From Lance Armstrong's fall from grace to Reese Witherspoon's bratty drunken antics, 2013 was a wild year for celebrities—and their publicists! We saw Paula Deen's empire fall to pieces, Amanda Bynes unravel and so much more! Take a peek at the headline highlights below and see which celebrities' teams were working overtime in 2013!
Weigh in below—what's your top pick for most shocking headline this year? What news story didn't surprise you at all? Who do you think will make a splash in 2014?
Celebrity Scandals Of 2013
Lance Armstrong
January
After a decade of denials, Lance Armstrong sat down with Oprah Winfrey and admitted to doping, cheating and lying which led to him being stripped of his seven Tour de France Gold Medals.
We'll soon get to relive every gory detail when the movie version hits the big screen .
Photo Credit: WENN
Reese Witherspoon
April 19th
Reese Witherspoon was arrested in Atlanta! America's Sweetheart got a little too Hollywood as her husband was pulled over on suspicion of DUI. The interaction was recorded, much to Reese's embarrassment.
They say alcohol is like truth serum and Reese let her "I'm a bratty privileged star" flag fly! The Sweet Home Alabama actress was heard repeatedly asking the arresting officer "don't you know who I am?" She even warned the officer that he was about to find out just who she was because this was "going to make national news." She wasn't kidding.
Reese quickly issued an apology and hopes we never speak of the incident again . . .
Photo Credit: City of Atlanta Department of Corrections via Getty Images
Paul Deen
June
Celebrity chef Paula Deen watched her empire crumble after the National Enquirer printed pieces of her deposition in a lawsuit brought on by a former employee. In it she admitted using the "N word" in the past, but not ruling out present use. She canceled TV appearnces, released tearful apologies, but the Food Network quickly decided not to renew Paula's contract. Retailers like Walmart, JCPenney, Target and others dropped Paula like a hot buttered biscuit.
Paula's fans immediately started a Facebook page to support her and then Oprah Winfrey and Rev. Al Sharptop both spoke out in Paula's defense. She seems to be gradually making her way back, though she denies she's in need of "a comeback".
Photo Credit: Joel Ginsburg/WENN
Amanda Bynes
July
Amanda Bynes kept us scratching our heads this summer as she displayed some of the craziest behavior via her Twitter account. Some of her crazier antics: tossing her bong from her apartment window, getting kicked out of Planet Fitness for smoking pot, getting banned from several gyms and fitness classes for wacky behavior, and so much more!
Her very public meltdown came to an end with a 5150 hold after she started a fire in a random person's driveway and soaked her dog in gasoline.
The actress spent several months in a medical facility and is now back at home with her parents, continuing to get well and considering a job in fashion.
Photo Credit: A. Miller/WENN
Teresa & Joe Giudice
July 29th
Fans were floored to find out that The Real Housewives of New Jersey stars Joe and Teresa Giudice were in some SERIOUS legal hot water—with the feds, no less!
Teresa and Joe were charged with 41 counts of fraud, tax evasion, falsifying documents to obtain mortgage loans and more.
The couple plead not guilty and will face the federal court this spring. They could be looking at more than fifty years in prison if convicted! And Joe could even be deported since he never bothered to become an official U.S. citizen!
Photo Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Simon Cowell
July 31
Simon Cowell gave us a double whammy this past July. First, he shocked fans and friends when he confessed that the rumors of him becoming a dad were TRUE! Not only was Simon facing fatherhood after swearing that kids weren't in the card for him, but he confirmed that the baby mama was his friend's wife, Lauren Silverman ! Oops!
There are conflicting reports about whether Lauren was already in the process of divorcing her hubby, but nonetheless they are officially dunzo. SImon is overjoyed about the baby (a boy) and is even reportedly going to make things official by proposing to Lauren. We'll see if he finally makes it down the aisle this time!
Photo Credit: Nomar K/WENN
Justin Bieber
January - December
Justin Bieber's formerly squeaky clean image was shattered this year with a string of bad behavior.
There were pot smoking incidents, violent paparazzi scuffles, and leaving pets behind in Germany (and never retrieving them!). Then he was caught peeing in a mop bucket at a restaurant, driving like a maniac and ticking off his neighbors repeatedly. Oh and there was spitting on fans from a hotel balcony and various other bratty behaviors unbecoming of a pop star.
Let's hope 2014 sees a new and improved Bieber on the block.
Photo Credit: Apega/WENN
Phil Robertson
December
Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson closed out the year with a bang. A&E Network suspended the star from filming after he made some scandalous remarks about homosexuality and civil rights in an interview with GQ magazine.
Phil's fans revolted, claiming A&E was violating his freedom of speech. Duck Dynasty's sponsors stuck by the show and Phil's family spoke out, insisting they wouldn't shoot the series without him. A&E lifted Phil's suspension and promised to do a batch of public service announcements.
Photo Credit: D Dipasupil/Getty Images for Extra