The 27 most controversial people on Wikipedia -- featuring Britney Spears, Bill Clinton, and Adolf Hitler
Wikipedia may look smooth on the outside, but just below the surface there is an ongoing war over how certain people and events are going to be remembered.
That war involves small edits made, sometimes over and over again, by the site's most passionate users. If you look at the most edited pages you can see the topics that our society is still fighting over. Some of these pages have over 45,000 edits, and range from entertainers to religions to wars.
But one of the most fascinating areas of debate centers around people, and the list of public figures whose legacies are in dispute in the world's most popular encyclopedia is incredibly varied. You have those you might expect, like ex-presidents or dictators, but also a run of professional wrestlers you probably never knew were so disputed.
We have compiled a list of the top 27 most-edited pages of people on Wikipedia, along with a sample edit from each. Edits removing portions of the text are shown in red, and edits adding new text are shown in blue.
See photos of who made the list:
Read below for their edited Wikipedia pages:
27. Sarah Palin
Before edit:
Palin has opposed Democratic reform attempts under the Obama administration. She opposed the 2009 House bill, charging that it would lead to rationing of health care by a bureaucracy on the basis of social worth, which she described using the term "death panels", though her charge was debunked.
Palin opposed the 2010 health care reform package, saying it would lead to rationing of health care by a bureaucracy, which she described using the term "death panels."
26. Kelly Clarkson
Before edit:
Her sixth studio album, 'Piece by Piece' was released in March 2015 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, thus collecting her third number one album and tying Carrie Underwood for most number one albums for an American Idol alumni.
In 2015, Clarkson released her seventh studio album, "Piece by Piece", becoming her third number one album on the "Billboard" 200 Chart.
25. Bill Clinton
Before edit:
Born and raised in Arkansas,Clinton became a student leader and a skilled musician.
Clinton was born and raised in Arkansas.
24. Abraham Lincoln
Before edit:
His Gettysburg Address of 1863 became an iconic statement of America's dedication to the principles of nationalism, republicanism, equal rights, liberty, and democracy.
His Gettysburg Address of 1863 became an iconic endorsement of the principles of nationalism, republicanism, equal rights, liberty, and democracy.
23. Albert Einstein
Before edit:
However, in 1929, Edwin Hubble confirmed that the universe is expanding, Einstein exclaimed after his Mount Wilson visit with Hubble: "If there is no quasi-static world, then away with the cosmological term!
After his Mount Wilson visit with Hubble, Einstein formally discarded the cosmological constant, claiming it is "theoretically unsatisfactory anyway."
22. Triple H (wrestler)
Before edit:
''Paul Michael Levesque" (born July 27, 1969), better known by his "'Triple H'' (an abbreviation of his full name, ''Hunter Hearst Helmsley''), is an American business executive, professional wrestler, actor, and former bodybuilder.
''Paul Michael Levesque" (born July 27, 1969), better known by his "'Triple H'' (an abbreviation of his full name, ''Hunter Hearst Helmsley''), is an American business executive, professional wrestler, actor, author, and former bodybuilder.
21. Edge (wrestler)
Before edit:
Weight = 252 lb
Weight = 241 lb
20. Pope John Paul II
Before edit:
In 1994, John Paul II visited Catania and told victims of Mafia violence to "rise itup and un-cloak yourself in light and justice, shout EXECTO PATRONUM!!!"
In 1994, John Paul II visited Catania and told victims of Mafia violence to "rise up and cloak yourself in light and justice!"
19. Madonna
Sample edit:
''Madonna Louise Ciccone'' (born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman.
''Madonna Louise Ciccone'' (born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and businesswoman.
18. Christina Aguilera
Before edit:
''Christina María Aguilera''' (born December 18, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress.
'''Christina María Aguilera''' (born December 18, 1980) is an American singer and songwriter.
17. Ronald Reagan
Before edit:
An icon among Republicans, he ranks highly in public and critical opinion of U.S. Presidents, and his tenure constituted a realignment toward conservative policies in the United States.
An icon among Republicans, he ranks favorably in public and critical opinion of U.S. Presidents, and his tenure constituted a realignment toward conservative policies in the United States.
16. Paul McCartney
Before edit:
With John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, he gained worldwide fame as a member of the Beatles, widely regarded as one of the most popular and influential acts in the history of rock music.
With John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, he gained worldwide fame as a member of the Beatles, one of the most popular and influential acts in the history of rock music.
15. John Cena (wrestler)
Before edit:
Cena announced that he would issue an open challenge each week on ''Raw'' with his United States Championship on the line, where he would defeat the likes of Dean Ambrose, Stardust, Bad News Barrett, Kane, El Generico, Zack Ryder and Neville.
Cena announced that he would issue an open challenge each week on ''Raw'' with his United States Championship on the line, where he would defeat the likes of Dean Ambrose, Stardust, Bad News Barrett, Kane, El Generico, and Zack Ryder.
14. Elvis Presley
Before edit:
Presley's ancestry was primarily a Western European mix: on his mother's side, he was Scots-Irish, with some French Norman; one of Gladys' great-great-grandmothers was Cherokee.
Presley's ancestry was primarily a Western European mix: on his mother's side, he was Scots-Irish, with some French Norman; one of Gladys' great-great-grandmothers, Morning Dove White, was possibly a Cherokee Native American.
13. Mariah Carey
Before edit:
During the recording of the album, Carey began to deviate from her R&B and pop beginnings and slowly moved into hip hop. This musical change became evident with the release of ''Butterfly'' (1997), at which time Carey had separated from Mottola.
During the recording of the album, Carey began to deviate from her slower R&B and ballad-orientedbeginnings and slowly transitioned into hip hop. This musical change became further establishedwith the release of ''Butterfly'' (1997), which was released during the midst of her separation from Mottola.
12. Eminem
Before edit:
The revelation causes an uproar in the control room; a man identifying himself as Marshall's publicist tries to stop the interview but is held back by Skylark's producer, Aaron Rappaport.
The revelation causes an uproar in the control room: Eminem's publicist tries to stop the interview but is held back by Skylark's producer.
11. Muhammad
Before edit:
Muhammad has been criticized ever since he claimed prophethood. He had been attacked by his non-Muslim Arab contemporaries for preaching monotheism, as well as for issues concerninghis marriages, and his military expeditions across Arabia.
Criticism of Muhammad has existed since the time he declared himself to be the Messenger of God. He has been criticized by his non-Muslim Arab contemporaries for preaching monotheism and equality of mankind. Other critics, in later times, criticized him for his multiple marriages and his military expeditions across Arabia. The Qur'an, in response to those critics, says: They want to extinguish the light of God '"with their mouths"', but God will perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it.
10. Kane (wrestler)
Before edit:
Early career (1992-1995)
Early career (1992-1994)
9. Beyoncé
Before edit:
Mathew is African-American, while Tina is of Louisiana Creole descent (with African, Native American, French, and 1/16th Irish, ancestry).
Mathew is African-American, while Tina is of Louisiana Creole descent (with African, Native American, French, and 1/32thIrish ancestry).
8. Roger Federer
Before edit:
Most commentators and players regard Federer as the greatest tennis player of all time.
Many commentators and players regard Federer as the greatest tennis player of all time.
7. The Undertaker (wrestler)
Before edit:
At Battleground (2015) in July, Undertaker returned as a villian, attacking Brock Lesnar with a low blow and other maneuvers during his WWE World Heavyweight Championship match against Seth Rollins, which caused the match to end in a no contest (the next night on "Raw", Lillian Garcia announced that Lesnar had own by disqualification).
At Battleground (2015) in July, Undertaker returned attacking Brock Lesnar during his WWE World Heavyweight Championship match against Seth Rollins, which caused the match to end in disqualification.
6. Britney Spears
Before edit:
Spears's eponymous eighth studio album ''Britney Jean'' was released in 2013; it spawned the internationalhit "Work Bitch", however the album made little commercial impact.
Spears's eponymous eighth studio album ''Britney Jean'' was released in 2013; it spawned the top 15 hit "Work Bitch", however it became the lowest-selling record of her career.
5. Adolf Hitler
Before edit:
''Adolf Hitler'' (1889-1945) was the leader of the NSDAP (from 1919) and dictator of Germany from 1933 to 1945. Appointed ''Reichskanzler'' on January 30, 1933, he assumed the twin titles of ''Führer und Reichskanzler'' (leader and chancellor) after President Paul von Hindenburg's death. Early years...
''Adolf Hitler'' (1889-1945) was the leader of the NSDAP (from 1919) and dictator of Germany from 1933 to 1945. Appointed ''Reichskanzler'' on January 30, 1933, he assumed the twin titles of ''Führer und Reichskanzler'' (leader and chancellor) after President Paul von Hindenburg's death (August 2, 1934). Under his leadership, Germany started World War II and committed the holocaust.
4. Barack Obama
Before edit:
In foreign policy, Obama ordered 2014 American intervention in Iraq U.S. military involvement in Iraq.
In foreign policy, Obama ordered 2014 American intervention in Iraq U.S. military intervention in Iraq.
3. Jesus
Before edit:
It is the last conversation with Jesus reported in the Bible until the Book of Revelation in which a man named John receives a revelation from Jesus concerning the Christian eschatologylast days when Jesus is predicted to return.
It is the last conversation with Jesus reported in the Bible until the Book of Revelation in which a man named John receives a revelation from Jesus concerning the Christian eschatologylast days when Jesus is predicted to return victoriously.
2. Michael Jackson
Before edit:
Both of Jackson's parents have denied the longstanding allegations of abuse.
Both of Jackson's parents have disagreed withthe longstanding allegations of abuse, with Katherine stating that while the whippings are considered abuse today, such action was a common way to discipline children back then.
1. George W. Bush
Before edit:
''George 'Dubya' Walker Bush'' (born July 6, 1946)...He is also the brother of Jeb Bush, former Governor of Florida.
''George Walker Bush'' (born July 6, 1946).
See Also:
SEE ALSO: George W. Bush has the most controversial Wikipedia page of all time — and the edits are fascinating