Imagine being a young woman in the public eye. Your personal life is gossiped over by everyone. So is your appearance. You receive abusive hurtful comments online all the time. The press cannot wait to tear you to shreds.
Strangers who've never even met you - who know nothing about you - think they can call you an angel, or a whore. And as you've lived this life for so long, you're more or less trapped in it.
I can't even comprehend how awful that must be.
I can't even comprehend how awful that must be.
There's a chronic error huge numbers of people make.
1. They believe celebrity is a trade-off for having no right to a private life
2. They believe wealth is some paradise. "What do they have to complain about? They're privileged beyond belief"
1. They believe celebrity is a trade-off for having no right to a private life
2. They believe wealth is some paradise. "What do they have to complain about? They're privileged beyond belief"
'The public interest' is not and has never been the same as 'the public are interested'. Fuck people who buy these disgusting hate rags and think they have the right to judge people they've never even met. And fuck anyone who thinks famous people don't get a private life.
There is so much pain out there. So much insecurity; so much that goes on behind closed doors. Among the famous and the non-famous alike.
Meanwhile, Facebook, Instagram and the like mean that non-famous people now portray themselves as celebrities too.
Meanwhile, Facebook, Instagram and the like mean that non-famous people now portray themselves as celebrities too.
Selfies - what is with those?
Constantly feeling the need to parade your perfect life to your Facebook friends and Instagram followers - even when it's a million miles from perfect. Even when it causes others to feel inferior; they can't compete with your totally fake image.
Constantly feeling the need to parade your perfect life to your Facebook friends and Instagram followers - even when it's a million miles from perfect. Even when it causes others to feel inferior; they can't compete with your totally fake image.
We live in a world in which so many things supposedly designed to generate connection actually do the total opposite. They create complete disconnect. Isolation. Loneliness. Pain.
And SO many people just suffer in silence - and their loved ones don't realise til it's too late.
And SO many people just suffer in silence - and their loved ones don't realise til it's too late.
What is WRONG with us as a species that we have to have this celebrity obsession in the first place? Why do so many people care so much about actors, actresses, presenters, pop stars' personal lives? Why is the fucking Daily Mail the world's most successful news (sic) website?
In the West, we frown on religion; even on those who think the world isn't explained 100% by science. We think other cultures are 'primitive' while we are 'enlightened'. Are you having a laugh?
It's US who, so often, are the primitive ones.
It's US who, so often, are the primitive ones.
What kind of 'culture' openly celebrates - even worships - abuse of the most dangerous drug known to mankind?
What kind of 'culture' sexualises human beings younger and younger than ever?
What kind of 'culture' celebrates sex with no connection, no intimacy whatsoever?
What kind of 'culture' sexualises human beings younger and younger than ever?
What kind of 'culture' celebrates sex with no connection, no intimacy whatsoever?
I don't want to sound like a prude here. My only concern when it comes to sex between two consenting adults is "did you have fun?"
But there is something so so wrong about ALL of this. Specifically: because it makes people miserable.
But there is something so so wrong about ALL of this. Specifically: because it makes people miserable.
What kind of culture actually commercialises and commodifies love, for God's sake? What kind of culture sells this stupid fantasy to so many people and doesn't teach them the first thing about the compromise, work and emotional intelligence needed in relationships?
What kind of culture encourages men never to discuss their problems - least of all with other men - nor to have any physical contact of any kind with anyone except a romantic partner?
What kind of culture STILL shames women if they've slept with more than a handful of people?
What kind of culture STILL shames women if they've slept with more than a handful of people?
What kind of hideous, disgusting beyond belief culture talks about 'low value' men or women; or 'high value' men or women? And what kind of culture seeks to make people feel inadequate if they haven't got married, had kids, bought a house by the time they're 35?
It's revolting. All of it. The crazy thing is our culture is supposed to celebrate the individual. Instead, it tears down the individual; bullies anyone who seems 'different' in any way; judges, hectors and doesn't empathise; and is positively terrified of looking at itself.
I'm on the left not so much because I believe the collective trumps the exclusive as because I don't just believe - I KNOW - that people live happiest when others around them have the chance to be equally fulfilled. In a society which prioritises wellbeing: at work and at play.
No society which prioritises wealth, property and fame over everything else has anything going for it at all. It even abandons its old people to suffer alone and die in agony, while punishing its young too.
Enlightened? People call THIS 'enlightened'? Seriously?!?!
Enlightened? People call THIS 'enlightened'? Seriously?!?!
May the public finally learn once and for all that money does not buy happiness.
May people stop buying these vile hate rags and they go out of business pronto.
May people stop buying these vile hate rags and they go out of business pronto.
And may the demons which tormented Caroline Flack in recent times now leave her to rest in peace.
