Photo of Brittney Spears via Wikimedia Commons
The overstated importance of entertainers
By Jason GokHo Ing, Columnist
Nobody can deny the importance of celebrities within our everyday lives. These individuals are present throughout the movies we consume, sports we commemorate, and music we listen to. With such an enormous impact on shaping the minds of each generation, the idea of meeting these individuals face-to-face would seem like a dream come true to many young adults.
It is this excitement to meet performers like Jennifer Lawrence or Justin Timberlake that cause many fans to cross the line by entering their property without being invitation, non-consensual touching, and even stealing from their garbage.
One victim of this intrusive behaviour is the platinum-selling music sensation Britney Spears. The “Princess of Pop” stated that she once encountered a fan who would send her unsolicited love letters, emails, and pictures of himself daily. The enamoured man took it one step further by appearing outside the singer’s home, as well as her parents’. The situation became so dire that a restraining order had to be placed on this intrusive individual. In retaliation, the disgruntled man tried to sue Britney after her bodyguards confronted him outside her home. He stated that he experienced “extreme emotional stress” after one of bodyguards pointed a gun at him to force the man off Spears’ property.
Another instance that highlights the preposterous fan hysteria is the trend of auctioning off used celebrity items on the internet. Proving his legendary status as a teen heartthrob, Justin Bieber managed to sell a lock of his hair for more than $40,000 within a few short days. Additionally, movie star Scarlett Johansson was able to find a fan willing to pay $5,300 for a tissue she blew her nose into. Although the proceeds from these sales were donated to charities, the fact that someone was willing to pay for these entertainers’ garbage demonstrates the desperation of some fans.
While there is nothing wrong with enjoying content created by talented people, the length to which some fans are willing to go to become closer to their idols conveys the hysteria we have for these performers. Many are determined to bond with these celebrities in any way they can, whether that involves purchasing their memorabilia or straight up stalking them. It appears that some see these celebrities as godlike figures, instead of just as people trying to make a living for themselves.
Despite the media’s glorification of these prominent individuals, one must remember that these performers are human too. They all have their own insecurities and flaws, and they value privacy just as much as you and I do.
