Grace Todd, Campus Carrier copy editor

We all have people we look up to in our lives, whether that is someone in our family or a close friend. Sometimes, the people we look up to might be singers, dancers, or actors. I think valuing the actions and virtues of people around us is very important, but when does it become idolization? 

I look up to some celebrities such as singers and models, however what I mainly glean from them is inspiration for my own style in art and fashion. I will also get inspired by things they say and the way they carry themselves through hardships. There have been times I have wished I was their friend because they seem fun to hang out with. 

Of course, that is all through social media, where we are all very meticulous with what we choose to show and not show of our personal lives. I now try to catch myself daydreaming of being friends with those singers and models because I truly don’t know anything about them. 

I don’t know what their everyday life is filled with, and I don’t always see how they interact with other people when the cameras are off. I also have no idea what their personal relationships are like despite whatever they decide to show. Why is it my concern if a celebrity couple breaks up or a high-profile group of friends stops hanging out? 

A lot of pressure is put on celebrities, but there are also celebrities who use the insatiable hunger for content from their fans to their advantage. Some celebrities create parasocial relationships with their fan bases that become beyond even what the celebrity might have expected. It’s unfair to the celebrities who ask for privacy but it’s also unhealthy to put so much energy into someone you really don’t know. 

There are many instances of celebrity feuds and relationships going on currently that are maintaining the gaze of so many who want to weigh in on something they think is important. That football player dating a famous singer does not affect your life and if they break up, that won’t affect your life either. You don’t know them, and they don’t know you. 

We can try to make them relatable but none of us have 12 Grammys, a private jet or a clothing company. Many celebrities live completely beyond all the necessities of life which can be very appealing to attain. However, their money doesn’t fix all the messes they catch themselves up in. They oftentimes have trust issues because of their status along with unhealthy spending habits. 

Celebrities are people just like us, but they need to be held accountable in the same way we hold ourselves and those around us accountable. Think about celebrities that you know who are consistently caught up in scandals and drama. They might be extremely attractive and live an extravagant life but how can that outweigh the constant hate they put out into the world. 

We need to be careful about who we give platforms to and holding people accountable who are given celebrity status. It is okay to feel inspired by others because of their ambition, creativity, and passion for their work, but remember that they are not blameless.