Buzz
In Graham Greene's novel Heart of the Matter, a striking moment occurs when the troubled protagonist gazes at the night sky and muses, “If one truly understood the circumstances, would compassion extend even to the planets?”
Almost everyone and everything can warrant empathy if you take the time to hear their story. Delve into the narratives of some widely disliked figures, and you might discover a sense of pity for them. While no justification alters their actions, exploring the backgrounds of these cultural antagonists makes it easier to grasp how they ended up in their current situations.
10. Chris Brown Struggles with Mental Health Issues
Chris Brown is infamous for assaulting Rihanna and failing to apologize for his actions. He’s the type of individual who has entire compilations documenting his most controversial moments. Additionally, he struggles with bipolar disorder and PTSD.
In 2014, E! News acquired a probation officer’s report from a treatment facility where Chris Brown was receiving care. The report disclosed that the singer had untreated post-traumatic stress disorder and was diagnosed with bipolar II—a particularly challenging form of bipolar disorder characterized by severe lows and limited manic highs. The report suggested that his history of violent behavior was tied to his efforts to “self-medicate,” a euphemism for using alcohol to cope with his struggles.
While many individuals live with mental health issues without harming others, the combination of bipolar II and PTSD is profoundly debilitating. Left untreated, it can completely derail your life, leaving you feeling worthless and consumed by guilt. In severe cases, it can push someone into such a dark mental state that those with PTSD face a significant risk of suicide. If this is what Chris Brown endures, it’s far from a desirable situation.
9. Josie Cunningham Endured Severe Bullying During Her Childhood
Often labeled “Britain’s most despised woman,” Josie Cunningham gained notoriety for undergoing state-funded breast augmentation and proposing to terminate her pregnancy for a spot on Big Brother. Her entire strategy revolves around inciting outrage and basking in the resulting attention.
In January 2015, Channel 4 aired a documentary about Josie’s life, which largely confirmed public suspicions: her outrageous behavior was driven by financial gain. However, it also revealed an unexpected part of her past. As a child, Josie endured severe bullying.
The bullying escalated to physical violence. Josie recounted how groups of older children pushed her down staircases, attempted to throw her from a second-story window, and even poured gasoline on her. She received no protection from law enforcement and minimal support from her school. The root of her torment? Her flat chest.
In the documentary, Josie shared how her state-funded surgery gave her a newfound sense of confidence. This procedure initially triggered a media frenzy, led by The Sun, and Josie capitalized on the ensuing controversy.
8. The Cat Bin Lady Faced Profound Personal Struggles
Forever remembered as the “cat bin lady” after a video of her discarding a cat went viral, Mary Bale was found guilty of animal cruelty in 2010. For a time, she became a target of intense hatred from animal lovers.
At the time of the incident, Mary Bale was grappling with profound personal struggles. Her father was terminally ill in the hospital, and Bale was returning home from her daily visit, her mind overwhelmed with grief and distress. In an interview with the Financial Times, Bale stated she had no recollection of placing the cat in the bin. The writer speculated this memory lapse was due to the intense emotional turmoil she was experiencing, suggesting the act wasn’t driven by malice.
After the video surfaced, Bale’s life spiraled further into despair. She lost her job, nearly became homeless, and her father passed away while her legal case was ongoing. She also alleged that UK tabloid reporters harassed her family at the hospital. A year after the incident, Mary Bale was financially ruined, jobless, isolated, and deeply unhappy. Meanwhile, the world had already forgotten her.
7. Russell Brand Endured a Troubled Childhood
While Russell Brand isn’t as widely disliked as others on this list, many find his demeanor grating. His political activism has stirred controversy in his home country, making him a celebrity who often attracts both admiration and disdain.
Russell Brand’s early life reads like a catalog of unimaginable hardships. By the time he was 10, his mother had battled cancer three times. His father was absent and left the family in financial disarray. Brand grew up feeling isolated and deeply depressed. He struggled with bulimia, succumbed to drug addiction, and was sexually abused by a neighbor at the age of seven, as he revealed in his autobiography.
In subsequent interviews, Brand has been candid about his traumatic experiences, an openness that has inspired other abuse survivors to come forward.
6. The Individuals in the 9/11 Photo Weren’t Uncaring
In September 2006, photographer Thomas Hoepker unveiled the above image, captured five years prior. The photo depicted a group of individuals seemingly relaxed against the backdrop of the Twin Towers collapsing in the distance, sparking immediate controversy. Hoepker claimed his subjects “showed no reaction” to the event. The New York Times criticized them as symbols of an indifferent generation.
However, those appearing relaxed were neither at ease nor particularly young. They were a group of mostly middle-aged individuals in a state of profound shock.
If you’ve ever been near a traumatic event, you’ll know real-life reactions differ from cinematic portrayals. Instead of visible terror, people often exhibit blank smiles, polite vagueness, and disoriented small talk—a psychological defense mechanism. Walter Sipser, one of the individuals in the photo, described the group as being in a “deep state of shock and disbelief.” Hoepker never consulted them or sought their consent before taking and publishing the photo, later attaching an uninformed interpretation of their reactions.
Despite Sipser’s account being public for nearly a decade, the photo remains widely circulated. In 2011, The Guardian even compared its subjects to the characters in Seinfeld, who face consequences for their apathy toward others.
5. The Auschwitz Selfie Girl Was Paying Tribute to Her Deceased Father
In the summer of 2014, schoolgirl Breanna Mitchell took the above photo, smiling outside Auschwitz concentration camp. The situation worsened when Mitchell reacted to the viral spread of her photo by tweeting, “I’m famous, y’all.” However, Mitchell wasn’t at Auschwitz merely for a photo op. She was there to honor her late father’s memory.
In a video interview following the controversy, Mitchell explained that she and her father had shared a deep interest in understanding the atrocities of the Holocaust. Far from being ignorant, she had studied the Holocaust extensively in high school and was well aware of Auschwitz’s historical significance. She and her father had planned a trip to Poland to explore the site, but the plan fell through after his sudden death. A year after his funeral, Mitchell traveled to Europe alone and took the selfie as a tribute to her father. The smile, it has been suggested, was simply an unintentional reflex.
4. Lindsey Stone Was Making a Positive Impact
In 2012, Lindsey Stone shared the above photo of herself yelling and cursing near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington. The public backlash was swift, accusing her of disrespecting veterans and leading to her being terminated from her job. Her role was with LIFE (Living Independently Forever), an organization supporting adults with significant learning challenges. Stone excelled in her position, with parents praising her as “the best thing to happen to the campus” before her dismissal.
Contrary to appearances, Stone wasn’t mocking the tomb. She and her friend Jamie had a running joke about defying sign instructions, such as taking photos of themselves smoking near no-smoking signs. When they encountered the “Silence and Respect” sign at the tomb, Stone jokingly pretended to shout and swear, intending it as a private gag. This harmless joke, however, cost her job, caused her severe insomnia, and plunged her into a year-long depression.
3. Fred Phelps May Have Recanted His Views (Possibly)
Fred Phelps, leader of the homophobic Westboro Baptist Church, was so extreme in his bigotry that even the KKK opposed him. When he passed away in 2014, the world collectively rejoiced.
Rumors suggest that Phelps experienced a revelation outside Equality House, a pro-LGBTQ organization established across from Westboro’s headquarters to counter their hateful rhetoric. Surrounded by his church members, he reportedly told the Equality House team, “You are good people.” The story also claims Phelps made a modest donation to the charity, seemingly renouncing his long-held prejudiced views.
While this doesn’t absolve the decades of harm Phelps caused, and its authenticity remains debated, the head of Equality House insists it’s true. If accurate, it hints that even the most hardened hearts can change—though it may be too little, too late. Phelps may not warrant sympathy, but perhaps a glimmer of humanity remained in him at the end.
2. Justine Sacco Faced Estrangement from Her South African Family
In December 2013, PR professional Justine Sacco flew to South Africa. Her final tweet before departure read, “Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS. Just kidding. I’m white!” The tweet sparked outrage, leading to her losing her job and nearly being disowned by her family.
Few considered why Sacco was traveling to South Africa for the holidays. She had extensive family ties there, many of whom were staunch supporters of Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress party. As long-time members of the anti-Apartheid movement, they were deeply ashamed and nearly severed ties with her.
Sacco shared anti-racist views, and her trip had prompted her to reflect on the misconception that HIV/AIDS is an “African issue.” Her tweet was intended as an ironic critique of such ignorance, but it was misinterpreted entirely.
The fallout left her family embarrassed to host her during the holidays and destroyed much of what she held dear. At one point, the situation became so dire that Sacco sought refuge in charity work in Addis Ababa, only to face continued online harassment. Fortunately, her family eventually reconciled with her.
1. Katie Hopkins Battles Severe Epilepsy
UK columnist Katie Hopkins is notorious for her controversial views. She has labeled individuals with dementia as a drain on resources, ridiculed those with disabilities, and faced accusations from the UN for making “pro-genocide” remarks.
Hopkins also suffers from severe epilepsy, a condition far from trivial. Symptoms can range widely but often include frightening episodes that leave individuals disoriented or injured. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, suicide rates among epileptics may be 5.8 times higher due to these challenges.
In a 2014 interview, Hopkins disclosed that her seizures were so severe she had been hospitalized 26 times in just nine months. During some episodes, she even dislocated her arms—a traumatic experience, especially when recurring. In 2015, she penned an open letter to her three children, warning them that her epilepsy would eventually claim her life.
