Entertainers not Representatives...

A commentary I wrote earlier this year....






Imagine you’re walking down the street after just rolling out of bed in your plaid pajama bottoms and a baggy torn sweatshirt. You figure you’re just walking to the coffee shop, who’s going to bother you? Then out of nowhere pops out a dozen paparazzi cameras, followed by tomorrows headline about a scrubbed out low-life walking around in public wearing everything mentioned in Baltimore Style’s “Fashion 101” don’t list. That sounds fair, right? After all that is what we do to celebrities in the media today. Sometimes I am brought to think, how far will the media go for a story, and do we judge our idols a little too closely?
Let’s take a look at today’s most notorious pop star Britney Spears. She has been in the spotlight since about age 16. When she first became famous, we all saw her as a sweet and innocent teenager, but somehow we expected her to stay that way. When we were informed that the once glowing blonde pop star had admitted herself to rehabilitation and shaved her head, the public went into shock and awe. Yes, it is a very dramatic and upsetting matter to deal with, but is it really our business? A concerned parent could argue that Britney had set a reckless and poor example for her younger audience, but does the youth of our nation really pay that close attention to the behavior of our celebrities or do they just listen to the music. Either way, that is something that can be controlled by the parents.
Essentially, my point is how would you like it if somebody wrote an article or reported on MTV about your psychological problems? For a parent or authoritative figure to use this type of information to shun their children from paying any attention to these celebrities, would just be like a friend of yours or a community member telling their children or relatives not to associate with you because you are emotionally or mentally unwell. I feel that we should sympathize rather than criticize our idols. As New York Times columnist Caryn James put it, it’s easy to feel sorry for the stars because of the “idealized old-Hollywood standard” they are expected to follow. It’s no wonder so many celebrities are emotionally unstable; anyone who has their every flaw pointed out to thousands if not millions of people on a regular basis has reason to feel a little under the weather.
When it comes to government officials and high stature figures in our society it is completely different. Take in consideration the Bill Clinton sex scandal. I’m sure there are many adulterers out there, but they are not leading our country and representing our society everyday of their lives. The president’s job is to represent American’s, celebrities jobs are to entertain. There is a huge difference between the two.
So when you hear about Jamie Lynn Spears or Lindsey Lohan getting “knocked up” at such a young age, I suggest looking at the statistics for our country and see how many other normal teens are in the same position. Maybe it’s not such a sin, and maybe it’s not so uncommon. Celebrities are normal people too. Nobody’s perfect. And if you think about it they are after all, entertainers.