Celebrities, especially those who are super active on social media, lead very visible and high-profile lives. Fans and paparazzi alike love to follow celebrities' lives, including catching glimpses into their homes, their marriages, and their family time with their partners and kids. But while that visibility can make fans feel more connected to them, it can also make them potential targets for dangerous criminals and stalkers.
And while many celebrities appear to go to great lengths to keep themselves safe — including traveling with beefy bodyguards and having some serious home security systems — that doesn't always mean that they are safe from scary incidents. Our hearts always go out to anyone who is the victim of a serious crime, so we have nothing but sympathy for these famous celebrities, even if the crime in question happened before they were famous. Whether someone is famous or not, living through something like a sexual assault, a home invasion, or an armed robbery can be a deeply traumatizing experience.
Read on for 15 stories of celebrities who were victims (and survivors) of serious crimes.
Kim Kardashian
As a reality star, business owner, and all-around mega famous person, Kim Kardashian leads a pretty charmed life. But all of that didn't prevent her from being the victim of a terrifying armed robbery in Paris in 2016. During the robbery, Kim was bound and threatened with a gun while the group of criminals stole jewelry said to be worth at least $10 million. Ultimately, 12 people were charged in connection with the crime, several of whom are still in prison.
Gabrielle Union
When Gabrielle Union was only 19 years old, she was working at a shoe store when a man came in at closing time, armed with a gun, and raped her. She describes the harrowing incident and the aftermath in her excellent first memoir, We're Going To Need More Wine, and has worked publicly to support other victims of sexual violence in the years since the attack.
Rihanna
In 2009, the world was shocked to learn that Rihanna (then 20 years old) had been a victim of domestic violence when pictures were released of her beaten face following an attack from her then-boyfriend Chris Brown. In later months and years, both Rihanna and Chris would confirm that the 2009 incident wasn't the first time their relationship had included physical violence and since then, Chris has been accused of several other violent interactions with women, including threatening someone with a gun.
Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry is best known for his success with the over-the-top Madea movies, but casual fans might not know that he was a victim of extensive abuse as a child. He's revealed that he was physically abused by his father and sexually abused by several adults throughout his childhood. He described his childhood to Oprah Winfrey as "a living hell" and shared that he even attempted suicide as a way to escape the abuse. Thankfully, he survived and is now one of the most successful directors in Hollywood.
Halle Berry
Actress Halle Berry's life has been shaped by the crime of domestic violence. She's shared that she was both a witness to chronic violence as a child as her mother was married to an abusive man, and someone who experienced violence herself in one of her past relationships. She has stated that she was once hit so hard that her ear drum was punctured.
She's now an advocate for domestic violence survivors and has urged others who are victims to leave, stating, "If a man, or anyone, lays their hands on you one time, they will do it again. You have to go, you have to love yourself enough and your kids enough to go."
Justin Bieber
Many celebrities have dealt with stalkers, but few have had ones as scary as Justin Bieber. In 2012, an uncle and nephew duo, who were said to be operating under the instructions of a murderer and serial sexual assaulter named Dana Martin, were arrested after plotting to castrate the Peaches singer with garden shears and to murder him. Thankfully the plot was foiled but, unfortunately for Justin, he continues to deal with stalking behavior, as well as with people attempting to break into his home and hotel rooms.
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga has shared that she was raped as a 19-year-old trying to break into the music industry. The event left her pregnant and, as she later revealed on The Me You Can't See documentary, experiencing PTSD and a "total psychotic break" after she finally began to process the trauma in later years.
Megan Thee Stallion
Singer Megan Thee Stallion was reportedly shot in the feet several times by fellow singer Tory Lanez (real name: Daystar Peterson) in 2020. Though Tory has denied the incident, he was arrested and charged with the shooting. Megan has slowly revealed details of the crime, including saying the two had been fighting and as Megan tried to walk away, Tory told her to "Dance, bitch" and fired multiple times at her feet. She also said he offered her $1 million for her to remain silent about the crime.
Rick Moranis
Beloved '80s actor Rick Moranis was the victim of a shocking, and seemingly random, crime in 2020. He was walking down a street in New York City when a man punched him in the head, knocking him to the ground. The attack resulted in Rick going to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The man was later arrested, thanks to security videos that captured the incident on tape.
Dorit Kemsley
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Dorit Kemsley was home alone with her two young children when three armed men broke into her house and stole designer purses, jewelry, and other property. Dorit shared on Instagram that it was a "terrifying ordeal," but said, "More than anything, I'm feeling blessed that my kids and family are safe."
50 Cent
Rapper and actor 50 Cent was shot nine times in a 2000 incident that left him injured and recovering for nearly six months. The person who shot him in the hand, arms, legs, chest, and face was never identified and therefore never arrested for the crime.
Harry Styles
On Valentine's Day 2020, Harry Styles was robbed at knifepoint by a gang of men on a street near his home in London — talk about the least romantic Valentine's Day ever. The thieves got away with cash and were demanding his phone, but Harry was able to flee when a car came down the road and distracted the muggers.
Benedict Cumberbatch
Actor Benedict Cumberbatch was still relatively unknown when he became the victim of a serious crime in 2004. He was traveling through South Africa while filming a miniseries when he and two other passengers were carjacked by a group of armed men who forced Benedict into the trunk of the car before finally releasing him. The men stole the car and cash, but thankfully Benedict and his companions survived.
Duffy
Pop singer Duffy had some massive hits in 2008 but seemed to fade out of the limelight after her second album was released in 2010. Not much was known about what happened to the star until she revealed in 2020 that she'd been the victim of a horrendous crime. In her words: "It was my birthday, I was drugged at a restaurant, and traveled to a foreign country. I can't remember getting on the plane and came round in the back of a traveling vehicle. I was put into a hotel room, and the perpetrator returned and raped me. I remember the pain and trying to stay conscious in the room after it happened. I was stuck with him. I was somewhat conscious and withdrawn. I could have been disposed of by him."
Ultimately, Duffy was held prisoner for four weeks and has spent years trying to recover from the trauma.
Duggar Sisters
Former 19 Kids and Counting star Josh Duggar, who was recently sentenced to 12 very richly deserved years in prison for possession of child pornography, is also reportedly a sexual predator whose victims included four of his own sisters. Sisters Jessa and Jill have bravely come forward to say they were molested by him, although he was never prosecuted for those earlier crimes.
