High profile affairs have been around way before Madonna may or not have slept with A-Rod who\’s soon-to-be ex-wife may or not be sleeping with Lenny Kravitz. Here\’s a look at the top 5 scandalous affairs of the past that had the American public glued to the tabloids like bad soap opera fans.

#5. JUDE LAW & NANNY, SIENNA MILLER & DANIEL CRAIG

Jude Law worked in Hollywood as an actor for 9 years before making a name for himself with his role in the 1999 film \”The Talented Mr. Ripley.\” He starred in other popular films such as Spielberg\’s \”Artifical Intelligence: AI\” and \”Cold Mountain\” before meeting actress Sienna Miller on the set of 2004\’s \”Alfie.\” Law and Miller became engaged by Christmas of that year, and the two lived together with one of Law\’s three children from a previous marriage. With both of them having busy schedules, Law and Miller hired 26 year old Daisy Wright as a nanny to watch over the child. Meanwhile, Law was watching over the nanny: in 2005, Law admitted to having an affair with Ms. Wright, causing the Hollywood couple to take a break before agreeing to resume their relationship a short period later. A happy ending? Not quite: a couple months later, Miller had an affair with actor Daniel Craig of James Bond fame, causing Law to break up with her for good.

#4. KOBE BRYANT & SOME CHICK

In 2002, Kobe Bryant led the Los Angeles Lakers to their third consecutive NBA championship in what would later become the last season he and Shaquille O\’Neal would play together on the team. In 2003, Kobe Bryant led a 19 year old hotel employee up to his room and proceeded to engage in a night of adultery that would later become a high profile sexual assault case. Although Kobe maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings with the trial eventually being dismissed by a Colorado judge, he admitted to having consensual sex with the girl in question. Vanessa, Bryant\’s wife, stood by his side during the initial press conference the basketball star held to proclaim his innocence of the assault charges (video here). Regardless of how she came to forgive him, financially speaking it was a good move: three days later Kobe would present her with an 8 carat diamond ring valued at $4 million.

#3. BILL CLINTON & MONICA LEWINSKY

The most public political affair in America\’s history. In 1998, President Clinton was forced to go back on his famous denial of having \”sexual relations\” with White House intern Monica Lewinksy after she revealed a certain blue dress with an indentifying stain. On August 17, 1998 President Clinton appeared on national television to admit that he did indeed \”have a relationship with Ms. Lewinsky that was not appropriate.\” Not appropriate may have been an understatement; court documents gradually leaked to the public containing colorful descriptions of their orally-fixated relationship as well as Bill\’s unconventional and creative uses for cigars.

#2. JFK & MARILYN MONROE

Two cultural icons, two mysterious deaths, and one of America\’s most legendary affairs. Although its highly debated whether the two actually got it on (an alleged friend of Monroe\’s claimed they did, discovered documents proving the affair turned out to be faked), the mere suggestion of a romantic link between John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe, two of the most high profile individuals in America\’s history, is enough to cement this affair in the Hall of Fame.

This video of Marilyn Monroe\’s famous birthday song to JFK (performed on May 2, 1962) is a recording of her last major public appearance before her suspicious death three months later, officially classified as a \”probable suicide.\”

#1. THOMAS JEFFERSON & SALLY HEMINGS

He was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. He served as the third President of the United States. He was responsible for revolutionary events in American history including the Louisana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. He also owned a lot of slaves and (probably) had kids with one of them. In 1802, during Jefferson\’s first presidential term, a journalist named James T. Callender published allegations that accused Jefferson of being the father to one or more of Sally Heming\’s children, a slave at his Monticello Virginian estate.

Jefferson never publically acknowledged the claims and indirectly denied the affair in a personal letter, although later DNA tests showed a \”strong likelihood\” of Jefferson being the father of at least one of Hemings\’ children. Although Jefferson wasn\’t married at the time (his wife had passed away years prior), the Jefferson/Hemings affair spawned an ongoing debate that has lasted over two centuries, making it our list\’s #1.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

ELIOT SPITZER & CALL GIRL

The New York Governor resigned this year after getting busted in a prostitution sting after soliciting sex from Ashley Dupre, a high-priced call girl and struggling musician (click here to listen to her \”single\”). The involvement of a high profile politician as well as the resulting media frenzy that surrounded the case earn Eliot and Ashley a spot on the list.

EDDIE MURPHY & TRANSVESTITE

In 1997, actor Eddie Murphy was stopped in his vehicle by an unmarked police car in West Hollywood. Next to him in the passenger seat? A cross-dressing transvestite hooker who happened to have a warrant out for his arrest. Eddie claimed he saw the guy looking \”disjointed\” on the side of the road and offered to simply give him a ride home. Good one Eddie.

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