THE JOYS AND PITFALLS OF CELEBRITY

THE JOYS AND PITFALLS OF CELEBRITY

As human beings we are constantly aware of the status of others and having just experienced the excitement or disappointments of the Oscars, this might be an appropriate time to ponder on the outcome of fame. There are great advantages of being famous such as the wealth that goes hand in hand with this status, less stress regarding financial commitments, a lifestyle that is upheld by an army of assistants like child carers, gardeners, housekeepers, cooks and chauffeurs.

As celebrities holiday in exotic destinations, drive luxury cars and live in mansions their lives appear to others as absolute bliss.
But problems arise in paradise as fame is fickle, as are fans and in a heartbeat a continual stream of newcomers such as actors, sporting achievers and business moguls are suddenly in the lime light.

Fame is not easy to bear. There is little privacy with the paparazzi ever spying for not only glamorous but ludicrous postures creating a media frenzy and no doubt boosting the tabloid sales.

Many celebrities have insecure lives, are often held up for ransom resulting in the employment of body guards and have little privacy.
When the world is obsessed with the details of ones makeup, wardrobe, ones children and love affairs, is living in luxurious mansions ultimately worth it?
In some cases the pressures can be so enormous that suicides result.

And yet the intrigue of celebrity never wanes. Could this obsession temporarily “take off centre stage” the woes of the world but at the same time hopefully not raise false expectations with the youth who are vulnerable?

However ridiculous it may seem, 51% of 18-25 year olds who were interviewed imagine that they will be famous one day. it comes as no surprise that kids at an incredible young age are becoming “celebs”.

In conclusion, is there not ample status in living a life that is charitable and compassionate and is it not inaccurate to say that every human being will at some stage of his or her life have “their hour of glory” !