Here’s Where The Most Famous Tabloid Figures Of The ’80s Ended Up

The 1980s are remembered as a decade of enormous blockbusters, big hair, and even bigger shoulder pads. It was also a time of shocking celebrity scandals and astonishing real-life stories – as reported on by the tabloid media of the time. But what happened to the chief protagonists of those infamous ’80s sagas? Read on to find out! What became to Jessica McClure and the much-talked about Baby M may very well surprise you...

20. Zsa Zsa Gabor’s slapping scandal

Hungarian-born actress Zsa Zsa Gabor would become arguably more famous for her luxurious lifestyle and litany of husbands — a staggering nine of them — than for any acting work she ever did. But the former Miss Hungary became embroiled in a major scandal in June 1989. When stopped by cop Paul Kramer for a driving violation, Gabor slapped him and was duly booked for assault. The Gilligan’s Island star claimed excessive force, but the case went to trial.

In big trouble

The trial took place in September 1989 and during it, Gabor landed herself in more hot water. The actress made slanderous remarks about Kramer as well as insulting the witness, calling him “a little punk with a hairdo like a girl.” Gabor left the court in tears and ended up in the slammer for three days for probation violations. A civil case for slander was settled outside the courtroom in 1991. Gabor continued to live the life of a Hollywood icon until her death in December 2016 at the age of 99.

19. Ben Johnson is stripped of Olympic Gold

On September 24, 1988, Ben Johnson stormed to 100m gold at the Seoul Olympics. Johnson finished ahead of his rival, the USA favorite Carl Lewis, setting a new world record in the process. But the world would be stunned to discover soon after that the Canadian sprinter had cheated his way to glory. He had used illegal and performance-enhancing steroids, and ignited a major scandal that brought to light the extent of substance abuse in elite athletics. Besides Johnson, six of the eight competitors would either test positive for or be accused of using banned substances at some point.

Falling from grace

Johnson, who had for a time become a highly marketable athlete with a range of endorsements, suffered a spectacular fall from grace. His gold medal and world record were taken away, and the Canadian was barred from competing for two years. He attempted a comeback, but turned to doping again and was banned for life in 1993. Johnson has since done some personal training and soccer coaching — strangely for the late Colonel Gaddafi’s sports-mad son — and given numerous interviews about his life and career.