I remember as a child being glued to the television as a seemingly ordinary young woman with a wondrous smile and a gorgeous dress walked down the aisle and became a real live princess. As she stood and waved from that balcony, little girls around the world had proof that fairy tales could, indeed, come true....
I understand the publicity of this. I understand the world's interest. I don't understand the years of hounding and harassment and abuse that followed the marriage, and subsequent divorce of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
How does anyone stand up to the pressure?
We ridicule the lives of celebrities like Lindsay Lohan, Brittney Spears, or Michael Jackson and fail to realize that we made them what they became. Some say, "It's the price you pay for fame." But why do we feel that because someone sings or acts well enough to have a successful career, that their every moment and action belongs to the public? Especially those who start out so young. Could you imagine never having a normal life? I suppose most teens dream of it in some fashion, but the reality of it? Everyone fucks up on occasion, could you imagine if your biggest fuck-ups had top billing on Extra, Entertainment Tonight, or the grocery store smut racks?
Society is a crazy place. We have iconicized people for being idiots. WTF is that? Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson, Heidi Montag- gorgeous, yes... but do they have ANYTHING past that? You can try to say that Jessica HAD a singing career, but she was a flash in the pan and if it weren't for the fact that she's the worlds most famous moron, we would have never heard from her again.
OCTO-MOM! When the world discovered what she'd done, we covered our mouths in horror and pointed our fingers with indignation...... then offered her a television show and invited her to be on Oprah and American Idol. Way to show her!
Why are Jon and Kate famous? Cuz they had a litter of children. Then he cheated and they got even MORE famous.
I feel sorry for Tiger and Elin Woods. He fucked up. I don't condone it. But it's none of my business.
John Edwards has a love child? Other than the amazement that he got that high in politics before it came out, I'm not interested.
Does the world care if Oprah really is a lesbian? Whether it's true or not, who cares?
Is it breaking news that Charlie Sheen got caught with an escort, or drugs, or assaulted someone again? Amy Winehouse? Gary Coleman? Sean Penn hit someone? NO FUCKING WAY!
Lil' Wayne got busted for a gun? Are you kidding me? He was such a nice boy.
The bottom line is. Why do you care? Why is it any of your business? When your neighbor has an affair, do you camp out on their lawn snapping pictures and demanding explanations? Do you jump on the computer and print up fliers of the news and hand it out all over the neighborhood?
If you're interested in the guy across the street, do you go through his garbage in hopes of discovering something interesting about him? Follow him around until you know where he works, where he shops, and where he gets his favorite takeout? No, normal people have laws to protect them from that. Why should celebrities be any different?
Quit feeding the insanity. Stop making celebrities out of every jackass that pauses in the spotlight, and let real celebrities go home from work. Could you imagine if you worked 24 hours a day for the rest of your life?
If we quit giving the smut-mongers and paparazzi an audience then they no longer have a market in which to sling their slop.
It was a Saturday, August 30th, 1997. At 2200, I faded out of the music and went into the ABC News satellite feed. The lead story was one of paralyzing shock and disbelief. Princess Diana run to her death in a Paris tunnel by a swarm of rabid paparazzi and the world's starving need for just one more picture, one more bit of dirt. And I cried.
Have we learned nothing?
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3 comments:
I'm probably as guilty of this as anyone, in a way - I subscribe to People, after all.
I got up in the middle of the night to watch Diana get married. I cried so hard when she died that my husband was a little appalled. I got up in the middle of the night to watch her funeral. I'll never be sorry for any of that. I can't explain why, other than to say that I could utterly relate to thinking you married your prince, then he becomes a frog and tries to take your kids away from you. And ultimately is unsuccessful.
That said, I totally get your point, and I do try to ignore most of the garbage that's out there about "celebrities".
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Sure - being rich would be great. But I would never, ever want to be famous. I have a hard enough time hearing that a friend talked crap about me at a mutual friend's birthday party - I can't imagine dealing with hundreds of thousands of people judging me on a daily basis. It's no wonder celebrity relationships seem so short with the scrutiny, the judgements, and the constant lack of privacy.
Am I the only one who noticed the sudden cessation of shit being said about Michael Jackson? ...it's okay to talk shit about him when he's alive but you can't talk poorly of the dead. I have to wonder how many people -really- believe that he did the things they say he did if they're willing to drop it so quickly. I always remained skeptical because I know things about the world. There are people who will do or say whatever it takes to obtain large amounts of money. Celebrities are quite often emotionally damaged in one way or another and no matter how hard they try to hide it, it can get in the way of their lives. And my favourite - the news will put a twist on anything to get you to watch it.
I'm not saying that I definitely believe that Michael Jackson didn't do anything wrong - but given the state of the world, humanity and the constant desire for wealth and power - I don't believe anything I'm told unless I see some DAMNED good backing to it.
I believe in science, I believe in cold, hard evidence. I don't believe the heresay and sensationalism coming from the news.
Wow, I could have sworn I commented on this and the above post.
I didn't have a problem when you idolized Diana and her fairytale rise to fame, glamour, and changing a small portion of the world. I remember crying during her funeral procession. She was human, had human foibles, and despite all that she bit off in life she rose above most of the base complications of her life and the people around her to show us something more that. And that one voice can make a difference.
Tandy, MJ once had a talent. He squandered it and my faith in him through his arrogant existance and life style. He didn't think normally, but whether he did what they say? I don't know and doubt more than I believe.
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