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Controversial Athletes Who Made Awkward Returns To Public Life

Darren - February 27, 2023

Featured

Controversial Athletes Who Made Awkward Returns To Public Life

Darren - February 27, 2023

Kobe Bryant

Few athletes successfully rehabilitated their image with Bryant’s success. The former Lakers icon enjoyed a glorious career but there was one serious shadow. We’re talking about his 2003 sexual assault case where Bryant apologized to his victim but denied assault. His publicist deserved a major pay rise because that’s some incredible damage control.

Somehow Bryant managed to push this to one side and rebuild his image as a family man. When he died in 2020, people talked about how he was a good father and husband. But he admitted that he cheated on his wife at the very least. Reportedly he engaged in a far more repulsive act but he continued to enjoy mainstream life (via Daily Beast).

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Conor McGregor

Sports scientists once marveled at McGregor’s incredible physical gifts. They should check if he shares any genes with cockroaches because he keeps coming back. The former UFC champion became the sport’s first true mainstream superstar. But he also made waves because of his antics outside of the cage (via NBC News).

McGregor infamously punched an older man in a bar because he didn’t want to drink his whiskey. He faced multiple sexual assault allegations and treats driving laws with contempt. The Irishman infamously stormed Brooklyn’s Barclay Center and damaged property. But the UFC keeps bringing him back to mainstream life because he is a major cash cow.

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Peyton Manning

Manning was one of the greatest quarterbacks to step onto a football field. He won two Super Bowls and was a five-time NFL MVP during his time with the Colts. Most people may find it surprising that he’s on this list because he avoided controversy throughout his career. But they don’t know about one disgusting incident during his college days (via Bleacher Report).

In 1996, Manning allegedly sexually assaulted a young woman when he brandished his penis in front of her. This came after the female doctor examined his foot for a stress fracture. According to the woman, he forced his body parts in her face and she later attended a rape crisis center. However, Manning denied these claims and the University of Tennessee stayed silent.

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Tyreek Hill

Hill was one of the Chiefs’ most exciting and popular players before he left for Miami in 2022. The Super Bowl winner evolved into one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. He also forged a great relationship with Patrick Mahomes but he has a dark side. Hill is no stranger to controversy and that’s why some people don’t like him.

First, there was an infamous domestic violence case during his college days. He notoriously punched his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach in a vile act. Oklahoma State kicked him off the team before he joined West Alabama. Hill also allegedly hurt his son in a high-profile NFL scandal in 2018. However, he continues to live a shameless mainstream life (via Sporting News).

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Floyd Mayweather

Arguably the greatest defensive boxer of all time, Mayweather enjoyed an incredible career. He went 50-0 before his retirement as he forged an amazing unbeaten record. However, there’s no denying that he is a controversial and problematic person. Mayweather even served time in jail for domestic violence.

In the end, money talks, and Mayweather has more of it than any athlete ever. Fans continued to flock to his fights despite his sordid history. Meanwhile, boxing promoters didn’t care because he made them very rich. Unfortunately, the boxing world is corrupt and doesn’t care about right or wrong (via Fox Sports).

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Dana White

The UFC President is one of the most polarizing figures in the world of sports. He is one of the most ruthless money-grabbers in the business but that also explains his success. However, he made negative headlines in 2022 after he slapped his wife in a casino. She hit him first but White instantly responded in kind (via MMA Fighting).

White infamously said in 2014 about Ray Rice that no man bounces back from hitting a woman. But the UFC President was leading conferences the following week. He also promoted his slap-fighting tournament which was a glorified way of receiving CTE. White said that he had to live with his actions but has no remorse about staying in mainstream life.

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Karl Malone

Bomani Jones made waves in 2023 when he reminded the world about Malone’s dark past. This topic arose because the NBA invited Malone to attend the All-Star weekend. Malone infamously impregnated a 13-year-old girl when he was in college. But somehow he shook this off and enjoyed a long basketball career (via The Sportsrush).

Malone never faced any consequences for this vile act. He also notoriously refused to recognize his biological child until he was 17. This says a lot about the type of man that Malone is. However, he drives his semi-truck around so people think he’s a good guy. But the opposite is true because he doesn’t belong in mainstream life.

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