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PPlease imagine the scene. You found a famous person in the city. What happens next depends on several factors. That means how much you're online, how interested you are in this particular celebrity, and your morals. Maybe you're furiously texting in a group chat, sneaking in some weird stares, and trying to stay calm. Maybe he'll take pictures for money and send them to the tabloids, or perhaps celebrity gossip like DeuxMoi to his account. Or you can tether yourself to them like an overexcited Labrador, confess your love, and take selfies without their consent.
It seems like the latter is more common these days. Before the digital age, all people wanted from celebrities was a piece of paper with a signature on it. Today, this has little value. why? Because you can't really post it online. And even if you do post it, who's to say that you didn't draw that sign yourself? In our hyper-online world, where a meme can turn anyone into a viral TikTok star, if you're looking for social capital, you need a selfie.
Naturally, this isn't something celebrities are always willing to offer. Zendaya recently said: trend She now changes her attitude whenever fans approach her. “I think since I was a kid, whenever someone asked me to take a picture, I always felt like I had to do it,” the 27-year-old said. dunes Star. “I have to say yes, because I need to be grateful to be here. And I still feel that way, but I've also learned to say no and I'm going to take today off.” ” I’ve learned to kindly say, “I’m just trying to be myself today, but I’m really not.” Always perform. ”
Can you blame her? The actor is one of the busiest and most famous stars right now, so why does she always have to be on hand to pose in front of strangers' smartphones? The remarks were reminiscent of those made in response to a viral video of Dua Lipa walking with her rumored boyfriend Callum Turner and a bodyguard. In the clip, a fan can be seen running up to Lipa with a smartphone and appears to walk next to the couple excitedly for a few seconds before a bodyguard quickly slams the phone to the ground. Fans don't seem happy about this.
At first, watching that video may make you feel sorry for the fans. Why does that poor excitable girl have to pay to fix a cell phone that's probably broken because of a particularly unfriendly bodyguard? After all, Ripa (along with Zendaya) is one of the most famous people on the planet. She could afford a few Apple store purchases without worrying about her new girlfriend iPhone. Of course people will want to take pictures of her with her. Weren't her bodyguard's actions a bit extreme?
All of this highlights how strained our relationship with celebrities is in the age of social media. Just watch the footage from the red carpet event and you'll see what I mean. Instead of trying to talk to the stars they clearly admire and respect, fans are simply shoving their smartphones into their faces, desperately trying to snap an image they can share on Instagram, and end up getting rejected by their own friends. can be evaluated. Unless a meaningful conversation occurs before and after the photo is taken, the celebrity is completely dehumanized in this scenario. They are props. A means to leverage to increase your own social currency.
Of course, most of the time, celebrities go along with it. After all, one wrong move or comment will get them painted as a selfish, ***hole.
It's a real shame that no one wants to ask for an autograph anymore. At the very least, some of those interactions may have actually amounted to something tangible, a conversation or a moment of human connection shared between the two of you. What's the point of a selfie that gets more than a few likes on Instagram? It doesn't bring you closer to that person, it doesn't bring you closer to that person, it doesn't change who they are, or what the world is about. It also doesn't provide any real insight into how you're moving. It doesn't mean anything.
With this in mind, it's hard to feel angry at celebs like Zendaya and Ripa who don't want to play the photo shoot game anymore. Especially with Ripa, her fans didn't even try to talk to her. She ran up without saying a word and she tried to film herself walking next to the idol. Who would want or deserve to be treated that way? It may be the same as dolls that are seen as such two-dimensional and flat objects.
It's also worth noting that today's celebrities get much more exposure than those who were active during the signature era. People are now much more famous than they were before social media, but since then they seem even more distant from us ordinary people. But clinging to this is a harmful narrative. The moment we start seeing someone, famous or not, as an “other,” we stop seeing them as a real human being who deserves consideration, respect, and privacy.
At least, that's what seems to be happening to everyone fighting tooth and nail to take a selfie with their favorite celebrity. Next time you spot someone out in the field, my advice is to leave them alone and let them enjoy their vacation. However, if you must get close, do so with caution. Instead of taking a photo, why not just say hello and start a conversation? You may be able to create memories that will last much longer than any selfie.
