Kudos to us for raising the bar for celebrities

 Kudos to us for raising the bar for celebrities

As we transcend into an era where fame directly equates to revenue, it comes as no surprise people are trying their best to garner clout. It has gotten more common than ever for publicity to be categorized as a form of valued commodity, and there’s nothing wrong with that; to each his own. However, it does get problematic when one’s pursuit of fame ranks higher on their list of priorities and supersedes their consideration towards the welfare of others. This predicament is further exacerbated when celebrities - those who are regarded as role models and whose actions get wide media coverage - are the ones at fault. Often vastly set apart from the general public, some celebrities may feel as if they are entitled, and frankly speaking, it is hard not to feel that way when they are placed on a pedestal equipped with perks most of us could never access. The benefits of their glorification, along with their cult following, act as the foundation for which their sense of superiority is laid upon.

 

Racist remarks, cultural appropriation, and senseless behaviour; our feed keeps getting inundated with allegations of multiple celebrities committing offences along these lines. They cudgel their brains in an attempt to brainstorm content ideas that have highest potential in gaining plentiful views or likes. Some even go as far as adopting the ‘more absurd, more profitable’ game plan. This strategy only gets troublesome when the absurdity infringes upon law or the well-being of others. There have been cases of celebrities pulling off insensitive so-called “pranks” that reflect little regard for the feelings of people aside from themselves. Furthermore, there were reports of a handful of them appropriating other cultures simply for the sake of profit or style.

 

Such actions do not go unnoticed, rightfully so. As of lately, the frequency of celebrities getting called out for their wrongdoings has gone upwards and brought upon their inevitable downfall. The masses- predominantly millennials and gen z - have worked hand in hand to enforce the cancel culture that holds celebrities accountable for their misconducts. Following the uproar, which usually takes place on social media, solid actions are taken against celebrities to penalize them. From authority intervention to plummeting career to demise of their staunch fanbase, repercussion appears in many forms should they remain oblivious to their misdeeds. Even so, it’s important to bear in mind that celebrities are mere humans, and us humans are fallible; we are prone to making mistakes. That being said, it is imperative that in order to improve one’s character, we must educate as opposed to revile. Ensure they understand the faults in their acts to prevent the same problem from reoccurring.  

 

All in all, several noteworthy shifts can be observed when celebrities are deprived of too much leeway. First, it acts as a reminder that celebrities are not exempted from practicing the basics of courtesy. They are not to be given special tolerance nor advantage over any regular people for their offensive actions. This forces them to be more mindful and less impervious of what their actions entail. Next, we will set a more stringent criteria for celebrities to fulfil which ultimately results in them being more decent. As they are public icons, it is extra crucial for them to normalise decency and instil it within the society. Finally, the opportunity widens for other deserving celebrities. Via this method of filtering out problematic influencers, we are paving way for those worthy of being exalted to enjoy the spotlight they’re due. Bottom line is kudos for initiating a change, for it forms a culture with emphasis on morality and justice.

Disclaimer: I’m aware that not all celebrities behave negatively all the time, and some are humble, kind souls. Therefore, what I wrote only applies for those who do- celebrities and non-celebrities alike.

Written by: Ereenya (StudentInk writer)💗