Big Mistake! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Herostratos

Herostratos was a Greek arsonist known for deliberately setting fire to the second Temple of Artemis in Ephesus on July 21, 356 BC. The temple is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. His goal was to achieve fame and immortality by destroying this significant monument. After being caught, he confessed that he committed the arson specifically to have his name remembered forever.

As punishment, he was executed, and the Ephesian authorities issued a law forbidding anyone from mentioning his name to prevent him from gaining notoriety. Despite this, his name survived in historical records, and the term 'herostratic fame' was coined to describe someone who commits crimes solely to become famous. The temple was later rebuilt, but was eventually destroyed again centuries later.

Answer: She said that one out of four British men were homosexuals

Edith Cresson reportedly made a controversial statement in an interview claiming that 25% of Anglo-Saxon men, including British men, were homosexual. She suggested that in countries like the USA, England, and Germany, about one in four men were homosexual, which was met with outrage, especially in Britain. This statement contributed to her unpopularity and diplomatic tensions.

She further remarked that Anglo-Saxon men were less interested in women compared to French men, which she considered a weakness. Cresson later distanced herself from the interview, stating she did not remember giving it and denying some of the reported claims, but the controversy had already spread widely in the British press.

Answer: False

The statement that former U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle once said, after a trip to Latin America, that he regretted not having studied Latin harder in school so he might have conversed with people, is a fabricated or misattributed quote. It was the punchline of a political joke which was going around Washington at the time.

The quote was never actually said by Quayle himself, but gained traction because it fit the public perception of him at the time. In short, he did not say it when he visited Latin America, and the quote is considered a well-known misquote that unfairly became associated with him.

Answer: He threw the ball into his own goal

Norwegian soccer goalkeeper Bjarte Flem is famously known for a remarkable mistake he made during a match against Sogndal in 1988. While attempting to throw the ball to a teammate, he realised the teammate was closely marked and changed his mind mid-motion. However, he accidentally let go of the ball while his arm was still aimed toward his own goal, resulting in a throw into his own goal.

This incident was broadcast live on television and captured international attention, becoming infamous, not only in Norway, but also beyond. The name Bjarte Flem has since become synonymous in Norway with a goalkeeper making a huge blunder. Despite this mistake, he was regarded as a good goalkeeper who had many successful seasons with Tromsų and was part of the team when they won the Norwegian Cup Championship two years before the incident.

Answer: Bob Eubanks

In Michael Moore's 1989 documentary "Roger & Me", which critiques the economic decline of Flint, Michigan, Eubanks appears in a segment where he tells a joke involving Jews and money. The joke was widely criticised as offensive and antisemitic, and it triggered a backlash against him at the time. He later apologised for the joke, stating he did not intend to harm or insult the Jewish people or persons with AIDS. He expressed regret and offered an unconditional apology to the Jewish community.

While he was best known for hosting "The Newlywed Game", this moment in "Roger & Me" cast a shadow over his public image, especially as Moore's film gained widespread attention. It's a reminder of how offhand remarks, especially in documentary contexts, can have lasting consequences.

Answer: Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan has had her share of headline-making moments, but one of the strangest came in 2018 when she live-streamed herself trying to 'rescue' a child she claimed was being trafficked. While in Moscow, she approached a refugee family on the street, speaking in a mix of English, Arabic, and what she said was Russian. On "Instagram Live", she accused the parents of child trafficking and tried to take the child away. The situation escalated quickly, and the mother reportedly punched Lohan in the face.

The video, when shared, was criticised, with many viewers concerned about her erratic behaviour and the dangerous assumptions she made. Lohan later deleted the footage and didn't offer much explanation, leaving fans and critics baffled. It was one of those moments where celebrity impulsiveness collided with real-world consequences, and not in a good way.

Lohan never publicly confirmed whether she was intoxicated during the 2018 incident. Viewers speculated about her state of mind due to her erratic behaviour, slurred speech, and confusing mix of languages during the video, but no official statement or report confirmed she was under the influence.

Answer: President of Belarus Alexandr Lukashenko

Alexander Lukashenko, the President of Belarus, stated in an interview with the German newspaper "Handelsblatt", "The history of Germany is a mould for the history of Belarus... It took centuries to form the German order. Under Hitler, this formation reached its highest point. This corresponds with our understanding of a presidential republic and the role of a president in it". Lukashenko praised the strong leadership that consolidated Germany under Hitler, although he acknowledged the negative consequences of Hitler's foreign policy.

The words fell in an interview with the German "Handelsblatt'", which was so shocked it chose not to print it. The tape with the interview was broadcast twice by Belarusian Radio, however. Lukashenka has received harsh criticism for his economic policies and the numerous violations of democratic and human rights under his regime.

There is some dispute over the authenticity and context of the quotes. According to later reports, the original "Handelsblatt" interviewer claimed that the tape had been misquoted and rearranged by Russian media, and that Hitler was not explicitly mentioned in the published version.

Answer: Thorvald Stoltenberg

The UN peace mediator Thorvald Stoltenberg caused shock by saying that Serbs, Croatians, and Bosnians were 'all Serbs'. Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian foreign minister and the UN's special envoy in former Yugoslavia from 1993 to 1996, made this controversial remark during a speech in Oslo on May 31, 1995.

He explained that although some call themselves Serbs, and others Muslims or Croats, they are essentially all Serbs ethnically. The comment caused an uproar and accusations of partiality towards the Serbs among Bosnian Muslims and Croats, although Stoltenberg argued his words were taken out of context and emphasised his wish for Serbs to return territory they had taken in Bosnia. He was also involved in peace negotiations, such as the Owen-Stoltenberg Plan, which proposed partitioning Bosnia into a union of three ethnic republics during the war.

Answer: Mel Gibson

In 2006, actor Mel Gibson was arrested for driving under the influence in Malibu, California. During the arrest, he reportedly launched into a drunken tirade that included the statement, "The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world". The comment, directed at a Jewish police officer, was widely condemned as antisemitic and created immediate outrage across the entertainment industry and beyond.

Gibson later apologised, claiming he was deeply ashamed and that the remarks were made while intoxicated. Despite the apology, the incident severely damaged his reputation and led to years of professional fallout. It remains one of the most notorious examples of a celebrity's private outburst becoming a public scandal.

Answer: Andrew Golota

The boxer Andrew Golota, who was on his way to a comfortable victory over Riddick Bowe in their 1996 clash, was disqualified for repeated low blows with about 30 seconds left in their first fight on July 11, 1996. Golota dominated Bowe, but was disqualified in the seventh round for repeatedly hitting below the belt.

In the rematch on December 14, 1996, Golota once again controlled the early rounds and appeared to be the superior boxer. However, despite multiple warnings, he continued to land low blows. The bout was stopped in the ninth round, and although some sources describe it as another disqualification, it was officially ruled a no-contest due to the chaotic aftermath and fouling. Despite outboxing Bowe in both encounters, Golota's inability to control his fouling cost him two potential career-defining victories.