Alyssa Milano had one request. However, many people on the internet didn't find it very “appealing”.
It all started with an actress Posted in XHe previously took to Twitter late last month to ask fans to donate to a fundraiser for his son's baseball team's trip. She linked to her GoFundMe page, created in May 2023, asking for $10,000. The backlash continued two weeks later, with Milano attending the 2024 Super Bowl in response to a request for donations.
Create a commotion. “You're an incredible billionaire.” X user I have written. “Girl, they're still playing 'Charmed' on TNT.” I have written another.
Milano is not the first celebrity to receive backlash for asking for donations. (Remember when Kylie Jenner shared her GoFundMe for her makeup artist's medical bills?) So why do we get so upset when celebrities ask for money? Experts say this has less to do with celebrities and more to do with the financial stress people are under and a phenomenon known as “donation fatigue,” which has recently been exacerbated by global turmoil. .
more:Alyssa Milano criticized for attending Super Bowl asking for donations to son's baseball team
Psychotherapist Stephanie Serkis says, “Many people feel stuck, living week-to-week, feeling like they don't know how to change their situation.'' “That feeling can be directed toward that person, especially when they feel like they don’t have a voice or that their voice is being cut off.”
'That's horrible':Alyssa Milano slams people trolling son over sports team fundraiser
Why are people so excited about Alyssa Milano?
Sarkis said the obvious reason is that people perceive Milan as wealthy and are shunned when they ask for money, especially for personal matters.
But this anger also points to deeper stress people are feeling, Serkis added.
“We have to look at the bigger issues,” she says. “When some people can't afford to buy a house or pay their daily bills, there is anger towards those who have enough and demand more, or who demand more for others. It will increase.”
Moya Luckett, a media studies professor at New York University's Gallatin School of Personalized Learning, added that people are also experiencing donation fatigue, which she describes as fatigue from being asked for money. She says this sentiment has worsened over the past year, in part due to global conflicts such as the Ukraine war and rising inflation.
She says the last thing people want to hear when faced with a problem like this is to ask a celebrity youth baseball team for a donation.
“People have this assumption that celebrities are very rich, and they won't be particularly amenable to asking for more money,” Luckett said. “They don't want to hear someone who seemingly has it all asking ordinary people for money, especially in these economic times when so many people are struggling.”
Couple this anger with the anonymity afforded by the internet, and a backlash is almost inevitable, Serkis said.
more:Alyssa Milano faces criticism for asking to donate to her son's baseball team
What is the correct way to ask for help?
Despite the online uproar, Milano defended her request for donations on Instagram.
“Every parent raises money for their child's sports team, and many do so through GoFundMe. I'm no exception,” she wrote in a screenshot of people commenting on a photo of her 12-year-old son. Added a caption. “I would like to pay for travel, transportation, hotels, food and beverages, uniforms, trading pins, and everything the team does for this type of expedition for the entire team and their families. I can't afford that.''Maybe someday. ”
The “Charmed” star continued, “And if I paid for everyone, my trolls would be hurt by something else.”
Some people defended Milano amid the backlash. 1 X user Calling the complaint “frivolous,” he added, “Should Milano pay all the expenses for his son's baseball team? It's normal for parents to help raise money. It's normal to ask famous parents for publicity. ” he asked.
Mr. Luckett and Mr. Serkis agree that leaving derogatory comments on Milano's social media will not solve anything.
Then read this:Gypsy Rose Blanchard's “fans” are turning on her. Experts aren't surprised.
Rather than take out their anger on Milano and his family, Sarkis encourages people to investigate the real cause of their anger over this request.
“We can have a lot of emotions, but we don't necessarily feel responsible,” Serkis says. “And we really need to think about what it is that we're angry about and whether there's anything we can do to change it.”
Contributor: Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY
more:What does rage room have to do with sex? As it turns out, there are a lot of them.
