Celebrities and their Right to Privacy
A few days ago, Catherine Middleton, the Princess of Wales, made a public announcement on social media. Due to the rampant speculation over her absence and health condition, not to mention the conspiracy theories, she decided to speak up.
What she had to say was not positive. With all the grace she's earned and learned from her position, Catherine shared her diagnosis and prognosis with all of us.
It's unbelievable how the good-intentioned mob forced this woman to share something so private with the rest of the world. She is a public figure, to be sure, but no one gave any thought to how she, her family and her children could possibly feel.
The royals did it right, in my opinion. They took the time to digest the news and to deal with it as a family in privacy. More importantly, they took advantage of the opportunity to explain the issue to their children in a way they could understand - without all the noise and demands from the public they serve. The timing was impeccable. After publishing the announcement, they could retreat in solitude with their children the next day.
Now, I have no idea if the Waleses allow their children to have iPads, or to watch YouTube. I hope that if they see any news about their mother's announcement, that they are proud of the way she handled herself. She alleviated the concerns of the people who are genuinely worried about her well-being and stopped the trolls by being honest and genuine.
We all could take a lesson in grace, genuineness and poise, from the Princess of Wales.
The bigger question is though - Where do we draw the line between celebrities and their private lives?
Celebrities work in the public eye. Their professional lives are played out in the public arena, and we all benefit from the product of that work. But their jobs should be treated much like any other profession - despite their audience being magnified on a more global scale.
Traditionally, celebrities could only be seen through our televisions, movie theaters, and other modes of marketing media. Today's more modern world has transformed the definition of celebrity. YouTubers, social media influencers, and everyone else who has an online platform have become celebrities in their own right. They share their lives with us, and we can view them through the distance and anonymity of our screens.
Lately, there has been a movement by several celebrities to protect their children from the aftereffects of their fame. It's true that these children did not ask for their privacy to be invaded. They do not work in movies nor do they choose to promote themselves via a worldwide platform. They're merely celebrities by association - due to the circumstances of their births. The movement seems to be gaining traction, and for the most part, the media has respected it.
What of the "adoring public?" They seem to be the ones salivating for more information. Who are pushing to extend the boundaries further... Where do they draw the line?
The irony is, the masses who crave information from their favorite celebrities, would be the last people to willingly do the same.
The Evolving Relationship between Celebrities and Their Fans
AT ITS CORE... There are deeper issues at play.
Far from simple curiosity, the more appalling issue is the entitlement. Fans' entitlement to celebrities' privacy is reaching a fevered frenzy. And we all got used to reading and hearing about it so much that it no longer fazes us.
After the pandemic, celebrities have realized the importance of self-care, much like the rest of us. They are no longer as willing to pander to fan demands as they used to be in the past. They've learned to keep some aspects of their lives away from the judging eyes of the public.
Unfortunately, in some instances, it backfires into their faces. The more celebrities hide, the more people look for them. With the power of the internet, there is no hiding. (Cue the issue with the Princess of Wales.)
Perhaps it's because the masses can't separate the celebrity from the product of their art. Their brand. They feel they have a direct impact on a celebrities' success, and that they are then entitled to it.
Fame has always been determined by popularity. For a long time, celebrities have felt the pressure to pander to their fans in order to stay on top. But now, a certain balance is called for. And social media platforms may be the perfect solution.
Multiple celebrities now use various forms of social media - They conduct livestreams, publicize their concert tours, promote new albums, etc. and share as much of their private lives as their comfortable with online. They can make their accounts public or private and choose just how much detail to divulge.
With social media, celebrities can build relationships, strengthen connections and create more personal content that resonates with their followers. This is the reason even the royals have learned to use social media into their PR campaigns. It made Instagram the perfect avenue to make Catherine's announcement.
