Best of 2013: Biggest Scandals of the Year

From Lance Armstrong's doping confession to Paula Deen's tearful Today appearance, see the stories the rocked the entertainment world in the past 12 months

By Zach Johnson Dec 10, 2013 10:19 PMTags
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Somebody call Olivia Pope! Kerry Washington's fixer would have her hands full if she had to minimize the real-life scandals that plagued stars like Lance Armstrong, Paula Deen and Amanda Bynes in 2013.

It seems like just yesterday that Armstrong confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs to win the Tour de France seven times. In fact, it was in mid-January that the disgraced cyclist opened up to Oprah Winfrey about his career regrets.

Deen, meanwhile, was dropped by the Food Network and lost multiple endorsement deals after it was revealed that she once used a racial epithet. (The admission was made during a videotaped deposition in relation to a lawsuit filed by Lisa Jackson, who accused her former employer of discrimination.) The butter-loving Southerner denied being a racist during a June 26 appearance on Today. "I believe that everyone should be treated equal," Deen said, breaking down into tears. "If there's anyone out there that has never said something that they wish they could take back, then please pick up that stone and throw it at my head so hard it kills me...Hit me as hard as you can."

Bynes—who was arrested in late May—was involuntarily hospitalized on a 5150 psychiatric hold in July. Her parents were granted temporary conservatorship over the actress's affairs, and she was placed in their custody after completing inpatient treatment in December. "She is doing very well and reestablishing a close and loving relationship with her family," the family's attorney told E! News, noting that the Easy A star plans to pursue a career in fashion.

While things may be looking up for Bynes, Teresa Giudice's problems are far from over. The Real Housewives of New Jersey star and her husband were charged with conspiring to defraud lenders and illegally obtain mortgages and other loans, as well as hiding assets and income during a bankruptcy case. The 39-count indictment claimed the Giudices committed mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, made false statements on loan applications and bankruptcy fraud. It also charged Joe Giudice with failure to file tax returns for tax years 2004 to 2008, during which time he allegedly earned nearly $1 million.

If convicted, they could spend up to 50 years in jail. The Giudices pleaded not guilty, and in September, they spoke about their legal problems during a half-hour Watch What Happens Live special. "I'm just focusing on my family, being a wife, a mom to my four beautiful daughters," Teresa said.

In November, they were indicted on two additional counts of fraud. Their trial begins in February 2014.

For more of the year's most shocking stories involving Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Julianne Hough, Manti Te'o, Miley Cyrus and more, check out our Biggest Scandals of the Year gallery now.