15 Petty Beefs Among Smart and Dignified Folks
![15 Petty Beefs Among Smart and Dignified Folks](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/2/8/889728_320x180.jpg)
Hey! Prominent figures can have blood feuds too, ya know! They might be smarter and more successful than the rest of us, so it’s comforting to know that they too can succumb to pettiness. If anything, the higher up the ladder you go, the thicker the competition. When a rival threatened to squash their precious egos, they fought back. The stakes were high, but the feuds were petty.
Sure, the public might view these dignitaries as, well, dignitaries, but as time goes on, stories of their sometimes incredibly trivial fallouts come into light. Who knew Benjamin Franklin had beef with another prominent bald figurehead? We didn’t. Until now.
We were also pretty thrilled to learn that world renowned shoe companies Adidas and Puma were born out of a bitter rivalry, and that you can in fact use pastries as insults. Because it’s hilarious. These are just a few of many frivolous incidents that sparked lifelong, sometimes even deadly beefs between prominent, dignified people.
Before Twitter, petty political beefs were settled in the streets.
![Petty beefs among dignified folks AARON BURR YS ALEXANDER HAMILTON Burr's presidential run was spoiled by Hamilton, who called Burr despicable, so he challenged Hamilton to a duel. They met at sunrise on July 11, 1804, and Burr won. Hamilton died days later. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/9/3/888693.jpg)
Mark Twain openly criticized the post office his entire adult life.
![Petty beefs among dignified folks MARK TWAIN VS УССР bodyng beach leca 04-96-21 & DE THE POST 3 1 OFFICE zz CO When England in 1848 invented stamps, my feelings were decidedly anti-English. The cost of sending mail overseas? Downright robbery. Не even sparked a personal beef with the Postmaster General. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/9/9/888699.jpg)
Van Gogh’s “tortured soul” persona is being refuted.
![Petty beefs among dignified folks VINCENT VAN GOGH YS PAUL GAUGUIN Many art historians believe van Gogh cut off his own ear after one of many heated debates with fellow artist Gauguin. New research argues that Gauguin actually cut van Gogh's ear off with a sword during that argument. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/9/0/888690.jpg)
Two prominent bald Americans go head to head.
![Petty beefs among dignified folks BENJAMIN FRANKLIN YS THE BALD EAGLE Franklin said, I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country. It is a bird of bad moral character that does not get his living honestly because it steals food and is too lazy to fish for himself. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/9/5/888695.jpg)
Go bleep bloop yourself!
![Petty beefs among dignified folks Ys R2-D2 С-ЗРО Classically trained Anthony Daniels (С-3РО) constantly insulted former circus performer Kenny Baker (R2-D2). Baker called Daniels the rudest man he ever met, and Daniels said the character of R2-D2 might as well be a bucket. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/3/0/889730.jpg)
Lucasfilm
Governor Chris Christie ruins everyone’s first day of school.
![Petty beefs among dignified folks CHRIS CHRISTIE YS FORT LEE Fort Lee, NJ is across the George Washington Bridge from NYC. After their mayor didn't endorse Governor Christie, Christie closed lanes on the bridge for a traffic study, causing hours-long delays on the first day of school. Top Christie aides were arrested. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/8/8/888688.jpg)
Criminal confusion at the polls.
![Petty beefs among dignified folks RODRIGUEZ YS RODRIGUEZ In 2020, Florida Sen. lleana Garcia won by 32 votes over José Rodríguez because former Sen. Frank Artiles recruited Alex Rodriguez to confuse voters into splitting the Rodriguez vote. Не took 6,382 votes, and Artiles was charged. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/9/8/888698.jpg)
Florida Senate/Wiki Commons,
Miami-Dade Police Department (via The Daytona Beach News-Journal)
Hey! Dessert involving beef is Rachel Green’s thing.
![Petty beefs among dignified folks GWYNETH PALTROW VS MARTHA STEWART About Paltrow's lifestyle brand, Goop, Stewart said, If she were confident in her acting, she wouldn't be trying to be Martha Stewart. Trolling Paltrow's divorce, she named a pie Conscious Coupling, and Paltrow fired back with her jailbird cake. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/9/1/888691.jpg)
We don’t want your prissy “French” fries here in ’Merica!
![Petty beefs among dignified folks WALTER JONES & BOB NEY VS FRENCH FRIES In 2003, because of France's refusal to support the U.S. position on Iraq, these men had the congressional cafeteria menus change the name of French fries to freedom fries. Next... they came for French toast. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/9/7/888697.jpg)
U.S. House Office of Photography/Wiki Commons,
Wiki Commons,
Billion Photos/Shutterstock
A tale of two shoe moguls.
![Petty beefs among dignified folks RUDOLF DASSLER ADOLF DASSLER YS Their small shoe company boomed after Jesse Owens wore their shoes at the 1936 Olympics. Several disputes led to their break-up, so Adolf (Adi) established Adidas, while Rudi started Puma on the other side of town. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/9/4/888694.jpg)
The British-American Shakespearean war.
![Petty beefs among dignified folks WILLIAM McREADY VS EDWIN FORREST In 1849, Brits thought Macready was the best Shakespearean actor, but Americans had Edwin Forrest. When Macready played Macbeth in New York City, a massive riot broke out, and at least 22 people were killed. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/8/6/888686.jpg)
John Jackson/Wiki Commons,
Mathew Benjamin Brady/Wiki Commons
The political beef that just keeps giving.
![Petty beefs among dignified folks LIZ CHENEY YS TED CRUZ During their ongoing feud, he accused her of having Trump Derangement Syndrome (whatever that is). She suggested he wasn't a real man, and he said she'd make a good Democrat (ooh, burn!). She slammed him for pandering to secessionist wing nuts. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/8/5/888685.jpg)
U.S. House Office of Photography/Wiki Commons,
U.S. Senate Photographic Studio/Wiki Commons
In politics, you can’t be a doormat.
![Petty beefs among dignified folks GEORGE BUSH YS SADDAM HUSSEIN In 1991, Saddam installed a mosaic of Bush's face in the floor of the Al Rashid for visitors to walk on. When G.W.B defeated Saddam in '03, he replaced his father's face with Saddam's, so soldiers and citizens could wipe their feet on him. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/8/7/888687.jpg)
These prominent paleontologists had bones to pick.
![Petty beefs among dignified folks OTHNIEL MARSH VS EDWARD COPE Together, these paleontologists discovered Triceratops and Stegosaurus, but fossil disputes caused a 30-plus- year feud known as the Bone Wars. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/8/9/888689.jpg)
Library of Congress/Wiki Commons,
Frederick Gutekunst/Wiki Commons,
Allie_Caulfield/Wiki Commons
Utah’s Governor got elementary school flashbacks.
![Petty beefs among dignified folks GOVERNOR COX VS HIS OWN NAME Utah governor Spencer Cox received an angry letter stating, when people say your surname it sounds like the word c*ck. It's obscene! They called for a protest until you change your heinous surname to something less offensive. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/9/6/888696.jpg)