Line #50 Main/TabloidMelodrama


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9	[[quoteright:330:[[Film/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/theboywholies.png]]]]
10
11	->''Scandal!\
12	Now you've left me, the world's gonna know\
13	Scandal!\
14	They're gonna turn our lives into a freak show\
15	They'll see the heartache, they'll see the love break\
16	They'll hear me pleading, we'll say "for God's sakes"\
17	Over and over and over again''
18	-->-- '''Music/{{Queen\|Band}}''', [[Music/TheMiracle "Scandal"]]
19
20	When you're a celebrity, or become one overnight, tabloid stories will turn your personal life into a trashy melodrama. Try not to take it too seriously, even if they are pronouncing nuptials for you and some celebrity you merely had a friendly conversation with. Even if the tabloids' claims are false, they can cause real life harm, as the celebrity may get cancelled from a show or movie, or their marriage may be affected.
21
22	Some tabloids start from a grain of truth and then spin a tale from it. For example, a paparazzi snaps a photo of celebrity leaving a drug clinic, and from this, they speculate that the person has an addiction (although in truth they may have simply been visiting a pal). Some tabloids and gossip sites may make stuff up, although this makes them liable to lawsuits.
23
24	TruthInTelevision (but ''not'' in tabloids), ''especially'' applied to pop stars and Hollywood actresses and actors. For characters who work for such publications, see {{Paparazzi}}, the aggressive photographers who hound celebrities. Also see LuridTalesOfDoom.
25
26	----
27	!!Examples:
28	[[foldercontrol]]
29
30	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
31	* 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.
32	* Chihaya becomes the subject of one in ''Anime/TheIdolmaster'', with tabloids slandering [[spoiler:the death of her little brother]], suggesting she "did nothing" and the event was responsible for her parents' divorce. Understandably, the serious idol is reduced to a HeroicBSOD after this gets out.
33	* This played a major role in the backstory of [[spoiler:Osaragi]] in ''Manga/KaguyaSamaLoveIsWar'', whose parents were in show business and ended up being the subject of mockery by her classmates when an article about her mother having an affair was published in a tabloid. Lacking the social skills to deal with it, she ended up going from the outgoing ChildPopstar she was in her youth to a cynical introvert.
34	[[/folder]]
35
36	[[folder:Comic Books]]
37	* ''ComicBook/AstroCity'': ''Inside Scoop'' magazine '''loves''' to do this to Astra Furst, taking every innocent and mundane aspect of her life and twisting it into breathless drama. They're so relentless that they [[spoiler:pay her boyfriend to record their prom night activities, with a million-dollar bonus if he can get a sex tape out of it. When Astra breaks up with him over this, they turn it into scandal fodder within ''minutes'']].
38	* The aptly-named "Tabloid Trouble" from ''ComicBook/CartoonNetworkActionPack'' is centered on [[WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien Ben]] and Julie discovering that their relationship has been leaked to the tabloids. Julie's upset about it because she wanted their relationship to remain private -- and this is ''before'' some thugs kidnap her so they can pull a HostageForMacGuffin scenario to get the Ultimatrix.
39	* In ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'' #275, a {{Paparazzi}} photographs ComicBook/SheHulk sunbathing topless. Fortunately for Jen, the guy's editor airbrushes the photo, making her skin look flesh-colored instead of green (likely a routine editing job by someone who doesn't realize that she's supposed to be green). The rag's readers never realize that the woman in the picture is her.
40	* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'':
41	** The webslinger 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 come 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.
42	** In another instance, the Daily Bugle was bought out by a man who turned it into a celebrity gossip rag. Peter was initially on board, since he was given a big raise and the people being slandered by the paper were "just" celebrities, but after receiving WhatTheHellHero responses for taking pictures of a child star from basically everyone he knew he had a change of heart.
43	* In ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}: [[Recap/TintinTheCastafioreEmerald The Castafiore Emerald]]'', Paris-Flash's cover promises the wedding of Castafiore to Captain Haddock (who can't stand her voice), and she tells him not to take it too seriously, as she's been linked to hundreds of other men in the past. She later gets upset about the Tempo di Roma's unauthorized expose on "La diva ed il pappagallo".
44	[[/folder]]
45
46	[[folder:Fan Works]]
47	!!!{{Crossover}}s
48	* ''Fanfic/{{Empathy}}'': When Fred brings up the idea that there are [[Franchise/TheIncredibles people possessing superpowers hiding amongst them]], it's dismissed as him reading too many tabloids. The same goes for him [[WesternAnimation/DespicableMe1 the moon being stolen]].
49
50	!!!''Franchise/{{Arrowverse}}''
51	* ''Fanfic/MoralOfTheStoryNyame'': After Laurel is DrivenToSuicide, some paparazzi get their hands on her [[GoodbyeCruelWorld suicide note]] and publish it, revealing that Oliver's attempt to give her a "wake-up call" via BreakingSpeech instead drove her over the edge. This completely destroys Oliver's reputation, not just [[ConvictedByPublicOpinion in the public eye]], but with his loved ones, who are utterly ''furious'' at the role he played in her death.
52
53	!!!''Manga/DeathNote''
54	* In ''Fanfic/FeverDreams'', details about Misa's personal life can be found at every newstand, with very few caring about their veracity.
55	* ''Fanfic/MyStupidReality'': Not only do the press stalk Misa, this also enables Team L to get back on Light's trail.
56	* In the [[AlternateUniverseFic AU]] ''Fanfic/RagnarokSkeptikitten'', 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]].
57
58	!!!''Franchise/HarryPotter''
59	* In the [[AlternateUniverseFic AU]] ''Fanfic/ThreeSlytherinMarauders'', it seems the staff of the ''Daily Prophet'' has nothing better to do than stalk an 11-year old boy.
60	* {{Invoked\|Trope}} in ''Fanfic/PetrificationProliferation'': Slughorn initially refuses to talk to Amelia when she approaches him with questions about Tom Riddle, but balks when she reminds him that she's got plenty of dirt on him and will hand it all over to [[{{Paparazzi}} Rita Skeeter]] unless he cooperates with her.
61
62	!!!''Franchise/MarvelUniverse''
63	* ''Fanfic/UltimateSpiderWoman'': After [[spoiler:Jack O'Lantern]] was unmasked, the ''Daily Globe'' revealed their connection to Kitty Pryde, along with exposing her as a mutant. This results in her being harassed and sent threatening letters, leaving her utterly humiliated and scared for her life... and [[MamaBear pissing off Mary Jane]].
64
65	!!!''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse''
66	* In ''Fanfic/BornOfTheSameImpulse'', Natasha enjoys collecting outrageous articles gossiping about her teammates. At one point, she attempts to coax Tony [[TheShutIn out of his lab]] by regaling him with several of these stories.
67	* [[https://phoenixyfriend.tumblr.com/post/174284303590/theres-a-special-place-in-my-heart-for-tabloids This]] fan comic sees Peter Parker pick up a copy of the "Daily Super" which claims that he's actually Iron Man and Black Widow's son, and that the former left the latter for Captain America ("Widow cries: 'I was alone in the delivery room!'"). A response took the "Rhodes Tells All" tagline as an indicator that Rhodes [[{{Troll}} made up the story and sold it to the press solely to mess with Tony]].
68
69	!!!''Franchise/MegaMan''
70	* 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.
71
72	!!!''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug''
73	* Generally speaking, this is a [[FandomSpecificPlot/MiraculousLadybug common element]] in [[AccusationFic Salt fics]] that take a dim view of [[IntrepidReporter Alya]]. In such stories, she's characterized as [[SkewedPriorities caring more about]] getting lots of traffic on her Ladyblog than anything else.
74	* 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.
75	* 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.
76	* ''Fanfic/{{CONSEQUENCES\|MiraculousLadybug}}'': Lila attempts to {{Exploit\|edTrope}} this in ''SUN'S WRATH'' after learning that Adrien and Luka are dating. She snaps pictures of Luka walking Marinette home and submits them anonymously to a tabloid, hoping they'll stir up drama by accusing him of cheating on Adrien with her. This only succeeds in getting the publication sued by the Agrestes, along with Jagged Stone.
77	* In the ''Webcomic/FeralnetteAU'', Alya actually ''knows'' that Lila supposedly suffers from a "lying disease" that causes her to have spates where she spouts BlatantLies. Yet she continues treating her as a "trusted source" of information for her Ladyblog, taking her claims at face value. Ladybug [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech calls her out on this]] after Alya [[SayingTooMuch accidentally lets this slip out]], declaring that she's blacklisting the Ladyblog until Alya can get her act together.
78	* In ''[[https://justcourttee.tumblr.com/post/623934405359140864/ Here]]'', Alya finds herself dragged into court for "[[MaliciousSlander defamation of character]]". The most damning blow comes when Nadja Chamack reveals that Manon had [[spoiler:died in a car accident]] two months before Alya and Lila published their "expose" painting her daughter as a SpoiledBrat.
79	* ''Fanfic/KillTheLights'' offers a TakeThat to how Alya is commonly portrayed this way in Salt fics through the character of Vin, who runs a rival blog called "Miraculous Center". Vin spreads MaliciousSlander about Ladybug, claiming that she abuses Chat Noir while [[DoubleThink also insisting]] that she "[[EntitledToHaveYou owes him]]" her love. In one chapter, Alya watches a video interview where Lila (who [[PointOfDivergence transferred to his class]] after being [[LiarRevealed exposed as a liar]]) claims ''she'' used to be Rena Rogue, but that she and the other temp heroes were fired after challenging their BadBoss. (In reality, they switched Miraculouses after Hawkmoth learned their secret identities.) Alya expresses disgust at Vin's lack of any journalistic integrity.
80	* ''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 lied about. Marinette/Ladybug disagrees, and [[StartMyOwn starts her own blog]] to counter this blatant and deliberate misinformation.
81	* ''Fanfic/MiraculousLadybugSaltShots'': In ''Spots of Change'', Marinette [[TakeThisJobAndShoveIt stops being Ladybug]], passing on the Earrings to an adult who becomes the new heroine Anatis. Alya blatantly tries to twist this around, asking leading questions suggesting that Ladybug "abandoned" Paris, and is shocked when Anatis calls her out on acting like a {{Paparazzi}}:
82	-->'''Anatis:''' What? Is that not what you wanted to hear? Hm? You wanted to hear that Ladybug gave up for some ''weak'' reason, didn't you? You didn't think that ''the'' Ladybug is a fucking human being like the rest of us. That she struggles like ''every'' other person alive.
83	* ''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.
84	* In ''Fanfic/{{Recommencer\|MiraculousLadybug}}'', Ashli honestly thinks that the Ladyblog is a parody site that's intentionally filled with ShallowNewsSiteSatire, not realizing that Alya is ''dead serious'' about everything she posts and all of her baseless accusations.
85	* ''Fanfic/VillainOfYourOwnStory'': In the [[RealityWarpingIsNotAToy new reality]] created by [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor Alya's Wish]], Alya got into serious trouble at her last school for posting rumors and MaliciousSlander on her [[CurrentEventsBlog news blog]], presenting them as "thrilling exposes". Alya insists that [[NeverMyFault she can't be blamed]] for how her sources turned out to be liars.
86
87	!!!''Franchise/MyHeroAcademia''
88	* Central to the plot of ''Fanfic/{{Exoteric}}'': the {{Paparazzi}} from a {{Filler}} episode of the anime publishes an article claiming that All Might's successor is attending U.A. However, instead of Izuku, he zeroes in on the wrong suspect: Ojiro Mashiro, throwing his life into disarray as he's dragged into the spotlight.
89
90	!!!''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''
91	* In ''Fanfic/DiariesOfAMadman'', Navarone gets his revenge on Celestia by getting her caught up in a tabloid scandal.
92	* ''Fanfic/IfYouGiveALittleLove'': Coco Pommel is dismayed to learn that the paparazzi see nothing wrong with harassing the foal she's trying to adopt, gleefully parading Babs Seed's troubles around in an effort to profit off her pain and suffering.
93	* ''Fanfic/StrykesRandomElements'': ''Coincidences'' reveals that the newspapers in the [[AlternateUniverse other world]] published pictures of Fluttershy with Nightmare Moon, speculating that the two were a couple. [[spoiler:Chrysalis]] confronts Fluttershy about this, blushing as she declares that "They even had illustrations."
94
95	!!!RealPersonFic
96	* ''Fanfic/AllISee'': After Nate gets into a terrible car accident, the media heavily publicizes the incident, offering all manner of lurid speculations about what might have caused it and dragging his reputation through the mud. This harassment reaches the point that Nate doesn't leave his home for a solid month.
97
98	!!!''Franchise/YuGiOh''
99	* 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.
100	[[/folder]]
101
102	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
103	* In ''Film/TheGreatestShowman'', the newspapers all print a photo of P.T. Barnum and Jenny Lind kissing, which nearly destroys P.T.'s marriage and his business. In this case, the victim of the tabloids actually takes it as a HeelRealization; he got into this situation because he sought fame at the expense of his family and real friends.
104	* The ''Film/HarryPotter'' films went for this angle, in addition to Rita Skeeter's appearances in the fourth and seventh movies, as opposed to the books, where the Daily Prophet was far more subtle in its criticism of Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter and their supporters, despite being part of a large smear campaign. The paper in the movies throws subtlety out the window.
105	* The movie ''Film/{{Paparazzi}}'' does this as the whole excuse for the film's plot.
106	* A lot of ''Film/NottingHill'' revolves around trying to keep things from the tabloids.
107	* ''Film/SabrinaDownUnder'' has [[Series/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch Sabrina]] trying to invoke this. While the resort actually captured a real merman and the news crews have swarmed the scene to capture the story, Sabrina passes it off as the tabloids exaggerating a story about them rediscovering a species of fish thought to be extinct.
108	* 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]].
109	* ''Film/WhatPriceHollywood'': 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.
110	[[/folder]]
111
112	[[folder:Literature]]
113	* ''Literature/DiaryOfAWimpyKid: Diper Överlöde'': Greg discusses avoiding this at the top of the book as a key reason he'd rather not be famous. But if someone like Rowley were to become famous and Greg rides his coattails, the latter will gladly take advantage of it to sell gossip about the former to the press! This is one reason Greg goes along with becoming the band's roadie.
114	* 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]].
115	* ''Literature/TheLaboursOfHercules'': Literature/HerculePoirot is asked to prevent a tabloid from leaking sensitive information (the fact that a previous Prime Minister was as corrupt as they come). He does this by getting the tabloid to publish pictures of the ex-PM's daughter in the company of a LatinLover along with the accusations of embezzlement, and during the subsequent lawsuit for slander, produces the model used in the photos (a woman who looks a lot like her and makes it clear the photos were staged). The tabloid's defense (that they only received the photos instead of deliberately trying to make the daughter to be a boozing drug-addict nymphomaniac) convinces no one, and the ex-PM and his daughter come out completely clean. Poirot makes it clear he wouldn't have bothered, if not that he judged the PM's successor to be the man Britain needed.
116	* In ''Literature/LoveOverGold'', tabloids are fascinated by the romance between Diane and Katrien, two field hockey players who will be competing against each other in the Olympics. Journalists accuse both of them of sharing team secrets with each other, with one journalist comparing Katrien to Mata Hari. Journalists even harass Diane's parents.
117	* In ''Literature/RewindTerryEngland'', the Rewound Children become instant celebrities and are hit full-force by this, the unwilling center of a media circus. At one point, [[spoiler:[[{{Squick}} a tabloid prints nude photographs taken of all seventeen by the government]]. This does not go over well, to say the least]]. ''Rewind'' generally takes a very dim view of the media.
118	* Every major event in ''Literature/SmallWorldTabithaKingNovel'' seems to be ironically chronicled by ''V.I.P.'', an in-universe tabloid covering D.C. gossip and social life. Since Dolly is the daughter of a former President and a major drama queen, ''V.I.P.'' adores her and gleefully covers all her comings-and-goings.
119	[[/folder]]
120
121	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
122	* One episode of ''Series/AbsolutelyFabulous'' 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."
123	* A two-part episode of ''Series/DreamOn'' 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.
124	* ''Series/GenieInTheHouse'' has an episode where Sophie wishes she got more recognition for her accomplishments. Adil being the incompetent genie he is, grants said wish, and it results in Sophie becoming a worldwide celebrity. A jealous Amy starts blabbing some of her private secrets to the tabloids, and Sophie wakes up to a headline about "Sophie's Spanish Romance" (exaggerating a story about a boy she had a crush on in Spain). These tabloids are pretty incompetent, not realising that Sophie has a sister, and instead printing that she has a brother. [[GenderBlenderName Who is called Amy]].
125	* ''Series/HarryAndMeghan'': This is the major theme of the documentary series, with Prince Harry recounting early memories of his family being hounded by the press and his belief the tabloids were responsible for his mother's death. His horror at seeing the tabloids turn on his wife, with the added toxicity of racism, motivates him to want to escape.
126	* ''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.
127	* 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:
128	-->'''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."\
129	'''John Adams:''' It is beneath the President of the United States to take any notice of insinuations.\
130	'''Mrs. Adams:''' In any other country, such filth would have been silenced long ago.\
131	'''President Adams:''' Mr. Hamilton takes equal pains to ensure that the Federalist Paper are filled with scurrilous attacks on UsefulNotes/ThomasJefferson and his party.\
132	'''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--"\
133	'''President Adams:''' For goodness sake.\
134	'''Mrs. Adams:''' ''(continues reading)'' "-- the people must demand the immediate resignation of old, querulous, bald, blind, crippled, toothless Adams."\
135	''([[BeatPanel long pause]])''\
136	'''President Adams:''' [[ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne I am not crippled.]]\
137	'''Mrs. Adams:''' I find no amusement in this. Waste of paper and ink.\
138	'''President Adams:''' Waste of time reading it, Abigail. Put it down.\
139	'''Mrs. Adams:''' They would not say such a thing about [[UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington Washington]]. They would not call George Washington hermaphroditical!\
140	'''President Adams:''' They could call him toothless, though. ''(both laugh)''
141	* ''Series/JonAndKatePlusEight'': The reality show started out as a cute series about a family raising a large brood of children but sadly devolved into a much more sleazy RealityShow, with tabloids recounting the breakdown of Jon and Kate's marriage.
142	* ''Series/ThePartridgeFamily'': In "I Am a Curious Partridge," Danny publishes a two-part article full of made-up lurid details about Keith and Shirley's sex lives, causing them both to be incessantly harassed by fans taking advice from the article. Keith gets revenge by publishing an article that claims the miserly Danny loves giving away money, causing him to be harassed by charitable organizations.
143	[[/folder]]
144
145	[[folder:Music]]
146	* Music/BritneySpears, a tabloid punchline after from her mental breakdown in 2007, released the extremely nasty "Piece Of Me" about her treatment and her tabloid persona:
147	-->I'm Mrs. [[Series/LifestylesOfTheRichAndFamous Lifestyles-of-the-Rich-and-Famous]] (You want a piece of me?)\
148	I'm Mrs. "Oh-my-God-that-[[SubvertedRhymeEveryOccasion Britney's]]-shameless" (You want a piece of me?)\
149	I'm Mrs. "'''Extra! Extra! This Just In'''" -- (You want a piece of me?)\
150	I'm Mrs. "'''She's Too Big, Now She's Too Thin!'''" (''You want a piece of me!?'')
151	* Music/{{Eminem}} always [[CelebrityIsOverrated hated fame]]:
152	** ''Music/TheEminemShow'' is a ConceptAlbum released at the peak of Eminem's fame about the trashy soap opera the tabloids had turned his life into, embracing the AxCrazy, pistol-whipping, sexually-dysfunctional, suicidal trainwreck persona assigned to him, and airing out his dirty laundry (or perhaps [[WaxingLyrical cleanin' out his closet]]). Due to the fact most tabloid attention was on his chaotic familial relationships with his [[JunkieParent mother]] and [[DestructiveRomance ex-wife]], the album contains a lot of MuseAbuse.
153	** ''Encore'', a 'goodbye' album recorded at the time [[CreatorBreakdown his stress, drug addiction and ex-wife drama was forcing him into stepping back]], continues with these themes in a softer and more abstracted form. The intro song ends with him admitting that his life is so exposed that the show will never end for him.
154	** Eminem has also indulged in TakeThatCritics against specific tabloids and gossip mags who wrote horrible things about him. The unreleased track "Oh No", in particular, has a whole verse dedicated to torturing and murdering frequent Em-basher/luster-after Perez Hilton and [[DisposingOfABody finding a way to dispose of his corpse]].
155	* Music/GIdle: In "Nxde", a movie star is the subject of scandal for appearing in a film called ''Nude'', headlines declaring "Ruined Loreley", "Hollywood Troublemaker", "She's a Liar", and "She's so sexy but stupid!"
156	* Music/LindsayLohan's song "Rumours" is about being hounded by the {{Paparazzi}} when she goes to a nightclub, and how there will be an exaggerated story regardless of whatever she does. The song was originally written for Music/BritneySpears, whose dealings with the tabloids were legendary in the 2000s.
157	-->"I can tell that you're watching me/and you're probably gonna write what you didn't see..."
158	* In Music/MichaelJackson's music video for "Music/BillieJean", the paparazzo following Jackson is trying to continue pushing one about Jackson being involved with Billie Jean, while Jackson vehemently denies the claim. In the video, he accidentally drops a newspaper that says in big bold letters on the front page "'''BILLIE JEAN SCANDAL'''"
159	* Music/{{Queen\|Band}}: [[Music/TheMiracle "Scandal"]] was written in response to the tabloids trying pry into the private lives of Music/FreddieMercury as he was battling HIV/AIDS and Music/BrianMay as he was going through a painful divorce. Appropriately, the song depicts tabloid reporters as predatory and exploitative, airing the narrator's dirty laundry for cheap entertainment. The music video additionally depicts the band performing on a soundstage littered with giant, sensationalist mastheads and headlines, intercut with footage of paparazzi snapping photos.
160	* Music/WeirdAl: "TMZ" mocks the tabloid TV show of that name and with dark humor recounts many aspects of this trope.
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162
163	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
164	* 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.
165	* 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.
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167
168	[[folder:Web Video]]
169	* Creator/ChristyCarlsonRomano devotes a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CduB9uMd4H8 video]] on the feuds between the various Disney Channel stars of the 2000s, and how the tabloids exaggerated what were basically disagreements between children. Likewise, how private confidants became informants to enhance the stories.
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171
172	[[folder:Western Animation]]
173	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'': The 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.
174	* On ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'', Rocko is tempted to read Filburt's private diary, sitting on his coffee table. He decides to watch some TV in hopes of taking his mind off it. He turns on the TV, and the first ShowWithinAShow that comes on is some celebrity gossip show called ''Celebrities' Private Secrets.''
175	[[/folder]]

Context Main / TabloidMelodrama