CELEBRITY, by Bratprince

I'm really on the fence about "celebrity" these days.  I can't really decide if I like the way "it was" when stars were protected by the studio system (Cary Grant may or may not have been bisexual, Tyrone Powers was DEFINITELY bisexual and Rock Hudson was GAY) but people didn't know it.  Stars were defended and handled by a system that protected them from too much public knowledge..and what we got was carefully planned, written and produced. 

Most of America was not aware that Franklin Delano Roosevelt was confined to a wheelchair during the almost twelve years of his presidency.  JFK screwed around constantly...as did LBJ and a few other presidents.  We never knew until much later.  Presidential personal life was strictly off-limits with the press, by their own standards.

Today we know virtually everything about celebrities unless they are complete recluses.  Jody Foster stayed hidden for many years, but even she was "outed" eventually.

In an era of cell cameras and the paparazzi nothing is sacred.  To be a star you must literally give your entire life and privacy to the public.

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton ushered in this era of media frenzy.  Their quite torrid love affair (Liz and Dick were condemned by the Pope) caused the word 'paparazzi' to come into existence.

In addition, it seems as if everyone that is willing to expose themselves to public adoration and scorn can become a celebrity.  For a season at least, those dreadful people that participate in things like "Big Brother" become famous regardless of the fact that they have no talent, no skills and probably all worked at convenience stores before the show.   Mercifully they completely disappear after their season. We deal with people like Paris Hilton who purposely released a sex tape (as others had done before) just to increase her fame regardless of the fact that she is nothing but a dumb heiress with ZERO abilities aside from the coordination to walk down a red carpet and get paid to drink at bars.

We tell the 'American Idols" and the "Top Models' that by exposing themselves for our pleasure they will be famous. They usually don't make it. The last I saw of American Idol winner Fantasia, she was acting clueless on "RuPaul's Drag Race"...a fun show no doubt...but not exactly what I think an American Idol expects. Even RuPaul promises fame to aspiring drag queens that disappear the minute they win his show.

We have the new mega-stars such as Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Beyonce, etc. that make news.  I must admit...when I see gossip about them I am a bit intrigued...and I sometimes post it.  I just posted about Gaga throwing "outed" Idol, Adam Lambert from her birthday party for being drunk and disorderly.  At the same time we also know that Gaga does coke, pot and drinks quite a bit of whiskey herself.  I hate that I am strangely attracted to such news. 

I understand the attraction however.  It's like watching a train wreck.  You know there is going to be destruction, but you can't look away.

I got really tired of the Bill Clinton/trash girl, Lewinsky scandal but watched it to its conclusion.  Like the rest of America, I paid attention to O.J.'s trial (glad you are in jail now by the way O.J.).  Charlie Sheen was simply unavoidable as he crashed and burned (I hope he goes away now.  I'm really sick of him and I always hated that show he was on).

So which is better?  The secrecy and falsehood of the old world or the IN YOUR FACE ALL DAY EVERY DAY celebrity news we now live with?  I'm not sure.  I sort of wish we could get a bit of both.  I don't give a flying f*** about Jennifer Aniston's new hair style.  I really don't care if Brangelina adopt another 1,000 children (I already think they have too many to be good parents).  Still, I think it is a good thing when celebrities can be honest and open.  The lies that the old system perpetuated...Rock Hudson getting married to some female secretary were ridiculous.

Celebrity is fleeting.  Carrie Fisher wisely says that "celebrity is the road to obscurity".  I've tasted a bit of that.  In 2009 I was named "Top Twenty Most Fashionable People in Dallas by the AIDS charity DIFFA". I spent a year photographed by the press, dressed to impress and asked very personal questions.  I didn't answer any of the questions except what I was wearing "usually vintage and always accented by a very expensive jewel provided by a famous jeweler friend of mine (consignment of course)".  I was photographed a zillion times in Dallas and even in Beverly Hills and New York.  I entered the questionable world of being a "socialite" only famous for what I wore and how much money I could raise.  Obviously, frivolous and unimportant achievements.

After a year I decided that I had enough.  I retreated back into my own private world and now rarely attend functions and ALWAYS try to decline to be photographed...although sometimes the press does it anyway.  Very quickly my local star faded.  I became a non-entity in Dallas.  I have watched people that were in my "year" and those that were right behind continue to scratch, claw and fight to stay on top of the social heap here in Dallas.  They are frequently ridiculed and sometimes praised.  After my time, I found out that I was put down as often as I was lifted up.  I have to admit, even I have called a few of the new socialites to task.  (I like the fact that I am sort of a retired "elder statesmen" these days...but...if we are honest, I still seek public approval if only because of this blog and I do enjoy the shock when people actually see me in public).  See, even minor local fame can be addictive.

I feel guilty for being fascinated by celebrities and publishing their travails, but at the same time it just is part of our culture now.  If Britney Spears shaves her head then dammit we need to know right now (not really)!  Still, if she did it again I would probably post it.

A conundrum.  I miss the old star system where celebrities (from actors, musicians to the President) were protected from this onslaught of gossip and privacy invasion.  In some ways wasn't it nicer to always see Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn looking fabulous rather than pictures of them pumping gas with no makeup and dressed in sweats?  Regardless, I can't seem to turn away.

Yours, Bratprince