Advertisement

9 Wildest Back Stories From Favorite Celebrities

The majority of the time, celebrities are no different from any other human being. They have been through adversity and suffering, and some of the celebrity biographies are so outlandish and unreal that it is fitting for their larger-than-life stature.
In spite of this, being aware of the struggles that these famous people overcame prior to achieving their success renders them a greater degree closer to the average person and makes it easier to empathize with them. Here are some of the most incredible backstories of famous people. Below is the list of the nine wildest back stories from your favorite celebrities

1. Drew Barrymore

Source: Getty Images

The child star Drew Barrymore had a very different childhood from the childlike Gertie she played in ET: The Extra-Terrestrial. She is from a famous acting family, but many of her ancestors struggled with substance abuse. Barrymore's mother began taking her there when she was nine, and by the time she was fourteen, she was deeply involved in adult activities.

2. 50 Cent

Source: Getty Images

Curtis Jackson, well known by his stage as 50 Cent, grew raised in New York City and got involved in drug selling at a young age. After he started making music, however, he stopped, but his songs were quickly being called into question. Jackson's life was in danger after the release of "Ghetto Qu'ran" in 2000 due to its exposing lyrics regarding a local dealer. Jackson was shot nine times in the same year.

3. Lady Gaga

Source: Getty Images

Lady Gaga, the pop superstar, began her musical training at the tender age of four with piano lessons. By the time she was fourteen, she was performing at open mic nights all over New York City. However, there was a sad story hiding behind the ability. Although she received widespread praise early on, she was bullied throughout her school years. At one point, a gang of lads even shoved her into a garbage can in New York City.

4. Jennifer Hudson

Source: Getty Images

Even though she didn't come out on top, Jennifer Hudson is widely considered to be the show's most skilled contestant. Still, Hudson's ex-brother-in-law brutally attacked Hudson's mother, brother, and infant nephew, leading to their untimely deaths.

5. Oprah Winfrey

Source: Getty Images

Oprah Winfrey was abused by her family when she was a child. Winfrey became sexually active as a teenager, and she became pregnant at the age of 14. Unfortunately, her newborn infant passed away shortly after birth. Winfrey hid this information until a relative revealed it about her in an interview in 1990. Winfrey, instead of becoming angry, found relief in admitting she was no longer hiding her anguish and shame from the world.

6. Joaquin Phoenix

Source: Getty Images

Back in the day, Joaquin Phoenix was the unknown sibling of the famous Phoenix family. His older brother, the actor River Phoenix, was also incredibly handsome and skilled on the stage. Then calamity befell them. On the evening of October 31, 1993, River Phoenix was with his brother on a night out in downtown Los Angeles when he had a deadly drug-induced seizure outside The Viper Room. Despite Joaquin's best efforts, his brother did not survive the ordeal, and the internet still hosts his intensely devastated 9-1-1 call.

7. Charlize Theron

Source: Getty Images

When Charlize Theron was 15 years old, she watched her mother kill her drunken father with a gun. Theron, now an Oscar-winning actress, has said in interviews that the experience is permanently etched into her identity, much like a tattoo on her heart, but that she has not allowed it to have a detrimental impact on her life. Theron has stated that her mother's nurturing actions gave her courage and self-assurance.

8. Leighton Meester

Source: Getty Images

Her mother, a smuggler, gave birth to Leighton Meester in a halfway house before serving the rest of her term. However, this is not all. Meester's dad, grandpa, and aunt all engaged in similarly destructive conduct, proving that it ran deep in the family. Even the United States Marshals had Meester's aunt on their "15 Most Wanted" list.

9. Kelsey Grammer

Source: Getty Images

The Grammer family history that Kelsey has been told is rife with tragedy. Grammer was 13 years old, his father was fatally shot during a house invasion. Soon after, he'd experience the greatest tragedy of his entire life. Karen, his sister, was abducted and murdered. Tragically, Grammer didn't find out about his sister's death until a full week after she had already passed away.
Share this article
Advertisement
 
Advertisement