History Main / TabloidMelodrama

[[quoteright:346:[[Film/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/theboywholies.jpg]]]]

* In ''VisualNovel/DoubleHomework'', several tabloid stories come out over the course of the summer, all calling the protagonist the “Barbarossa mass murderer” on account of his role in the incident there. Exploited at times by Dennis to blackmail him after he finds out the ultimate secret regarding the protagonist and the tragedy.
* Averted in ''VisualNovel/{{Melody}}''. Even as the title character's star rises, there’s no indication of what the tabloids are saying, or even that they’re saying anything at all, about her life.

* ComicBook/SpiderMan once has to deal with a rather vile {{Paparazzi}} (and the biggest sleazeball you'd ever meet) named Nick Katzenburg, a FatSlob with absolutely no morals, who gained a high position at the ''Daily Bugle'' because J. Jonah Jameson had been replaced by [[MasterOfDisguise the Chameleon]], making the Bugle's attacks against Spider-Man into outright slander. When the real Jonah returns, Nick's claws are clipped a little, due to Jonah having ''some'' morals as a newsman, and then ''severely'' grounded when Thomas Fireheart becomes the owner in a hostile takeover, turning the Bugle's coverage towards him positive in order to repay a debt he felt he owed (which, sadly, was just as biased, only in reverse). Nick's slanderous ways finally comes to a head when he takes incriminating pictures of the Rose and published them with Peter Parker's name to protect himself; once the truth comes out, he is the target of both the underworld ''and'' the police, and an attempt on his life leads to a heart attack and his eventual death from lung cancer.

TruthInTelevision (but ''not'' in tabloids), ''especially'' applied to Hollywood actresses and actors. For characters who work for such publications, see {{Paparazzi}}.

* In ''Film/SinginInTheRain'', Monumental Pictures' publicity plays up Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont as an off-screen couple to the point where tabloids and radio are spreading rumors of their impending marriage. From Don's point of view, these are [[BlatantLies "banana oil"]]; as he tells Lina, "There is nothing between us. There has ''never'' been anything between us. Just air." He has to tell the redoubtable Ms. Lamont this, incidentally, because she has started to [[BelievingTheirOwnLies believe her own publicity.]]

* ''FanFic/LadyBugOut'' begins when Alya posts a photo of Ladybug and Chat Noir kissing to her Ladyblog while deliberately omitting context -- mainly, that this was caused by them [[AmnesiacHero losing their memories]] to [[Recap/MiraculousLadybugS03E10Oblivio Oblivio]]. When confronted about this, Alya claims that this is simply the price of fame -- that being a superheroine makes Ladybug a public figure who should just 'get used to' being treated like this. Marinette/Ladybug disagrees, and [[StartMyOwn starts her own blog]] to counter this blatant and deliberate misinformation.
* ''FanFic/TheOneToMakeItStay'' sees Alya [[ManipulativeEditing generously editing footage]] she secretly took of one of Chat Noir's {{Love Confession}}s, making it appear that Ladybug accepted it rather than gently turning him down. She then posted the results onto the Ladyblog. It's quickly made clear when Ladybug confronts her that she doesn't see anything wrong with this, and treats her punishment as DisproportionateRetribution.
* Adrien uses this to his advantage in ''FanFic/AllsFairInLoveAndWarAndTurnaboutsFairPlay''. Specifically, he delivers a 'Shocking Interview' where he reveals that he's afraid of one of his classmates: Lila. While he doesn't name names, he lists off various horrible things she's done to try and get him under her thumb... and every last one of them is true.
* When a new Fox Heroine debuts in ''FanFic/BurningBridgesBuildingConfidence'', Alya responds by quickly penning and posting a spiteful article accusing her of ''stealing'' the Fox miraculous. Ladybug soon calls her out on this, berating her for how she's filled the Ladyblog with gossip and wild, baseless speculation.

* The manga/OVA BoysLove series ''Manga/HaruWoDaiteita'' is based on two actors and their relationship with each other, surrounded by paparazzi and gossips, including tabloids and talk shows.

* A paparazzi photographed ComicBook/SheHulk sunbathing topless. Fortunately for Jen, the guy's editor airbrushed the photo, making her skin look flesh-colored instead of green (likely a routine editing job by someone who didn't realize she was supposed to be green). The rag's readers never realized the woman in the picture is her.
* ComicBook/SpiderMan once has to deal with a rather vile paparazzi (and the biggest sleazeball you'd ever meet) named Nick Katzenburg, a FatSlob with absolutely no morals, who gained a high position at the ''Daily Bugle'' because J. Jonah Jameson had been replaced by [[MasterOfDisguise the Chameleon]], making the Bugle's attacks against Spider-Man into outright slander. When the real Jonah returns, Nick's claws are clipped a little, due to Jonah having ''some'' morals as a newsman, and then ''severely'' grounded when Thomas Fireheart becomes the owner in a hostile takeover, turning the Bugle's coverage towards him positive in order to repay a debt he felt he owed (which, sadly, was just as biased, only in reverse). Nick's slanderous ways finally comes to a head when he takes incriminating pictures of the Rose and published them with Peter Parker's name to protect himself; once the truth comes out, he is the target of both the underworld ''and'' the police, and an attempt on his life leads to a heart attack and his eventual death from lung cancer.

* In the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' series, Rita Skeeter is an immoral paparazzi who really doesn't care who she hurts or whose reputation she ruins (or even if her information is exaggerated a little -- or [[BlatantLies more than "a little"]]) so long as she gets the dirt on a subject. As it turns out, she's using an illegal method to get her stories--[[spoiler:she's an unlicensed Animagus who can turn herself into a beetle and listen in on any conversation like a fly on the wall, literally]].

* ''Series/JessicaJones2015'': In season 2, Trish's dating life is the subject of tabloid gossip for a period of time, beginning when Jessica calls the paparazzi on Trish claiming she and her boyfriend Griffin are having relationship troubles (as a ploy to keep Trish grounded while Jessica goes to a meeting with someone from IGH). Trish has Malcolm assist her in sneaking past the paparazzi, though despite their best efforts, they are noticed and photographs are taken of them together when they catch up to Jessica just as her meeting with the fake Dr. Leslie Hansen ([[spoiler:actually her presumed-deceased mother]]) turns violent. Subsequently, a photo of Trish and Malcolm is plastered on the tabloids, forcing Trish to make clear to the press she's still dating Griffin. One episode later, she's dumping Griffin after he tries to proposing to her as a GrandRomanticGesture...which also gets plastered in the tabloids.

* Taken UpToEleven in the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' episode "Sneak Peak". Ian Peek runs a popular celebrity gossip show that seems like the typical one, but the difference is, he will use ''any'' method, no matter ''how'' immoral, to get the dirt on celebrities. As it turns out, he has murdered a Wayne Enterprises scientist in order to steal a device that can make him intangible, letting him spy on and record conversations that most paparazzi can't access. A SmugSnake to the extreme, he even dares to publically expose a mobster who turned informant on other crime bosses, and not only discovers Terry's identity as the current Batman, but Bruce Wayne's identity as the original one. However, right before he plans to air that secret in what he hopes will be his biggest hit ever, he discovers he is losing control of the device, and it is making him intangible against his will. He postpones the airing, and then calls Bruce, [[AintTooProudToBeg pleading with him for help.]] Unfortunately, it is far too late for Bruce to do anything. As Terry arrives and a fight broke out, Ian ''completely'' lost control of it, and plummets downward, unable to even stand on solid ground, eventually vanishing through the basement floor. He [[NeverFoundTheBody hasn't been seen since]], but Bruce theorized that he [[FateWorseThanDeath will probably keep falling until he reaches the center of the Earth]], so it's not surprising.

* ComicBook/SheHulk is once a victim of a paparazzi who photographed her sunbathing, topless. Fortunately for Jen, the guy's editor airbrushed the photo, making her skin look flesh-colored instead of green (likely a routine editing job by someone who didn't realize she was supposed to be green). No-one who read the rag ever realizes the woman in the picture is her.

* Rita Skeeter's job description in the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' series; she is an immoral paparazzi who really doesn't care who she hurt or whose reputation she ruins (or even if her information is exaggerated a little -- or [[BlatantLies more than "a little"]]) so long as she gets the dirt on a subject. As it turns out, she is using an illegal method to get her stories, [[spoiler:being an unlicensed Animagus who can turn herself into a beetle and listen in on any conversation like a fly on the wall, literally.]]

* In ''Film/SinginInTheRain'', Monumental Pictures' publicity plays up Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont as an off-screen couple to the point where tabloids are spreading rumors of their impending marriage, though in private they insist they have nothing going on between them.

* The HBO miniseries ''Series/JohnAdams'' shows that this sort of thing is OlderThanTheyThink; there is this dialogue between UsefulNotes/JohnAdams and his rather upset wife, who is reading ''The Federalist Papers'', which has printed some rather absurd exaggerations and lies:

* As proof that this sort of thing is OlderThanTheyThink, in the 2010 biographical HBO miniseries about the life of UsefulNotes/JohnAdams, there is this dialogue between Adams and his rather upset wife, who is reading ''The Federalist Papers'', which has printed some rather absurd exaggerations and lies:

->Scandal!\\

Over and over and over again

* A two-part episode of ''Dream On'' reversed the gender roles when Martin Tupper began an affair with a woman who turned out to be the wife (Teri Garr) of a prominent politician (George Hamilton). In the ensuing tabloid uproar, cameo roles went to people like Rita Jenrette, Gennifer Flowers and Jessica Hahn, all of whom had experience with the phenomenon in real life.

!!Examples

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* ComicBook/SheHulk was once a victim of a paparazzi who photographed her sunbathing, topless. Fortunately for Jen, the guy's editor airbrushed the photo, making her skin look flesh-colored instead of green (likely a routine editing job by someone who didn't realize she was supposed to be green). No-one who read the rag ever realized the woman in the picture was her.
* SpiderMan once had to deal with a rather vile paparazzi (and the biggest sleazeball you'd ever meet) named Nick Katzenburg, a FatSlob with absolutely no morals, who gained a high position at the Daily Bugle because J. Jonah Jameson had been replaced by [[MasterOfDisguise the Chameleon]], making the Bugle's attacks against Spider-Man into outright slander. When the real Jonah returned, Nick's claws were clipped a little, due to Jonah having ''some'' morals as a newsman, and then ''severely'' grounded when Thomas Fireheart became the owner in a hostile takeover, turning the Bugle's coverage towards him positive in order to repay a debt he felt he owed (which, sadly, was just as biased, only in reverse). Nick's slanderous ways finally came to a head when he took incriminating pictures of the Rose and published them with Peter Parker's name to protect himself; once the truth came out, he was the target of both the underworld ''and'' the police, and an attempt on his life led to a heart attack and his eventual death from lung cancer.

[[folder: Fan Works ]]

* In the ''Manga/DeathNote'' [[AlternateUniverseFic AU]] ''{{FanFic/Ragnarok}}'', much to Light's dismay, the tabloids become interested in "the [[{{Bishonen}} pretty boy]] cop" that teen idol Misa Amane hangs out with and write up a trashy article about him which concludes that if [[PlatonicLifePartners he and Misa aren't a couple]] then [[TransparentCloset he must be gay.]]
* In the ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' [[AlternateUniverseFic AU]] ''[[FanFic/ThreeSlytherinMarauders 3 Slytherin Marauders]]'' it seems the staff of the Daily Prophet has nothing better to do than stalk an 11-year old boy.
* In ''FanFic/DiariesOfAMadman'', Navarone gets his revenge on Celestia by getting her caught up in a tabloid scandal.
* In the ''FanFic/ShadowchasersSeries'', Jalal Stormbringer claims to have been a victim of trash like this "ever since the printed periodical replaced the town crier". ([[Really700YearsOld Given how old he is]], that is likely true.) He mostly ignores it these days.
* In ''FanFic/MegaManDefenderOfTheHumanRace'', Mega Man has often been the subject of tabloid scrutiny, but this trope really takes effect in the interlude to Episode 14, where [[spoiler:Tiesel Bonne gives footage of Mega and Kalinka's kiss to the Conduit]], opening Mega Man and Kalinka up to tabloid scrutiny like never before should the footage be leaked.

[[folder: Film ]]

* The movie ''Film/{{Paparazzi}}'' did this as the whole excuse for the film's plot.

[[folder: Literature ]]

* Rita Skeeter's job description in the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' series; she was an immoral paparazzi who really didn't care who she hurt or whose reputation she ruined (or even if her information was exaggerated a little - or [[BlatantLies more than "a little"]]) so long as she got the dirt on a subject. As it turned out, she was using an illegal method to get her stories, [[spoiler: being an unlicensed Animagus who could turn herself into a beetle and listen in on any conversation like a fly on the wall, literally.]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* One episode of ''Series/{{Absolutely Fabulous}}'' had Patsy locked in a steamy affair with an important man (possibly a cabinet minister), leading the tabloids to hound her and refer to her as a "flash fash slag."
** An two-part episode of ''Dream On'' reversed the gender roles when Martin Tupper began an affair with a woman who turned out to be the wife (Teri Garr) of a prominent politician (George Hamilton). In the ensuing tabloid uproar, cameo roles went to people like Rita Jenrette, Gennifer Flowers and Jessica Hahn, all of whom had experience with the phenomenon in real life.
* I am almost ashamed to add this RealLife example, but ''JonAndKatePlusEight'' is a tragic classic version.

-->'''Abigail Adams''': ''(Reading)'' "The reign of Mr. Adams has hitherto been one continued tempest of malignant passions. As president, he has never opened his lips without threatening or scolding. He is a repulsive pedant, a gross hypocrite, one of the most egregious fools upon the continent, a hideous, hermaphroditical character which has neither the force and firmness of a man, nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman."
-->'''John Adams:''' It is beneath the President of the United States to take any notice of insinuations.
-->'''Mrs. Adams:''' In any other country, such filth would have been silenced long ago.
-->'''President Adams:''' Mr. Hamilton takes equal pains to ensure that the Federalist Paper are filled with scurrilous attacks on UsefulNotes/ThomasJefferson and his party.
-->'''Mrs. Adams:''' Think of all the vile falsehoods written about you-continue to be written about you. You may have patiently borne all the slanders, but I have not. "Before it is too late to retrieve our deranged affairs-"
-->'''President Adams:''' For goodness sake.
-->'''Mrs. Adams:''' ''(Continues reading)'' - the people must demand the immediate resignation of old, querulous, bald, blind, crippled, toothless Adams.
-->''[[BeatPanel (Long Pause)]]''
-->'''President Adams:''' [[ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne I am not crippled.]]
-->'''Mrs. Adams:''' I find no amusement in this. Waste of paper and ink.
-->'''President Adams:''' Waste of time reading it, Abigail. Put it down.
-->'''Mrs. Adams:''' They would not say such a thing about [[UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington Washington.]] They would not call George Washington hermaphroditical!
-->'''President Adams:''' They could call him toothless, though. ''(Both laugh)''

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* Taken UpToEleven in the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' episode "Sneak Peak". Ian Peek ran a popular celebrity gossip show that seemed like the typical one, but the difference is, he would use ''any'' method, no matter ''how'' immoral, to get the dirt on celebrities. As it turned out, he had murdered a Wayne Enterprises scientist in order to steal a device that would make him intangible, letting him spy on and record conversations that most paparazzi couldn't access. A SmugSnake to the extreme, he even dared to publically expose a mobster who turned informant on other crime bosses, and not only discovered Terry's identity as the current Batman, but Bruce Wayne's identity as the original one. However, right before he planned to air that secret in what he hoped would be his biggest hit ever, he discovered he was losing control of the device, and it was making him intangible against his will. He postponed the airing, and then called Bruce, [[AintTooProudToBeg pleading with him for help.]] Unfortunately, it was far too late for Bruce to do anything. As Terry arrived and a fight broke out, Ian ''completely'' lost control of it, and plummeted downward, unable to even stand on solid ground, eventually vanishing through the basement floor. He [[NeverFoundTheBody hasn't been seen since]], but Bruce theorized that he [[FateWorseThanDeath would probably keep falling until he reached the center of the Earth]], so it's not surprising.

TruthInTelevision (but ''not'' in tabloids), ''especially'' applied to Hollywood actresses and actors.

* The price of fame--being in tabloids, having your name turned into dirt by them, and people believing these scandalous lies-- is something that Mary has to live with in ''Film/WhatPriceHollywood''.