Here are five celebrities whose leaked sex tapes significantly boosted their fame or brought them into the spotlight:
1. Kim Kardashian’s Infamous Tape Sparks Global Stardom
Title: “Kim Kardashian, Superstar” Leak Launches Reality TV Empire
Date: 2007
Details:
Kim Kardashian was relatively unknown when a sex tape featuring her and singer Ray J was leaked online by Vivid Entertainment. Titled “Kim Kardashian, Superstar,” the video quickly gained massive attention. The controversy surrounding the leak fueled public interest and helped launch the Kardashian brand. Months later, Keeping Up With the Kardashians premiered—and the rest is pop culture history.
2. Paris Hilton’s Private Moment Becomes Public Spectacle
Title: “1 Night in Paris”: Hilton’s Sex Tape Shocks the World
Date: 2004
Details:
Socialite and hotel heiress Paris Hilton saw her life change when her sex tape with then-boyfriend Rick Salomon surfaced online. The tape, released just before her reality series The Simple Life aired, turned her into a household name. Though she claimed it was released without her consent, the tape inadvertently amplified her celebrity status and helped shape the “famous for being famous” era of reality TV.
3. Pamela Anderson & Tommy Lee Rock the ’90s with Leaked Honeymoon Footage
Title: Stolen Sex Tape of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee Becomes Cultural Sensation
Date: 1995
Details:
A stolen tape featuring Baywatch star Pamela Anderson and Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee was leaked and sold as a VHS—becoming one of the first viral sex tapes. The couple sued, but the tape had already spread worldwide. The event was so impactful it was adapted into the Hulu miniseries Pam & Tommy in 2022. Despite the invasion of privacy, the tape significantly raised their profiles in pop culture.
4.Tulisa the Spotlight After Tape Leak
Details:
Tulisa was already famous but her sex tape with her former boyfriend gave her a bigger boost. In the video, she was seen showing some oral affection to her former love interest. This incident gave the X-Factor judge and N-dubz singer, a huge amount of media coverage. In fact, after the film was leaked she was voted FHM’s world’s sexist woman in the world.
5. Mimi Faust’s Shower Rod Moment Breaks the Internet
Title: Love & Hip Hop Star Mimi Faust Goes Viral with Leaked Tape
Date: 2014
Details:
Reality TV personality Mimi Faust gained massive media attention after the release of a tape featuring her and boyfriend Nikko London. The video, released through Vivid Entertainment, became a trending topic across social media—especially for a shower rod stunt that sparked countless memes. While controversial, the incident significantly raised her public profile and extended her reality TV run.
Katie Price
Details:
Katie Price or Jordan’s sex tape with Level singer Dane Bowers, was a life changer for her. The duo had a steamy relationship from 1998 to 2000. The video got so much attention that it was viewed by a phenomenal 20 million people when it was released. It made her a famous face overnight.
