“Stop making stupid people famous.” This post regularly makes the rounds on social media whenever a famous figure does something ridiculous.
Social media helps give exposure to so many amazing people doing incredible work in poverty stricken and war-torn areas – helping people in need and saving lives – but these people will never get the same attention, the same number of followers or the worship that an entertainer does.
Before social media, an appearance by a celebrity or endorsement was always a big part of marketing whether it was on TV, radio or in person.
This is nothing new, the masses have always gathered for an entertainer, whether it was on stage, at a royal court as a poet recited poetry or as an artist stood and drew a portrait.
I have read several works of history on how the jester would often be the most powerful figure in the royal court and could get away with jokes even on the most sensitive of topics. There must be something about the power of those who entertain us.
The latest entertainer to fire up social media is Kim Kardashian who will be here this weekend. Her fans are bound to show up wherever she appears.
She has been making headlines recently for a revealing photo shoot. The amount of time devoted to discussing her body is so ridiculous that it is humorous, and shows that people must have a lot of time on their hands.
I never understood why some fans would yell out “I love you” to a celebrity, or become hysterical and faint. In reality, the celebrity probably couldn’t care less, has done nothing for anyone except themselves, and makes money from their fans.
Celebrities rarely make public appearances just for the sake of it. For the most part they have a film to promote or a product to push. Many who attend fund-raising charity events don’t actually donate any of their own money. Why is that?
It is just a very strange concept and I have noticed that if one poses with celebrities, people still get thrilled. It is almost as if you suddenly became a star, too. You have suddenly become part of this glitz and glamour, even if only for a moment.
I love it when someone says that he or she was “so nice” when they have met that celebrity for a few seconds and somehow now they know this celebrity and they are best friends.
Many studies have been done on this, and one of the factors that help celebrities is the sense of “familiarity” when you see a person on TV a lot, it is as if you fall in love with them because they seem part of your life.
There are some really talented celebrities out there, and those people deserve the fame they get, especially if they use their stardom for good.
I respect those people who endorse great causes and are passionate about them – like Angelina Jolie, for instance, who actually went to the Syrian refugee camps at a time when most Arab and Syrian celebrities didn’t even bother to lend their voice to this mammoth humanitarian crisis.
George Clooney and his wife Amal Alamuddin are said to want to adopt an orphan from a war-torn country like Syria.
I hope that instead they use their leverage to actually set up schools for all these orphans rather than just adopting one and making headlines.
There is no denying the power of celebrities and the widespread worship of them, but what would make it great is if worthy and talented people were honoured instead of silly ones who use lame, provocative and cheesy ways to get famous.
rghazal@thenational.ae
Twitter: @Arabianmau
