Hollywood or Bust
March 20, 2007 12:43 PM   Subscribe

What is the worst thing about being famous?

These days everyone wants to be famous and, thanks to reality TV, they might just get the chance. To many people, being famous seems not so out of reach with so many new celebrities in circulation.

You hear all about the trips to St. Bart's and the Balenciaga gowns, but what are the down sides? How many plebs have run towards an illusion of ultimate freedom only to find themselves in a stronger, albeit gilded cage?

The tabloids are having a virtual feeding frenzy as celebrity after celebrity collapses under the burden of their fabulous lifestyles. So, what gives?
posted by melangell to Media & Arts (5 answers total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: Idle chatfilter speculation on well-trod gossip-rag philosophy? This reads like a USA Today opinion poll.

 
The complete lack of privacy, I reckon. Plus everybody thinking that they own a part of you because you appear on their TV.
posted by humblepigeon at 12:55 PM on March 20, 2007


It must be hard not to know if people want you for you, or for what being seen with you can do for them.
These two are not mutually exclusive! Especially since, without the fame, Britney’s boring.
She’s honestly boring with the fame too, but no-one who pays attention to her wants to admit that.

posted by Aidan Kehoe at 1:07 PM on March 20, 2007


Best answer: I'd have to go with finding people who will actually tell you the harsh truth. Most non-celebrities don't have the option of surrounding themselves with people who will never question their actions, and they're better for it.

See: Tyra Bank's singing career.
posted by fermezporte at 1:17 PM on March 20, 2007


Another downside is having people feel that they know all there is to know about a celebrity based only on their carefully crafted public persona, especially those in the artistic fields.

Constantly living up to your stereotype has got to be annoying but I imagine many of them dry their tears with wads of cash so not much sympathy here.
posted by jaimystery at 1:25 PM on March 20, 2007


What a great question. AskMe is populated with oodles of famous people who can provide personal insight into this probing question, rather than the idle speculation you'd expect.
posted by mkultra at 1:28 PM on March 20, 2007 [4 favorites]


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