Casting Stones - Our Obsession with the Rise and Fall of Celebrities by Samara Leigh
I stand in line at an all night superstore on a Sunday night scanning the magazine covers. Most of them feature photos of Britney Spears in varying degrees of madness. Each cover screams headlines like, “Insane!” and “Time Bomb!” while promising ‘breaking news.’ The publishers seem gleeful about their “obligation” to document the once beloved pop star’s descent into madness. And magazines fly off the shelves.
“Our culture is obsessed with the meteoric rise and subsequent crash of celebrities, politicians and athletes.”
Another magazine cover displays a series of saggy tushes, bulging bellies, and cellulite-dimpled thighs. It promises to reveal their owners. The magazine tags the ‘thick, thunder-thighed’ celebs as worthy of shame. Their only real crime was trying to enjoy a day at the beach with their kids in peace, unphotographed, and without being judged. Fat chance.
Our culture is obsessed with the meteoric rise and subsequent crash of celebrities, politicians and athletes. We follow the lives and antics of celebutantes, fashionistas and bad boys whose lives teeter dangerously on the brink of destruction. We hold our collective breath. Hoping that they won’t overdose, get arrested, end up in rehab again or commit suicide. Yet all the time, we are predicting that they will.
A few months ago I was bemoaning how horrid the paparazzi can be as I tucked an issue of OK! Magazine under my arm and settled into the couch to watch an episode of Entertainment Tonight. After all, it wasn’t like I was reading Star Magazine and watching one of those celebrity stalker shows. The celebrities on the cover of my magazine actually posed for those pictures, for crying out loud.
Then I paid closer attention to the photos inside the magazine. The pages were filled with stars donning baseball caps pulled down snugly on their heads and large, dark sunglasses designed to hide their faces. They weren’t undercover or engaged in an illegal activity. They were ducking out of the house to pick up their laundry and a pint of ice cream. Some even committed the unforgivable crime of wearing sweat pants and no make-up.
These were people who seriously didn’t want to be seen. When they were on stage or on the red carpet, yes. But definitely not while picking up a pregnancy test or selecting a casket for their recently deceased son.
Pictures with captions like “Celeb Mom snuggles with baby” were really photos of mothers trying desperately to shield their infants from the glare of flashbulbs.
Finally, it hit me. We are a society of voyeuristic stalkers with an insatiable appetite for the latest dish on the rich and famous. And I am one of them.
I could envision myself sitting in a circle during a 12-step meeting for the ‘celebsessed.’
“Hi. I’m Samara and I am obsessed with all things celebrity.”
“Hi Samara!”
It was enough to make me toss my magazine and swear off them. Still, I clung to my “legitimate” celebrity news shows. Until ET drove me over the edge with ‘All Things Anna Nicole.’ I couldn’t stomach anymore.
“Where were the stories about celebrities and athletes that were giving back to the community, mentoring children, or taking their responsibilities as a role model seriously?”
Hadn’t we seen enough of drugged out, drunken, hamburger-eating, head-shaving, rehab-revisiting celebrities? Where were the stories about celebrities and athletes that were giving back to the community, mentoring children, or taking their responsibilities as a role model seriously? Why were they just quick sound bytes while the stories of misery and addiction were three-part interviews?
Our obsession with the scandals of the rich and famous says a lot about us individually and as a culture. It made me re-examine my view of what is newsworthy. I’ll admit that I’ve slammed a celeb or two in the past (and no it probably won’t be the last time). But, I am a lot less eager to pull the trigger on judgment.
I considered just how many embarrassing photos and questionable quotes someone might get if they followed me around all day. Would I want someone judging every single decision or fashion choice I made? Uhhh…. No.
I remind myself that people who live in glass houses should be careful of casting stones. So, instead of passing judgment, I pass on the magazines.
Samara Leigh is a 30-Something Rebel and a Northeast Ohio-based freelance writer, entrepreneur and E-consultant. Her non-fiction and fiction work celebrates the triumphant spirit of women on a journey of self-discovery..
