by David Braybrooke

Created on: March 05, 2007   Last Updated: September 13, 2010

When talking about the manufactured world of celebrity I don't think that the question should be 'will there be a backlash against the beautiful people' but rather when will the next inevitable publicity scoop be delivered in order to manipulate us emotionally against another of Hollywood's 'fallen stars'? 

Part of the curse in being famous seems to be the inevitable souring of public opinion at some stage in one's career.  Even the greatest and the most popular experience a cooling off period.  Hollywood Starlets who became box office poison for a time are almost a cliché in themselves; even the great Katherine Hepburn went through a period in her film career where the general public avoided seeing her pictures - and she ended up winning four Oscars for her talents!  But are all these ups and downs in the lives of celebrities just part of the overall fabric of life or carefully constructed events that are played out to ensure our endless interest and intrigue?

The tabloid fascination with the beautiful and feted is an industry in itself and has little to do with the actual cultural worth of the stars who are disseminated.  As a devouring, fame-mad public, we are tutored to digest the gossip and stories circling the beautiful and their 'fascinating' lives.  The actual popularity factor seems to contain much fabrication and sleight of hand, the illusion being that we often approve of celebrities as it appears to be the popular thing to do.

The publicity industry lives vicariously off the lives of others and it is not in their best interest to aid the destruction of the big crowd pullers.  If some gorgeous identity has a run in with the law or a drug scandal, then the media outlets following the matter will tend to even the keel by reminding us all of the achievements and awards garnered by the said fallen one.  Take as an example two of the Hollywood 'It' girls, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan; both received reduced jail sentences for misdemeanours and both had their careers back on track within a short period after doing the time.  The bad publicity they received seemed to just fuel their options for further entertainment goals and successes.

Sure, sleaze and dark deeds fascinate and tantalise but the behind the scenes players keep the scales in balance as it were.  Sick of celebrities: will there be a backlash against the beautiful people?  The cutting edge stars of the global Hollywood empire and its musical subsidaries represent large investments in capital and resourcing.  It is probably fair to say that many of these celebrated names are willing pawns in a manipulative game that never sees the total disgrace of any of its stars!

So the answer, I believe is no, there won't be a backlash against the beautiful people, or at least not in a big way; maybe with the exception of an occasional orchestrated 'backlash' to keep the sales numbers high as the rumour mills run in to overdrive!

Learn more about this author, David Braybrooke.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.