These Socialites Hid Sordid Secrets
On the surface, it seems like socialites like some of the most glamorous lives out there. They have all the fame and luxury of a royal or a movie star, without any of the work. But behind the gilded curtain, there are countless tales of scandal, intrigue, tragedy, affairs, and crime. These socialites may have thought they were hiding sordid secrets—but even their most twisted stories are out in the open now.
1. Barbara Baekeland Was The Most Twisted Socialite Of All
We're not about to start off easy and then save the most disturbing story for last. No, we're diving headfirst into the madness. Barbara Daly Baekeland lived a fantasy life of glamorous parties, wealthy admirers, and Hollywood starlets. Her incredible beauty got her into some of the highest echelons of society—but behind that exquisite face, she was hiding a terrible secret, and it was one that would drive her to an utterly gruesome act.
2. She May Have Faked A Pregnancy
In the 1940s, Barbara fell for Brooks Baekeland, the grandson of a wealthy inventor. They were getting hot and heavy, but that didn’t seem to be enough for our girl.
According to one report, she lied and told Brooks that she was pregnant in order to push him into a quickie wedding. It worked, and suddenly Barbara went from hungry social climber to high society socialite in her own right.
In the short term, this was everything Barbara wanted. In the long term, though, this would lead to all-out carnage.
3. Her Marriage Was Falling Apart
In 1946, Barbara got pregnant for real this time, giving birth to a baby boy she named Antony. It couldn’t have come at a worse time. At this point, both Brooks and Barbara were cycling through depressions together, had engaged in several affairs, and were generally miserable. Guess what? A baby didn’t fix those issues. In fact, new ones just started popping up.
4. She Had Gruesome Dinner Parties
As young “Tony” grew into a toddler, the Baekeland heir started to exhibit some disturbing signs. Although Barbara Baekeland was nothing if not self-absorbed, even she must have seen that her son was in need of some professional help. Her response was blood-chilling. Instead of taking Tony to therapy, Barbara insisted on pretending everything was fine. In fact, she once “proudly” showed her dinner guests a series of drawings Tony had done. Their subject matter? Oh, just bloody human figures.
And yet, for all that Barbara’s relationship with her son was dysfunctional, her marriage was also a real piece of work.
