Opinion: Celebrities Aren’t Untouchable Anymore

Gaining celebrity status often guarantees a level of invincibility. Mistakes are forgiven and bad behavior is often overlooked. Although cancel culture is rampant, it never seems to stick: celebrities will lay low for a while and gradually come back into the public eye after some light rebranding. In the wake of the Oscars, however, it has become clear that there is a point of no return. 

This is not to pass judgment or take a side of the Will Smith and Chris Rock conflict, but rather to document the fallout. Chris Rock has been relatively quiet, making a few light cracks about the incident in his stand-up shows following the Oscars, but has said he is still processing the event. Will Smith, on the other hand, has both issued public apologies and faced public consequences. 

One of the main aspects of Will Smith’s image is his likability and easy-going, comedic nature. The altercation at the Oscars has all but wiped that completely clear. As a result, not only has he had to face backlash from the public online, but he has also had to resign from the Academy, which is composed of his peers. On top of that, bidders are pulling out of the auction to create a biopic about Smith. These are examples of real, concrete consequences for a celebrity’s unfortunate actions. Something like resigning from the Academy is likely going to affect the rest of Smith’s career and the opportunities he will get as an actor. It is rare to see something so concrete take place; even the worst PR crisis can usually be overcome with time, but this is an event that is going to be talked about for years to come. 

Perhaps part of the reason Smith is facing these consequences is because the incident was broadcast on live television with millions of people watching. It is not exactly something that can be swept under the rug. That being said, why Smith? Why not other celebrities who have done worse and faced fewer consequences? There is a lot of nuance in the answers to these questions, but for now, I think it is important to note that as celebrities begin to be held accountable for their actions, we hold everyone accountable. Not just people who had their behavior televised. If we only dole out punishments to a select few, then the standard for public behavior becomes blurry. The public’s involvement in matters like this feels intrusive, but we are far too entrenched in tabloids and the culture of celebrity gossip to do much about it now. So, what we can do is treat people equally in terms of reward and punishment. 

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