Figure Out Evil Side Of 15 Real-Life Heroes Who Live Long Enough To Become Villains
Do you remember the viral line “You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain” from the movie The Dark Knight’ released in 2008? This quote becomes popular because though not all good people fall off from grace, cases in which renowned and prestigious figures let their fans down are not rare.
In the subreddit r/AskReddit, many have shared some stories of famous real-life heroes turning out to be villains eventually.
#1 Conor McGregor
Source: StephenPigot2020, Conor McGregor
This famous Irish professional mixed martial artist had a huge following before his true nature was figured out. Besides violent crimes, this man was notorious for numerous allegations of sexual assault.
#2 Rudy Giuliani
Source: justbrowsing987654, Gage Skidmore
Rudy Giuliani was an eminent prosecutor and American mayor 20 years ago. Surprisingly, he is now roasted for exploiting staff to his own benefit.
#3 Bill Cosby
Source: shaka_sulu, NBC Television
Who could doubt the dignity and integrity of an individual receiving a Nobel peace prize like Bill Cosby? Additionally, he was given a humanitarian award and the presidential medal of freedom. His fan must have been appalled when he was accused by sixty women of rape, drug-facilitated sexual assault, and other sexual misconduct.
#4 Harry Harlow
Source: ugagradlady
Harry Frederick Harlow was an American psychologist best known for his research on the importance of maternal affection and companionship to social and cognitive development. Nonetheless, his research was based on horrible animal experiments. Particularly, he separated rhesus monkeys from their mothers and raised them in harsh conditions without any love or care. This has caused fierce discussion from the ethical perspective.
#5 Dr. Oz
Source: rockychunk, Dr. Oz
Mehmet Oz, a venerable heart surgeon, is well-known for his popular TV show about healthy tips and lifestyle. Despite all his reputation and prestige, his image is ruined after his snake-oil peddling on TV. He now has the nickname "snake-oil salesman" for selling substances with no real medicinal value as a remedy for various diseases.
#6 Ellen Degeneres
Source: Not_a_local_wanderer, Ellen Degeneres
This famous host used to be very popular and adored for her great sense of humor. After 20 years of hosting TV Shows, Ellen is shamed for her mean and awful personality. On top of that, former staff of The Ellen DeGeneres Show has reported bullying, racism, and sexual harassment from producers on her show.
#7 Philippe Petain
Source: arthuranymoredonuts, Public Domain
Philippe Petain was a French general praised as The Lion of Verdun after his glorious victory at Verdun. Sadly, he sided with the Nazi German military after World War II.
#8 Joe Paterno
Source: 3lon_Mu5k, wikipedia
As a respected college coach, Joe Paterno let the public down when turning a blind eye to a terrible incident. He witnessed Jerry Sandusky sexually abusing a 10-year-old boy, but he did nothing to stop the evil.
#9 Jim Jones
Source: Crvsby, Nancy Wong
Jim Jones used to be famed for his active campaigns for civil rights, but that was only before the Jonestown Massacre. He is now known as a mass murderer for ultimately leading his followers into a mass suicide, causing over 900 deaths.
#10 Erdogan
Source: TheBk_1er, President.gov.ua
While Erdogan was the mayor of Istanbul who prioritized citizens' well-being in the late 90s to early 2000s. However, he suddenly switched to the right wing once he became the Prime Minister. This unexpected change has disappointed many people, especially those who used to admire and support him.
#11 Henry Heimlich
Source: parlimentery, Unknown author
This surgeon was denounced for his unethical experiment. He supported a project testing treatment by injecting people with Malaria, which was rejected by American review boards. Therefore, he continued this test in Ethiopia.
#12 Netflix
Source: Darth_Destructus, Stock Catalog
This has been one of the most popular streaming services so far. However, instead of remaining affordable prices and high quality, Netflix disappoints users by raising the fee while reducing the number of movies and shows. Recently, it has even charged extra for every additional party using an account.
#13 Kevin Spacey
Source: Patri100ia, Maryland GovPics
The respected actor has lost his reputation to accusations of sexual harassment and assault. Those who used to adore him for his successful films and his talent are shocked to learn about his appalling nature.
#14 Phoenix Jones
Source: moist_kiwi53, Torrin Maynard
Phoenix Jones, a real-life American superhero from Seattle, was famous for his ski mask and efforts to stop a public assault. Surprisingly, the man saving others' life over the years was arrested for cocaine delivery.
#15 Richard Nixon
Source: nostrademons, Office of the Vice President
The 37th president of the United States use to be supported by a majority of American citizens. In 1972, Richard Nixon struggled with the Watergate scandal, leading to his resignation 2 years later.
Have you ever admired one of these famous figures? How do you feel after their misdeeds are revealed? If you know of any similar situations, please share them with us in the comment below!