I have a series of gripes with certain celebrity personalities. Some of which I vocalise on Twitter, some only in my head; some I write blogs about or use as inspiration for coursework. I tend to get unnecessarily het up over certain things, and I'm fully aware my comments make no difference to the world, society or the individuals that they pertain to. But I like to share it anyway.
For the last week and a half I have felt an overwhelming sense of sadness. I rarely feel sad. If I do it's for a very short amount of time, before I manage to wretch out some sort of positive side of the situation and I carry on with life.
Right now I just feel sad and let down by a selection of people who, whilst have never particularly been heroes or even of much interest to me; other than their title as "household names".
Firstly, we have those people, celebrities and politicians, who think it is okay to hide from the tax system. I have a lot of respect for Jon Richardson who quite plainly said "David Cameron gets criticised every day for having to fire doctors and nurses because there's not enough money in the pot. And one of the reasons there's not enough money in the pot is not everyone pays his taxes.". NB. This is not a political blog, the use of this quote doesn't mean I'm ignoring bad decisions or making any sort of political comment whatsoever. I just think it was a well put argument and I'm glad that he chose to have a go at Jimmy Carr and all the other tax evaders instead of just making it light hearted. If you disagree, take it out with Jon Richardson, not me.
What gives you the right to do this? Is it "just because you can get away with it"? Because that isn't an excuse, or there'd be a lot of serial killers and shop lifters walking free. Being famous, rich, or powerful does not give you the right to steal from your country and you are not above the law. How do you think the "little people" are feeling when half their wages are being taken, and you have more than enough to live off but you just store yours elsewhere for shits and giggles? Not cool.
Secondly, Rihanna. I literally can't even get into this. Back with Chris Brown? You absolute dickhead. I feel sorry for you and your fans you're setting a horrendous example to. It's just wrong. I've watched enough documentaries at work recently where families and victims of rape, assault or kidnappings have turned their experience into a foundation, a charity or even a law in some cases; and these people are nobodies without the money or the press links to make a difference, but Goddamnit they try.
Thirdly, Lance Armstrong: Inspirational cancer-over thrower, athlete, general good guy. Serial doper. Excellent, thanks Lance. All those people you have inspired to overcome weakness, to be a winner and to succeed - it's all based on lies. I realise nothing has necessarily been proved, and he's dropped the trial "because he's tired" of the battle, but that doesn't mean he's innocent. For crying out loud, your inspiration was even used in Dodgeball to get Peter to rejoin the team - that's how much of a well known story yours is, but it was all based on lies. Now it doesn't really matter how many tour de France's you won, or how many types of cancer you overcame you lied to us and that will always weigh more on our hearts than what you did achieve.
When you're famous your life is like a soap opera. No it isn't controlled and planned by script writers, but at some point the truth will out. Nobody swaps a baby at birth, murders someone or steals from their family company without people finding out. You only can if you are a nobody, because no one is looking at you every day and no one gives enough of a shit to dig up your past. I'm not saying they shouldn't, but they won't.
Which leads me nicely to let down number four. Sir Jimmy Savile. Now I don't know what to make of these claims. I don't know why no one investigated the rumours or why it took until he died for any of these many, many women to come forward. But at the same time I'm not arrogant enough to try and get inside the mind of a terrified 12 year old girl who lived in a time when sex wasn't spoken about, rape wasn't necessarily taken seriously; so probably didn't understand what had happened to her.
Just like Lance; all the good you've done for charity, all the children you helped on your television programme, all of this means nothing now this has come out. And you're not even alive to face the music.
I have a world of respect for his family, who have moved and destroyed his headstone in order to retain the sanctity of the graveyard. I can't even begin to imagine how they feel right now, I would imagine they are heartbroken, and this won't just go away.
I don't envy people who live in the public eye. It's a lot of pressure and of course, no one expects people to be perfect. In fact all four of these cases differ in their level of severity and the people they've affected, but each of them, with a little thought and reasoning, could have been prevented by the individuals, or those around them. I think what makes me even sadder is the facade around so many of them. Jimmy Carr mocking the politicians for the expenses scandal, Rihanna saying she'd never go back to him, years of legacy from Lance, and the memorials and sadness all over the country when Savile passed away. It's all bullshit and lies, which I hate anyway; but the worst part is you can't even confront them about it. You set yourself to love and respect people and they just let you down and there's nothing you can do about it.
I'm not angry. Just disappointed.
