# Quickest Fall from Grace - Lohan or ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 15, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306 "2011-12-15T16:01:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306/21 "2011-12-15T19:03:36Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > How about Vanessa Williams? Her career as a celebrity essentially started when she was named Miss America in September 1983. Her fall from grace occurred when her nude pictures were released in July 1984. So there’s a rise and fall within ten months. > > Granted, she eventually staged a comeback as a singer. But her debut album was released in 1988. There were several years were her career was essentially dead. I dunno, she was hot in _Eraser_ (and better looking, I thought, than the year she was Miss America and she’s a likely poster child for “Aging Well” in light of her recent _Desperate Housewives_ turn), and has probably remained in the public eye far longer than a typical Miss America. In fact, looking over the list… wow, Lee Meriwether was a Miss America? … I don’t see too many recognizable names. I know vaguely who Gretchen Carlson is, in light of Jon Stewart’s mockery, but Miss America isn’t exactly a guaranteed ride to lasting fame and fortune. ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306/22 "2011-12-15T20:41:33Z")
As I recall, few people had heard of Vanessa Williams until there were reports of nude pictures of her. Yes, she had been named Miss America, but was hardly a big name. She became a big name because of the nude pictures. I think that he headlines were closer to “Nude Pictures of Miss America” than “Nude Pictures of Vanessa Williams.” I may be misremembering though. She was the first black Miss America, so she may have been more famous than I recall. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306/23 "2011-12-15T20:52:09Z")
Brett Butler - she showed her tits to one of the child actors. Drunk and fighting with everyone on the show. They fired her. Is she even in show business now? ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306/24 "2011-12-15T21:19:05Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Brett Butler - she showed her tits to one of the child actors. > > Drunk and fighting with everyone on the show. They fired her. > > Is she even in show business now? …she’s actually homeless. [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/grace-under-fire-star-brett-263299](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/grace-under-fire-star-brett-263299) ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306/25 "2011-12-15T21:24:10Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > …she’s actually homeless. > [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/grace-under-fire-star-brett-263299](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/grace-under-fire-star-brett-263299) Don’t you judge me! (Seeing if anyone gets the reference…) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306/26 "2011-12-15T21:40:19Z")
> [@mcgato](#): > > As I recall, few people had heard of Vanessa Williams until there were reports of nude pictures of her. Yes, she had been named Miss America, but was hardly a big name. She became a big name because of the nude pictures. I think that he headlines were closer to “Nude Pictures of Miss America” than “Nude Pictures of Vanessa Williams.” > > I may be misremembering though. She was the first black Miss America, so she may have been more famous than I recall. Being the first black Miss America was a relatively big deal at the time. I think most people had heard of her. When the nude photos came out, we at least knew who she was without having to be told. Trivia note: The _Penthouse_ issue with Williams’ nude photos is now illegal to own. The centerfold was a then unknown nude model named Traci Lords, who it was later discovered was only fifteen when she posed nude for the pictures. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306/27 "2011-12-15T21:52:53Z")
The 1992 Olympics had a few that probably qualify for the OP: Tonya Harding first broke on the scene in 1991 when she became the first American woman to perform a triple-axle, which magically transformed her into a white-trash drama queen, culminating 2 years later in the attack on Nancy Kerrigan. She finished fourth at the Olympics, but this wasn’t the contest where she whined her skates were loose… that one came later. Then there are those two runners, Dave Johnson and Dan O’Brian, who were heavily promoted the year prior to the Games, only to have Dan O’Brian _fail to qualify for the Olympics_. Lots of sleepless nights at Reebok’s ad agency ensued, and some heads (I’m sure) rolled. When O’Brian learned that he wasn’t going to the Games after screwing up on the pole vault… That, ladies and gentlemen, is a moment that destroys careers. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306/28 "2011-12-15T22:05:29Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Don’t you judge me! > > (Seeing if anyone gets the reference…) My Name is Earl ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306/29 "2011-12-15T22:22:22Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Then there are those two runners, Dave Johnson and Dan O’Brian, who were heavily promoted the year prior to the Games, only to have Dan O’Brian _fail to qualify for the Olympics_. Lots of sleepless nights at Reebok’s ad agency ensued, and some heads (I’m sure) rolled. When O’Brian learned that he wasn’t going to the Games after screwing up on the pole vault… That, ladies and gentlemen, is a moment that destroys careers. However, O’Brien did come back in the 1996 Olympics and win the gold medal for the decathlon. Since we’re discussing athletes, what about the most obvious: Tiger Woods? Within the space of a few days, he went from being the decade’s dominant golfer and one of the most popular athletes in the world to a punchline for one million sex jokes. The fact he hasn’t won any major tournaments since then hasn’t helped either. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306/30 "2011-12-15T22:26:12Z")
Michael Richards went from funny sidekick to loudmouth bigot in less than five minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306/31 "2011-12-15T23:36:51Z")
If we’re including athletes, you’ve got dozens. Ryan Leaf, Brian Bosworth and John Rocker come immediately to mind. How about politics? Eliot Spitzer, anyone? ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306/32 "2011-12-15T23:41:18Z")
If it is politics, Gary Hart may qualify. From Democratic frontrunner to out of the race in one newspaper investigative report. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306/33 "2011-12-15T23:46:22Z")
Pee Wee Herman ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306/34 "2011-12-16T00:26:52Z")
If we’re including sports and sports-related people: Joe Paterno and Jerry Sandusky. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306/35 "2011-12-16T00:35:41Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Michael Richards went from funny sidekick to loudmouth bigot in less than five minutes. This may be the winner - although I wasn’t a fan even before The Incident. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306/36 "2011-12-16T00:56:08Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Trivia note: The _Penthouse_ issue with Williams’ nude photos is now illegal to own. The centerfold was a then unknown nude model named Traci Lords, who it was later discovered was only fifteen when she posed nude for the pictures. That’s why _Penthouse_ re-released them a few years later, so they could still sell more issues. Everyone at the time on the news was just booing _Penthouse_’s re-release as tactless money-grabbing. No one mentioned, at the time, “Yo people, you have to rip up part of that edition, or face prosecution.” Nowadays, no one would fail to mention “That’s kiddie porn you’re holding there.” ---
**Author:** ![Reloy3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c68b51/32.png) [@Reloy3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reloy3)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306/37 "2011-12-16T00:59:38Z")
I would say it is a tie between Michael Richards, Fatty Arbuckle and Mel Gibson - one night and their careers are shattered. The trajic one is Fatty, as he didn’t do the deed for which he was destroyed. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306/38 "2011-12-16T01:02:14Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Trivia note: The _Penthouse_ issue with Williams’ nude photos is now illegal to own. The centerfold was a then unknown nude model named Traci Lords, who it was later discovered was only fifteen when she posed nude for the pictures. > [@Arkcon](#): > > That’s why _Penthouse_ re-released them a few years later, so they could still sell more issues. Everyone at the time on the news was just booing _Penthouse_’s re-release as tactless money-grabbing. No one mentioned, at the time, “Yo people, you have to rip up part of that edition, or face prosecution.” Nowadays, no one would fail to mention “That’s kiddie porn you’re holding there.” Has anyone, anywhere ever been prosecuted for possessing “child porn” for owning a copy of that particular issue of Penthouse? I wonder if there would be a legal defense because the magazine was openly marketed and sold as _only_ having photos of adult models? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306/39 "2011-12-16T01:08:01Z")
I don’t think the OP was asking for examples of famous people who fell rapidly (which is what many people seem to be giving). He’s looking for famous people whose span of time at the top was brief - their rise and their fall not just their fall. So to give an example, O.J. Simpson’s fall was quick - his career ended in a single night in 1994. But the time he was a celebrity went back to around 1968 when he was a football star at USC. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306/40 "2011-12-16T01:11:23Z")
Macaulay Culkin. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-fall-from-grace-lohan-or/606306.md?page=3)