Celebrity culture is not a new phenomenon and has been a part of society as figures of admiration and aspiration for a long time. However, in recent decades with the growth of social media, the level of public interest has reached new heights.
The intense focus on celebrities raises questions about the extent to which society values them and whether this attention is justified. The public holds these figures to such high standards that if one mistake happens or one flaw is shown, they can fall victim to cancel culture.
Some see the parasocial relationships built between themselves and public figures they see on their screens, allowing them to comment, idolise or criticise on their lives and things they do. I think people forget social media only shows a small curated and aestheticised slice of someone’s life and should not all be taken at face value.
For example, the recent separation of singer Sabrina Carpenter and actor Barry Keoghan, has left the internet criticising information that has not been proven to be true.
The fandom reaction and theories to the break-up, guessing what went wrong, meant criticising Keoghan’s character and private life away from the spotlight. Cheating rumours shortly followed after the couple announced they were ‘taking a break’, and online gossip spiralled saying Barry had been unfaithful after he was seen with another woman in a hotel.
Keoghan deleted social media following a statement posted on Twitter saying:
I can only sit and take so much. My name has been dragged across the internet in ways I usually don't respond too.
https://x.com/BarryKeoghan/status/1865496511708352679 See full quote here.
The toxicity of celebrity culture can be brutal, and anyone with a platform or a following has big targets on their back; falling victim to harassment, criticism and online bullying.
Caring about celebrities too much by sharing opinions on their personal lives away from the spotlight, commenting on their decisions, actions and views is unfair.
It is important to strike a balance between admiring celebrities and also maintaining a realistic perspective of their lives and humanity. The intense scrutiny and judgement of others, regardless of social status and influence, doesn’t benefit anyone.
I hope fostering a more empathetic and understanding approach to celebrity culture and recognising the boundaries between public persona and private life can help improve the toxic landscapes social media can have.