaplin was labelled a Communist and was told his re-entry to the United States would be subject to investigation into his political views. Charlie just decided never to come back to America. Once the documents became unsealed, it was revealed government officials had nothing on him despite publicly stating they did.

smilysmilysmooch , Comet Photo AG (Zürich) Report

Final score:
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Der Kommissar
Der Kommissar
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

CC liked underage girls. Mildred Harris, 16, and Lita Grey, 15, are just two that he was involved with. Eventually married them both, though not at the same time.

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#19

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar Aziz Ansari's bad date

KenyaLaray , David Shankbone Report

Final score:
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#20

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar Miley Cyrus choosing to go rated R/NSFW years after starring in Hannah Montana.

gutsplatter , mileycyrus Report

Final score:
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ConstantlyJon
ConstantlyJon
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm just mad she twerked on Robin Thicke that one time when Robin Thicke is an absolute doucherocket.

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#21

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar Al franken resigned because a conservative woman lied about the circumstances surrounding a photo they both took in jest. He was sacrificed on the altar of me too to shame the republicans for supporting trump in the wake of credible allegations.

otter111a , Lorie Shaull Report

Final score:
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sofacushionfort
sofacushionfort
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Democrats: “we have to hold ourselves to the same standards that we hold the Republicans to.” Republicans: “Suckers! We do whatever we want and blame you for anything we can!”

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#22

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar Any of them getting canceled for saying 1 bad word 10+ years ago.

warlordwinters , Brett Sayles Report

Final score:
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Luke Branwen
Luke Branwen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Cancel culture" is good because all the bigots and other unabashedly s#itty people are finally facing consequences for their actions, but also bad exactly because of this. Denies people the chance to be better and grow.

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#23

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar Jenna ortega taking a cigarette and drinking wine

Familiar_Ad3128 , jennaortega Report

Final score:
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Malfar
Malfar
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And this is a topic for a scandal? Really? So the society has no other topics to discuss I guess. Good thing people don't know that she sometimes uses toilet, too

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#24

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar Elizabeth Olson not tweeting or acknowledging it in social media after Chadwick Boseman died.

QuailPuzzled1286 , Gage Skidmore Report

Final score:
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Lil Miss Hobbit
Lil Miss Hobbit
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You don't have to put your grief up on social media to make it valid

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#25

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar Canadian snowboarder who gold in the men's giant slalom event at the 1998 Winter Olympics. The IOC initially stripped him of the medal due to a failed drug test for cannabis use but overruled by an appeals court two days later, resulting in the medal being restored.

2cats2hats , Christophe95 Report

Final score:
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Malfar
Malfar
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sports and scandals, a golden topic. Drugs, trans, you name it. Never gets old.

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#26

The recent incident where a 19 yr old NBA player’s body guard shoved Britney Spear’s hand away when she tried to get his attention.

The player got bombarded with hate from her fans when he literally didn’t do a thing haha

SunKing210 Report

Final score:
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#27

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar I will never understand why Taylor Swift was SO hated after kanye claimed she lied about the phone call (she didn't aswell). I've seen a mural of her saying 1989-2016, people wanted her dead/ to pretend she died. It's insane. Even if kanye was right, all she would have done was lie...

slytherin-d-t , taylorswift Report

Final score:
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zak_1 avatar
zak
zak
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have no clue what this is talking about. The only story about them I know of is when he went up on-stage and interrupted her at the Grammy awards 🤷🏼‍♂️

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#28

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar The majorty of Kpop Idols' issues and "scandals" whatsoever (ex. Smoking, dating, crying at a friend's funeral, etc.)

BlueKiss1230 , xxxibgdrgn Report

Final score:
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Kathryn Baylis
Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’d say the only scandal is wallpapering the ceiling in that room.

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#29

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar Roky Erickson, lead singer of the 13th Floor Elevators, got put in a psych ward for possessing a single joint in 1969 Austin, Texas. He was subject to electroshock “treatment” in these facilities for 4 years. His mental state deteriorated greatly over this time frame. Based on the information that is out there, it’s pretty safe to say that this incident drastically lowered his long term quality of life. He was 22 years old when he was sent to the first facility.

CalligrapherMurky844 , Joe Mabel Report

Final score:
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#30

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar David Bowie saying he was BiSexual in an interview. It really ended up hurting his career in the U.S.

BassAce6913 , Les Zg Report

Final score:
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omboyganesh avatar
ॐBoyGanesh
ॐBoyGanesh
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I disagree wholeheartedly that it really ended up hurting his career. The album, let’s dance Pete in the top five on billboards charts and stayed there for weeks. Three singles from the album went to number one, breaking records also. David Bowie was everywhere for nearly a decade.

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#31

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar The Dude You're Getting a Dell guy being a stoner. I mean, duh. I could see that from a mile away.

That_Weird_Girl_107 , BI Tech Report

Final score:
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Wim Cossement
Wim Cossement
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Eh, no-one remembers Ellen Feiss that got an Apple after the computer ate her paper, beep beep beep beep... A really good paper... https://ellenfeiss.net/

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#32

The weird outrage 20 years later about Hilary Swank portraying Brandon Teena.

yourkindofhero Report

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MakeupMama68
MakeupMama68
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She won the Oscar for that role.. I feel like it kicked her career into high gear.

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#33

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar Eddie Murphy and the sex worker. Huge scandal at the time but in retrospect.. who cares?

lordsummerisleswig , David Shankbone Report

Final score:
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ॐBoyGanesh
ॐBoyGanesh
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the issue was because the sex worker was trans and if anyone has seen delirious, we know what homophobic rant he could go on. He even went on anti-trans rants before there was any sort of visible trans activism so, the issue wasn’t the fact that he picked up a prostitute. It was because he made up a very weak excuse for why he was with a sex worker and that the sex worker was trans if he was so anti-trans and homophobic, it was the ridiculous hypocrisy. That was the issue. Edit: posted via voice dictation.

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#34

Folks Online Share 30 Celeb Scandals That Sparked An Excessive Uproar Backsight-Foreskin wrote:
 
Howard Dean's scream. He was giving a talk to motivate his campaign workers.
 
DropZealousideal4309 added:
 
Was looking for this. A little extra context that illustrates how stupid the whole dust-up was, from Wikipedia:
“The Dean scream, was a speech delivered by Vermont governor Howard Dean on January 19, 2004 at the Val-Air Ballroom in West Des Moines, Iowa. That night, the presidential candidate had just lost the Iowa caucus to John Kerry and wanted to reassure his supporters. He listed states he would win to a raucous audience before screaming "Yeah!" Within four days, it was broadcast 633 times on national news networks and cable channels. The audio used in the airings of the scream was from Dean's unidirectional microphone, which decreased the volume of the background noise to the point where only Dean's voice was audible; this did not reflect the actual volume of the room that night, as the crowd was extremely loud.”
So they soloed his damn mic and then broadcast it ad nauseum until he was dead and buried. Great reporting, [jerks].

Backsight-Foreskin , John Hoke (johnhoke) Report

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Ross “Sarcastic Dad”
Ross “Sarcastic Dad”
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is wrong. It was completely legitimate to shame him for yelling once. This is the worst thing a candidate can do. It is acceptable to grab women by the pussy and incite an insurrection, but DO NOT YELL!

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#35

I always thought the public reaction/outrage over Body Count’s “Cop Killer” song was overblown and ridiculous, even if Ice-T did eventually end up pulling the song from the album

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B
B
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also to come full circle has had played a cop on TV for about 20 years LOL

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