CelebrityWorld

The percentage of celebrities living in crisis is not much different than that of the non-celebrity population. The primary difference is that flaws of the famous are much more visible than those of our friends or family members, who have spent weekends in jail for similar legal infractions. The vast majority of those living in the public eye appreciate where they are in life and learn how to deal with the rigors of celebrity.

We are all familiar with the crash and burn lifestyles of Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, and Curt Cobain. Each of them died at the peak of their careers from drug overdoses. River Phoenix collapsed outside of a Hollywood nightclub and later died from a lethal combination of heroin and cocaine, and and current box office sensation, Robert Downey, Jr. has had well documented battles with his addictions. But as abundant as drugs might be in the entertainment industry, they are just as available on any street corner in any large to medium sized city in the US.

The pressures of fame no more contribute to a destructive lifestyle than the pressures of raising a family and wondering how to make ends meet. The emotional stability of the individual is what ultimately determines self appreciation or self depreciation. There are many people who are not famous who are on a path of self destruction. In other words, that same person that has problems as a celebrity would most probably still have problems if they were not famous.

There is very little that can prepare someone for the dramatic life changes that celebrity brings. It becomes even more difficult for a child, who before completing middle school, becomes not only the major bread winner in the family, but also a major corporation upon whom dozens of incomes are dependent.

There is nothing that states that a celebrity should be held to a higher moral or ethical standard than the rest of us. They have not taken vows of celibacy, nor have they sworn to represent our interests in public office. They are simply men and women, and sometimes children, who share the same emotional frailties and short comings that other people experience.

We must always be mindful that sensational media sells. The reason that media outlets bombard us with intimate details of the young and the beautiful is because the general public keeps tuning in. Sometimes, we should ask ourselves whether we would want such an intrusion into our own personal lives.

Sure, many celebrities have chosen to open up their lives for the advancement of their careers. But, what about those who worked hard and struggled just to master their craft? The truth is that no one should be subjected to continuous public scrutiny just for doing their job well, but the reality is that we would rather know what’s going on in the life of Britney Spears, than the life of the master plumber who lives down the street from us.

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