In the history of the Nobel Prize, there have been several controversial and surprising award decisions that have caused turmoil and outrage among the recipients and the public. From unknown winners to scandalous behavior, the Nobel Prize has seen it all.
In 1901, the French poet Sully Prudhomme was awarded the first Nobel Prize in Literature, causing 42 Swedish cultural figures to rage and attack the Swedish Academy because they believed the award should have gone to the more innovative Russian writer Lev Tolstoy instead.
The controversy continued in 1908 when the German philosopher Rudolf Eucken received the literature prize, even though no one had heard of him. Later, it was revealed that the prize was a compromise between rival factions within the Swedish Academy.
In 1911, Marie Curie was awarded a chemistry prize despite being involved in a scandal after it was discovered that she had been flirting with a married colleague. The Academy of Sciences urged her to stay home, but she defied them and made a smash hit at the award ceremony.
The Nobel Prize also drew criticism in 1919 when the chemistry prize was given to Fritz Haber, who had developed combat gases during World War I, causing outrage among the allied countries.
The controversial history of the Nobel Prize continued in the following years, with winners declining awards, political disputes, and even accusations of rape against a cultural profile associated with the Swedish Academy.
In 2023, the Royal Academy of Sciences faced embarrassment when the news of the chemistry prize winners was accidentally leaked four hours before the formal press conference in Stockholm. Stressed members and press spokespersons tried to contain the situation, but the premature release of the announcement led to a chaotic press conference.
The Nobel Prize has a long and storied history, and these controversies are just a few examples of the drama that has surrounded the prestigious awards over the years.