As Micky Dolenz, the only surviving member of The Monkees, sues law enforcement for access to any files the FBI may have on them, it would seem a crime not to look at some of the others. pop culture figures the FBI has examined. over the years.
The Monkees were investigated by the FBI for alleged anti-Vietnam War activities in 1967 related to a concert at which they flashed images and messages to protest the conflict, according to the complaint filed by Dolenz.
Other stars who also had files on them related to politics include the late singer John Denver (whose appearance at an anti-war rally in 1971 associated with drug use he documented in his 1994 autobiography “Take Me Home: An Autobiography”, put on the FBI’s radar), famous deaf-blind activist Helen Keller (who was a socialist, considered dangerous in the early 20th century) and baseball legend Jackie Robinson (whose file contains information about his civil rights work and suspects that he may have had ties to a communist organization).
Iconic actress Marilyn Monroe had a file, partly due to one of her husbands. The FBI suspects playwright and screenwriter Arthur Miller, who was married to Monroe from 1956 to 1961, of being a communist.
The late rappers Christopher “Biggie Smalls” Wallace, also known as “The Nototrious BIG”, Tupac Shakur, and Russell Tyrone Jones aka “Ol’ Dirty Bastard” of the Wu Tang Clan all had files on them as well.
Apple founder Steve Jobs secured a brief as he was considered for a possible appointment to the President’s Export Council in 1991.
The FBI has collected files on certain celebrities not because of their activities, but because of the actions of others.
The file on the late singer Whitney Houston includes information about an alleged extortion attempt against her and intense attention from fans, which included several letters and tapes sent to her.
The late Princess Diana had two brief FBI files, one relating to threats against her and Prince Charles when they were married and the other relating to security issues related to her 1989 trip to the United States.
There is a disclaimer in the FBI’s Freedom of Information Act Library, which contains some of the files related to pop culture figures. According to the disclaimer, “information found in these files may no longer reflect the current beliefs, positions, opinions, or policies held by the FBI.”