by Felicia Manzie

Created on: November 16, 2009   Last Updated: November 17, 2009

Firstly, I think in order to be a good role model for the public one has to be a good role model for themselves. People that are famous and in the public eye have to be a role model even though they didn't choose the role. Some celebrities have the attitude of saying that they are not a good role model, that the parents should be the role model. That may be so, but we are not the ones on television everyday, we might be the celebrity in the household but the real celebrity is out there making a buck off of us trying to keep their income aflow. We have to work a nine to five just to stay aflow and pay bills. I'm not saying that they don't have to work hard, we have to work harder.

Rihanna is a beautiful talented young lady. She should not be a role model for batter women and teenagers. I know that she did not choose to get hit on, but she should have chosen to come forward just like Chris Brown and told her side of the story, not leaving her fans high and dry. This incident seems like the incident that happen with Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson, he let her take the fall for her breast hanging out even though he caused the wardrobe malfunction. I know it wasn't purposely done, but don't let a story become one-sided. That makes me think that there is more to this horrible incident between Chris and Rihanna.

Even though a celebrity does not want to be recognized as a role model then he or she should not become one. I know that all celebrities are entitled to privacy, but when a person is in the eye of the public they are going to be held accountable to act professionally and with dignity, especially in front of children or individuals that take a liking to that particular person and may have thoughts such as; I want to be like her/him, or I want to look like her/him, or one day I want to be her/him.

Rihanna is still a good person, but just not the role model type. I'm quite sure anyway that she probably didn't consider herself a role model anyway before this incident arose. To be honest, a good role model is someone that is active on a day to day basis within the community, doing charity work and other good deeds for the community. I'm not say that Rihanna is not doing these good deeds, but that is a plus when celebrities give back to the community.

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