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Original poster

Celeb scandals of the 90s

724 replies

CheeseMuffin · 04/02/2022 20:28

I'd forgotten all about Julia Roberts and Kiefer Sutherland until I read this piece about it. And then wondered how I could've forgotten as it was huge! And those were the days before social media!

I never realised that Michelle Pfeiffer played a conciliatory role or that the wedding cake apparently spoke to a tabloid reporter!

What are some scandals you remember from that period? (I'm housebound with Covid - humour me!)

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Gwenhwyfar · 08/02/2022 12:14

@MinesaBottle

Ron Davies the Secretary of State for Wales had to resign after being blackmailed by a man claiming he was cottaging on Clapham Common. He claimed he was looking for badgers! This was in 1998 and I wonder if he’d have to resign today…probably. Looking back on it I feel a bit sorry for him as he was married and clearly closeted.
He went on to run the Welsh Assembly referendum campaign and then to head it so being a politician using prostitutes didn't hurt him that much. More recently there was a story in the paper about him putting stones on a path to bother cyclists... www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/14759517.ex-minister-ron-davies-denies-blocking-bike-path/
WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 08/02/2022 12:44

Also, I don't believe Milli Vanilli were the only people in the music biz at that time using other peoples voices. Stock Aitken and Waterman must have done a bit of that too, over the years.

I agree. I think they often get around it by having the actual 'star' singing (or even just speaking) some of the much less challenging parts, but also featuring unusually talented, unusually loud 'backing' singers.

I've also noticed some significantly older singers on 'revival'-type tours, who did once have quite strong, tuneful voices but which have very much weakened with age (Tom Jones being a notable exception!) relying on backing singers to do the heavy lifting - and bands where they sell themselves on their longstanding members, but who have conveniently brought in new, younger members, who end up doing the lead vocals.

Moreover, the elephant in the room: autotune. Do we accept that it is the credited person singing, but with their voice just 'polished' by a computer - or is a lot of it effectively the computer being given raw (low quality) 'data' and doing all the work to create a mainly artificial product that isn't really the named singer actually singing?

BorderlineHappy · 08/02/2022 12:56

Also, I don't believe Milli Vanilli were the only people in the music biz at that time using other peoples voices. Stock Aitken and Waterman must have done a bit of that too, over the years.

Still goes on now rumoured Jlo voice is not hers.
Shocking that

MermaidEyes · 08/02/2022 13:14

Moreover, the elephant in the room : autotune

I watched a music programme recently where a record producer basically said autotune was the death of the music industry because it means artists don't have to actually have much talent for singing now - even singing live, it can be 'hidden' with really good backing tracks and singers.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 08/02/2022 13:14

Still goes on now rumoured Jlo voice is not hers.
Shocking that

What's the betting that, if Susan Boyle hadn't come to fame via a TV talent show but instead had been 'discovered' singing in a local club somewhere, some bright spark would have wanted to release an album with her singing but marketed as being by somebody with a more outstanding physical appearance?

lapasion · 08/02/2022 14:20

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll

Still goes on now rumoured Jlo voice is not hers. Shocking that

What's the betting that, if Susan Boyle hadn't come to fame via a TV talent show but instead had been 'discovered' singing in a local club somewhere, some bright spark would have wanted to release an album with her singing but marketed as being by somebody with a more outstanding physical appearance?

Perhaps. But she was basically picked for BGT as they knew it would make good TV. The whole thing was just as manufactured as any boy band.

Here’s Susan Boyle in the 90s on one of Michael Barrymore’s shows. He’s such a prick. I don’t know why he was ever popular.

Original poster
CheeseMuffin · 08/02/2022 14:44

Yuck! Why is he trying to look up her skirt? I'd have "accidentally" stepped on his face with those stiletto heels.

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Mothermorph · 08/02/2022 14:48

I've also noticed some significantly older singers on 'revival'-type tours, who did once have quite strong, tuneful voices but which have very much weakened with age (Tom Jones being a notable exception!) relying on backing singers to do the heavy lifting - and bands where they sell themselves on their longstanding members, but who have conveniently brought in new, younger members, who end up doing the lead vocals.

Paul Mc Cartney, Elton John and Cliff at the Queens diamond Jubilee concert spring to mind. And 10 years later they're all still around....

AuxArmesCitoyens · 08/02/2022 18:27

My DH is in the music industry. One of his friends was the soundalike for a big rock star, his job was standing in the wings and singing when they were on tour.

TossaCointoYerWitcha · 08/02/2022 18:50

@MermaidEyes

Moreover, the elephant in the room : autotune

I watched a music programme recently where a record producer basically said autotune was the death of the music industry because it means artists don't have to actually have much talent for singing now - even singing live, it can be 'hidden' with really good backing tracks and singers.

I believe they can actually add autotune when singing live now - so, yeah, you don’t actually have to be a particularly good singer at all, even on tour. That said, it also removes a lot of the unique flourishes singers like Seal and Freddie Mercury brought, making recordings sound flatter and all a bit beige. Maybe most of the record buying public don’t notice/mind though.
GrandTheftWalrus · 08/02/2022 19:02

Don't you hate it when a good thread comes to an end!

The most shocking one on here for me was Charlie sheen being in easterhouse!

Original poster
CheeseMuffin · 08/02/2022 19:19

I can't think of any more 90s scandals, I've exhausted my supply!

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Original poster
CheeseMuffin · 08/02/2022 19:21

@GrandTheftWalrus I think Jason Orange/Lulu and Denise van Outen/Gary Glitter did it for me Confused

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OhWhyNot · 08/02/2022 19:33

Madonna being a lesbian for all of five minutes

Probably been mentioned …

Original poster
CheeseMuffin · 08/02/2022 19:59

Oh I don't think we covered lesbian Madge but I remember the stories!

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Original poster
CheeseMuffin · 08/02/2022 20:05

There's a model called Jenny Shimizu who said Madonna would fly her around the world for sex. She later dated Angelina Jolie and... Rebecca Loos!

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PinotGroggio · 08/02/2022 20:09

Rebecca has also reinvented herself as a yoga teacher. Seems a popular move for many once their 15 minutes of fame are over...

longwayoff · 08/02/2022 20:32

Bang up to date update on Hollywood stars in the wrong place. Alec Baldwin spotted in High St, Alton, Hampshire over the weekend. Nearly as unlikely as EasterhouseGrin

Original poster
CheeseMuffin · 08/02/2022 20:38

Maybe he was trying to get away from Hillaria! She sounds exhausting!!

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MyBeloved · 08/02/2022 20:52

Gareth Gates and Jordan

longwayoff · 08/02/2022 20:56

Fortunately, the gun shop closed down.

lapasion · 08/02/2022 21:51

Did we cover OJ? I highly recommend the mini series about his trial. If only for Ross playing Rob Kardashian.

whynotwhatknot · 08/02/2022 22:34

I was in america at the time he was being chased by the police it was on every tv channel-quite exciting

BluTangClan · 08/02/2022 22:42

A thread on here a while ago alleged that Courtney Love and Alan Partridge used to indulge in a bit of "iglooing".

Original poster
CheeseMuffin · 08/02/2022 22:46

I thought that was more a certain 90s singer who'd been around the world looking for their baby?

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