Sara Truedson
Staff Writer
The Malibu celebrity of the past few years, Britney Spears, has gone through some much-publicized turmoil lately, from her marriage and divorce from dancer and rapper, Kevin Federline, to the birth of her children, to shaving her head and checking herself in and out of rehab on a whim.
While only Spears knows for certain why she has made her most recent statement, the consensus is that she is calling out desperately for help, perhaps signaling the start of a nervous breakdown.
Other major news sources have other theories about her eccentric behavior, ranging from postpartum depression to her hair being so overly dyed and unhealthy that she figured she would give it a fresh start by shaving it off.
These are all sensationalized stories circulating all over the media. Every Web site from FOX News to NBC to Perezhilton.com has exposed blown up, utterly unflattering pictures of the newly bald Spears. Surely there are more important topics we need to be notified about.
To some, this does signify sheer madness, but it further confirms the fact that the American people continue to be overly infatuated and unhealthily obsessed with the idea of the celebrity. To be notified of recent couples’ news, sightings or fashion is appropriate, but to poke fun and harass someone who could be going through a very difficult time in their life is excessive.
Yes, part of a celebrity’s job is to entertain us, but what happened to the times when all we would care about is their work and their art rather than being immersed in their personal lives, sometimes more then our own. The life of the celebrity should not be our own real drama which we are continuing to delve further and further into.
According to ABC News, the strands of hair Spears left on the salon floor were posted on e-Bay. There are reports the bidding reached $1 million before the auction was removed from the Web site, because the hair could not be authenticated. This is not only creepy, but it is disturbing to think that someone who has never met the Spears would actually pay that unthinkable sum.
Spears’ in-again, out-again rehab saga found her back in the Malibu facility last Thursday, where she reportedly remains. Some feel rehab is the answer to allowing her to keep custody of her two young boys. Hopefully, Spears is ready to receive the help she needs to heal her dark night of the soul and can use this time an opportunity to grow in strength and wisdom.
One of the obvious challenges that high profile celebrities face is that all aspects of their lives are scrutinized. They have tremendous influence, whether they want to or not.
Unstable lives of celebrities should not be heavily exposed, as many young children and teenagers continue to idolize the former pop princess. With young people who don’t have a stable role-model in their own lives, naturally, they turn to their favorite singer or movie star.
Britney Spears, just like any other person, has personal problems. A star that went mainstream in her young teens is now suffering the consequences of constant media exposure.
To fully respect their privacy is something that America would never do, as the craze with the celebrity is too much of an integral part of our entertainment culture.
Hopefully, Spears’ most recent debacle encourages the people of the world to know when enough is enough. It would be refreshing for someone in the media to educate the public about this. Perhaps then, people would realize that celebrities are people to and that their personal lives should be respected.
03-01-2007