Fame comes with applause, glitz, and sometimes, unwanted danger. For many celebrities, life in the spotlight has meant dodging more than just paparazzi , some have literally dodged bullets. Whether it was gang feuds, jealous rivals, political attacks, or sheer bad luck, these stars stared death in the face and lived to tell their stories.
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Let’s take a look at some famous faces who’ve survived gun violence , and the shocking stories behind each close call.
1.50 Cent
The Rapper Who Took Nine Bullets and Walked Away Back in May 2000, just days before releasing his debut album, 50 Cent was shot nine times outside his grandmother’s home. Federal investigators linked the attack to associates of the rap label Murder Inc., possibly as retaliation for his song “Ghetto Koran,” which exposed the crimes of drug lord Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff.
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The album never saw daylight, but 50 Cent survived, healed, and went on to become one of hip-hop’s biggest icons.
2.Bob Marley
In December 1976, reggae legend Bob Marley planned the Smile Jamaica concert to promote peace amid rising political tensions. But just two days before the show, gunmen stormed his home, shooting him, his wife Rita, and two others.
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Miraculously, they all survived. Despite his injuries, Marley still performed at the concert, saying, “The people who are trying to make this world worse aren’t taking a day off. How can I?”
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3.Fabolous
Rapper Fabolous was shot in the thigh in October 2007 after leaving Sean “Diddy” Combs’ restaurant, Justin’s, in Manhattan. His friends tried to rush him to hospital but were stopped by police — who ended up arresting them for unlicensed firearms. Fortunately, Fabolous made a full recovery and later turned the incident into motivation for his music career.
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3.Lil Wayne
Before the fame, Lil Wayne had a heartbreaking brush with death at just 12 years old. After his mother demanded he quit rapping, a distraught Wayne shot himself in the chest with her gun. Police officers saved his life by driving him to hospital instead of waiting for an ambulance. He later credited that officer, known as “Uncle Bob,” for saving his life and giving him a second chance.
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4.Megan Thee Stallion
In July 2020, a car argument after a party in the Hollywood Hills turned violent when Megan Thee Stallion was shot in both feet. She later alleged that rapper Tory Lanez pulled the trigger. Initially, Megan kept quiet out of fear of police violence, saying, “I didn’t tell them who shot me because I was scared.”
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The case has since gone through lengthy legal proceedings, and Megan has emerged as a powerful voice for survivors of violence.
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5.Tupac Shakur
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Before the 1996 attack that ended his life, Tupac Shakur was first shot five times in 1994 during a robbery at QUAD Recording Studios in New York. The gunmen were never caught. Tupac accused fellow rapper Biggie Smalls of knowing about the attack, which sparked one of hip-hop’s most infamous rivalries.
6.Pope John Paul II
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On May 13, 1981, Pope John Paul II was shot in Rome’s St. Peter’s Square. He spent three weeks in the hospital recovering from wounds to his abdomen and left hand. He offered to forgive his would-be assassin, Mehmet Ali Agca, while still in the hospital.
7.Angela Okorie
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Nollywood actress Angela Okorie in July of this year recalled her close brush with death that occurred in 2019 when she got shot by alleged assassins.
8. 2Baba (Innocent Idibia)
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Nigerian icon 2Baba is the last celebrity on our list. The talented singer was shot a whooping 22 times and miraculously survived all 22 bullets. The incident happened on Thursday, October 4, 2007 when 2Baba along with his brother, Ifeanyi Odogwu, and friends including singer Faze where attacked by gunmen in their car.