Scandal

A scandal is a widely publicized allegation or set of allegations that damages (or tries to damage) the reputation of an institution, individual or creed.[dubious – discuss] A scandal may be based on true or false allegations or a mixture of both.
From the Greek σκάνδαλον (skandalon), a trap or stumbling-block,] the metaphor is that wrong conduct can impede or "trip" people's trust or faith.