Let’s face it—Hollywood thrives on scandals. The juicier, the better, right? Except… not all scandals are created equal. Some are so underwhelming you can practically hear the collective “meh” from the general public. But hey, let’s still give these “scandals” their moment of infamy. After all, the drama might have been lukewarm, but the reactions (or lack thereof) were piping hot with indifference.
Here are ten so-called celebrity scandals that barely made a ripple in the pop culture ocean, ranked by how much no one actually cared.
1. The Time Kendall Jenner Held a Pepsi Can
Ah yes, the infamous Pepsi ad of 2017. Kendall Jenner solved all of society’s problems with a single can of soda, bringing protesters and police together for a refreshing sip of cola. The backlash was immediate—Twitter exploded with memes, think pieces, and people yelling, “Read the room!” But did anyone really care beyond their 280-character tweets? Nope. The outrage fizzled out faster than a can of Pepsi left open overnight.
2. Ben Affleck’s Back Tattoo
Remember when Ben Affleck’s giant, multicolored phoenix tattoo made headlines? It was a full-blown scandal, folks. The internet had a field day mocking it, and Affleck even tried to downplay it as “fake” at one point. But guess what? No one cared enough to stop loving Good Will Hunting or Batman. The tattoo might’ve been a flaming bird, but it wasn’t enough to set his career—or our interest—on fire.
3. Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop-y Candle
Gwyneth Paltrow, queen of all things wellness and overpriced, released a candle called “This Smells Like My Vagina.” Shocking? Sure. Scandalous? Hardly. The candle sold out in minutes, because apparently, nothing says “sophisticated home décor” like… that. The public didn’t so much as flinch. If anything, we just rolled our eyes and thought, “Classic Gwyneth.”
4. Meghan Markle Ate Avocado Toast
Yes, you read that correctly. Meghan Markle eating avocado toast was a global scandal. Why? Because avocados are apparently linked to climate change, human rights abuses, and everything else wrong with the world. British tabloids lost their minds, calling her breakfast a “silent protest.” The rest of us? We just went back to our basic brunches, wondering why toast had to take the heat this time.
5. The Harry Styles Dress Drama
Harry Styles wore a dress on the cover of Vogue, and some people on the internet decided masculinity itself was under attack. A scandal? Maybe in 1950. The majority of us simply admired his style, Googled where to buy the boots, and moved on. If this was a cultural war, the only casualty was common sense.
6. Beyoncé Sat During the National Anthem
In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, Beyoncé was accused of “disrespecting America” by… sitting down during the National Anthem. Never mind that she might’ve been tying her shoe or checking her phone. Social media had opinions, as usual. But did anyone actually stop streaming Lemonade? Yeah, didn’t think so.
7. Anne Hathaway Didn’t Like Her Dress
At the 2013 Oscars, Anne Hathaway won Best Actress but apologized because she didn’t like her Prada gown. People tried to turn this into some sort of diva moment, labeling her as “ungrateful.” Anne gave her mea culpa, and we gave her… well, a collective shrug. Let the woman dislike her dress in peace.
8. Armie Hammer’s Instagram “Fiasco”
Before his actual scandals surfaced, Armie Hammer found himself in hot water for liking a few risqué posts on Instagram. People pretended to be shocked for about five minutes before realizing they didn’t actually care what content Hammer found entertaining online. The guy double-tapped. Big whoop.
9. Tom Hiddleston’s “I ❤️ T.S.” Tank Top
Tom Hiddleston and Taylor Swift’s short-lived romance brought us paparazzi photos of Tom wearing a tank top that read, “I ❤️ T.S.” It was peak summer cringe, and the internet roasted him alive. But once the memes faded, so did our interest. Now, it’s just a footnote in the “Taylor Swift exes cinematic universe.”
10. The Great Water Bottle Slip-Up of Game of Thrones
A water bottle made an accidental cameo in the final season of Game of Thrones, and for a hot second, it became the scandal of the year. People ranted about the lack of attention to detail, but let’s be real—the real scandal was the show’s dumpster fire of an ending. The water bottle? Just a drop in the ocean of disappointment.
So Why Don’t We Care?
Here’s the thing: In a world overloaded with headlines, not every “scandal” has the power to grip our attention. For every truly shocking celebrity moment, there’s a Pepsi can, an avocado toast, or a poorly chosen outfit lurking in the shadows, begging for relevance. But we’ve got bigger problems, like what’s for dinner or why Netflix keeps canceling our favorite shows.
And while these scandals might’ve faded into obscurity, one question remains: Which non-event will Hollywood try to sell us as a scandal next? Let’s just hope it’s not another “vagina candle.” Or worse, a sequel.
What’s your favorite celebrity “scandal” that no one cared about? Or better yet—do you have one you secretly did care about? Because, let’s be honest, we’re all guilty of sipping the tea sometimes.
Stay tuned… because the next big “scandal” might just be lurking behind a can of soda or a breakfast plate.
