The Masked Singer Contestants That Have Been Arrested

The following article mentions drugs, violence, and domestic abuse. 

"The Masked Singer" may have first sounded like a strange idea for a TV show but it turns out the reality singing competition show has actually become quite the hit. For those unfamiliar with the Fox series, this reality show is different from other popular singing competition TV shows in that the contestants are already celebrities but viewers don't know who they are because they are disguised in head-to-toe costumes.

The show is pretty much filled with stars since Nick Cannon hosts, and Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy, Nicole Scherzinger, and Robin Thicke all serve as judges. While "The Masked Singer" originally premiered in January 2019, as of early 2022, it was already on its seventh season — presumably because of its popularity. Deadline even reported in Fall 2021 that the series had topped primetime ratings, while TV Series Finale noted in January 2022 that it was Fox's most-watched show.

With that said, it makes sense that celebrities who may need a boost to their careers would sign on to do the family-friendly show in order to have another opportunity to show off their talents in front of a large audience. Of course, when it comes to celebrities who decide to do reality TV, there are bound to be some who have made questionable decisions. In terms of "The Masked Singer," that includes some stars who have gotten caught breaking the law.

Faith Evans has been arrested three times

It appears Season 6 contestant Faith Evans really enjoyed her time as "Skunk" on "The Masked Singer" even if she didn't win. She gushed to People, "It felt great, because I could do it still even after not having done performances in so long." That same year, Evans was also dealing with a divorce after splitting with her husband of three years, record producer Stevie J. In fact, it was an altercation with Stevie that landed Evans on this list.

According to TMZ, in May 2020, Steve J called police to his and Evans' then-shared LA home after an argument they were having took a violent turn. Once police arrived, it was Evans who was arrested for felony domestic violence because officers noticed obvious scratches and marks on Stevie J's face. Evans' charges were later dropped after her then-husband refused to testify against her. He had reportedly never even wanted her to get arrested and only wanted the police to make her leave their house during their altercation.

That wasn't the R&B singer's first run-in with the law though, since the Daily Mail reports she was arrested once in 2004 for cocaine and marijuana possession, and again in 2010 for drunk driving. Despite her struggles, Evans told People that she turns to God to get through the hard times. She explained, "I look at every obstacle, every difficult time, every trial as a blessing because He made me strong enough to get through it."

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

Johnny Rotten was arrested after a bar fight

With a name like Johnny Rotten, it should come as no surprise that the former Sex Pistols singer has been arrested before. The Season 6 "The Masked Singer" contestant, whose real name is John Lydon, was thrown behind bars in Dublin, Ireland, way back in 1980 following a bar fight. However, Rotten later revealed to The Irish Times that he was pretty much set up, explaining, "I went to a pub and the barman wouldn't serve me. Words were exchanged and the police were called." He added, "I was arrested for attacking a policeman's fist with my face."

Because of his celebrity, Rotten felt that the police made him out to be an even bigger target, beating down his confidence. He even recalled in his memoir, "Anger Is an Energy," how they did that, writing how warders treated him upon arrival. He reflected that the time he spent in jail "was tough — really really tough and hard — and a punishing regime."

While Rotten was originally sentenced to three months of prison, per the Irish Mirror, once he was able to stand trial, he revealed in his book that the judge was able to differentiate discrepancies in the witnesses' statements — leading to his acquittal. He did, however, point out that he was still asked to donate £100 "to the poor box." The whole ordeal apparently did not make Rotten feel welcome in Ireland ever again.

Mama June's past addiction led to her arrest

Reality TV star Mama June Shannon may have performed alongside her daughter Honey Boo Boo on Season 6 of "The Masked Singer" but there was a point when the two weren't even speaking because of Mama June's problems with drugs. That's also what got her arrested in March 2019 since police in Alabama allegedly found her and her then-boyfriend, Geno Doak, in possession of crack cocaine and a crack pipe, per People.

While Mama June was very open about her addiction, admitting she'd even spent almost $1 million on drugs, she was just as open with trying to get clean, documenting the process on the WeTV show "Mama June: Road to Redemption." Per The U.S. Sun, Mama June faced a judge for her arrest while on the show, where she fortunately didn't get jail time and was sentenced to community service instead. Mama June claimed it was because, "When you turn your life around, people see that and want to be positivity and give you another chance."

Honey Boo Boo also gave her mother another chance by agreeing to appear on "The Masked Singer" with her when she was over a year sober. Mama June revealed to People that doing the show "was an emotional experience" and that she "teared up when we got on stage the night of the performance." She explained why, saying that it was "Because I was actually doing something with her for the first time outside of everyday life, our show ... sober."

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Tyga's charges were dropped

Tyga was Dalmatian on Season 6 of "The Masked Singer," which turned out to be quite ironic since the "Taste" rapper was in the doghouse only one month after his appearance on the show. That's because Tyga, whose real name is Michael Stevenson, was arrested on felony domestic violence charges in October 2021, after his ex-girlfriend, Camaryn Swanson, accused him of assaulting her, per CBS News. Swanson had posted photos of her bruised face and black eye on Instagram, writing, "I've been emotionally, mentally and physically abused and I'm not hiding it anymore."

TMZ reported that on the night of the altercation, Swanson had showed up at Tyga's home at 3 a.m. and began acting hostile and shouting. Once police were called, Tyga apparently refused to speak with them but later turned himself in and posted his $50,000 bond. His rep, ​​Jack Ketsoyan, spoke out after his arrest, claiming, "The allegations ... are false and will be disproven." 

By February 2022, it was determined that Tyga wouldn't face any criminal charges after all, per ET, with the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office noting that he had to avoid any other run-ins with the law. "If not, prosecutors could end up filing misdemeanor charges," they added. It appears that Tyga and Swanson somehow ended up back on good terms too since not only did Radar report that Tyga liked one of Swanson's photos, but according to Urban Landz, the two also celebrated her birthday together in January 2022.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

Vivica A. Fox won't make the same mistake twice

Vivica A. Fox was another Season 6 contestant of "The Masked Singer" who had broken the law but her arrest happened years ago in March 2007. That's when the "Two Can Play that Game" actor was pulled over on the Hollywood Freeway for doing 80 mph, according to Today. Fox allegedly then failed a field sobriety test and her breathalyzer test showed her blood-alcohol level to be greater than .08 percent. Cleveland 19 reports that officers had administered the tests after noticing the "Soul Food" star's eyes were red and that she smelled of alcohol.

What's more is that during Fox's arrest she reportedly accused the state patrol officer of being racist. Per the police report, she said to the other officer on scene, "Brother, help a sister, are you going to let this racist white cop do this?" Fox had also reportedly talked down to both officers.

That June, Fox was apologetic, telling Access Hollywood that her arrest was a "huge learning lesson." She even added, "It was an unfortunate judgment that I am taking full responsibility in. It is so not worth what you go through for getting a DUI." While the incident was unfortunate, it appears Fox was able to move forward with a plan so it never happens again.

Wiz Khalifa was handcuffed for marijuana and a hoverboard

"The Masked Singer" Season 5 contestant Wiz Khalifa has been arrested a few times over the years, but from the looks of his jail selfie, it doesn't seem like his run-ins with the law have been too serious. It appears that the rapper's first arrest happened while he was on tour back in 2010.  According to Billboard, Wiz had been performing at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina when officers smelled marijuana backstage and charged him with drug possession. 

A few years later, in 2014, the "Young, Wild & Free," singer was arrested for marijuana again but this time it was at El Paso Airport after security allegedly found some pot in his backpack, according to the El Paso Times. Wiz apparently used that jail stint as an opportunity to post his infamous jail selfie and to even promote a song, tweeting, "I wanna drop 28 Grams but they got me [locked] up" and that "they're tryna figure out how many grams I had. How Ironic." 

Wiz had another incident with police at an airport in Los Angeles in 2015, but that time wasn't for drugs, it was because he refused to get off his hoverboard, per The Daily Beast. The rapper tweeted a video of police detaining him for it, and later wrote in another tweet, "Haven't been slammed and cuffed in a while. That was fun." CNN later reported that no charges were actually filed in that case.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Omarion was jailed over a traffic violation

It almost feels unfair to include singer Omarion on this list, but the Season 5 "The Masked Singer" contestant has been arrested even though it was only for a traffic violation. That's right, the former B2K member was actually taken to jail all because he didn't show up to court for a traffic ticket he once got, according to TMZ.

It was on a late Friday morning in July 2014 when Omarion had run a stop sign that then led to him getting pulled over by police in California's San Fernando Valley. From there, officers apparently decided to run his plates, discovering there was indeed a warrant out for his arrest for failing to appear in court. The "Ice Box" singer was taken into custody and held on a $20,000 bond before posting bail.

The whole thing didn't seem like too major of a deal, and it's presumed that Omarion eventually handled the issue with his outstanding warrant following his arrest. Yet we can imagine it was not pleasant for him to spend time behind bars, regardless. It appears Omarion has put the whole thing behind him though and continues to live his best life, which included his stint on "The Masked Singer" in 2021. When it came to doing the show, he told EW, "I'm so happy that I was able to even come in hot as the wildcard. It was a great experience. I'm happy that I enjoyed myself."

Donnie Wahlberg faced 20 years for hotel arson

Although technically not a contestant on "The Masked Singer," Donnie Wahlberg had quite the serious arrest back in 1991. He portrayed character Cluedle-Doo across several episodes in Season 5.  According to the AP, the New Kids on the Block singer was accused of setting a fire at the historic Seelbach Hotel where the group was staying while on a tour stop in Louisville, Kentucky. The Fire Chief alleged that Wahlberg had poured flammable liquid onto a rug before setting it ablaze. Fortunately, no one was hurt and there wasn't much damage done, but Wahlberg's arson charge carried a 20 year prison sentence.

Wahlberg denied the accusations, saying, ″The report is that I ran down the hall pouring vodka all over the place trying to burn the place down ... There was no vodka, there was no matches ... I didn't even rub two sticks together." Witnesses claimed it all started after Wahlberg had accidentally sprayed a child in the face with a fire extinguisher then got into an argument with the boy's mother. While Wahlberg didn't address that, he did point out, "Why would I want to burn a hotel down? Where's that going to get me except in jail."

Wahlberg's charges were later dropped down to a misdemeanor of criminal mischief that would be dismissed with community service in the form of making public service announcement videos, per UPI. At his hearing he finally expressed remorse, saying, "I would like to apologize ... I definitely accept responsibility for my actions."

Bobby Brown has a long rap sheet

When it comes to Bobby Brown's arrests, the Season 5 contestant of "The Masked Singer' has quite the long rap sheet. According to Hollywood.com, a lot of the "My Prerogative" singer's charges in the 1990's were mostly due to drugs, given Brown's long history with addiction. Then, of course, there was his battery arrest in 2003 for allegedly hitting his then-wife, late singer Whitney Houston. That wasn't his only battery charge, since at one point he was arrested for the sexual battery of teen girl as well.

In terms of sex crimes, in 1989, Brown was also charged with breaking a Georgia lewdness ordinance for simulating sex on stage during a concert there, per the AP. Brown's latest arrest, though, appeared to be in 2014 when he was pulled over in California for drunk driving. That wasn't Brown's first DUI either, considering he was arrested for that in 1996 when he reportedly also threatened officers and urinated in their squad car. Later, Brown spent some more time behind bars for missing child support payments.

With all that said, it's no wonder that Brown has a bad boy reputation, but as of 2021, he appeared to be ready to change how people saw him. He credited "The Masked Singer" for letting him do that. He explained to People, "It was therapeutic for me to sing ... and bring it across to the people, and people to get where I'm coming from as a human being."

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Danny Trejo spent time in prison

Actor Danny Trejo was another Season 5 contestant on "The Masked Singer" who was once accustomed to life in prison, having spent a lot of the 1950's and 1960s behind bars. According to the New York Post, most of Trejo's problems stemmed from his drug addiction, which began when he tried heroin at only age 12.  After spending time in juvenile detentions, Trejo was later sent to state prisons for things like drug possession, drug dealing, and even armed robbery.

Trejo recalled being on death row at age 21 in his memoir, "Trejo," writing, "I said, to myself, 'Danny, you're going to die here.'" Fortunately, Trejo got sober just two years later. He recalled how he turned to God by saying, "If you allow me to die with dignity ... [I will] do everything I can to help my fellow man." Miraculously, he got out.

From there, Trejo became a drug counselor before he stumbled into acting, something he already knew how to do because of his past. He explained, "I'd acted to survive my childhood. I'd acted like I wasn't scared when I was terrified." After successfully breaking into Hollywood, it seems like Trejo has only flourished. He genuinely loved his time on "The Masked Singer," too, telling EW, "I think that's one of the most fun times I've ever had."

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

A drunken bar fight led to Nick Carter's arrest

You could say former Backstreet Boy Nick Carter shed his clean boyband image in 2016 when he was arrested after a bar fight. According to NBC News, the Season 4 "The Masked Singer" contestant was at the Hog's Breath Saloon in Key West, Florida, when a bartender refused to serve him and his friend, Michael Papayans, because they were very obviously drunk. Things apparently escalated when Carter and Papayans refused to leave, with Papayans head-butting an employee and Carter grabbing a bouncer's throat.

Once police came, Carter was placed under arrest on a misdemeanor battery charge. Luckily for the singer though, that charge was dismissed once Carter completed community service and paid his court fees, per People. Despite the leniency of his punishment, the drunken bar brawl wasn't a good look for Carter. Months later, he told Access Hollywood (via People) that he was "focused on the positive stuff that is happening and getting back on track."

In a PR spin move, The "House of Carters" star also pointed out that he had learned a lot from the whole experience. He explained, "It's always about learning from my mistakes and learning from things that might not necessarily be mistakes and little hiccups and things that can happen in life." He continued by of course mentioning how it even made him a better person, saying, "I'm very aware of everything going on around me and know what I have to do to the best that I can be."

Taylor Dayne and Mickey Rourke both got DUIs

Taylor Dayne was another pop star who appeared on Season 4 of "The Masked Singer" who had a run-in with the law, with her arrest happening in 2008. People reports that the "Tell It to My Heart" singer had initially been charged with a DUI after getting pulled over in Beverly Hills, California. Despite failing a field sobriety test, Dayne was adamant that she didn't drive drunk. 

After a deal with prosecutors, her attorney, Scott Spindel revealed, "We proved to prosecutors that Taylor wasn't driving under the influence, and that alcohol wasn't a factor in this case." Her DUI charge was later dropped to Reckless Driving and she pleaded no contest in a deal with prosecutors that got her just a fine and probation.

Another Season 4 contestant, actor Mickey Rourke, was also arrested for a DUI, but a year before Dayne in 2007. According to Reuters, "The Wrestler" star had been weaving in and out of traffic on a vespa in Miami Beach when he was pulled over and failed a field sobriety test. Despite Rourke's claiming, "I'm not drunk, I didn't even drink that much," officers noted on the arrest report that he had "bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage." However Digital Spy reported those charges may have been dropped since the breathalyzer used during his arrest turned out to be faulty.

Busta Rhymes' workout ended in handcuffs

They say the gym is supposed to help relieve stress, but it appears it did the opposite for rapper Busta Rhymes in 2015. Per The Guardian, Busta, whose real name is Trevor Tahiem Smith Jr, had apparently been working out at the Steel Gym in New York City when he got into an argument with a man who worked there. The Season 4 "The Masked Singer" contestant then allegedly threw a cardboard container of a strawberry protein drink at the employee's head. While the victim refused medical attention, Busta Rhymes was arrested for the incident and charged with assault. His lawyer later told TMZ that the charges weren't valid, noting it was "another attempt to take advantage of Busta's celebrity status." 

That wasn't Busta's first time under arrest though since, according to Billboard, in 2006 he faced another assault charge for allegedly beating up a concert-goer who may have spit on his car. Then, in 2007, Busta faced DUI charges when he was pulled over in New York for "excessively tinted windows," per TMZ. Even before that, in 1998, MTV reported that Busta was arrested with his manager on weapons charges. 

Busta took to Instagram to speak out on his latest arrest. He wrote in a now-deleted post,(via CBS News), "Thanks to everyone who helped expedite this evening for me. I'm good and we're back to the grind. Heading 2 the studio 2 turn the bull — into GREATNESS. I'm super good."

Bow Wow felt he was wrongfully arrested

Rapper Bow Wow probably won't like that he's on this list since he claims his arrest wasn't valid, but the rapper, who appeared on "The Masked Singer" in Season 3, did get charged with battery in 2019. According to TMZ, Bow Wow had allegedly assaulted his then-girlfriend, "Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta" star Kiyomi Leslie Holden. Holden was also arrested in the incident, since, according to People, the police report stated that "Officers were unable to determine the primary aggressor of the altercation."

Bow Wow's lawyer, Joe Habachy, went on to claim that not only was Bow Wow "wrongfully arrested," but that he was the one "beaten by an out of control intoxicated female." Habachy then noted the rapper's injuries, adding that "Ms. Holden's mugshot ... speaks for itself, despite her allegation to police that she broke a fingernail." Surveillance video from the night of the altercation did, however, show Bow Wow angrily getting in Holden's face inside an elevator.

While Habachy was "confident that the charges against Bow Wow will be dismissed," it's unclear if the case has been resolved. Yet, in 2020, when asked about the arrest, the "My Baby" rapper told People, "We all make our mistakes and you learn from them and you get back on track." He even credited "The Masked Singer" for getting him there, saying, "It's just going to bring a whole new life into it ... and I've been working, and I've just been staying focused."

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

Dionne Warwick claims she was framed

It appears that Dionne Warwick is another Season 3 contestant of "The Masked Singer" who felt her arrest was unfair since she claimed that it was a set up. According to CNN, back in 2002, the "Walk on By" singer was going through Miami International Airport when baggage screeners called police to investigate a suspicious bag inside her carry-on. Officers then found 11 marijuana cigarettes inside her lipstick container and arrested Warwick on drug possession charges.

Warwick didn't claim responsibility for the incident though, and per Billboard, dished a year later that someone else had put the marijuana in her bag. She explained, "Apparently, somebody that didn't want to get caught thought it would be better off in somebody else's bag." Despite having to complete a drug treatment program as part of her deal with prosecutors to get the charges dropped, Warwick claimed she never had a problem in the first place. She said, "Drugs of every sort, including aspirin, are not anything I even think about." She added that what she really learned from the whole ordeal was "not to travel with an open bag. You never know what's going to end up in it."

These days, it appears that Warwick is sensitive about the whole incident considering she was not too happy when Wendy Williams joked about her arrest on her show in 2020. The music veteran took to Twitter to call Williams out, writing, "I don't believe one has to be mean to get noticed."

Lil Wayne was pardoned

Rapper Lil Wayne is unfortunately all too familiar with being arrested, having served time behind bars multiple times during his music career. ABC News reported that the Season 3 "The Masked Singer" contestant even found himself in New York City's infamous Rikers Island prison for 8 months in 2007 because of drugs and weapons charges. That next year in 2008, Wayne was arrested for drugs and weapons' possession again in Arizona, but went on to only get probation.

However, it was Lil Wayne's 2019 arrest that could have landed him in the big house for a decade since federal authorities found a loaded gun on his private jet. Because Wayne was already a convicted felon, he was charged with illegally possessing a gun and ammunition, which carried a sentence of a maximum of 10 years in federal prison, per CNN. Luckily for Wayne though, he was able to get that pardoned by former President Donald Trump. He tweeted his appreciation for being spared jail time, writing, "I want to thank President Trump for recognizing that I have so much more to give to my family, my art, and my community."

Because of that pardon, Lil Wayne was also free to appear on "The Masked Singer," even if he initially suggested another rapper do the show instead. He told MTV, "I am a fan of the show ... Because of that ... I wanted to get Nicki [Minaj] on there." He added, "They came back and said 'they want you on there.'"

Kelly Osbourne assaulted a journalist

TV personality Kelly Osbourne was arrested long before she appeared on the second season of "The Masked Singer," considering it was back in January 2009 when the former "Fashion Police" host was charged with assault. People reports that the incident had happened at a London nightclub the summer before and stemmed from Osbourne being not pleased with how gossip columnist, Zoe Griffin, wrote about her then-boyfriend, model Luke Worall, in an article. Osbourne apparently felt that Griffin had made Worall look stupid by pointing out that he didn't know what caused an earthquake.

Griffin recalled to a British newspaper, per People, that Osbourne had said to her, "I have an issue with you ... everyone has been laughing at him and he's upset." She added, "That's when I felt a hard slap to my right cheekbone." That's right, Osbourne allegedly slapped Griffin across the face, which prompted the assault charge.

While Osbourne had once claimed, per Daily Mail, that when it came to her man, she'd always defend him — this seemed a bit much and the two eventually split, anyway. The former "The Osbournes" star later admitted that she had also been struggling with addiction for many years during that time. Yet, ten years after her arrest in 2019, Osbourne was in a much better place when she took part in "The Masked Singer." She told EW, "I took a lot of time off work to focus on myself. This was the first thing I've done in sobriety."

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

T-Pain had a few incidents with police

T-Pain may have won Season 1 of "The Masked Singer" but before being named the champion, the "Buy U a Drank" singer had his fair share of run-ins with the law. His first arrest was back in 2007 when T-Pain, whose real name is Faheem Najm, was charged with driving with a suspended license. His spokesperson downplayed the incident, explaining to TMZ that he was "given a few traffic tickets several years ago for minor infractions."

T-Pain's next incident with police happened that same year after he refused numerous requests to cut a concert short in Miami. A witness dished to Baller Status, "They were trying to shorten his show and that he wasn't going for it." They added, "During all that the whole backstage area was blanketed by 20-plus police trying to cut the sound off to stop the show." Once the music was stopped, T-Pain cursed at the officers, who then later pulled the singer out of the van that he tried to leave in. It's unclear if T-Pain faced charges for that incident though.

Things were much more clear when T-Pain was detained in 2018 for bringing a loaded gun to an Atlanta airport since he called the whole thing "an honest mistake," in a now-deleted Instagram post, per Fader. He even clarified, "NO CHARGES. NO ARRESTS. All my guns are legal, registered to me," proving by that point in his career he knew how to get ahead of gossip.

Tommy Chong served prison time

Due to his stoner reputation, it's not hard to believe that actor Tommy Chong has been arrested on marijuana charges but what's surprising is that the "Up In Smoke" star actually did jail time for it. Chong, who appeared on Season 1 of "The Masked Singer," was convicted of selling thousands of pipes and bongs online through his company Nice Dreams Enterprises in 2003, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. His arrest was apparently part of a federal investigation into drug paraphernalia distributors.

While Chong's lawyer told The Guardian that he believed his client was getting prosecuted merely for his stoner fame, a judge didn't see it that way and sentenced Chong to nine months in federal prison. Although he had hoped for community service, Chong later dished that jail wasn't all that bad on the "It Happened in Hollywood" podcast. He explained, "There's no punishment in the federal prison. You get a computer. You get a nice comfortable cubicle. You're in there with nice, intelligent people."

You could even say that the "Cheech and Chong" star's time on "The Masked Singer" was perhaps harder than lock up since when it came to doing the show, he joked to EW, "You know, visually, it was good for everybody, but as an actor, it was our worst nightmare, because we're hidden and no one knows who we are!"  These days Chong is even back in the marijuana business, selling CBD and cannabis products in states where it's now legal.

Antonio Brown accepted a deal

Antonio Brown's time on Season 1 of "The Masked Singer" was already shrouded in controversy in that when he appeared on the show in 2019, he was going through a very public fall out with his former NFL team, The Pittsburgh Steelers. Yet things seemed to only get messier for Brown after the show, since he was arrested in January 2020. Brown was accused of throwing rocks at a moving company truck then assaulting the driver over a payment dispute, according to TMZ.

The former NFL star faced some pretty serious charges of "burglary with assault or battery, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and criminal mischief" per NBC Sports. Yet, according to NFL.com, Brown decided to accept a plea deal that would keep him out of prison with two years probation, agreeing to community service, an anger management program and a psychological/psychiatric evaluation with treatment if needed. His lawyer explained that he did so, "in consideration of his family and his football career."

As of 2022, Brown isn't active in the NFL, which perhaps gives him more time for reality TV stints like "The Masked Singer."