From Charlie Sheen’s shocking HIV announcement to Adele’s undeniable comeback, this year has been filled with both ups and downs in the celebrity world.
Take a look back at the stories that had the biggest impact on us in 2015.
Zayn Malik broke the hearts of devoted Directioners all over the world in March this year when he announced he would be leaving the megastar boy band to focus on being a “normal 22-year-old”. The news came shortly after the singer was entangled in an alleged cheating scandal, with Zayn abruptly quitting the band’s tour to rush home to fiancée Perrie Edwards.
Embattled Two and a Half Men star Charlie Sheen hit headlines this year after he announced he was HIV positive, following days of speculation. During his revealing interview on the Today show, the 50-year-old actor said he had been diagnosed four years ago and had since been blackmailed by several people about his secret.
The Olympian and reality star formerly known as Bruce Jenner made a huge splash when she announced her gender transition journey during an interview with Diane Sawyer in April.The buzz only grew bigger when Caitlyn Jenner made her debut on the cover of Vanity Fair, looking beautiful in a shot by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz. “I’m so happy after a long struggle to be living my true self,” she tweeted at the time.
Kiwi rugby legend Jonah Lomu passed away at the age of 40 in November, leaving behind an enduring legacy as a New Zealand icon and a hero of the sport. Our columnist Polly Gillespie summed it up best when she paid tribute to her dear friend in our magazine: “While I write about him, I feel like he’s still alive. I speak for no-one else. We all have stories, but I have lost one of my dearest friends and confidants, and we have lost the greatest of all sporting legends.”
After a rollercoaster relationship with estranged wife Khloe Kardashian, former NBA star Lamar Odom was found unconscious in a Nevada brothel in October. The 35-year-old was airlifted to hospital and remained in a coma for several days before regaining consciousness, although recent reports say there is still a long way to go for his recovery.
The mighty All Blacks proved their rugby prowess yet again at the 2015 World Cup tournament, where they beat Australia 34-17 to become the first team ever to retain the Webb Ellis Cup following on from their 2011 victory.
Pint-sized singer Ariana Grande caused a storm of outrage when footage emerged of her licking donuts on display at a shop and stating “I hate America”. Ariana later apologised for her actions in a statement posted on Twitter, referencing her concern about the child obesity rate in the US and reiterating her pride in being an American. “I should have known better in how I expressed myself; and with my new responsibility to others as a public figure I will strive to be better.”
Ariana Grande caught on camera exclaiming she hates America and she hates Americans
Early this year, Bobbi Kristina Brown was found unresponsive in a bathtub at her home by boyfriend Nick Gordon. The daughter of the late Whitney Houston was rushed to hospital and placed in a medically induced coma, but sadly passed away on July 26.
Johnny Depp may have plenty of devoted fans all over the world, but you can bet that Australia’s Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce isn’t one of them! Mr Joyce accused the star couple of “smuggling” their two teacup terriers Boo and Pistol into the country back in May, when Johnny was Down Under to film the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie. The pooches were promptly flown back home, but Amber is now set to face trial over the doggy drama in April.
After failing to win Art’s heart, former Bachelorette Chrystal Chenery went on to compete on Dancing with the Stars where she tangled with radio host Dominic Harvey. The Edge breakfast presenter posted (then deleted) a shot of Chrystal mid-split during the DWTS finale with the caption “Crystal [sic] just showing Art what he missed out on”, which prompted Chrystal to campaign for his dismissal.
After dominating the music scene in 2011 with her chart-topping record 21, it was radio silence for Adele fans after the British songstress virtually disappeared from the public eye. Fans had only rumours and speculation to go on until October this year, when Adele returned with her smash hit single Hello and a new album, 25, to boot. The track reached number one in 28 countries upon release, and the accompanying music video broke a record by notching 27.7 million views within just 24 hours – not a bad welcome back for the soulful singer!
