In the Spotlight
by Donna Cooper, Jr. Copywriter
In today’s celebrity obsessed society, the spotlight is pointed almost constantly, on what Hollywood is up to. In some cases, it seems a blatant invasion of privacy; say when Brad Pitt is taking his 6-year old son, Maddox to get a hot dog in New York City, where he is quickly surrounded by a mob of paparazzi and other passers-by hoping to get a snapshot. The poor guy can’t even enjoy a hot dog with his kid with out being placed under the intense bulb that is America’s true favorite pastime.
While it is a shame that their private lives are so relentlessly scrutinized by the media and their adoring (obsessed) fans, they do have a certain amount of responsibility to those people. I think the phrase “lead by example” is appropriate in these situations. Most celebrities, whether they be politicians, actors, actresses, musicians, athletes, or famous for no good reason, have a responsibility to those people who put them there. If we didn’t go watch their movies, go to their games, or vote for them, they wouldn’t be there, would they?
Being in that type of a position, where people listen to your every word and wait for you to make your next move (or mistake), you would think that some of those high profile people would act with a little more dignity and integrity. For example, Michael Vick is currently Public Enemy #1 at the ASPCA and PETA and many other animal rights groups across the nation, if not the world. What on earth possessed Vick who makes millions upon MILLIONS of dollars a year to catch a ball and run to get involved with torturing and killing innocent dogs?
Then there’s Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and Britney Spears and the list goes on. These “women” are the heroes of so many little girls. They watch all their movies, buy all their CD’s, cut out any magazine that has their face in it and just simply idolize them. You’d think, knowing this that they would try to set a better example for these girls to follow. Who wants their daughter’s hero to be a self-obsessed, drug-addicted, unstable train wreck? Now, Paris and Nicole might actually be growing up a little after their “wake-up call”, but what is to be said for Lindsay, Britney, and the many train wrecks that will undoubtedly follow in their footsteps?
What celebrities need is a face lift. They need to start acting like Brad Pitt, who when he’s not making a movie or spending time with his family, he is out there trying to make a difference in the world. He realizes that in his position he is capable of impacting millions of people with his influence. And even if you don’t want to chance the world, at least set a good example. Take a few pages out of Reese Witherspoon’s book. Even in the midst of a divorce that the tabloids tried to write “SCANDAL” all over, she managed to keep her cool and remain as dignified as ever.
Being in the spotlight can’t be an easy job. But, in today’s society of celebustalkers (people who follow every move Hollywood makes) one should at least try to make the best of it.
August 31st, 2007 at 8:29 am
As long as the people buy the gossip rags, there will be plenty to write about. Not being in their shoes I don’t know how it feels to never have time to myself, but I do know I do enjoy going places and not ahving anyone bother me. It’s a shame people can’t let them live their lives without the constant scrutiny. I feel for people like Princess Di, who lost her life to the over pursuit of the paparazzi.
August 31st, 2007 at 9:34 am
Here’s the flip side…maybe it is not the stars’ responsibility to society to be role models but to be trainwrecks for our entertainment. Just playing devil’s advocate, but if you think about it, some of the most beloved stars in Hollywood and in the music industry have been absolutly certifiable!