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Home · News

8 Women Who Stood By Their Husbands During a Public Scandal

These celebrity wives and girlfriends stood by their partners amid some of the most infamous public relationship scandals ever.

By Lauren Porter · September 13, 2016October 26, 2020
01
Tina Campbell and Teddy Campbell

Tina Campbell of hit gospel duo Mary Mary and her husband, fellow musician Teddy Campbell, hit a major rough patch in their marriage after Teddy revealed he had been unfaithful with a close family friend. Upon learning the devastating news, Tina admitted to destroying three cars and attempted assault the two turned to Christ during their reconciliation and renewed their vows on their hit WEtv reality series Mary Mary in 2015. 

Getty Images
02
Kwame and Carlita Kilpatrick

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was sentenced to 28 years behind bars in 2013 for corruption and his wife, Carlita remained by his side throughout the charges and sentencing. But that wasn’t their first instance of public scandal, in 2008, the then elected official was involved in a sexual text-messaging affair in which Kilpatrick was removed from his position as Deputy Police Chief and relieved of his duties as the head of the Detroit police Internal Affairs Unit.

Getty Images
03
Ray Rice and Janay Palmer

On February 15, 2014, Ray Rice was caught on an elevator surveillance tape delivering a violent punch to his then-fiancée Janay Palmer before dragging her limp body out of the elevator. The public exploded after the video surfaced, but Palmer stood with Rice. Following his suspension from the NFL over the video and the scandal, Palmer and Rice tied the knot and are expecting their second child together. 

AP Photo
04
Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

In 2003, after two years of marriage, the now retired L.A. Laker was accused of sexual assault by a Colorado woman. During a news conference Bryant admitted to adultery but denied the rape accusation. Vanessa stood by his side and now the couple is expecting their third daughter together and have moved past the very public ordeal.

Getty Images
05
Bishop Eddie and Vanessa Long

In 2010, Bishop Eddie Long of Atlanta megachurch New Birth Missionary Baptist Church was accused of luring young men from his congregation into sexual relationships. His wife Vanessa stood by his side at first before filing for divorce in 2011, withdrawing the papers, filing again before tabling separation talks the next day, filing once more and then ultimately stayed by her husband’s side as of 2012. 

 

John Amis-Pool/Getty Images
06
Magic and Cookie Johnson

Magic Johnson shook up the world in 1991 when he held a press conference to announce his diagnosis with HIV and first retirement from the game of basketball. All the while, Johnson’s pregnant wife Cookie, sat by his side assuring all who watched that neither she nor the couple’s unborn son had contracted the illness. The Johnson’s have now been married for 25 years and have let nothing get in their way of sharing and celebrating their love. 

 

Getty Images
07
Bill Cosby and Camille

Camille Cosby has stood by her husband, longtime comedian, actor and entertainment legend Bill Cosby as he been publicly accused of sexual misconduct by some 50 plus women.  

 

Getty Images

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