The shady side of Kaley Cuoco you don’t know about

Kaley Cuoco

She may come off as America’s bubbly sweetheart on The Big Bang Theory (2007-), but Kaley Cuoco’s real life is rife with turmoil and shady decisions. From rocky relationships to misguided publicity stunts, this talented leading lady has a knack for stirring up trouble.

She erased her ex-husband instantaneously

If you take a gander at Cuoco’s Instagram account, you won’t find any photos of her ex-husband, tennis player Ryan Sweeting. Okay, we get it. Who wants a lasting reminder of love lost on the internet? The harsh part of this move was its scope and efficiency. Cuoco deleted any and all traces of Sweeting the day before they announced their divorce in September 2015, according to Us Weekly. She also unfollowed him and removed any mention of him from her Instagram bio.

For his part, Sweeting eventually followed suit. As their nearly 21-month-marriage fell apart, the former tennis player deactivated his Facebook profile and deleted all the photos on his Instagram account. Ghosting from the internet itself? No matter whose team you’re on, that’s a little extreme.

Cuoco has since resumed social media PDA, plastering her platforms with lovey dovey photos of new beau, professional equestrian Karl Cook.

The destruction of her marriage was sketchy

As news of their divorce hit the tabloids, word got out that it was supposedly triggered by Sweeting’s alleged addiction to painkillers. According to the Daily Mail, Sweeting—who has a history with drugs, including a 2006 arrest on charges of DUI and possession of a drug with the intent to sell—became addicted to painkillers after back surgery. “She supported him but she said he couldn’t make the commitment to get sober,” a source told Us Weekly. “He’d tell her he was working on it and instead go get wasted.”

Um, define “support,” because In Touch claimed it was actually Cuoco’s partying that undermined their marriage. “Kaley would go out with her friends, without her wedding ring, and get wasted,” the tab reported. “She’d drink two bottles of wine by herself.”

It’s no wonder sources for People magazine claimed the couple “seemed miserable” right before their divorce. Speculation aside, the fact is: Cuoco married a man she’d been dating for only six months, then cast that union aside after only 21 months. That’s her prerogative, but those impulsive decisions certainly counter her sweet and sunny public image.

She moved on really quickly

For all the tabloid attention her divorce received, and the sadness she was reported to have suffered, Cuoco appeared to move on from the scandal very quickly. Just months after filing for divorce, the actress was linked to Arrow star Paul Blackthorne, then country singer Sam Hunt, followed by The Big Bang Theory co-star Johnny Galecki. Cuoco denied the rumors.

At the time of this writing, she was most definitely dating equestrian Cook, who is lesser known as a horseman and better known as the son of billionaire software entrepreneur Scott Cook. Here’s hoping Cuoco takes her time with this courtship.

She’s obsessed with herself (or at least what people say about her)

Speaking to Cosmopolitan in 2014, Cuoco openly admitted to being “obsessed” with what people say about her online. “I’ll read something from someone in Indiana who’s like, ‘She looked disgusting in that dress,’ and it’s going to ruin my night,” she said.

Cuoco even found herself doing the unthinkable—acting on the advice of cyber bullies. “I started reading and thought, ‘Maybe I need to make more of an effort and not go out in my UGGs and be disgusting.’ So I started putting on makeup. And they started writing, ‘Wow, someone really likes being in front of the camera’ and ‘Her hair’s done now for coffee.’ I couldn’t do anything right,” she said. “But I’m obsessed. I openly admit to being totally insane about that.”

On the one hand, it’s vaguely charming to read about a celebrity who acts like we do on occasion. On the other, Cuoco’s preoccupation with what people think about her suggests a troubling degree of narcissism and fragility. In which case, we hope she never finds this article.

She disrespected the American flag

Cuoco stepped in a steaming pile of controversy on July 4, 2016 when she posted a photo on Instagram of her dogs sitting on an American flag placed on the ground. She intended for the photo to be a fun Independence Day message, but the U.S. Flag Code dictates that Old Glory should not touch the ground or be utilized as bedding.

According to the Page Six, Cuoco’s photo was immediately ripped to shreds in the comments section. “Shame on you, Kaley,” wrote one Instagram user. “You lost a fan.”

As the barrage intensified, Cuoco deleted the photo and issued an apology on Instagram. “…I have the utmost respect for my country. I am a proud American in every sense of the word. I understand the American flag stands for our freedom and represents American heroes, past and present.”

“I made a mistake,” she said. “I sincerely apologize to anyone that has been offended by my previous post. This is no way reflects my feelings toward what the American flag represents. Living in the public eye can be extremely difficult at times. Every mistake and every imperfection is amplified. I am not perfect. I am a proud American, today, tomorrow, always.” The apology was accompanied by a photo of the American flag in the shape of a heart.

Knowing how obsessed she is with online chatter, did this unfortunate error leave Cuoco feeling red, white, and bruised? Nope, at least not if you judge by her other Independence Day posts, which featured beer drinking and goofy ‘Merica clothing.

Her secret real-life relationship with Leonard

The premise of many Big Bang Theory episodes revolves around just how unlikely it is that Cuoco’s character, Penny, would date (much less marry) the awkward nerd Leonard, played by Johnny Galecki. This highly unlikely relationship was revealed to be much more realistic than everyone thought when Cuoco admitted to CBS Watch Magazine (via TV Guide) that she secretly dated Galecki for two years.

Apparently, their relationship was a lot of fun but limited by the secrecy they felt the need to maintain. They felt the need to be “so protective” of both their own images and the image of the show, so they could never really go anywhere in public together. That, plus the burden of trying to keep everything a secret from the people they saw every day, eventually caused the two to call it quits. However, that relationship continues to cast a long shadow, as the tabloid rumors flew that continued romance with Galecki may have fueled Cuoco’s divorce from Ryan Sweeting and may even be impacting her post-divorce love life.

Is she battling the geeks behind the scenes?

Rumors abound that Cuoco’s behind-the-scenes antics on The Big Bang Theory are jeopardizing the show’s future. At one point in 2016, a hoax story even made the rounds online about actress Christina Applegate replacing Cuoco for Season 10. That fallacy was fueled by numerous reports about drama among castmates over salaries and scripts.

In April 2016, Radar Online claimed co-star Mayim Bialik thought Cuoco’s $1 million per episode rate was far too steep (Bialik reportedly earns only $100,000 per show). That assessment allegedly sent Cuoco’s temper into orbit. “Kaley is furious at Mayim for trash-talking her earnings,” an insider told the tab.

According to CelebDirtyLaundry, “The cast and crew are all fed up with Kaley’s constant mood swings,” and one source said Cuoco “flips out about makeup, wardrobe, even the catering.”

Though no member of the cast has lent any first-person credence to those claims, if true, that sort of off-screen rancor could wipe out the long-running show with a bang.

Her views on feminism sparked controversy

Cuoco came under fire in December 2014 for a disastrous interview with Redbook, in which she admitted that feminism isn’t something she thinks about. “Things are different now, and I know a lot of the work that paved the way for women happened before I was around,” she said. “I was never that feminist girl demanding equality, but maybe that’s because I’ve never really faced inequality.” Apparently, that answer didn’t sit well with feminists around the world.

Cuoco quickly pulled the “words can be taken out of context” defense on Instagram and has been trying to clean up that interview ever since. “Of course I’m a f***** feminist,” she told Cosmopolitan in 2016. “Look at me. I bleed feminism. I get equal pay to my male costars on a big show, I have my own home, I’m as independent as you could possibly be.” Gee, Gloria Steinem would be so proud.

She’s been accused of dating for publicity

Rebounding at a rapid pace is nothing new for Cuoco. It seems to be her modus operandi. Just weeks after her brief engagement to addiction specialist Josh “Lazie” Resni was called off, the actress was spotted partying it up with a mystery man at a nightclub in Hollywood. “Kaley and the guy were giggling all night in the V.I.P. section, where they were kissing, dancing and even did an impromptu photo shoot,” sources told People.

Then, in a truly bizarre twist of events, she had a highly-publicized and unexpected fling with Man of Steel star Henry Cavill. That courtship lasted a measly two weeks, causing some to wonder if the hookup was merely a publicity stunt—both parties were represented by the same PR company at the time. “I had no one following me until I met Superman,” Cuoco told Cosmopolitan in 2014. “I’ve been in this business for 20 years, and my whole life, I could go anywhere, do anything. There had not been one paparazzi photo of me until like several months ago. The recognition was crazy.”

She’s obsessed with outer beauty

Cuoco’s questionable stance on feminism came into a play a second time when she gave an interview to Women’s Health in November 2016, during which she stressed the importance of being as happy with outer beauty as inner beauty.

“‘As much as you want to love your inner self … I’m sorry, you also want to look good,” she told the magazine.

She went on to praise the plastic surgery procedures she had gotten over the years. “Years ago, I had my nose done. And my boobs – best thing I ever did,” she said. “Recently I had a filler in a line in my neck I’ve had since I was 12.”

“I don’t think you should do it for a man or anyone else, but if it makes you feel confident, that’s amazing,” she added.

How … progressive.

The lines between her past and current romances are way too blurred

Granted, when you once dated the co-star of the show you’re still acting on, it’s going to be pretty hard to avoid them altogether. Still, Cuoco might want to learn a thing or two about keeping your professional and personal lives separate. Case in point: on March 15, 2017, she posted a photo to Instagram of her current boyfriend, Karl Cook, hugging and making kissy faces with Johnny Galecki on the set of The Big Bang Theory.

On the one hand, it’s nice to see that Cuoco and Galecki remain as friendly as they claim; on the other, it’s a bit, you know, forced, especially coming from an Instagram account that already screams “thou doth protest too much.”

But, hey. Whatever works!

The saddest things about Kaley Cuoco’s life

The world of television is filled with secrets that the viewing public would often kill to know. This is why fans are so excited when they find that rare celebrity that is willing to spill a secret or two, and that is part of the unique appeal of Kaley Cuoco. In addition to playing the beautiful girl next door on TV’s the Big Bang Theory, Cuoco has developed something of a reputation as someone who is not afraid to speak her mind. From topics ranging from her divorce to the future of her breakout television show to feminism itself, Cuoco has never been afraid to call it like she sees it. Here are a few of the top times that Kaley Cuoco decided to air her dirty laundry…

Even she’s sick of Big Bang Theory

Big Bang Theory has gone on for ten seasons, and some wonder if it will ever end, with CBS even looking into doing a Sheldon prequel show. This never-ending bevy of Bazinga has Big Bang critics and fans alike wishing that the show would admit that its best days are long behind it and just die already. Interestingly enough, though, Big Bang star Kaley Cuoco is among the people who just want the damn show to die.

Cuoco told Jimmy Kimmel that ten seasons was enough and that she was unlikely to appear in an eleventh season even if one gets made. She was actually pretty blunt in her reasoning, telling the host that “Ten years, come on! All of my 20s. I went from like, hot, to like, 30. I was 21 when I started this show.” While the people frantically turning her Lip Sync Battle dancing into smartphone backgrounds would probably disagree with her implication that she’s no longer hot, the fact is that the blonde bombshell has dedicated almost one third of her life to Big Bang Theory. Imagine a decade of constantly hearing that terrible laugh track, and it’s suddenly easy to see why she’s as sick of the show as anyone else.

Her boob job

Since the very beginning of Big Big Theory, the show has never failed to capitalize on Cuoco’s breasts as part of her sex appeal to awkward nerd-next-door Leonard and the rest of his geek compatriots. Also since the beginning the show, fans have wondered if Cuoco had a little extra help physically blossoming in-between starring on 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter and appearing on Big Bang.

Eventually, Cuoco admitted to Women’s Health that she had previously had a boob job done “years ago.” She was pretty fiercely unapologetic about it, too, describing the boob job as “the best thing I ever did.” Perhaps anticipating criticism for her happiness at going under the knife, the star clarified that getting a boob job or other surgery should not be motivated by the pressure to look good “for a man or anyone else,” but rather be something to make “you feel confident,” which is “amazing.” The notion that plastic surgery is the key to confidence may itself be controversial, but Kaley Cuoco’s breasts have made millions of people feel amazing over the years, so maybe she’s on to something.

Other plastic surgery

While most people focus on Cuoco’s breasts when they ask if she has had plastic surgery, the star has not hesitated to dish about some of the other surgeries she has received over the years. This includes a nose job that she had in reaction to a certain addiction (more on that in a minute) as well as having a filler in a line in her neck that she says has bothered her since the age of 12. Well, hey: at least she’s honest.

Addiction to…Nose spray?

Many stars of the big screen and small screen have suffered from a number of addictions over the years. However, few of those addictions are as bizarre as Cuoco’s. During that aforementioned interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Cuoco first dismissed rumors of a nose job (rumors that she would later confirm as being completely true) and used this as a bizarre segue to talk about her relationship with the nasal spray . According to her, she was addicted to the nasal spray for “years,” going so far as to pick out clutches that would let her hide the spray when she brought it to awards shows and then be “under the table snorting it” throughout the night.

This story was meant to convey how Cuoco had managed to mess up her sinuses over the years and add some context for a sinus-related surgery over the holidays. Given her later admission that she had received a nose job, it’s possible that this story was exaggerated or outright fabricated, but it’s interesting that at one point in her life, Cuoco thought it would be less damaging to her career to admit to years of secretly snorting Afrin under tables rather than having a nose job (as seemingly half of Hollywood has had done).

She’s surprised she was never pregnant

Pregnancy and Kaley Cuoco have been something of a touchy duo over the years. For instance, many people assumed her rush wedding to Ryan Sweeting indicated that she might be expecting. That was not true, but it didn’t stop rampant tabloid speculation about her every appearance on Big Bang Theory and whether she was showing or not. She eventually shot down these rumors on Twitter with her usual subtlety, writing “I AM NOT EFFING PREGNANT” to her legions of fans. The surprising thing is, though, that she was already expecting to be expecting.

In an interview with Cosmopolitan, Cuoco reflected on how weird it was to be single again at the age of 30. Specifically, she noted in the interview that “I thought I’d have a baby by now!” This seems to be tied to the aforementioned feeling that Big Bang basically took a prime decade of her life and that, in her thirties, Cuoco’s life doesn’t look like what she imagined it would in her 20’s. She doesn’t seem to rule big changes out, though, telling the magazine that, post-divorce, she “cannot wait to be in love again.” With any luck, she will be all-caps screaming at the rumor mill again in no time!

Obsession with reality TV

Fans of famous people are always happy to find out when they have something in common with one of their favorite stars. Because of this, Kaley Cuoco likely made countless fans happy when she admitted that she has an obsession with reality television. Not just any reality TV, though: she is absolutely crazy for The Bachelor. Cuoco told Entertainment Tonight that she absolutely adores Bachelor star Ben Higgins and was very sad that she was not allowed to call in to ask him questions via Bachelor Live. This annoyed Cuoco, who used ET to deliver a message to her favorite Bachelor beau: “So, Ben Higgins, I have questions for you, and I will save my questions until I get through and I will be on my phone when I get in my car to try and get through tonight. ” She even has a game plan for what will happen if she ever gets to meet Higgins, telling E! News that she would “Kanye myself up there and go talk to him. I’m just a little overly obsessed with him.” Simon Helberg, who plays Howard Wolowtiz on Big Bang, described this obsession as “a little psychotic,” but hopefully he can give Cuoco props for using “Kanye” as a verb.

Obsession with herself

Another habit that Cuoco shares with some her fans is being absolutely obsessed with social media. Specifically, she is absolutely obsessed with what people say about her on social media. She told Cosmopolitan that she realizes it’s a textbook case of not being able to please everyone. For instance, one person’s comment about her looking “disgusting” may prompt her to pay special attention to the makeup she puts on when she appears on an awards show. Then, she says, the conversation online turns to people saying “wow, someone really likes being in front of the camera.”

However, Cuoco knows that she is caught in the spin cycle of celebrity gossip online. Even though she often asks herself “Why am I reading this stuff,” she also already has an answer to that question. “I’m obsessed. I openly admit to being totally insane about that.” It may seem petty that someone with the bank account of God and the body of a goddess is obsessed with what people say about her, but let those who have never Googled their name throw the first stone!

Nicki Swift