Being famous sounds like it only has good sides. You earn lots of money, you’re drowned in positive attention, everyone knows who you are… but not all things are as they seem. Even celebrities can get into trouble, and much like the good things in life the bad ones are also massively amplified when you live a life of fame. It doesn’t have to be a career breaker though, but you can say goodbye to ever wanting to keep dirt on the down low.
Here’s a few celebrities that got into some legal trouble, but overcame them.
Robert Downey Jr.
Before he was Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. was mostly known for the guy that got caught with several illegal substances and went to rehab. He’s now one of the most popular actors on the planet and generally an all-round charismatic fellow.
Woody Harrelson
In fact, Woody even started his career with legal issues. Right before he started in the TV show Cheers he was arrested for disorderly conduct. And by that, we mean he was dancing in the street and resisting arrest. Sounds like a Woody Harrelson thing to do, doesn’t it?
George Michael
Perhaps the most famous of celebrity brush-ins with the law, George Michael got caught in a public bathroom as he was engaging in some naughty activities. This was before people knew he was gay, and also led to his coming out.
Winona Ryder
Winona got caught in the early 2000s for shoplifting, and it actually did put her career on hold for quite a while. She’s now back because of Stranger Things, and it’s honestly a good thing to see her in big productions again.
Jay-Z
Most people may have already forgotten this, but back in the 90s Jay-Z got three years probation for stabbing a music producer. Nobody cares anymore and Jay-Z has become one of the most successful people on the planet.
Mickey Rourke
By the time Mickey got arrested for a DUI, his star was already fading. It felt like just one last burst before the light on him went out entirely. And then the year after came and he blew everyone away by winning an Oscar for The Wrestler, redeeming himself entirely.
Matthew McConaughey
Matthew has become one of the most popular actors of his generation, but he didn’t do so without having run-ins with the law. In the late 90s he was arrested for possession of marijuana. But the story gets better: at the time when the police arrested him, he was naked and playing the bongos. What a way to go.
