When Maureen O’Hara Faced A Scandalous Allegation, The Hollywood Icon Fought Back In Style
Maureen O’Hara was one of the most celebrated actresses of her era. She lit up the big screen during the Golden Age of Hollywood and beyond. But the Ireland-born thespian was also the subject of a notorious scandal. And it led to a titanic showdown between the “Queen of Technicolor” and a magazine called Confidential.
The Tabloid Scoop
It was March 1957 when Confidential – effectively the National Enquirer of its day – ran its salacious story about Maureen O’Hara. It seemed the magazine’s editor and journalists had pulled off a real scoop. It was a truly lurid story that would titillate its readership, which was certainly considerable at that time.
Backing It Up
Confidential had earned a reputation for its exposés, of which this O’Hara story was the latest in a long line. Today, the publication is widely deemed to have been a pioneer in the realm of gossip, celebrity news and scandal reporting. But had the sometimes-mendacious magazine bitten off more than it could chew with its article on O’Hara?
Startling Accusations
Confidential alleged that O’Hara had got all hot and steamy with a “Latin lothario” in the back of a cinema in Los Angeles. The claims in the big-selling magazine would cause something of a scandal in Hollywood. But the Ireland-born actress would not take the accusations lying down, and ultimately decided to fight back.
Not A Good Look
Indeed, O’Hara was evidently incensed by the tawdry allegations made by Confidential about her private life. The claims of very public lovemaking would have troubled the actress’s handlers in Hollywood, who wanted their stars to maintain a wholesome image. Besides that, the lewd nature of the claims couldn’t have gone down well with the more conservative or religious people in her adopted home country of America.
