Another week and another Google Alert. I opened one recently that talked about celebrities who were bullied growing up. Also, saw information on the recent book written by Miley Cyrus entitled Miles to Go where bullies locked her in a bathroom for over an hour and she thought nobody would ever come and save her. Jessica Simpson mentioned having eggs thrown at her house and toilet papered. Others like Tom Cruise and Taylor Swift also shared memories of being at the hands of these little criminals in training during childhood. Fame has entered their lives and sadly, I do not believe any bullying has stopped. Its grown worse if you ask me.
The lives of celebrities are under a microscope. The public cannot get enough of them. Fans sometimes do not know when to leave them alone. Society has taught us to worship these people and as a result, we expect them to always be nice, giving and live up to the pedestals we put them on. If they have a bad day, forget to sign an autograph or walk out of the house with a shirt that does not settle with fans or others, they are sure to see it plastered all over the internet and be one of the top searches in a search engine. I live in Los Angeles and I have seen the paparazzi chase these people with cameras and cars. There is no privacy in their lives and that life, liberty and pursuit of happiness goes out the window. The public believes that since they are who they are, they must share every aspect of their lives with the rest of us. In other words, we expect them to live as they do because of who they are.
I have to just say it and that is celebrities live their lives being bullied. They are stalked, harassed, slandered, pressured by their peers and are expected to live perfect lives. One step over the line and they are crucified. They have no rights and cannot even throw out the trash without people going through it. Society feels that not only are they expected to be perfect but when they do fail or something bad happens, everyone cannot wait to get their hands on the magazines, tabloids and other fodder. If you ask me, it’s a wonder they can keep their sanity as living under a microscope can be really hard. Sure, they have money but is it really worth all of this? Humans are not wired to exist like this and no wonder many spiral out of control.
Celebrities are people like the rest of us. It just happens that their work is in the public eye whether it be television or radio. In a lot of ways they are like the rest of us. Some have families to support with children to raise. Others use that money to pay the high taxes they accumulate. Some are not even asked to be celebrities as they are born into this lifestyle. Most importantly, they are not superhuman and are fallible like the rest of us. Celebrity Worship Syndrome is a serious problem and we need to stop bullying them and allow them to live that life, liberty and pursuit of happiness like the rest of us. Put yourselves in their shoes for a minute. How would you feel if you had to leave your home incognito everyday? Getting daily threats in the mail and having to protect your children from kidnapping possibilities? Watch everything you do in public or always running away from paparazzi? You could not even drive to Burger King for a Whopper without someone finding out! Have your friends sell you out for money or you get blackmailed? Something to certainly think about in all of this. Is it really necessary? Can’t we just let them live and let live?
6 users commented in " Celebrities are Abused by their Peers "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI agree 100% – the celebrities are human & the media & papps & public have no mercy – they can’t wait for one little misstep & they crucify these celebrities as if in some way their imperfections make the public feel better about themselves. and as for their security, I sometimes worry about the safety of these young stars like Miley, with all the papps & media circus. If these stars have secirty people I think it is safer for them.
Hi C, many do have security teams but they get expensive and this still does not completely stop these occurances from happening. Its a stressful life and really, not all glamourous that many think it is.
Very well put. Thank you for speaking up. During the years I worked as security in the entertainment industry I unfortunately saw the harassment of the paparazzi toward my celebrity clients very up close and personal. I became so disgusted with them that I started a reform movement to do something about them – http://www.paparazzi-reform.org. It is like the Wild West out there and the pendulum has swung too far in favor of the paps. It is time for some reform before someone else dies.
You were absolutely right in what you said. Too often the paparazzi are out of control. The people who act and perform as a profession that they take seriously I feel sorry for them because they can’t take a step outside their homes with being harassed. The paparazzi have gotten their stalking down to a science so that they know how to walk the fine line between what they can do legally without getting in trouble. I don’t support them by buying any of the celebrity magazines because the longer people continue to buy them they are enabling this behavior. That being said the celebrities who constantly put themselves in the spotlight so people won’t forget them (Paris Hilton, the Kardashians etc) I don’t feel sorry for them because they are so desperate to be seen in public that they will do anything for attention. For those that are genuine performers then I hope that eventually they will be given a chance to live their lives freely without the harassment of the paparazzi.
Hi Elizabeth,
great post. Thank you.
It’s one thing to be bullied when you’re a kid.
It’s totally different when you’re a celebrity bullied by the paparazzi. On second thought, you’re right; it’s not different. There have to be boundaries even around celebrities.
Best wishes,
Ben
Thanks Paparazzi Reform and good to talk to you! What you are doing is awesome!
Shannon, I absolutely agree. I don’t buy that stuff either for some of those same reasons. True, some do want attention and put themselves in the line of the paps but some are like you said……working actors who are there to fufill a passion. They don’t ask for this and its sad they have to put up with this.
Ben, nope, no difference whatsoever. Its a sad thing…..
Have a great weekend!
Leave A Reply