Mar. 1 , 2007

Celebrity Obsession: Has the media gone too far?
Will Kauff
kauffw@marietta.edu

First let me clarify something. Someone who believes celebrities are people just like you and me—someone who doesn’t understand the fascination with celebrities—is not writing this article.

It is however written by someone who idolizes, worships, and in many cases wishes he were one of them. What’s better than getting paid to wear a pair of shoes, party in downtown Hollywood, or drink the latest offering from Pepsi Cola?

Ok, now that we have that out of the way… what is the deal - did I just somehow miss the time when the legitimate media went past uninterested and into complete obsession with celebrities?

I don’t understand the recent frenzy following two specific individuals: Anna Nicole Smith and the Queen of Pop Britney Spears.

I, for one, have been following both of these cases. It’s interesting to me how many people will jump up following the death of someone famous in the hopes of getting a dollar.

In particular, I mean the former nanny of Anna Nicole Smith, who recently told press that Anna would not let her feed the baby the daily requirements, but rather reduced them, so that the girl would be “sexy.”

While I personally doubt that this was happening, due the fact that the baby looks fine, I don’t understand why someone would come out with comments like that after her death. In my head I see what will happen next: “Sexy, The tell-all from Anna Nicole’s former nanny,” hitting Wal-mart shelves next month. The fact that this could occur saddens me, but let’s get onto bigger issues.

Britney Spears, the queen of pop music, ex-wife of not only K-Fed but also the not so well known Jason Alexander (remember Vegas?) has recently had a melt-down.

While I am very saddened by this, I really doubt that my mother cares in the least, nor does my grandmother, aunt, or great-grandmother, but it’s been a staple story the past few days for CNN, MSNBC, and FOX News.

Why? Isn’t she just another person, who probably happens to be suffering from Post-Partum Depression? Well yes, but she’s also a celebrity.

So far I haven’t brought a reason to why I have problems with the Media’s obsession, but here it is: why is CNN covering Britney Spear’s trips to and from rehab (at the time of writing twice, with her hands on the doorknob on the third), or the trial over where Anna Nicole’s body will be going?

Shouldn’t they be focused on the war in Iraq, our dependence on oil, global warming, and the political candidates who have entered the running?

I love to read about these events, to watch stories and hear about it, but not from “real” news stations like CNN, MSNBC, and FOX. I’m a firm believer in keeping “news” where it should be, with stories like these on E!, Extra, and Inside Edition, or better yet to places on the Internet like Perezhilton.com, “Hollywood’s most hated website.”

I guess in the end I don’t really have an issue with the media’s obsession with celebrities. I have issues with what stations are going to be having this obsession, and my belief in the sanctity of “real” news stations.