Biggest Celebrity Scandals of 2012

From Prince Harry's nude photos to Kristen Stewart's cheating shocker, 2012 saw its fair share of celebrity scandals. ETonline counts down 12 of the most jaw-dropping entertainment headlines of the year. 

Ann Curry didn't leave quietly when it was announced she would be stepping down as the co-host of TODAY and Savannah Guthrie would be taking over. In her tearful farewell, Curry told the audience at home, "You are the real TODAY show family. ... I've loved you and wanted to give you the world. And I still do." The outrage over Curry leaving was reminiscent of when Conan O'Brien left NBC's Tonight Show and Jay Leno took over again.

It was May 2007 when the Lindsay Lohan drama first took off after she was admitted into rehab. Five years later, the embattled actress has been arrested twice in 2012 alone and had the cops called out to her mother Dina's home after the mother-daughter duo got into an altercation. Then in December it was reported that Lohan missed a court date in order to tour with The Wanted. Here's hoping she can turn things around in 2013.

Whitney Houston informally adopted Nick Gordon and following the singer's death it was reported that Houston's daughter was engaged to her pseudo sibling. However in October, the two revealed they had split up.

It started in March 2012 when Amanda Bynes was pulled over for allegedly talking on her cell phone, and it just went downhill from there. The actress got pulled over four more times for charges including driving with a suspended license and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. She also had a bizarre incident at a tanning salon where workers say she was asked to leave after entering the lobby of the establishment completely naked.

Halle Berry's ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry and her fiancé Olivier Martinez were involved in a Thanksgiving altercation that turned physical, with Aubry having to be transported by ambulance to the hospital due to injuries. Cops responded to a 911 call at 10 a.m. at Berry's house, and according to police sources, the fight broke out when Aubry was dropping off his daughter, Nahla, with Berry for the holiday. Aubry reportedly initiated the altercation and was arrested.

In October, Hulk Hogan was forced to address a sex tape that was released from six years ago. He told TODAY show hosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb that he had no idea someone was filming the intimate encounter. "What's the motivation?" the 50-something wrestler asked. "I've never been in anything on this level."

In Sept. 2012, French tabloid Closer magazine published a series of photos of Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, sunbathing topless on a balcony in southern France.

In July 2012, Katherine Jackson was confirmed missing by the L.A. County Sheriff's Department. Paris Jackson even tweeted: "Yes, my grandmother is missing. I haven't spoken with her in a week I want her home now." The Jackson matriarch was later found in Arizona staying with a family member.

The next season of American Idol doesn't air until Jan. 2013 and these two divas are already making headlines for their fighting. Rumors spread that Nicki Minaj cussed out Mariah Carey on set which led to Carey sending a statement to Barbara Walters. Carey claimed she had heightened her security after Minaj allegedly mentioned that she wanted shoot up the place. This inevitably led to Minaj going on a Twitter rant, slamming Idol producers, Walters and her fellow female Idol judge.

Drake and Chris Brown, along with their possess, got in a fight at a New York City nightclub that left Brown with a fat lip (of which he tweeted and later deleted) and NBA pro and nightclub patron Tony Parker pressing charges against the establishment after the all-out brawl.

Kristen Stewart issued a public apology after Us magazine released photos of her in an intimate embrace with her Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders this summer. Needless to say the Twi-hards were up in arms that the actress would betray her beau Robert Pattinson -- but the hoopla died down in the fall and the Twilight stars looked to be back together while promoting the final film, Breaking Dawn Pt. II.

When you're British royalty, what happens in Vegas is bound to be found out across the pond. Prince Harry learned this the hard way when nude photos of him were leaked to the press after a wild summer night in the City of Sin.

From Prince Harry's nude photos to Kristen Stewart's cheating shocker,
2012 saw its fair share of celebrity scandals. ETonline counts down 12
of the most jaw-dropping entertainment headlines of the year.