The Dark Side of 15 Famous Heroes We Thought We Knew

We’ve all heard the saying, “Never meet your heroes.” But what if those heroes weren’t so heroic after all? Throughout history, many figures have been celebrated for their achievements, only for their dark sides to be revealed later.

From beloved authors to revered leaders, these individuals have left a complicated legacy. Let’s peel back the layers of history and expose the truth behind 15 so-called heroes who were actually terrible people.

1. Winston Churchill

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Winston Churchill, the iconic British Prime Minister who led the UK through World War II, is often hailed as a hero. However, his legacy is marred by racism and controversial decisions.

Churchill held deeply racist views, particularly towards Indians, and his policies contributed to the Bengal famine of 1943, which resulted in millions of deaths. (ref)

Despite his wartime leadership, Churchill’s actions in India have been criticized as genocidal by some historians. He refused to provide aid during the famine, even as millions starved.

His racist attitudes extended to other groups as well, including his support for eugenics and his disparaging remarks about various ethnic minorities.

2. Mother Teresa

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Mother Teresa, known for her charitable work in Calcutta, has long been revered as a symbol of selflessness and compassion. However, investigations into her practices have revealed a darker side to her legacy.

Critics argue that the quality of care in her facilities was poor, with inadequate medical treatment and unsanitary conditions. (ref)

Furthermore, Mother Teresa’s approach to suffering has been questioned. She believed in the spiritual value of suffering and often withheld pain medication from patients.

Despite receiving millions in donations, much of the money was not used to improve conditions in her homes for the dying. Instead, it was deposited in Vatican bank accounts, raising questions about the true nature of her mission.

3. Thomas Edison

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Thomas Edison, celebrated as one of America’s greatest inventors, had a less admirable side to his character. Known for his ruthless business practices, Edison often took credit for the work of others and engaged in aggressive tactics to maintain his monopoly on various technologies.

One of Edison’s most notorious acts was his campaign against alternating current (AC), developed by his rival Nikola Tesla. In an attempt to discredit AC, Edison publicly electrocuted animals, including an elephant, to demonstrate its supposed dangers.

This cruel and unethical behavior stands in stark contrast to his public image as a brilliant innovator.

4. Mahatma Gandhi

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Mahatma Gandhi, the face of India’s independence movement, is widely regarded as a symbol of peace and non-violence. However, his personal life and some of his beliefs have come under scrutiny in recent years.

Gandhi held deeply problematic views on race, particularly towards black Africans, during his time in South Africa.

Additionally, Gandhi’s treatment of women, including his own wife and female followers, has been criticized. He conducted “celibacy tests” by sleeping naked with young women, including his grand-niece, to prove his self-control. (ref)

These actions, while perhaps rooted in his spiritual beliefs, raise serious ethical questions about his conduct and treatment of vulnerable individuals.

5. John Lennon

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John Lennon, the beloved Beatles member and peace activist, had a dark side that often goes unmentioned. Despite his public image as a loving, peaceful figure, Lennon was known to be physically and emotionally abusive towards women, including his first wife Cynthia, and his son Julian.

Lennon openly admitted to hitting women in a 1980 Playboy interview, stating, “I used to be cruel to my woman, and physically… any woman.” (ref) He also neglected his first son, Julian, both emotionally and financially.

This contrast between his public persona and private behavior highlights the complex nature of his character.

6. Walt Disney

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Walt Disney, the man behind the “Happiest Place on Earth,” harbored some decidedly unhappy attitudes.

Despite creating beloved characters and family-friendly entertainment, Disney was known for his racist and anti-Semitic views. Many of his early cartoons featured racist caricatures and stereotypes.

Disney was also fiercely anti-union and allegedly cooperated with the House Un-American Activities Committee during the Red Scare. He named former employees as communist sympathizers, contributing to the blacklisting that ruined many careers in Hollywood.

These actions paint a picture of a man far removed from the wholesome image associated with his brand.

7. Coco Chanel

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Coco Chanel, the iconic fashion designer who revolutionized women’s clothing, had a dark secret: she was a Nazi collaborator during World War II. Chanel used her connections with high-ranking Nazi officers to maintain her position and wealth during the German occupation of France.

Not only did Chanel collaborate with the Nazis, but she also attempted to profit from anti-Semitic laws. She tried to seize control of her perfume company from its Jewish owners, exploiting Nazi policies for her own gain.

After the war, Chanel escaped punishment for her actions, fleeing to Switzerland before returning to Paris to revive her fashion house.

8. Henry Ford

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Henry Ford, the automobile pioneer and industrialist, is often celebrated for his contributions to manufacturing and American industry.

However, Ford was also a notorious anti-Semite who used his wealth and influence to spread hateful propaganda. He published a newspaper, The Dearborn Independent, which regularly featured anti-Semitic articles.

Ford’s anti-Semitic views were so extreme that he was awarded the Grand Cross of the German Eagle, Nazi Germany’s highest honor for foreigners, in 1938.

His writings, including “The International Jew,” were influential in spreading anti-Semitic ideas and were even praised by Adolf Hitler. Ford’s legacy is thus tainted by his role in promoting hatred and conspiracy theories.

9. Dr. Seuss

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Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, created beloved children’s books that have delighted generations. However, many of his early works contained racist caricatures and stereotypes, particularly of Black and Asian people. (ref)

These depictions were common in his political cartoons and advertisements before his career as a children’s author.

While Seuss later expressed regret for these racist portrayals, the impact of his early work cannot be ignored. In recent years, several of his books have been withdrawn from publication due to their offensive content.

This controversy has sparked debates about how to address problematic elements in the work of celebrated cultural figures.

10. Woodrow Wilson

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Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States, is often remembered for his role in World War I and the League of Nations.

However, Wilson was also a staunch segregationist who actively worked to reverse progress in civil rights. He segregated federal offices and dismissed many Black federal employees.

Wilson’s racism extended to his academic work as well. As a historian, he portrayed the Ku Klux Klan in a positive light and supported the “Lost Cause” narrative that romanticized the Confederacy.

His policies and attitudes contributed significantly to the rollback of civil rights gains made during the Reconstruction era.

11. Charlie Chaplin

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Charlie Chaplin, the iconic silent film star, had a troubling history with young women. Despite his on-screen charm, Chaplin had a pattern of pursuing and marrying teenage girls.

His second wife, Lita Grey, was just 16 when they married, and he was 35. Chaplin had begun a sexual relationship with her when she was only 15.

This pattern continued throughout Chaplin’s life. He married his fourth wife, Oona O’Neill, when she was 18 and he was 54.

While these relationships were not illegal at the time, they raise serious ethical questions about power dynamics and exploitation.

12. John F. Kennedy

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John F. Kennedy, often romanticized as the charismatic young president, had a darker side that was carefully hidden from the public. Kennedy engaged in numerous extramarital affairs, including a relationship with Marilyn Monroe.

These affairs often involved power imbalances and raised questions about consent.

Moreover, Kennedy’s health issues were more severe than the public knew. He suffered from Addison’s disease and chronic back pain, leading to heavy use of painkillers and other medications.

This drug use, which included amphetamines, potentially affected his judgment during crucial moments of his presidency, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis.

13. Pablo Picasso

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Pablo Picasso, the revolutionary artist who co-founded Cubism, was known for his misogynistic behavior and abusive relationships. Picasso famously said, “There are only two types of women: goddesses and doormats.” (ref) His treatment of the women in his life often reflected this attitude.

Picasso’s relationships were marked by emotional and sometimes physical abuse. He was known to pit his lovers against each other and often discarded them when he lost interest.

The trauma inflicted on his partners is evident in the fact that two of them committed suicide after his death. Picasso’s brilliant artistry coexisted with a deeply problematic personal life.

14. Steve Jobs

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Steve Jobs, the visionary co-founder of Apple, is celebrated for his technological innovations. However, his personal behavior was often cruel and manipulative.

Jobs was known for his volatile temper and tendency to berate employees, creating a culture of fear at Apple.

Furthermore, Jobs initially denied paternity of his daughter Lisa, refusing to pay child support despite his wealth. He also engaged in questionable business practices, including backdating stock options and conspiring with other tech companies to suppress employee wages.

While Jobs’ contributions to technology are undeniable, his personal conduct reveals a less admirable side.

15. King Leopold II of Belgium

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King Leopold II of Belgium is often overlooked in discussions of historical villains, but his actions in the Congo Free State were nothing short of genocidal.

Under the guise of bringing civilization to Africa, Leopold established a brutal regime that exploited the Congolese people and resources for his personal gain.

Leopold’s forces implemented a system of forced labor, mutilation, and murder that resulted in the deaths of millions of Congolese. Estimates suggest that the population of the Congo was reduced by half during Leopold’s rule.

Despite the scale of these atrocities, Leopold managed to keep much of the brutality hidden from the European public, maintaining his image as a philanthropist and builder of Belgium.

History teaches us that heroic legacies often mask complex, troubled individuals. While these figures made significant contributions to society, their darker actions remind us to approach hero worship with careful skepticism.

Their stories demonstrate that human nature is rarely black and white – even celebrated historical figures can harbor prejudices, commit atrocities, or engage in deplorable behavior.

Nancy Maffia » nancy
Nancy Maffia
Author & Editor | + posts

Nancy received a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.