The Top Searched Celebrity Lawsuits in the U.S.

Posted on February 16, 2023

Welcome to the world of high-profile Hollywood lawsuits, where fame and fortune collide in the courtroom. From Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard to Michael Jackson vs. The State of California, celebrities have always been at the center of some of the most high-profile legal battles. 

Have you ever wondered which celebrity lawsuit has captured the attention of people in your state? In this blog, our marketing team delves into the world of celebrity legal battles and uses Google Trends data to uncover the top-searched celebrity lawsuit in every U.S. state. Get ready to follow the twists and turns of some of the most intriguing legal battles in Hollywood history.

Star Studded Court Cases: The Top Celebrity Lawsuits Ranked

The most searched-for celebrity lawsuit in the country was Jennifer Lawrence’s case against Google. It was a case that had many Americans double-checking the security measures in place on their own devices. In 2014, Lawrence threatened to sue the search giant over its role in facilitating the distribution of her leaked personal pictures. Google responded by removing the photos from its search results because they violated its community guidelines regarding nudity and privacy.

Lori Loughlin’s college admissions scandal was the most searched-for celebrity lawsuit in nine states, putting it among the top searched high-profile court cases in the U.S. In 2021, Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli pled guilty to paying over $500,000 to put two students through four years of college by fraudulent means. The couple was among other high-profile parents caught paying fixers to get their children into prestigious schools with fake test scores and other falsified credentials.

While many celebrity lawsuits are simply a spectacle for the public eye to bear witness to, there are times when a star’s actions impact more than just themselves. In the case of Travis Scott vs. the Astroworld Attendees, the cause of the lawsuit was a tragedy. In November 2021, a fatal crowd crush occurred during Scott’s first evening set, killing 10 concertgoers and hospitalizing 25 more. The rapper reportedly privately settled the lawsuit with the victims’ families.

The Top Searched Celebrity Lawsuit in Every State

It would seem that Alaskans have an affinity for Ed Sheeran, as their most searched-for celebrity lawsuit is Ed Sheeran vs. Sami Chokri. In the Spring of 2022, artist Sami Chokri sued Ed Sheeran over copyright infringement. Chokri claimed that Sheeran’s widely popular 2017 single “Shape of You” copied particular lines and phrases from their song “Oh Why.” Ed Sheeran and his co-songwriters would later be awarded over one million dollars in legal fees after winning the copyright trial.

Delaware’s most searched-for celebrity lawsuit is the former dispute between Charlie Sheen and his ex-wife Brooke Mueller. Charlie Sheen is no stranger to controversy: since the 90s, Sheen has been in the news for several reasons ranging from drug use to assault. The saga began in 2009 when Charlie Sheen faced second-degree assault charges against Mueller. Following that incident, the couple split in 2010 and were in an ongoing custody battle for their two children for years. The couple finally reached an agreement in 2022. 

In January 2019, Empire actor Jussie Smollett reported that he was a victim of a hate crime after allegedly being assaulted in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood. The actor’s alleged attack was later proven to be staged. Smollett was convicted of five felony counts of disorderly conduct and sentenced to 150 days in county jail.

Closing Thoughts

The world of star-studded lawsuits is a fascinating one. With help from Google Trends, our marketing team was able to take a deep dive into the talked-about celebrity lawsuits in every state and get a closer look at some of the most intriguing legal battles in Hollywood history. These cases have captivated the public and serve as a reminder of the high stakes involved in the world of celebrity legal battles.

In cases where celebrities find themselves on the wrong side of the law, it is critical to remember that everyone, even the rich and famous, is entitled to a fair trial and competent legal representation. The team at Weiss & Paarz exclusively handles medical malpractice lawsuits for patients (celebrity or not) with catastrophic and permanent injuries that could have been prevented had their healthcare providers followed the standard of care.

Methodology 

To find out which celebrity lawsuit was the top-searched for each state, our marketing team compiled a list of notable celebrity cases since 2004 (this being the farthest back Google Trends data can pull). They then looked at thirty-three cases and used the celebrity (or top searched celebrity in certain cases) as the keywords on Google Trends. The time range for each lawsuit was determined by which week had the highest search interest during the active lawsuit (whether that be from when the lawsuit was filed to when it was closed/there was a verdict).

Disclaimer: The historical information and specific statistics displayed above are solely designed to provide general knowledge to the public and are being used as a part of attorney marketing. Cited statistics and statements were taken from the research of various independent websites (referenced below). Weiss & Paarz did not take any steps to replicate the findings of any sources used in this infographic, nor were the numbers or results displayed above independently verified by Weiss & Paarz.