It is difficult enough to find a reliable role model these days, but for those of us looking to celebrities for inspiration, it is nearly impossible. A number of recent events have overshadowed the noteworthy positive characteristics of a handful of athletes and artists, as instances of drug use, profanity and vulgar antics continue to rise to the surface. The build-up of such incidents has led to the punishment of many celebrities, but where does that leave the fans?
At a concert whose main act was Hilary Duff, Fuel's lead singer pronounced, \welcome to the greatest fucking country in the world,"" followed by a stunningly sarcastic, ""excuse my language."" Randy Moss of the Minnesota Vikings surprised millions of TV viewers when he pretended to moon the opposing team's fans after scoring a touchdown. And a number of NBA athletes, notably Ron Artest, directly attacked fans during the Indiana Pacers-Detroit Pistons game Nov. 19. These are merely a few examples of the growing trend among stars to take advantage of their fame and fortune.
Furthermore, celebrities often display a flippant attitude toward their punishment that shows they care as little about the consequences of an action as they do about the action itself. Whether fines are shrugged off casually or entire suspensions are treated with indifference, the message to fans is clear: Mimic these behaviors and you too might achieve monetary reward and loving adulation. When Moss noted that his $10,000 fine made no difference given his $5.75 million salary, he was simply bragging that his position in society allowed him to spend money frivolously. In the same respect, millions of Artest's fans witnessed him throw an entire season away, yet he brushed it off as a chance to work on his music career.
While Artest plans to recruit fans in the music industry, artists like Nelly, 50 Cent and Pete Doherty are working to combat a growing lack of approval. Doherty claimed his fans aren't a reason to clean up his drug addiction because he feels the crowd he attracts already worries little about the effects of drugs. Nelly and 50 Cent, who have a ""get rich or die trying"" attitude, take no responsibility for their actions and lyrics, saying that they should not be seen as role models.
With plenty of truth in their statements, it seems easy to tell celebrities they don't have to feel responsible for setting an example and can do whatever they like. However, with all the emphasis placed upon stardom, it is hard to imagine fans viewing their heroes in a less revelatory light.
The persistence of such fans can be a difficult challenge. Many of us would defend our favorite artist or athlete even after his or her actions had dictated that he or she was unworthy of fame or success. If stars continue to shrug off even the most despicable of acts, they will continue to influence society, and in our weaker moments we will strive to follow their lead.
I do feel some level of pity for the way celebrities are forced to live their lives; after all, we each serve as a role model for someone at some point. However, pretending to be ignorant of the heightened scrutiny that accompanies celebrity isn't the answer. Besides, putting on a uniform in a crowded stadium or holding a microphone on stage is indeed a privilege, one that many of us envy, and it is accompanied by incredible power. Perhaps those gifted few who have the chance to impact our thoughts should do a little thinking themselves.
Jessica Sprang is a sophomore majoring in journalism. She can be reached at opinion@dailycardinal.com. Her column runs every Monday in The Daily Cardinal.
