The Greatest Scandals Ever Tweeted
Twitter has allowed scandals to find a whole new playing field to play out on. From presidential candidates to Hollywood stars to regular citizens, anyone with a twitter account has felt the wrath of scandal. That being said, some of the greatest scandals aren’t about tweets that just created controversy – but multiple tweets hitting us over the head with more and more evidence. We’ve rounded up some of the biggest scandals to ever hit the platform and created a master list from the never-ending supply of drama.
Casey Anthony Trial – #JusticeForCaylee
It’s hard to forget one of the most infamous legal cases of all time. But back in 2011 when the case was still ongoing, people followed the news every day and waited for the verdict. Following the hashtag #JusticeForCaylee, concerned Twitter users made sure to keep friends and family updated with news and developments as the case progressed. The hashtag reached an estimated 2.2 million users worldwide and the eventual verdict sparked outrage on Twitter.
Anthony Weiner’s Sexting Controversy – #Weinergate
The year was 2011 and Anthony Weiner was running for mayor of New York City when a news story broke where Weiner had sent sexually-explicit photos over Twitter to a young woman. The case robbed attention away from Weiner’s campaign and focused on the scandal. Public outcry, of course, was immediate over the contents of Weiner’s private DM and it quickly became one of the biggest Twitter controversies of the year with the hashtag #Weinergate.
Ken Bone’s Perfect Scandal – #KenBone
It isn’t often we find someone who makes an appearance at a presidential debate and is able to remain active on Twitter for days afterward. But that’s exactly what happened when Ken Bone tweeted his way into the hearts of millions. Bone showed up to the debate sporting an iconic red sweater and an even more iconic charisma. It didn’t take long for the internet to fall head over heels in love with Ken Bone, with the hashtag #KenBone trending worldwide in no time.
But the internet’s love for Bone quickly turned to scandal, when old tweets of Bone using inappropriate language and behavior started to circulate. Bone was quickly branded with the nickname “Famous Ken Bone” and faced instant criticism.
Azealia Banks vs. Russell Crowe – #AzealiaBanks
In 2016, Azealia Banks found herself in a bit of hot water after threatening to sue actor Russell Crowe. Banks claimed that Crowe had spit on her at a party, choked her and then threw her out of the party. This story quickly made headlines, with people taking to Twitter with the hashtag #AzealiaBanks to share the story, criticize Crowe and defend Banks.
Ryan Lochte’s Lie – #LochteGate
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, millions of people tuned in to watch Ryan Lochte’s performance in the swimming pools. But a few days later, it was Lochte and a few friends who became headline news as they faced a criminal investigation for filing a false report. The alleged story was that the group had been robbed by Brazilian police; but Lochte eventually backed down from his story and admitted it was a lie.
The hashtag #LochteGate began trending and the tweets flooded in. People were quick to criticize Lochte and his story, with many mocking the incident and demanding an apology.
Tomi Lahren’s Controversial Abortion Tweet
Tomi Lahren’s tweet regarding abortion was considered to be one of the most controversial tweets of 2018. The tweet, sent in January of that year, stated “I’m pro-choice and here’s why: I can’t sit here and be a hypocrite and say I’m for limited government but I think the government should decide what women do with their bodies.”
The tweet prompted an immediate reaction from both sides of the aisle, with people calling her out for her “insensitive” comments. This tweet was followed by an apology from Tomi, but the damage was done and the hashtag #TomiLahrenAbortionTweet began to trend worldwide.
Twitter has been the source of never-ending drama since it became active in 2006. From legal trials to presidential elections and from celebrities to regular citizens – scandal seems to follow everyone these days. But some Twitter scandals stand out as the most outrageous of the decade. From Casey Anthony’s trial to Ryan Lochte’s false story and Tomi Lahren’s controversial tweet, these scandals have left their mark on Twitter, and their hashtag tales will stay with us forever.