When we think about celebrities, we often think of all the perks: the money, fame, travel, and access to the best of food, fashion, and fun. They seem to have such charmed lives in their big mansions with their glam squads and walk-in closets. But there can be a dark side to being famous. We can see that in the sadly common experience of having to deal with fans who give into obsession and become dangerous stalkers, something that both male and female celebs have experienced.
While people sometimes joke about cyberstalking their favorite celebs, the truth is that stalking is an all-too-frightening experience for some stars. Stalking, which is a serious crime, can take many forms including letters, break-in attempts, and public confrontations, especially when celebrities are involved.
There have been incredibly tragic stories, like the 1989 death of emerging sitcom star Rebecca Schaeffer. Rebecca, who was only 21, was murdered by a man who had been stalking her for three years. Many celebrities have regular security guards and have taken out restraining orders against overzealous fans and stalkers just to prevent scary moments like the ones experienced by the celebrities below.
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift has had to face the reality of multiple stalkers, including one who is currently serving jail time for threatening to rape and murder her. Another man was arrested in April 2021 for attempting to break into her New York City home. Sadly, this was not the first time that Taylor's home has been broken into by a stalker, something she partially blames on media outlets that publish photos and addresses of her properties.
Keira Knightley
A dangerous stalker who dubbed himself a "public executioner" harassed Keira Knightley and her family for years, violating several restraining orders. The man left the Silent Night star feeling "scared every time I go outside. When I return home I have to look behind me concerned, I don't know who might be in the shadows."
Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber has been famous since he was barely a teenager. Having spent more than a decade in the public eye has led to the singer having more than one crazy stalker, including a terrifying 2012 incident when two men were arrested after plotting to castrate and then kill him. He was only 17 years old at the time.
Kendall Jenner
Kendall Jenner was home in March 2021 when a stalker made it over the fence to her property, stripped off his clothing, and jumped in her pool. Thankfully, her private security was able to intervene, and the man was arrested. He was sentenced to 180 days in prison and is subject to restraining orders barring him from contacting Kendall, her mother, or her sister Kylie.
Sarah McLachlan
Singer Sarah McLachlan's stalking story includes thousands of letters, getting sued by her stalker, and finally the discovery of a body in the woods. Over the course of four years, Uwe Vandrei sent the singer multiple letters per day and then claimed that she used the content of those letters to create verses for her song "Possession." Her stalking story ended when Vandrei died by suicide in 1994.
Willow Smith
Singer Willow Smith (the 20-year-old daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith) was forced to take out a restraining order against a convicted sex offender after the man stalked her online, traveled from Oklahoma to California to try to meet her, and even attempted to break into her home in December 2020. The man is now required to stay at least 100 yards away from her and her property at all times.
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan was stalked for years by a man who followed her to public locations, claimed to be her husband (and the nephew of Queen Elizabeth), sent her thousands of text messages (so scary that he was able to get her phone number!), and even punched a doorman who prevented him from gaining access to her building. The man was put on trial in England in 2015 for his actions.
Sandra Bullock
In 2014, Sandra Bullock was sleeping in her home when she woke up to a strange noise. It turned out to be a stalker who had broken into her home. She was able to call the police, who arrested the man and found that he had been sending the star letters for years and claimed to be her husband. In 2017, the man was convicted on charges stemming from the incident and in 2018 he died by suicide following an unrelated standoff with the police.
Gigi Hadid
Model Gigi Hadid was stalked by a man who made repeated efforts to break into her New York City apartment. He claimed to be her "soul mate" and posted frequent Facebook messages describing times he saw Gigi in public and declaring his twisted love for her. He was sentenced to up to three years in prison in 2017 for his actions. Gigi subsequently sold her condo to move to a less accessible location.
Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez was only 21 when she dealt with a stalker who was arrested twice in one week for trying to get into her home. The obsessive fan literally got released from jail after being arrested in front of her home and went directly back to her home. This was in 2014, so it was unsurprising that she put the house up for sale in 2015.
Lana Del Rey
In 2018, singer Lana Del Rey shared with fans at a concert that she was feeling "a little more emotional, a little bit nervous" about returning to the stage after a stalker with a weapon was arrested trying to get into her previous show. The man was eventually sentenced to a year in prison.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow had a crazy stalker for more than 17 years. The man, who was arrested and tried several times, reportedly sent the Oscar-winning actress letters, packages of pornography, and messages about wanting to marry her. He pleaded not guilty to the charges by reason of insanity and was sent to a mental health treatment facility.
Jodie Foster
One of the most famous examples of celebrity stalking is the case of John Hinckley Jr., who attempted to assassinate then-president Ronald Reagan in an attempt to get attention from actress Jodie Foster. Jodie was only 18 at the time of the horrifying incident.
David Letterman
Another stalking story that ended in suicide involves David Letterman. He was stalked for years by a woman who claimed to be his wife and the mother of his child. She was jailed multiple times for stalking him as well as astronaut Story Musgrave. She died by suicide in 1998, something that David described as "a sad end to a confused life."
Shawn Johnson
When she was only 16, Olympian Shawn Johnson was forced to deal with the horror of having a crazed stalker. The man, who was arrested for attempted kidnapping in 2008, became obsessed with the gymnast while watching her compete on Dancing With the Stars and claimed to want to marry her and to be willing to kill anyone who stopped them from being together.
Kim Kardashian
In October 2021, Kim Kardashian's stalker was arrested on felony charges after the man violated a restraining order and attempted to gain access to her home. This man, who bizarrely sent Kim items including a diamond ring and a Plan B pill, is unfortunately not the only stalker Kim has had to deal with. She currently has multiple restraining orders against at least two men.
