In recent years, the landscape of celebrity culture has begun to shift. With the rise of social media platforms like TikTok, authenticity and relatability reign supreme. The days of celebrities “flaunting their luxurious lifestyles” as many describe, now face growing scrutiny in a world where many struggle to simply make ends meet. It begs the question, “are celebrities becoming irrelevant?”
Years ago, with the birth of reality tv shows such as “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” getting a sneak peek into the lives of celebrities was exciting. Entertaining. It was thrilling to see how the rich and famous lived. But these days, it has grown to become more triggering and frustrating than anything for many. Authenticity and relatability have become valued components of social media, where users bond over shared experiences, struggles, and interests. But as celebrities participate in doing the same, the stark contrast between their extravagant lifestyles and those of the average individual become increasingly evident. And for many, it’s more shocking than entertaining.
Photo: Kylie Jenner
On social media, it’s not uncommon to see comments from users expressing their feelings towards the drastic differences between the lifestyles. We’ve seen these too many times: “I had to choose between gas and dinner tonight” and “I might be homeless next month because I can’t afford my rent anymore.”
The disconnect between the lavish lives of the rich and famous and the everyday struggles of the general population continues to become apparent. And people are growing weary of it, hence the topic of discussion, “are celebrities becoming irrelevant?”
To Celebrate or Not To Celebrate?
Society has always reinforced the narrative that these are the individuals most worthy of our celebration and admiration. The ones who have the most–the most money, the most followers, the most possessions. We’re led to believe that the rich and famous are somehow more important and valuable than the rest of us. That they hold the standard to be measured and defined against. But, why? This celebration of the 1% leaves the rest of the 99% striving for acceptance and validation that they too have significance.
Photo: New York Post
The word, “celebrity” comes directly from the Latin celebritatum, meaning famous and is also closely related to the verb “celebrate.” But this begs the question, aren’t all lives worthy of celebration? Should one’s worth and significance be solely measured by the size of their bank account, or their status, or the extravagance of their material possessions? It’s clear that these are shallow and superficial standards by which to judge a person’s worth.
Every life, regardless of financial status, is inherently valuable and deserving of celebration. From the famous actress nominated for an oscar, to the lower-class, single mom working multiple jobs to provide for her family. Those worthy of the most celebration are often not the ones who have it all or who have “made it big.” This distinction in perception and lack of fairness only seems to intensify the feeling of celebrities becoming irrelevant.
The Untapped Potential of riches & unfunded Global Solutions
One of the most troubling aspects of this issue, recognized by many, is the colossal wealth and status amassed by celebrities and public figures, which could be channeled towards addressing pressing global issues. This unsettling realization has been a contributing factor to the shift in attitude towards the rich and famous, and in the idea of celebrities becoming irrelevant. Problems like world hunger, homelessness, poverty, and crime rates could all be significantly alleviated or even resolved with the right funding and attention. Sadly, instead, many of those who have the power and resources to bring about meaningful change are often preoccupied with enhancing their own lives, appearances, and experiences.
PHOTO: Lil Uzi Vert via Twitter
Rapper, Lil Uzi Vert, with a $24 million dollar pink diamond implanted on his forehead. Yes, you read that right.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with using hard-earned money to better one’s life and the lives of one’s family. It becomes a problem, however, when amassing riches and power and making a name for oneself become the sole focus of one’s life. When one has the power to give back and make a difference but consistently chooses themself over the welfare of the world around them. It is then that it becomes self-serving and a missed opportunity to truly make a lasting difference in countless lives and the world. It’s a slap in the face to the world that watches as these individuals display the riches it could so desperately benefit from. And these are the people we are led to believe are more worthy of celebration, admiration, and idolization than any other.
Photo: Visual Capitalist
Leveraging Fame and Influence for Positive Change
Actress Taryn Manning has recently gained attention from her videos on social media in which she exposes the truth about Hollywood and other industries in America. In an Instagram video, she shared her opinion on this particular matter: “Can you imagine waking up and knowing you have 300 something million followers and you do nothing with that? I mean, what a crime.”
@ClassyRedNeckLady on TikTok
There are people dying. Suffering. People going hungry. Men. Women. Children. Babies. These are the experiences of many of the commenters (mentioned above) on social media. Aren’t these lives worth celebrating, acknowledging, and improving? These are the issues and the lives that should be the driving factors for accumulating wealth and status. To bring solutions to the world and freedom and prosperity to all people! Not for personal aggrandizement. Not to make a name for yourself just to say you you were known and idolized. Or to gain status or money for the sake of elevating oneself. Not to gain millions of followers, the majority of whom who will never truly know you on an intimate, life-giving level.
An Influence & A Power That Could Transform the World
This isn’t anti-wealth, or anti-success, or anti-influence. All of these are powerful, amazing tools for change and the natural results of hard work. These are achievements that should be celebrated and enjoyed! The problem, however, being stressed by many, is the abuse of these achievements and the worship of them. It becomes a problem when these they become the defining markers that measure one’s worth and significance. Or when their power is wasted on self-glorification when it could be used to shape a better world. These are the factors that are raising the question of celebrities becoming irrelevant.
It’s not wrong to want nice things. That’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s not wrong to desire influence or the power to enact change. But it becomes wrong and dangerous when our focus becomes inherently ourselves. When our efforts are self-serving. When we use what we have to get more (and more than we could ever need) while aware of the issues more worthy of our attention and resources. Self-serving actions are what keep individuals from growth and the world from progress.
Materialism and its Illusory Promises
Red carpet events, luxury cars, mansions, exclusive parties–what’s the real point of it all? Other than the approval of others or the temporary satisfaction it brings us? We must ask ourselves these questions. Where do these things rank in comparison to the pressing problems around the world? How much more important are they than the real lives and struggles of individuals across the globe?
When you begin to compare what you have to what many don’t, the idea of wanting more begins to seem absurd. There are children sleeping on concrete floors. Families who have never owned their own car. Little girls who have never worn a brand new dress. Boys who have never seen a pair of new tennis shoes.
Photo: All People Free
A child slave spends his days working in a brickyard to help his family pay off debts.
The point isn’t to stir up guilt or shame for desiring nice or better things. We all have the right to spend our money the way we wish to. There’s nothing wrong with treating ourselves or wanting something. But it’s the obsessive need for the “next best thing” and more than one could ever need. It’s then that “more” begins to seem more like a distraction than anything. Like false promises for satisfaction, fulfillment, happiness. When the truth is, you can never find fulfillment in such things. They are, at best, illusions that temporarily fill a void within us. But the high never lasts. And we always end up craving more.
The Objective that Breeds Greed, Oppression, & Corruption
“Set out to make a difference, not a profit.” See, that’s one of the biggest problems here–and not just in Hollywood but across various industries. Too many set out to make a profit. To make a name for themselves. To serve themselves. Not to make a difference. And it is this self-serving objective that leads to corruption and oppression. It’s what keeps people in cycles of poverty. It’s what leads to corrupt pharmaceutical industries. To mass addiction to a “painkiller” invented by a prominent family going bankrupt. It’s what leads to dictatorship. To war. To suffering people and thriving authorities. It’s the crave and insatiable thirst for power. For money. Status. For more.
Photo: Seth Wenig/AP
Protesters stage a die-in outside the courthouse where the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy case took place.
Many are becoming more aware of the injustices, the corruption, and the greed more than ever. People are dying. People are struggling. These are the things raising the question of celebrities becoming irrelevant. There are bigger things more worthy of attention. There are billions of people just as worthy of attention, celebration, and honor. So, naturally, the public is eager to see a shift towards meaningful impact, empathy, and collective betterment. The world needs more individuals who set out to make a difference. Individuals who will use their platform to stretch out a helping hand and pull up those below. Individuals who will leverage their resources and fortunes to better the world–not simply to increase their fame and wealth. It’s a message that reverberates not only in Hollywood but throughout our society as a whole.
The Cry for Change: Challenging Celebrity Culture in the Pursuit of a Better World
Though they might insist they’re just like us, the reality is that celebrities experience drastically different lives than the majority of the world–typically far removed from the daily struggles of the general population. And in this age where authenticity and relatability are favored, they seem to be growing even more unrelatable to the public than ever. Consequently, as societal issues and public struggles persist and expand, the growing divide between them only widens. The notion of celebrating riches and fame while witnessing the hardships of many has created a shift in the public’s perception of fame and celebrity culture. As we continue to witness the divide grow, we’re left with the questions: “Are celebrities becoming irrelevant? How much longer will they remain prominent in a world where people are yearning for more authenticity, empathy, and shared humanity?”
PHOTO: Unilad via 6ix9ine on Instagram
With the increasing popularity and global use of apps like TikTok, people are coming together as a united front committed to exposing all corruption and injustices while demanding change. People are recognizing the needs being left unmet. The changes that aren’t being made. The attainable solutions that aren’t being funded.
All these issues have only reinforced the idea of celebrities becoming irrelevant. The cries for justice, equity, and societal transformation are growing louder. People are growing tired of watching celebrities flaunt their lifestyles–their expensive toys, their 40,000 square foot mansions, their handbags that could quite literally feed an entire family for years. The new narrative taking shape, is one of meaningful changes, the funding of solutions, and the celebration of each and every human life.
Photo: Daily Mail
The 42,000 square foot mansion purchased by Beyoncé and Jay-Z for $200 million in cash.
Reimagining Media, Community, and Collective Impact
Every one of us will pass on one day. In 100 years, we’ll all be gone. And whatever wealth, power, or status we gained in our lives, will be left behind. Our names might be remembered for the fame we achieved or the riches we accumulated. But the ones that will truly go down in history, praised and loved for centuries past their lifetimes, will be those who lived for something bigger than themselves. Those who impacted the lives around them and left a true mark on the world.
Photo: Trevor Samson—AFP via Getty Images
Successful anti-apartheid leader and former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela.
This is one of the primary reasons we exist. It’s our desire to help transform the media landscape by re-establishing it as the powerful tool for transformative change it’s always been. Not only do we want to be a trustworthy media source, we wish to cultivate an empowering community that celebrates all individuals from every walk of life. We want to connect individuals to the trustworthy brands, businesses, and products that were created with people in mind, as opposed to profit. It’s our intention to leverage our voice and platform to create real positive impact in lives across the globe. It’s a goal of ours to tear down toxic standards and societal expectations. Ultimately, we want to see every single life celebrated and every individual empowered to reach their full potential. We want to make life easier, more fair, and better for all.
Our world is full of systemic issues and struggling people waiting to be acknowledged, addressed, and resolved. And we believe that by building an empowering community through positive media, we can create a better world and future for generations to come. As we all continue to pursue authenticity and justice together, our united efforts have the potential to become the catalyst for a transformative change and global progress.
Share Your Thoughts
So, what do you think? Are celebrities becoming irrelevant? Do you see a need for change? We’d love to hear your opinion. Let us know by following us on social media and leaving a comment.
