People Say the Stupidest Things.
Famous people are often eloquent, well-mannered role models that have carefully curated their social persona in order to maximize their fame.
Then again, sometimes they’re total idiots.
In this list, we’ve found some of the most awful things that well known and respected celebrities have said when they clearly weren’t thinking. From civil rights leaders like Gandhi to all-American movie stars like John Wayne, these quotes represent a different side of the famous names than we’re used to seeing or hearing.
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Start the slideshow below to see just how stupid some of these people were to even say these things, then SHARE! You’ll be absolutely shocked.
Roald Dahl
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British children’s author and writer of favorites like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, and The Witches, Dahl was born in Wales to Norwegian parents and went on to become one of the most beloved authors of his time. During his life, he was a diplomat and soldier in WWII and a generally respected man. As a WWII vet, what he had to say about the Holocaust sounds even more shocking:
“There is a trait in the Jewish character that does provoke animosity, maybe it’s a kind of lack of generosity towards non-Jews. I mean there is always a reason why anti-anything crops up anywhere; even a stinker like Hitler didn’t just pick on them for no reason.”
Paris Hilton
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Okay, okay, so Paris isn’t exactly known for being the most eloquent celebutante out there, but she’s gotten a lot better over time. Whether you think she’s a lovely young heiress or an entitled spoiled brat, there’s absolutely no excuse for when she (allegedly) made the following statement about her preferences in men:
“I can’t stand black guys. I would never touch one. It’s gross.”
Britney Spears
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It wouldn’t be a list of bad celebrity quotes without Britney! Known for her embarrassing comments, especially in the early years of her career, Britney has still remained an endearing American sweetheart. The girl is known for her killer voice and looks, and not her geography, however, which she made all too apparent after she said this, which was insulting on so many levels:
“I’ve never really wanted to go to Japan. Simply because I don’t like eating fish. And I know that’s very popular out there in Africa.”
Oops, looks like she did it again!
Hulk Hogan
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Ridiculous personality aside, Hulk has been a role model for countless people over the decades of his wrestling and acting careers. Unfortunately, he has recently fallen from grace due to a leaked sex tape and the comments he made in it. The WWE immediately severed ties with the former star. Though he’s since apologized for his actions and harsh words, it’s still shocking to hear what Hulk had to say about his daughter’s dating preferences:
“I mean, I’d rather if she was going to f**k some n****r, I’d rather have her marry an 8-foot-tall n****r worth a hundred million dollars! Like a basketball player! I guess we’re all a little racist. F***ing n****r.”
Shaq
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When you think Shaquille O’Neal, you think big, goofy, lovable Shaq, and certainly not a racist dope. Unfortunately, his insulting quote begs to differ. During an interview, Shaq was asked about Yao Ming, and he “humorously” immediately turned to pidgin English and Chinese/ Asian stereotypes.
“Tell Yao Ming ‘Ching-chong-yang-wah-ah-so.'” He also made “kung-fu” motions and bizarre mouth movements, amidst the laughter of an audience. Later, when apologizing for the statement, Shaq still tried defending his comments by saying “I’m an idiot prankster. I said a joke. It was a 70-30 joke. Seventy percent of the people thought it was funny. Thirty didn’t.” Okay, Shaq.
Orson Scott Card
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Orson Scott Card is an American novelist best known for his works like Ender’s Game and the movie adaptation. Card is infamous for his strong social and political views, which include a sympathy for Communism and an antipathy for homosexuals. For over 25 years, he has purported that gay people are the results of sexual deviancy and abuse, and that homosexuality is directly related to sexual perversion.
“The dark secret of homosexual society–the one that dares not speak its name–is how many homosexuals first entered into that world through a disturbing seduction or rape or molestation or abuse, and how many of them yearn to get out of the homosexual community and live normally.”
Conveniently, when the Ender’s Game movie came out in 2013, Card renounced these hateful opinions on homosexuality.
Johnny Depp
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Johnny Depp seems like a pretty nice guy, and his fan base has been millions deep since he first rose to fame in the ’80s. Still, no celebrity is free from a slip of the tongue that can land them in hot water. A few years back, Depp really ruffled some feathers when he made the following comparison.
Speaking of the intensity and invasiveness of photoshoots, he said, “Well, you just feel like you’re being raped somehow.”
Depp later apologized for his comments.
John Wayne
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American icon and enduring Hollywood star, John Wayne is known for his masculine roles in westerns and war movies like Sands of Iwo Jima, How the West Was Won, and The Green Berets. Given his status, maybe his racist remarks aren’t all to surprising.
In a 1971 interview with Playboy, he said “I believe in white supremacy, until the blacks are educated to a point of responsibility. I don’t believe giving authority and positions of leadership and judgement to irresponsible people […] I don’t feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from [the Native Americans …] our so-called stealing of this country from them was just a matter of survival. There were great numbers of people who needed new land, and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves.”
Eric Clapton
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Famous rock and blues musician and artist, Eric Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Clapton is best known for songs like “Layla,” “I Shot the Sherrif,” and “Wonderful Tonight,” the guitarist has also made some pretty dumb comments in his time.
“Stop Britain from becoming a black colony […] Get the foreigners out […] I used to be into dope, now I’m into racism. It’s much heavier, man.”
Donald Trump
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Donald Trump is notorious for his unfiltered remarks. Some people find what he has to say brave and inspiring, like a hot knife through a loaf of bullsh*t. Others find his comments and opinions extremely dehumanizing and insulting, sprinkled with stupidity. This isn’t even the worst thing he’s ever said, but it’s pretty bad:
“I mean, part of the beauty of me is that I’m very rich.”
You really think this guy would be a good representation of America?
Gandhi
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I know what you’re thinking: one of the most respected, caring, and peaceful men of all time, what could Gandhi possibly have done wrong?
When imprisoned in South Africa, Gandhi shared a cell with black prisoners and later said, “Many of the native prisoners are only one degree removed from the animal and often created rows and fought amongst themselves.”
Prince Philip
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To most of the world, Prince Philip seems like a tall, quiet figure lurking behind the scenes of the British Royal Family. With such honors, titles, and a wife who’s one of the most powerful people on the planet, you would think that the Prince would be more careful about what he says.
While visiting China in 1986, he told a bunch of British exchange students, “If you stay here much longer you’ll all be slitty-eyed.”
Teddy Roosevelt
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26th President of the United States and reason why every child on the planet has a teddy bear, Theodore Roosevelt is one of the most famous presidents in U.S. history. It’s more than a little troubling, then, that he once said “Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people.”
Illuminati, much?
Mariah Carey
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Mariah Carey is one of the most beloved and talented singers of our time, known for her incredible vocal skills that brought her to top the charts in the ’90s and 2000s. As charitable as she is, she still made this dumb quote:
“Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can’t help but cry. I mean I’d love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff.”
Charles Barkley
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Former professional basketball player and current sports analyst, Charles Barkley is respected on and off the court. Women might want to think twice after he said this, however:
“Listening to a woman is almost as bad as losing to one. There are only three things that women are better at than men: cleaning, cooking, and having sex.”