25 Pics Of The Most Embarrassing Celeb Crushes We All Had (According To Reddit)
Guilty-pleasure celebrity crushes. Do you remember your first? What about one that you've got now? Whether you own up to it or not, we all have them. Some are more embarrassing than others, and some you proudly shout from the rooftop. It all depends on how ridiculous the crush is. Maybe you were young and didn't know any better; we all had that dark period where we were in love with Johnny Depp (even if that might not be true today). Some people are steadfast in their denial about ever being in love with celebrities. “They're not real people, why would you ever have a crush on them?” asked one Redditor. We say "pffft" to that!
It's fun to drool over celebrities and even more fun to laugh at the ones we used to drool over. We've scoured the corners of Reddit to find the best and brightest guilty-pleasure celebrity crushes, and have posted them here (anonymously, of course) to help you feel less alone. Whether you're remembering when Janet Jackson was the new kid on the block, or you're just old enough to be embarrassed by your teenage crush on Nick Jonas, we've got confessions about guilty-pleasure celebrity crushes that everyone can relate to… Even if they are embarrassing!
25 The Signature Smoulder Of Ryan Phillippe
This 1990s heartthrob has people agreeing,
“Ryan Phillippe, no questions asked.”
He started out on the famous soap opera One Life to Live but quickly rose to fame in the movie industry. He rode the wave of public adoration, again and again, all the way until 2010 when his roles became more localized to the one TV show, Shooter. Ryan Phillippe is still a joy to watch, but he's fallen out of the public crush sphere. While he might still be popular with some of the once-upon-a-time teenagers who watched him in his early days, he's less likely to catch the attention of any new teens now. It doesn't change the fact that he was lover boy extraordinaire once, and is now relegated to the ranks of a guilty, old celebrity crush. Sorry, Ryan!
24 Steve Buscemi Was Too Cool To Handle
“His age when he did Reservoir Dogs… Girls stood in line. He was a stud.”
Yes, believe it or not, he was a total stud once upon a time. While he looks like a cross between a wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man and a Furby now, his looks were hotter than ghost peppers when he was younger. He had roles in many movies, which really exposed his talent to the public sphere. This included many teenage girls, who (yes), were ready to rock and roll with Steve Buscemi. We don't blame them! Watching a few of his old movies makes it clear to see why people loved him. Unique, intense, talented, and just the right amount of endearing quirky.
23 John Travolta Got Us Moving And Grooving
Wondering why John Travolta is on this list?
“Two words for you: Grease Lightning.”
If you haven't seen Grease, you're missing out on a whole lot of fantasy material. While the story may not hold up nowadays (a girl changing herself entirely for a guy who makes a minimal effort to change after lying to her? No thanks), the catchy songs and attractive leads are hard not to love. John Travolta had a wonderful career in the public eye for a long time, and he's still alive and kicking today. Why consider him a guilty crush? Well, we don't know if you've watched Hairspray, or looked at any tabloid covers, but he's not exactly the greased lighting he once was… No offense!
22 Lindsay Lohan Is Everyone's Guilty Secret Early 2000s Crush
“She's basically a trainwreck now but I don't know any guy growing up who wasn't in love with her.”
These words ring true, even though we've seen proof that she's slowly but surely leaving her trainwreck days behind her. It's not that we think she's seen better days. Definitely not. She's still youthful and working towards improving herself all the time. Unfortunately, there was a period of her life where she did get a little too far out there - even she admits it. We're never going to judge her for it, but we are going to judge ourselves for just how much we loved her. Do you remember Mean Girls? Freaky Friday? Movies that tweens in the 2000s loved and still reference regularly today. Lindsay Lohan is an icon, and we will never let her go.
21 Aaron Carter: Our Late 90s Secret Guilty Crush
“I remember being 11 and watching him perform on tv and crying because I wanted to marry him when I grew up. Glad I dodged that bullet now.”
Many of us females (and males, as well) in the late 1990's were so enamored with this cocky little 10-year-old. He's been a musical star before he even graduated middle school, and even before middle school really existed. We just couldn't get over his spiky blond hair and thousand-yard stare. But what's the deal with him now? Bankruptcy, cops, and questionable choices regarding his relaxation methods. Luckily we can still keep that 10-year-old boy in our pre-teen hearts, and fondly remember the better times of sticking his picture in our lockers.
20 Forget About The Bell; Kelly Kapowski (Tiffani Thiessen) Was What Saved Us
Saved By The Bell was the quintessential sitcom teens would watch after high school.
“I remember watching it every day. My friends and I would talk about her like she was a real person. We were in love.”
This Redditor really hit the nail on the head. Not only were they the one to watch Kelly Kapowski flirt and have fun, but all of their friends did too! It was a universal love for this beautiful and bodacious '90s babe. Nobody could resist her love and charm, and no one wanted to. While the character had flaws, we forgave them easily. And it definitely was the character we loved. Not even the actress, though she was also great. She never really had as compelling of a character after that, though, which is why we'll always love Kelly Kapowski.
19 Topanga (Danielle Fishel) Made All Our Dreams Come True
Maybe you weren't a Saved By The Bell person. Maybe you were a Boy Meets World person. We don't know anyone who wasn't a fan of at least one of them. Boy Meets World was the highlight of every day. We all found comfort in the stories and loved the feminist leanings of Topanga.
"She was the perfect '90s crush. My sister and I used to argue over who was in love with her more. They even made a spin-off series for her alone!!!!”
It's a compelling argument. While you might have been in love with her big hair or her outspoken nature, all of us found pieces of her that spoke to our pre-teen hearts. We're not embarrassed by this old celebrity crush. And have you seen the actress now? Definitely not worth being embarrassed over.
18 And Eric Matthews (Will Friedle) Was Always There When Topanga Wasn't
“Okay but jumping on the BMW train: ERIC MATTHEWS was a freaking heartthrob. YES PLEASE, but not anymore. He's kind of weird looking now.”
It's… kinda true. In the same way that Danielle Fishel, the actress who played Topanga, really came into her own as she got older, Will Friedle definitely didn't. This teen-show rock star was everyone's perfect imaginary husband when he was playing Eric Matthews. But off-screen? We're a little embarrassed to see how he's grown. Gone are his teenage bad boy days, and all we're seeing is the dad next door. If that's your cup of tea, go for it! But we'll stick with our old teenage dreams of Eric Matthews yelling on the back deck, remembering just how wild he was.
17 Nick Jonas Is Thrown In For The Younger Crowd…
“Wasn't he everyone's first boy band crush?”
No, not everyone's. Some people don't even know who this guy is. If you were born in the early 2000's though, you probably know about Nick Jonas (and probably did have a crush on him). Those are the people that are guiltily thinking back on their early teenage years and shuddering over the fact they used to love the teenage, clean cut, boy band The Jonas Brothers. Nowadays, it's valid to have a bit of a crush on Nick Jonas. Just look at that model figure! While we admit that he remains a good singer and actor (hi, Jumanji fans!), he's not bad to look at either. We know that there are people out there who still have a bit of a crush on him - don't lie. We won't judge you now, but we might judge you a little regarding a crush on the old Nick Jonas.
16 But Justin Timberlake Is THE Ultimate Boy Band Crush
The beauty of Reddit is that people get into conversations. They build off of one another and talk about everything from bad habits to guilty crushes. The best part? They're not afraid to call each other out. This comment was listed underneath as a response to the
Nick Jonas comment:
“No, Justin Timberlake was everyone's first boy band crush and is still everyone's forever crush.”
The rest of the comments were absolutely agreeing with this statement, which is part of the reason we just had to include him on the list - especially with his cute smile and angelic voice. NSYNC is the ideal boy band group that we just can't help but love, even if they are no longer a thing. There's only so much we can forgive though, and those blonde curls are totally embarrassing.
15 Janet Jackson Was Absolutely Swoon-Worthy
Remember when this was her go-to look? Fuzzy sweater, charming smile, and a casual arm-draped-over-the-head pose. She's certainly captured the hearts of millions, even alongside her adored brother, Michael Jackson.
“Janet Jackson was out of this world. I feel really guilty about being in love with her now though, especially when I see recent photos of her.”
It's not that she looks bad. Not at all. She's absolutely the beautiful singer and actress we all knew and loved way back when. But that nose? It's difficult to call it the Jackson nose because it's… Not exactly natural Jackson features. You know that she's beautiful, and she's absolutely a magnetic performer, but there's still a little judgment now when you hear someone say that they're in love with her.
14 Mark Hoppus (Or Basically All Of Blink-182) Were The Original Punk-Pop Princes
Remember when pop-punk was the most popular genre of music for you and your friend group? We remember when it was ours. We loved pop punk, and there was nothing that was going to keep us from our favorite bands. One of the biggest and best was Blink-182.
"Mark Hoppus from Blink-182. I see girls go on and on about Travis and Tom but man, Mark is beautiful inside and out.”
Even though this is a list highlighting our single guilty crushes from days long gone, we can't help but include all three members of Blink-182. While Mark Hoppus is the one in the quote, there's no denying that the other two members were just as popular… If not more so!
13 John Cusack Has Been A Heartthrob Since His First Film
“Anyone who watched a movie in the '80s or '90s was in love with him”
Thi seems to be the general consensus about John Cusack. And we have to agree! He's got a quiet charm that's undeniably amazing. His atypical heroes were unique, grounding, and tough, all while saving the day. No doubt everyone is a fan of John Cusack… Right? Wrong.
Apparently, Hollywood isn't a fan of John Cusack anymore. A lack of roles is no coincidence, though it's hard to tell exactly why things turned out the way they did. All we know is that the crushes on John Cusack have turned into wonderful past memories that people revisit whenever they watch an old movie. There's no shame in that, but there's definitely a little bit of guilt when we remember our old crush.
12 Everyone's First Love, Molly Ringwald
Molly Ringwald is one of the most easily recognizable stars of any decade. When you see her full lips and short red hair, you know exactly who it is. Her distinctive eye roll and teenage attitude were what charmed the hearts of millions, and it's hard to find someone who hates Molly Ringwald.
“When I was in high school, if you didn't love Molly Ringwald people thought something was wrong with you.”
The same still holds true! John Hughes movies are relatable no matter if it's 1987 or 2017. And the charm of Molly Ringwald persists, with her performances still being some of the best in any teen movie ever. She's still alive and kicking on Riverdale, doing her thing and performing the role of Mary Andrews, Archie's mom.
11 Judd Nelson, Whom We Only Really Were Attracted To In The Breakfast Club
Do you remember Judd Nelson as an actor? We don't blame you if you don't. While he's got a resume that's as long as your arm since he's such a versatile actor, it's hard to pinpoint exactly what he's been in. He's talented, and his big eyes tend to magnetize an audience when he's giving a performance.
“Judd Nelson was my guilty teenage crush, but not as Judd Nelson. If you remember the Breakfast Club, the bad boy Bender was the person I actually had a crush on. I know he's a fictional character, but I like him way more than Judd Nelson in real life.”
Having crushes on fictional characters is more common than you might think, Redditor! You're definitely not alone. It does feel a little guilty though, as we're kind of embarrassed how it's so easy to forget Judd Nelson is a different person from Bender.
10 Bridget Fonda Flew Under The Radar
“I saw Point of No Return like 2183452345172 times! I saw it so many times that the owner of the theater gave me cardboard poster stand… that I still have… that my friends are all STILL jealous of.”
Well, doesn't that just speak for itself? The fact that Bridget Fonda, even though she's an obscure name now, is still a cause for jealousy and love in this one guy's friend group speaks volumes about her staying power as a celebrity. She did have many popular roles that people know her from, but the reason this crush is embarrassing? Honestly, it's mostly just the confession. She's a brilliant actor even now when you're watching her old movies, but to have a cardboard cut out of her? C'mon, man.
9 Gordo (Adam Lamberg) Was Every Pre-Teen Girl's Dream
“I only wanted to be Lizzie McGuire so Gordo and I could be friends. I loved him. I don't know anyone who didn't. We all loved Gordo.”
YES! This girl knows what's up. She knows that Gordo was the sweetest, most innocent guy ever, with a heart of gold and a good head on his shoulders. Everyone wanted to be friends with Gordo, and we were all a little jealous of Lizzie McGuire. It wasn't just girls as well! Even guys wanted to be friends with Gordo. He had that charismatic charm and easy-going attitude that everyone appreciated in middle school. Plus, those patterned button-up short sleeve shirts over top of the t-shirts and long sleeves? Total crush material… Yes, please! You know you loved him.
8 Hilary Duff Was A Close Second Though!
"Let's not ignore the leader of Lizzie McGuire, Lizzie McGuire herself. The girls had Gordo, but THE MEN HAD LIZZIE!”
Maybe you weren't a Gordo fan. Maybe you preferred Lizzie McGuire. Her daily trials and tribulations gave us comfort and compassion and taught us everything from coping methods to social consciousness. And that's not just a quality of Lizzie McGuire… That's a quality of Hilary Duff! The sweetest, most pure soul of the early 2000's has only gotten better over time. She and her sister were two incredibly talented women, and Hilary Duff was someone we all had a bit of a crush on. Whether you loved her music, her acting, or her interviews didn't matter. She was the whole package deal, and even though she's more of a mom now, she's still totally cool, and totally still has our hearts.
7 Usher Ushered Us Into A New Wave Of Smoulder
“I can't get over the fact that Usher is 40 years old now or something. He's so old. But he's so… perfect.”
Yes, Redditor, you're absolutely right. Usher is not the 20-something R&B star he was in the late '90s and early 2000's. He's just gotten better with age though. While it might feel weird to be a present-day 20-something-year-old crushing on present-day Usher, there's nothing wrong with loving who he was back then. Even now, he's one of the most talented R&B stars ever. It's not the fact that it's a guilty crush, but it's probably unrealistic. He's also fallen a little out of the limelight now, with his last album having been released in 2016. While no one is really lamenting the fact that he's not making music anymore, we are mourning the fact we'll never get to experience 20-year-old Usher in person.
6 David Hasselhoff Is Always The Go-To Old School Crush
Hasselhoff - The Baywatch man of everyone's dreams but also a bit of a joke over here in North America. We've heard that David Hasselhoff is much more popular in Europe than in the US and Canada, even though he's starred in various films and TV shows. While he fell off the map over here after Baywatch ended, one Redditor said
“My feelings reignited when I saw the Spongebob movie. I rewound that scene SO MANY TIMES.”
We're not ashamed to admit that we did the same thing. The Hoff will never stop, and that's especially true when it comes to our fantasies. Germany is so much smarter than us when it comes to their Hasselhoff appreciation. Over here he's still relegated to guilty celebrity crush standard. Sorry, Hoffster.
5 Patrick Swayze Danced His Way Into Our Hearts
“Uhhhhh obviously Patrick Swayze. If you didn't like him you probably didn't have eyes.”
A little dramatic, but not wrong. He's one of those stars that's so easy to obsess over. He's so easy to fall for and has such a graceful presence onscreen. Sadly, while he's no longer with us due to cancer, his memory lives on both inside us and within our beloved movies. Dirty Dancing is still one of the most influential movies for many young people and is easily classified as a classic now. We love his work and his moves, and we don't blame this Redditor for falling in love with him. While we're not sure this exactly counts as a guilty crush, it is a little odd to be in love with the memory of this beautiful man. Especially if you're watching his work for the first time.
4 Aaliyah Will Always Have A Part Of Our Hearts
“She's always in our hearts.”
Simple, but very true. For those that don't know, Aaliyah tragically passed away in a plane crash in the early 2000's but is still known as the princess of R&B. Working with stars like R. Kelly, Missy Elliot, and Timbaland brought Aaliyah into the public sphere of recognition almost immediately. She worked hard, and managed to release three albums before her untimely death. There's no guilt when it comes to this crush, as it's totally well deserved. This queen was at the beginning of her brilliance when she passed away, and we'll never forget her. Luckily, her music still lives on, and its silky smooth style is more than enough to fall in love with her all over again.
3 Matthew Broderick Was The Bad Boy Next Door
“Ferris Bueller's Day Off made me wish for a real-life Ferris of my own. I still don't even know if I actually like Broderick or just Bueller.”
It sounds like another Judd Nelson comment, which doesn't surprise us. When we're young, we're so willing to believe in the power of stories. We suspend our disbelief so much that it's easy to fall in love with the characters instead of the actors and to wish that they actually existed. This is absolutely true for Matthew Broderick. Especially in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Didn't you love his slacker attitude, his messy hair, and his give-no-ducks about anything attitude? We did! In fact, we still do! All grown up and still wishing for our own Ferris Bueller to take us away… Call it a guilty crush, or call it wishful thinking. It's all the same when it comes to Ferris.
2 Michael Cera Is This Generation's Lovable Lump Of Awkward
“Juno was the end of me. He was like a lost puppy I wanted to scoop up and take care of.”
For those of us who are thinking in terms of present-day guilty crushes, Michael Cera is definitely the guiltiest. From the dorky, awkward kid in Arrested Development to the voice of so many pre-teen children's cartoons we all grew up with, Michael Cera has been in our hearts for ages. We've grown up with him just like how he's grown up in the spotlight, and it's no surprise that he'd come up in a post about guilty crushes. No matter how much we love him, it doesn't change the fact that he's the dorky kid next door… even as a grown up. But that's okay! It's just part of his charm.
1 But The Quintessential Guilty Crush? The Olsen Twins
Maybe you're a little uncomfortable admitting that the dynamic duo is also your crush from way back when, but don't worry. You're not alone. One Redditor was nice enough to do the work for us:
“Okay, I've gone through all the answers and this is what I've discovered… Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are the two guiltiest crushes most men admit to having as teenagers.”
Maybe it's the blonde hair and the sweet smiles. Maybe it's the fact that they've been adorable since they first appeared on public television. Maybe it's just because they're so adorably '90s. Whatever it is, we totally feel all those Redditors out there who think the Olsen twins are the best. You're absolutely not wrong. But you have to agree, the rest of this list was also pretty accurate!