Remembering the scandals of yesteryear
The August 31 edition of Entertainment Weekly features a round-up of celebrity scandals of the past 25 years, and Rob Lowe just made it onto the list, with his 1988 sex tape landing at #21, just above O.J.’s fake tell-all and below Courtney Love saying she used heroin while pregnant.
If you’ve forgotten this little blip in the actor’s bio, or are too young to have heard of it (and if so, thanks for making me feel ancient, as if the gorgeous young photo of Lowe that accompanies the below item on the EW site hadn’t already done that), here’s the item from the article:
21. ROB LOWE: SEX-TAPE PIONEER
During the 1988 Democratic convention in Atlanta, Rob Lowe picked up two gals (ages 22 and 16) at a club, invited them back to his hotel, and videotaped the romp. Naturally, the home movie leaked out — and grainy footage of the Brat Packer in action made the tabloid-TV rounds. The underage girl’s mom sued Lowe, but it was settled out of court, and no charges were filed. (He agreed to perform 20 hours of community service.) CAREER IMPACT: MINOR After a brief rehab stint for alcohol addiction in 1990, the star went on to wink at the incident in his work, including the 1999 West Wing pilot — in which his character, a presidential aide, unwittingly sleeps with a hooker. As Lowe noted in 2000, ”At the height of my downfall, I was still making a million bucks a picture.”
And now, let us all say silent thanks that we are not famous, and that nobody is waiting out there to recycle our most embarrassing moments.
Brothers and Sisters, ABC, Rob Lowe
Photo: EW.com
August 31st, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Okay I was just going to ignore this and I may yet delete this comment. But come on. This small blurb was in EW last week so now it’s posted? A 20 year old story?
Yet ss far as I know since I’ve been following your site here you haven’t posted a lot about Rob Lowe - Senator maybe - but not the actor/celebrity. That’s fine as it’s a B&S site even though I watch the show because of Rob Lowe. I enjoy checking in but haven’t commented.
Until today.
Mid-August Rob Lowe was featured on Biography for the first time and also had an original movie for the Sci-Fi Channel that same week. Nothing here about it. As well as his promoting B&S this past June-ish in the UK and elsewhere in Europe as the show premiered over there. Nothing then either.
I just kept reading and thinking it’s about the show.
So . . . a bit disappointed as I’ve enjoyed your site. That it’s this old story that shows up?
Biography does go over the scandal and early career quite a bit which that too was disappointing. But I have to say they were pretty fair on his missteps over the years.
I’m not going to go back and point out inaccuracies or relive that history and try not to be defensive. I’ve done that enough. It’s been great these past several years as a Rob Lowe fan to finally start seeing Rob Lowe articles that start with “former West Wing star” or something similiar instead of always the video scandal.
I do want to correct the “Career Impact: Minimal” part however.
It wasn’t minimal. It was devastating and he almost lost his career. And to his credit - and one of the reasons I’m a big fan and admirer - he fought his way back and it took a long time. Steady work and making changes in both his career and personal life began to minimize the impact. I don’t need to reiterate it all but I have to wonder how many know of some of the big parts he missed out on because of the scandal.
Biography makes an attempt at the comeback/s which is what they choose to call it instead of hard work and taking responsibility. That’s what the quote about still “making a million dollars per film” is about - taken out of context of course. He kept working steadily.
My biggest criticism of the Biography portrayal of the “comebacks” is they leave out somethings I would include.
And I would think Rob Lowe would also disagree with EW’s assessment that the impact was “minimal.” Maybe that’s somewhat valid 20 years later or in hindsight but this post today shows it’s never going to disappear of course. And probably rightly so. So there’s an impact still but he accepted responsibility and rebuilt his career and personal life.
I like to point out that at the time of his scandal he was just 2 years older than Lindsay Lohan and 2 years younger than Brittney. Enough said. Thank you.
September 2nd, 2007 at 6:51 am
Thanks for your comment, Terry. I’m glad you left it, and hope you don’t delete it. I do generally write about the show, but I also generally mention when any of the actors are in EW, because it’s a magazine I read. And read about a week late, in this case.
I really have nothing against Rob Lowe. I like him as an actor, and I like him as a celebrity who generally seems to have a sense of humor about himself. There was a kind of reference to this scandal in “The West Wing,” as mentioned, and a lot of people also thought it informed the joke about his reaction to Sarah’s sex tape in “Something Ida This Way Comes” on “Brothers & Sisters.”
If you see positive stories about Rob Lowe or any of the actors that I’m missing, please drop me an e-mail or mention them in the comments here, and I’ll try to follow up. I’m one person trying to get out one good blog entry a day, and I’m happy that you’ve mostly liked it. Sorry this one hit you wrong, but I appreciate your input.
September 2nd, 2007 at 10:47 am
Thank you. It’s nice to have someone actually respond and not with hostility. Even if the post might have not have been too positive.
I do enjoy your blog and will keep in mind your comments. We RL fans like to say ‘it’s not always easy being a Rob Lowe fan - except on the eyes.’ We’re working on the defensive part. Rehab and therapy.
A couple bits of info. Balthazar Getty was featured on E! Thursday night. Short interview and they were really informing about his photo shoot for the upcoming October issue of Men’s Health. Apparently he was a model earlier in his career.
Calista Flockart is on the cover of Elle - the UK edition. That one I bought but was disappointed as no mention of my guy in the article. Some small photos of the Senator and Kitty as well as other cast members - and just her of course.
In the article they did seem to emphasize how her and Rachel Griffiths have become close. Similiar circumstances being working moms.
I’ve been concerned about the lack of promotion for the new season for B&S. They did finally show up in the weekly tabloid mags. 3 of them I counted had a full page promo for B&S. Photos of all the characters individually except RL and CF were together. And the line “Family is Everything.”
This is after a couple weeks of just seeing other ABC shows - the same ones. They really promote Grey’s Anatomy and its spin-off, Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewifes, and Dancing With Stars. Even more than new shows this season.
So seeing a B&S ad made me sigh with some relief.
Thanks again for your comments and working on this blog.
September 6th, 2007 at 11:03 am
Thanks for the info, Terry! I’m quoting you in today’s post at http://www.watchingbas.com/have-you-seen-these-people-around-anywhere/ .
August 5th, 2008 at 2:34 am
ROB LOWE IS HOTTTTTT!!!
August 5th, 2008 at 2:37 am
AGREED!! and im a gay man!!