Feeling entitled

Some weeks ago, we wrote a smoking diatribe against the Cult of Celebrity, and why it should be defused and defanged forthwith, because of its “poison” to the local show biz scene—and the national psyche.

Instructively, some recent incidents have occurred to prove our pithy point, so we hope more people will realize just how urgent is the need to get rid of it:

Only a couple of weeks ago, a veteran actress got herself into scalding water when she boasted on social media about how she had breezed through heavy gridlock by driving without authorization through a special traffic lane reserved for Asean summit delegates.

Instead of admiring her for her street smarts, as the “feeling entitled” celebrity perhaps intended, her boastful attitude video got mostly outraged reactions on social media—and a possible court case, to boot.

Sordid sins

For his part, a congenitally surly and role-flouting male actor also got on the wrong side of public opinion.

He recently got into a nasty public brawl and hissy fight—only the latest in a long list of similarly “feeling entitled” infractions that have made people forget what a good thespian the combative celebrity can be—when he’s sober.

His sordid sins even include relieving himself on another actor, ostensibly to make the oppressive scene they were shooting “edgier” and “more authentic!”

Great balls of fire, only a thoroughly roused and “feeling entitled” starlet or star could come up with such a freaky and spaced-out alibi!

Reprehensible

Similarly reprehensible was the impulsive and irresponsible decision of a sitcom star and a supporting actress to fly off on a romantic “vacay” abroad, leaving their rattled and frazzled coworkers to pick up the pieces and fill in the blanks as best they could, just to keep the show telecasting.

Yes, the luminaries involved can plead artisitic exhaustion and burnout, but it’s still a sign and symptom of power-tripping due to a wrongheaded understanding of celebrity “clout.”

In this instance, it’s instructive and telling to point out that the absent and absconding luminaries have not been summarily dissed and hissed for their behavior, and some of their rattled coworkers have “understandingly” sidestepped the issue, perhaps for fear of risking the ire of the male star’s many fans.

These and other recent examples of the Cult of the Celebrity wreaking its worst on other people reveal how deeply ingrained its unhealthy influence has become, and why it should be excised now, before it gets even worse.

Not better than us

As we’ve said before, this can be best accomplished if nonstars like us realize that, contrary to celebrity-addled opinion, stars aren’t inherently better than us—so, they shouldn’t be idolized and given extra power and clout!

Cut them down to size, show that they have feet of sullen clay, and reveal them as the otherwise “ordinary” people they were—before they were styled and packaged and promoted to ersatz “idol” proportions.