Fame: A Blessing or a Nightmare

 

“The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” – William James

We often confuse appreciation with fame. Almost every child, when asked about his/her future, states the intent to become famous. The deeply rooted cause behind this notion is the glorification of the ‘celebrity life’.

One cannot understate the perks that come with being well known. Being famous enables people to help others in more than one ways (raising charity, advocating a cause, donating, etc.).  Benefits like getting good seats at concerts and restaurants, travelling, influencing and having other luxuries are just a tip of the iceberg.

But what we fail to acknowledge is that roses are not found without thorns. There are a lot of aspects that can easily change fame from a blessing to a nightmare.

Opinions

Can you think about a major issue or an idea on which celebrities were not expected to share their opinions? No? This is probably because such a situation rarely exists. They are expected to speak on everything from political issues to death.

This might be helpful sometimes because they have the power to influence people positively towards a cause. But more often than not, this is overpowered by the disadvantages. Famous people are usually not given the right to stay silent even if they want to. They have to say every single word to the public with utmost responsibility. Their thoughts are often used against them and they end up being a part of a controversy. Sometimes they are forced to voice their opinions on matters they know nothing about which may lead to their words influencing people negatively and paint them in the wrong light. They need to be careful with their words at every step of the way. 

Limelight

Don’t we all love the idea of being in the limelight even for a minute? Being in the limelight gives you love, support and a platform to share your ideas and promote your projects because people are always willing to listen. 

However, public figures who are so accustomed to this practice might disagree. The constant ‘public eye’ deprives them from the concept of a private life. The public wants to know everything about them from love life to professional commitments, from places they visit to family relations and even their daily routine. Celebrities would jump at the chance of escaping the paparazzi even for a while.

Someone rightly said,"Celebrities are people who work hard all their life to become well known and then wear dark glasses to avoid being recognized."

Judgement

How would you feel if you are constantly judged for everything? It is a terrible feeling. Famous people have to go through this their whole life. They are under constant scrutiny of every curious eye. There have been many instances of them getting angry at media, fans, supporters, etc., and later being criticized for their behaviour.

“The good part about being famous is being able to help people. The hard part is every day you have to be in good mood because that’s what people expect.”  - Michael Jordan

People also usually have prejudged notions about known personalities.

“The strangest part about being famous is you don’t get to give first impressions anymore. Everyone already has an impression of you before you meet them.”  - Kristen Stewart  

Well, the truth is that the public tends to forget that they’re human.

Public Image

Celebrities are expected to constantly maintain a public image. This image is often false. It is difficult for them to showcase their true selves. They conduct themselves according to public’s expectations right from their appearance to their behaviour.

 Fame is a double edged sword. It is not bad but we tend to get inclined towards it because the grass always seems to be greener on the other side. One must know how to handle fame otherwise it won’t take long for him/her to fall down the ladder. It is always a good idea to aim for success in life instead of fame.

What are your thoughts on the subject? Write in the comments section below.