I do not envy celebrities, especially not when they are young. I feel like the old lady sitting in a rocking chair as I shake my head at the ridiculous stories of what these kids have done that pop up daily. The five minutes I manage to watch of Entertainment Tonight always shares a new story of a young celebrity spiraling downward with all eyes on their plummet. I didn’t see the VMA’s Sunday night but woke up to nonstop buzz in the social media world about Miley Cyrus and her raunchy display on stage.
I haven’t searched for her performance on YouTube and plan to change the channel if it comes on tv, not just because I don’t want my children to see it but because I have no desire to see it either. Watching these teens and young adults implode one after the other is sad. I’m sure there are millions of kids out there who want to be them, who want their fame and their fortune and their lack of curfews and school alarm clocks. But I wouldn’t wish their celebrity status on my old neighbor’s teenager who used to keep us up all night with her obnoxious friends and thumping music.
If I look back on my teen years and my early 20’s there are many cringe-worthy moments I would like to forget. At the time did I think I was smart and sophisticated and making the right decisions? Of course. Did I ultimately realize that many of my ideas were not good ones and look around hoping no one noticed just as I had that day I fell of the back of a treadmill at the gym when I accidentally pulled out the emergency stop? Absolutely. Do I want to imagine what kind of dumb things I would have done if I had an unlimited amount of money and parents whom I decided not to listen to once I turned 18? No thanks.
I can’t help but feel sorry for these young celebrities and their families. Not only are they making big mistakes but they are making them in front of the whole world. The dumb things the rest of us did have not been documented by social media (thank goodness) and most likely have not been remembered, except for those really bad shoes that were dyed to match my homecoming dress.
A few years ago the spotlight was on celebrities like Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie and I have yet to hear them begging to recount their days of acting like brainless females on reality television. There’s a reason we’ve seen Nicole on the cover of magazines with her children with an article inside sharing her thoughts on motherhood. She (and her PR reps) want us to forget about the mug shots and bad mistakes she once collected just as I’d rather no one remember that time I tried to use the fake i.d. of a 42 year-old brunette.
I truly feel bad for the current group of young celebrities out there. They have money and fame and the ability to surround themselves with people who will tell them they are doing things right. I can only hope that each of them reaches a point of clarity mixed with embarrassment soon, before the list of poor choices they’ve made is too long for anyone to forget.
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Nina B says
This was SO well said, Jessica. I feel sorry for them too. It really seems like a miserable life actually.
Hillary says
I, too, have not seen the actual performance but have seen the aftermath of it all over social media. What puzzles me is why so many are bewailing the fact that parents now have to talk to their kids about Miley and her bad choices. If her performance had come on our television, it would have been turned off immediately with a few succinct words on valuing oneself. A parent’s job is not to suffer through the vulgarity and indecency with their kids, so that they can have a talk about those who prostitute themselves to the public eye when it’s over.
It is very sad. It feels to me that these young, wealthy, famous kids have others telling them who they are and what they should be for the public and the moment, not for themselves or their future. I agree with you; I would not wish their celebrity on any teenager.
Julia says
I am thankful everyday that all of this wasn’t around when we were younger. Twitter, Instagram, blogs, Facebook, the crudeness of young celebrities now. It’s too much and too painful and I’m terrified of helping my son navigate this new world of immediately publicized bad choices as he gets older.
Jessica says
I feel exactly the same, I think it’s so hard for them to understand how ALL of their actions can be amplified through social media.
The House of Hale says
As a young adult who is currently working through all of those teenage mistakes, I really appreciate this post. It’s been almost ten years ago, and I’m still dealing with the fall out. I completely agree with you that society tends to forget while these kids are in the spot light, they are still KIDS.
Jessica says
Exactly, I don’t think that what she is doing is right but I also think she is way too young to have so much money and power and she’s going to self-destruct pretty soon.
JDaniel4's Mom says
I totally get that she is trying to create a new image. I am thinking this isn’t the right one. Maybe she will move on quickly to a new attempt.
Jessica says
I hope so!
Stacey says
I agree so very much. I saw clips from the VMA’s and it was just horrifying. I really hope she can clean up her act. So many kids loved her when she was Hannah Montana. It’s so sad.
Tamara says
I haven’t seen the clips, despite many opportunities. It makes me sad because there’s a person in there. I can’t even read about Justin Bieber or Amanda Bynes..
tara pohlkotte says
ha. oh man, that 42 year old ID. whew. I bet you really pulled it off with that one ๐ I feel the same way, just don’t feel the entertainment value of watching people’s lives crumble, especially young people’s lives. I’m a hot mess enough for this household. i don’t need help bringing other messes in ๐
Elaine A. says
I feel sorry for her because she obviously was NOT taught self respect.
You worded this really well. I hope she can turn things around but I am not going to hold my breath….
Erin @ His & Hers says
You make such a good point about nobody recounting and harping on the dumb things we did as teenagers–thank goodness! I wouldn’t wish celebrity status on anyone; it seems to take such a toll on a person’s sense of morality and attitude, especially when it starts at a young age.
Jessica says
Couldn’t agree more and I think that the parents lose their grip on being the parents no matter how hard they try in a lot of cases because the kids make too much money too quickly.