7. The death of Marilyn Monroe produced lurid conspiracy theories involving affairs with both John and Robert Kennedy
One of Hollywood’s foremost stars, Marilyn Monroe quickly rose to stardom as among the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s, becoming emblematic of the United States during this period. However, behind her successful acting career, Monroe’s private life – the focus of sustained and intrusive press attention – revealed a troubled existence. Struggling with substance abuse, anxiety, and depressing, all three of Monroe’s marriages broke down within only a few years. Within a year of her third and last to playwright Arthur Miller, Monroe died at the age of only thirty-six on August 5, 1962, following an overdose of barbiturates.
Ruled a probable suicide, given Monroe’s previous history of mental illness and substance abuse, in the years since several conspiracy theories have claimed an alternative series of events behind the actress’ untimely death. Beginning in 1964, claims started being made linking Monroe with Robert Kennedy, implicating the politician in her death as part of a cover-up for an alleged affair between the pair. Becoming the staple centerpiece of subsequent conspiracy theories, involving parties ranging from communists to the FBI, these assertions, lacking in evidence, typically contend Monroe was planning on going public and the Kennedy’s sought to silence her.