For generations, perspectives on celebrity motives have sparked heated debate. Some fans build one-sided, parasocial relationships with their idols, while others believe these stars manipulate the audience for their own benefit.
I understand the desire to praise an artist or actor for their work or quirky on-screen personality, but ultimately, celebrities display an artificial brand that we should avoid building deep attachments to. I reaped my own share of consequences in faithfully following the now-retired television host and actress, Ellen DeGeneres.
DeGeneres was once regarded as a positive voice in the midst of Hollywood chaos. When I encountered her portrayal of the clueless but kind “Finding Nemo” character Dory, I associated her with those same endearing attributes.
However, 2022 began with allegations against DeGeneres, accusing her of racism, mistreatment and sexual harassment, according to People. Looking back, the warning signs were there, but she was a person I looked up to throughout my entire childhood, and this incident particularly left me in shock and disappointment.
My reaction exemplifies why fans should retain a feeling of neutrality toward celebrities. Celebrities will undergo a necessary amount of PR training to sell a beneficial facade, no matter how untrue or misleading it is, according to Leverage With Media.
They will choose the most interesting aspects of their character and capitalize on that, posing as a brand rather than being authentically themselves. It is unnerving how we can ignore questionable qualities, especially when we are attached to a celebrity, and it is important to notice this toxic pattern.
Whether it is D4vd’s alleged involvement in the murder of his underage girlfriend or James Corden yelling at a waiter, it’s inevitable that celebrities will be involved in some form of trouble. For me, adjusting my idolizing tendencies and distancing myself from public figures is a practical outlook that minimizes the internal drama I feel when a celebrity is caught in controversy.
Especially with the rise of social media, people are more susceptible to celebrity obsession, and extreme attachment is normalized to a high degree, according to the National Library of Medicine. But this pedestal-placing of stars stirs misery and dissatisfaction in fans, especially if a celebrity is revealed to be antagonistic.
Because social media makes it so easy to form attachments with people we do not know, we should limit our engagement with celebrity media and avoid carrying unfair biases. Celebrity worship as a whole is unnecessarily overrated and should be done away with.
