Over the years, the National Enquirer has
earned a reputation for reporting false and inaccurate information, and
rightly so. The grocery store tabloid has been sued repeatedly during
its run for publishing exaggerated, sensational stories about everything
from Cameron Diaz's relationship with Justin Timberlake to the
kidnapping victim Elizabeth Smart (who, according to the Enquirer, ran a gay sex ring with her male family members).
That's not to say that it doesn't sometimes break real news. Contrary to popular belief, the Enquirer actually
possesses a capable, dedicated staff of investigative reporters who
painstakingly research the tabloid's main stories. That's why they
magazine has always been the first to run scandalous, unbelievable
stories about topics such as Charlie Sheen's HIV diagnosis and Bill
Cosby's infamous history of sexual assault. In fact, the Enquirer
reported on Cosby's disgusting dalliances a full nine years before the
mainstream media picked up on the story. Initially, no one believed the
story, due to the Enquirer's less-than-stellar journalistic reputation.
Yes: It may be hard to believe, but the Enquirer
is actually something of a whistleblower when it comes to exposing the
hypocrisies and evildoings of society's most famous and powerful
figures. Peruse this list of the tabloid's biggest, most scandalous
scoops to date and keep your eyes peeled for the next true National Enquirer headlines!
Charlie Sheen AIDS Cover-Up
Photo: Mike Mozart/FlickrNo one was surprised, per se, when the Enquirerclaimed in November 2015
that Hollywood hellion Charlie Sheen was HIV-positive and had been
paying off people who knew in order to keep it a secret. However, no one
actually believed it until Sheen announced the news for himself on The Today Show. The Enquirer spent 18 months sending reporters around the country to interview sources close to the situation.
Bill Cosby's 50 Years of Evil Lies
Photo: via ImgurIn
2005, nine years before any other publication became wise to Bill
Cosby's extensive history of sexually assaulting women, the Enquirer ran a story alleging Cosby's assault of two women. Cosby supposedly paid the tabloid to run a story denying the women's claims, but the Enquirer
instead decided to blow the whistle on him. Of course, no one believed
any of it was true until 2014, when Cosby's horrific behavior was
covered by most major publications. (However, many people still don't
want to believe it's true.)
Ennis Cosby's Killer Revealed
Photo: via RedditWhen Bill Cosby's son Ennis was found dead on the shoulder of a Los Angeles freeway in 1997, the Enquireroffered a reward
of $100,000 to anyone who could help find the killer. This actually led
to the tabloid uncovering and reporting on the identity of the
murderer, who was later sent to jail.
O.J. Simpson's Shoe Secret
Photo: via ImgurOne
of the most memorable moments in the O.J. Simpson trial was when O.J.
vehemently denied owning a pair of Bruno Magli shoes, like those found
at the scene of his wife's murder. It wasn't long before the Enquirer dug up a picture (above)
of Simpson wearing Magli shoes at a 1993 Buffalo Bills game. By the
time of his civil trial in 1996, Simpson was practically forced to admit
that he owned the shoes.
Jesse Jackson's Secret Love Child
Photo: via RedditIn 2001, the Enquirer
broke a scandalous story alleging that presidential candidate and civil
rights activist Jesse Jackson had fathered a daughter with one of his
staffers. Mainstream publications soon began running the news
themselves, and Jackson himself eventually confirmed the rumor.
Bob Dole's Cheating Scandal
Photo: via WikimediaDuring Bob Dole's 1996 presidential campaign, the Enquirer discovered
that the Republican family values advocate had engaged in an affair
from 1968 to 1970, during his first marriage. The Enquirer ran the story when most other publications wouldn't,
but it didn't really take off. Rumor has it that Dole's wife,
Elizabeth, personally called major mainstream publications and asked
them not to run the story.
Hulk Hogan's Shocking Racist Rant
Photo: via RedditIn July 2015, the Enquirer became the first publication to expose
a 2006 video of Hulk Hogan spewing racist insults including the "n"
word. Hogan's daughter, Brooke, tried to deny the veracity of the video,
even though her father apologized immediately after the video leaked.
The pro wrestler was fired by the WWE soon after the Enquirer ran the story.
Gary Hart's Sordid List of Affairs
Photo: via PinterestRumors
of Gary Hart's supposed affairs hounded him throughout his 1988
presidential campaign, but he insisted to the press that he had nothing
to hide. Not too long after that, the Enquirerpublished a photo of Hart on his yacht with a model sitting in his lap. His political career went downhill from there.
Rush Limbaugh's Out of Control Oxycontin Addiction
Photo: via RedditIn 2003, the Enquirer
claimed that conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh was receiving a
steady supply of Oxycontin from none other than his housekeeper. Many
media outlets refused to legitimize the Enquirer's reporting,
but it wasn't long before law enforcement confirmed Limbaugh's truly
shocking addiction. Limbaugh later admitted on his show that he had
purchased over 30,000 pills from his housekeeper.
Tiger Woods's Shameful Sex Addiction
Photo: via RedditRemember back when Tiger Woods still had a squeaky-clean image? Probably not and you can thank the Enquirer for first reporting on
Woods's series of extramarital affairs, in 2009. Soon after the
tabloid's first report, several more women came forth and revealed their
dalliances with Woods.
Dog the Bounty Hunter's Offensive and Racist Phone Call
Photo: via ImgurIn 2007, the Enquirer reported
that it had a recording of a racist phone call made by popular TV
personality Duane "Dog" Chapman. In the recording, Chapman apparently
made racial slurs about his son's then girlfriend, who is black. Soon
after the Enquirer's story ran, Dog admitted to the slur and production on his A&E show was halted.
John Edwards's Callous Affair
Photo: via WikimediaThere
was a time when John Edwards was a charming, moderate presidential
candidate with a promising political career and a stable family life.
Then 2008 came along, and the Enquirerreported on
Edwards's affair with Rielle Hunter (at the time, Edwards's wife had
cancer) and their secret love child. After that, his political
aspirations fizzled.
Mel Gibson's Tumultuous Divorce
Photo: via ImgurBack
before the biggest scandals about Mel Gibson were his racist diatribes
and his vicious episodes of misogyny, there was the initial news of his divorce from his wife of 28 years. The tabloid first reported the news in 2008, before Gibson confirmed the news to mainstream media.
Billy Joel Splitting from His Younger Wife
Photo: via ImgurThe Enquirerreported in 2009
that Joel and his significantly younger wife, Katie Lee, were splitting
after five years of marriage. Weeks after the story broke, Joel
confirmed that he and Lee were getting a divorce.
Michael Jackson Has "Six Months to Live"
Photo: via RedditNo one wanted to believe it when the Enquirer claimed The
King of Pop only had six months to live due to his drug and alcohol
addictions. Unfortunately, the pop star passed away almost exactly six
months later.
Steve Jobs Looks Frail, On Brink of Death
Photo: via ImgurSteve
Jobs took medical leave from Apple in February 2011 due to his struggle
with cancer, but many expected him to make a full recovery. The Enquirer, however, posted pictures soon after that of Jobs looking exceedingly frail. He died later that year.
O.J. Simpson Publishes Juicy Tell-All About Murder
Photo: via PinterestO.J. Simpson's "hypothetical" memoir, If I Did It, created a whirlwind of controversy when he published it in 2007. However, the Enquirer actually ran a story
about the book's existence back in October 2006, but Simpson's lawyers
denied that Simpson had even written it. People continued to believe the
Enquirer's reports were false until the book was finally published a year later.
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