Celebrity is a status of wide public interest and sometimes broader public recognition of a person or group, or sometimes an animal or personality, due to the considerable attention that is given to them by popular media. This type of attention from the media can cause undue stress and raise many questions about the ethics of the media, and also about what is ethical and what is not in the various scenarios that are raised. People are sometimes even put off from attending events that they were invited to because of what they will see on the publicity front. These are all factors that need to be looked into before any celebrity is used for any occasion.
One issue that is raised regularly is that of celebrity favouritism. This means when a celebrity is being discussed in the media, it is often because their photograph is being used. While some people are not sure about the ethics of this, in most situations, using a photograph of a celebrity allows the topic to be talked about more. In some ways it could be argued that this provides an incentive for the media to feature people who would otherwise be largely ignored. This is certainly one of the arguments that is raised when discussing the ethics of celebrity.
Another argument made against celebrity use is that they are perceived as having undeserved success, and this often leads to unfair comparisons between them and other famous people. One example of this is the way that Page Six was treated in the press over the last few months. There have been many articles written about the various benefits of being a celebrity, and it can often be seen as unfair to compare the way in which Page Six was treated with that of George Clooney, who has never had the same sort of benefits.
Some celebrities themselves have been guilty of making unwarranted uses of their fame. For example, Tiger Woods has been widely branded as a fraud and a pampered fool because of his image as a rich, successful man. This type of behaviour, it seems, is not reserved to certain types of celebrity. In many instances the public has been more concerned about a person’s personal life than their actual achievements, and this is often seen to be a part of the celebrity culture.
However, it is not fair to say that all celebrity use is inappropriate. There are many benefits to celebrity ownership, especially in the fashion world. One such benefit is to keep up to date with the latest trends and styles. As well as owning your own clothing brand, you also own a part of an entire industry and can influence how that industry is perceived. There is also the financial benefits that owning a celebrity name brings, especially in terms of the fact that you can potentially sell it for a lot more than you paid out to get it. Of course, this will depend on how well established the celebrity is, but in the recent era, the majority of actors, musicians and entertainers are successfully selling out their personal assets and keeping the money coming in.
For many people, owning a celebrity name is an investment as well as a way of supporting their career. This can give them a sense of pride and success and help them feel like they have ‘made it’. It allows them to create an identity for themselves and helps to define who they are. Ultimately, owning a celebrity name is a great opportunity to be involved in something that can go on for a very long time. Even if it does not end up being financially sustainable, there is always the potential for fame and fortune.