Fame at All Cost of One’s Self

On August the 5th, 1962, the extraordinary blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe passed away from a drug overdose. On June 25th, 2009, Michael Jackson also passed away from intoxication. In 1994, Kurt Cobain would take his own life.

An unfortunate long list of actors, comedians, artists, performers, musicians, and entertainers found in the entertainment industry or Hollywood are the biggest influential stars in the nation and the world who have all lost their lives in unnatural ways. These stars are looked upon as the pinnacle of success, leading to many fans and followers who look up to them. Amy Winehouse, another star who took the music industry by storm and revolutionized different ways for music to be made, has even influenced some of the most prominent artists at this time: Billie Eilish, Lana Del Rey, and Adele. Their influence goes further beyond their number of followers and listeners. So, with such success, fame, notability, praise, and influence that exist long after their ill-fated deaths, why are these lives still lost? Does struggle and pain continue to reach for those even when placed on the highest pedestal? Those who know they are not placed in the same category as these entertainers are unaware of what issues and new troubles begin to reign on these celebrities, leading to their lives being lost too soon.

The invasion of privacy is a serious issue. It is not accepted in security, our solitudes, or our private lives. Yet many people feed on this when it comes to their favorite celebrity—the desire to know more about them in order to feel a connection of some sort. Interviews, sneak peeks, scandals, leaks, or fan meetings are all attempts to know more about the public figure. However, they may sometimes not feel the need or be comfortable enough to share more details about themselves. There is no moral dilemma here, but it does leave people to ask more questions and to keep pushing for answers. Even when refusing to share personal details, it is futile because nowadays, anything that is said or done becomes recorded and posted all through the media, whether it is the tabloids, news, social media outlets, or the internet. Before, it was only the paparazzi to be wary of, but there has been a dramatic shift. Fans now have the potential and tools to seek out their favorite celebrity to take many pictures wherever they may be, regardless of whether the place is a public street or a private setting. Cameras have become the most significant contributor to the invasion of privacy, even though it is safe to say that these stars may not even have been noticed without cameras.

When a bright light flashes towards our eyes, we are sometimes startled or taken back a little. It is never too serious since we know it was only for a few seconds. We use the flash from our phones to capture moments that are not easily seen due to lighting. But celebrities rarely take pictures of themselves. The work is done by many others, professionally or not. Yet again, that flash does not end as quickly as anyone would hope. To endure seeing many flashing lights repeatedly as you continue to uphold yourself presentable so you, as an image, both physically in person and on paper, look perfect. This leads us to our next issue, the image of a celebrity.

Another terrible setting to find yourself in is your own self-conscience. At some point, everyone will go through self-doubt, less confidence, and the impression of feeling “ugly.” Body standards have been addressed and targeted in recent times, and it is still an issue. The clothes a celebrity wears become an exhibit for commentary. Regardless if they have a say in their choice of clothing, it can either be praised or degraded by anyone who sees it. Perhaps this is skewed on our part as a society to judge and view people based on their apparel. Nevertheless, it continues to a larger extent for celebrities. Supposedly, Princess Diana would wear the same clothes repeatedly for days on end for the paparazzi to lose interest in taking her photo. In the end, it was the paparazzi’s involvement that led to the sad departure of Princess Diana, her partner, Dodi Fayed, and her driver, Henri Paul.

Going back to body standards, many stars experience unhealthy eating habits, experiment with drugs, and undergo surgery to become the “best” version of themselves. There is no room to grow, only the constant pressure to be thin. Thinness has been looked upon as being the peak of perfection. And this is an issue that is not just seen towards stars; we do it to ourselves, as well. We question whether carbs are good for us, our constant need to go to the gym, or even forcing ourselves not to eat. If we experience this with ourselves now, will it worsen if we achieve higher popularity when we become like these stars? I guess this is one shared connection we share with people of a higher name.

The color red is powerful. It pertains to many emotions: hatred, love, passion, danger, heat, desire, and warmth. Red is most noticeable with a celebrity, their exclusiveness is shown when they walk on a red carpet. The red carpet has always had its place in Hollywood. Going back to the 1920s, it was first introduced in the “Golden Age of Hollywood.” Surely, it is no coincidence since this was when films, actors, and actresses started owning the biggest names internationally. Essentially, this was when fame had its origin. The red carpet has been the symbol for the most exclusive and significant names. Those who walk on it are, without a doubt, considered distinguished individuals.

One of the most significant issues to consider for these well-known people is the loss of individuality. The opportunities to make free choices, to eat, where we go, and who we spend our time with. If we were to become like those who are famous, we lose that freedom. We adopt a new identity and come face to face with contemporary issues. Things no longer look the same, and we do not see many people reverse the effects of being famous. So, once we are in it, we are stuck.

We assume that our previous issues are gone when we reach the peak of success. Rightfully, to think so since we genuinely do not know. We can only imagine, and that does no natural justice to anyone. This dilemma is not universal for everyone. Some people may already know they do not wish for such a life. “The simple life,” as most would call it, could be the endgame for many people. These lives that were lost had no real control over what happened to them. Occasionally, we forget that these are people who have thoughts and feelings. Some even come from humble beginnings. Naturally, when they do become famous, that is when we forget.

These people become idols, objects, symbols, models, standards, and examples of what to be. But, what they became is not who they initially were. At the very start of this piece, I labeled these individuals as tall titles: “stars,” “celebrities,” “performers,” etc. I did not include them as people with celebrated names until later in the piece.

After some time, can they still claim to be the person they were in the past, or must they accept their current face? Losing your own sense of identity and free will is inherently the cost of being famous. In the end, this is not to discourage. It is truly an endgame to prosper from wherever you started, but there are cautions that need to be addressed, ones that are oblivious to us until it is too late.