In the days of social media, camera phones, and NSA intrusion we can’t expect anyone’s life to be completely private. Let’s also consider how social media caters to our narcissism; it’s inescapable. Furthermore, people look to the internet personalities and celebs for validation since most social media has created socially awkward people that never leave the house to engage with other humans.
The problem with this is that young impressionable kids seek out celebrities to become role models. That being said, there is nothing wrong with using a celeb as a figure to look up to, but we always forget that they are humans with flaws just like the everybody else. To hold them up to a standard that is virtually God-like is ridiculous.
This week right-wing blowhard Bill O’Reilly spoke with Russell Simmons about Beyonce‘s video for “Partition,” mind you, O’Reilly’s comments just came out of left field. Simmons wasn’t there to speak on the video, but O’Reilly made it a point to make Beyonce the parental figure for all children in broken down households. We all understand that a lot of young children idolize Beyonce and she does have a certain image to uphold.
However, she is a married woman and she is proud of it. She is also proud of her sexuality, so why is this frowned upon by O’Reilly?
Why you ask? Because some Americans and people abroad think sex doesn’t exist, and that we were born via stork delivery. People are going to have sex; it’s the way of the world and it’s how humans will continue to populate the Earth. To put the onus on Beyonce and celebs alike is foolish. Parents raise children, not the rich and famous.
Additionally, kids without parental guidance that happen to wind up on the streets; they’re role models aren’t celebrities. Those unfortunate few have the trials and tribulations of the streets to deal with, which goes back to the point: parents raise the children, not the rich and famous.
The Sandy Hook shooting, who did we blame? Video games. The government just glossed over the gun control issue, which still hasn’t been settled.
But no, people like Bill O’Reilly want to hold celebrities to the highest standard possible when there are other factors that come in to play with societal woes. They are quick to blame the famous, but conveniently forget about parenting or mentorship.
Growing up I looked up to former Seattle Supersonics forward Shawn Kemp and Sixers guard Allen Iverson. Kemp eventually flaked out the NBA and had a huge cocaine habit, along with having nine children with different women. Iverson was the badass of the NBA for years and had legal troubles involving guns and domestic violence.
I immortalized these players throughout my youth, and how did I turn out?
I turned out to be nothing like them, outside of the fact that I went on to play college ball.
I didn’t have children out of wedlock.
I didn’t brandish a firearm at my significant other.
I didn’t have a cocaine habit that ruined my career.
I was never portrayed as a thug.
What I did have was a strong mother that wouldn’t allow me to engage in such nonsense and also instilled healthy values.
I was parented; guided by family members; had coaches and friends.
What I didn’t have was a celebrity tell me right from wrong, because our realities were completely different. This is what most do not realize; we don’t live in their world, so our perception of them is askew.
Lastly, let’s not forget the incendiary comments O’Reilly makes on his own show. But O’Reilly is worried about what Beyonce and others are doing when he caters to some of the backward regressive thinking that plagues this country.
Get your head out your ass Bill O’Reilly and like-minded individuals.
