Eye On America | Society’s celebrity obsession just goes too far

Ross Weingarten Opinions Editor

Did you hear? Britney got divorced! And TomKat actually made it official! Know what I’m talking about? Of course you do, because you’re part of this country’s ever-growing, and always ridiculous, celebrity culture.

Go to the local supermarket and check out the magazine rack. Dozens of publications like People and Us Weekly abound with news about the latest celebrity couples, fashion mishaps, and occasionally anti-Semitic or racist rants.

Am I the only one that doesn’t understand this fascination with celebrities? I will admit that I enjoy news of a celebrity affair or a wild Hollywood party just as much as the next person, but there are those that take celebrity obsession to an extreme. Sure, celebrities are almost all attractive, and many are talented in some regard, but why does that mean that we should worship the ground that they walk on, hang on their every word, cringe when they make a mistake, and breathe a sigh of relief when they do well?

Recently, the list of headlines on CNN.com had to do with the war in Iraq, a deadly snowstorm in the midwest, and… Britney Spears, fresh off her divorce with dancer Kevin Federline, out on the town with Paris Hilton. And remember, this is CNN, not Entertainment Tonight. Spears’ nightlife is news? This is what the American public cares about? I think I’m going to be ill.

I understand the fascination with people that have talent. A great athlete, a great actor, or a great musician, for example, deserves to be exonerated and praised. I, for one, was overcome with paralysis as a child when I found myself in the same room with my idol, basketball player Michael Jordan. No matter what skill you admire, there are people that are the best at it, and they deserve celebrity status.

But let’s think for a moment about Paris Hilton. She has done nothing that warrants her outrageous celebrity status (and you won’t hear any sex tape jokes from me). Her claim to fame is the mere fact that she was born into an incredibly wealthy family that started the Hilton hotel chain. Yet Hilton is followed everywhere she goes by photographers, tabloid writers, and fans. But what do they admire, The Simple Life?

There are countless others just like Hilton who have done nothing or are not good at what they do, and yet are adored by the public. But the obsession with celebrities is even worse across the Atlantic. In England, actors, singers, and athletes are celebrities just like in this country, but you also reach celebrity status if you sleep with one of them. At least in America, you have to sleep with the president to get famous.

One dimension that has added to the frenzied celebrity culture is the advent of reality television. The stars of shows such as MTV’s The Real World are young people like every Vassar student, who go through a selection process and are chosen to have their lives filmed for six months. They have no special skills and possess no great wisdom, yet after the show airs, they will forever be celebrities, able to skip long lines and walk the red carpet. If nothing else, they can at least return to MTV on the Real World Road Rules Challenge for the next decade.

And celebrities have the ultimate get-out-of-jail free card. No matter how poor their judgment is, or how immaturely they act, a heartfelt apology can almost always get a celebrity back in the public’s good graces. Mel Gibson went on an anti-Semitic tirade after he was pulled over by the police, was incredibly rude to the officers that stopped him, and even made sexist remarks to one policewoman. Yet a few days later, he apologized and met with a rabbi to show the world that he is, in fact, not a neo-Nazi. Instead of being disgraced by the public, he remains one of the marquee actors and directors in Hollywood. And the list of celebs that have messed up and been forgiven goes on and on.

I am sick of it. This celebrity culture has to end. Let’s start admiring people that are worth our admiration. Fans followed the Backstreet Boys around for years, and probably still do, because they looked good in tight pants (please don’t try to convince me that they could sing). But how many people worship a great teacher? Or a great doctor? The number is much lower. I know that many celebrities are famous because the public loves to hate them and make fun of them, but even that is pathetic, for we should only hate the people that truly deserve it. Personally, I don’t think Kevin Federline is one of those people.

The public should stop following the lives of people who are rarely much different than us. Sometimes they are better-looking, sometimes they are wealthier, and almost always they are crazier, but that’s it. Let’s exonerate those that deserve it, that show real skill and determination in their field. Let’s condemn those that do nothing but get drunk and act stupid. Let’s…hold on, I’ll be right back—Britney’s on the news again…