Top Unsolved Pop Culture Mysteries That Fascinate Fans

by Jenna GuillaumeBuzzFeedBuzzFeed Contributor

Reddit user Funny-Chef-2060 recently asked people which pop culture mysteries they would solve if they could, and it sent me down some fascinating rabbit holes. Here are some of the most burning mysteries people shared, ranging from minor celeb gossip to actual serious crimes...

1.

"What the hell happened in the elevator when Solange attacked Jay-Z after the Met Gala while Beyoncé just stood there? Would love to see the audio leak." —Funny-Chef-2060

Neilson Barnard / Getty Images, Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

The context: After the 2014 Met Gala, surveillance footage was leaked from inside an elevator that showed Solange physically attacking her brother-in-law, Jay-Z. There's long been speculation that the incident was triggered by Jay-Z's alleged infidelity, but nothing has ever been explicitly confirmed.

Solange, Beyoncé and Jay-Z did release a joint statement afterwards that said, "There has been a great deal of speculation about what triggered the unfortunate incident. But the most important thing is that our family has worked through it."

"Jay and Solange each assume their share of responsibility for what has occurred," the statement went on. "They both acknowledge their role in this private matter that has played out in the public. They both have apologized to each other and we have moved forward as a united family."

Later, Beyoncé seemingly referenced the incident in her songs "Flawless" ("Of course sometimes shit go down when it’s a billion dollars on an elevator"), "Cozy" ("Might I suggest you don't fuck with my sis"), and perhaps even "Daughter" ("I sashayed my dress / Did my best impression of a damsel in distress"). Meanwhile, Jay-Z rapped on his song "Kill Jay-Z": "You egged Solange on / Knowin' all along, all you had to say you was wrong."

2.

"The full details of how Katie Holmes left Tom Cruise." —harrakin

Wireimage House / Getty Images, Taylor Hill / Getty Images

The context: Katie Holmes divorced Tom Cruise after six years of marriage, and it led to a lot of rumors and theories — especially in the way the aftermath seemingly contrasted with the experience of Tom's previous wife, Nicole Kidman.

Notably, despite obtaining joint custody, Nicole was seemingly cut off from her kids with Tom, Isabella and Connor, who were raised by Tom as Scientologists.

Meanwhile, Katie seemingly divorced Tom in part to get their daughter Suri away from Scientology, with Katie managing to get full custody and securing a divorce settlement in just 11 days. How exactly she managed to do this has caused a lot of speculation, with rumors that it involved a full-on stealth mission aided by Katie's attorney father, Martin Joseph Holmes, including Katie allegedly obtaining a new, secret phone to contact lawyers, hiring three legal teams in three different states, and renting out a secret apartment. There were also elaborate theories that Adam Sandler cast Katie in Jack and Jill to give her time and space to make the divorce happen.

3.

"Mindy Kaling’s children’s father." —raisedonaporch

Frederic J. Brown / Getty Images, @mindykaling / Via instagram.com

The context: Mindy Kaling has three kids she's raising as a single parent, whose paternity she has never revealed — although many speculate that B.J. Novak is the father.

Mindy and B.J. dated in the 2000s and have maintained a close friendship since — B.J. is even the godparent of Mindy's kids. In 2019, Mindy said that their relationship "isn't the thing that people sometimes think it is," adding that B.J. is "really part of my family now." In 2022, Mindy said the rumors that B.J. is her kids' father "don't bother" her and "[haven't] affected my kids or B.J. ... If that's what is going to be titillating to people, I'll take it." In 2025, Mindy described B.J. as an "important and integral" part of her family, sharing that her daughter calls him "Uncle Fofo."

4.

"January Jones's baby daddy." —SingIntoMyMouth91

Christopher Polk / Getty Images, Michael Tullberg / Getty Images

The context: January Jones is another single celebrity mother who has kept the paternity of her child private, saying "That's my son's business. It's not the public's business." Of course, that hasn't stopped a lot of speculation about who her son's father is.

People have theorized that it might be Jason Sudeikis, whom January dated the year before she had her son; her X-Men: First Class co-star, Michael Fassbender; or director Matthew Vaughn. Some people also speculate that Bobby Flay might be the father, or actor Xander Berkeley.

5.

"What really went on between Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny during the original X-Files run, and the time between the show ending and the second movie. Situationship final boss." —softrockstarr

Vinnie Zuffante / Getty Images, Acey Harper / Getty Images

The context: Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny's incredible chemistry was one of the things that made The X-Files so popular, and it also