For a while our celebrities have lived life on their own terms. Being on radio or television or an entertainer has always meant the rest of us feeding off their palms, with no questions. They have said what they wished whenever, and done as they pleased, because they are celebrities, after all.
Of course, one would not fault them for taking advantage of the adoration. As a result, this has tilted the balance of power largely in their favour. Often, it has seemed like we need these celebs more than they need us. We have wanted to be seen hanging out with them to look like we are with it. Many have been lured into events or places they did not initially intend to go to, just because their favourite celeb is expected to be in the building.
Naturally, this has gotten into many of the celebs’ heads. Apparently, nothing hurts the feelings of these ladies and gentlemen more than feigning ignorance of who they are what they do. It is because we have made them feel so. So high has been the esteem we have regarded them that stories have been told of many entertainers crumbling under the pressure of these steep expectations.
For a while, these individuals have had a platform that only few others had. This, especially in those days gone by, when there were only a handful radio and television channels. Landing a gig on air was survival for the fittest, literally. Those who did vied for popularity with the head of state.
Just being friends with a presenter was an achievement in itself; the bolder ones amongst us could even list it on their resumes. The celebrities knew this; and revelled in every one of these seconds in the sun. We were all more than happy to be groupies, not just us commoners but also senior members of society. No opportunity was missed to beg for a selfie for posting on social media. Then there were those who looked up to them, itching to emulate them, and thinking that a chance encounter with a celebrity would be the lucky break into the glamorous world of showbiz that they kept praying for.
It was all hunky dory, until the internet happened. It pervaded our world, breaking this long-held monopoly. Being a celebrity became democratised; anyone can be one. One does not need to be on telly; a YouTube channel is good enough. For those salivating after radio, there is also the option of putting together a podcast that would still have an equal fighting chance as morning or evening shows.
Technology has broken celebrities’ hegemony. It has demolished barriers to entry into celeb-ville that previously existed. There is a back door to the glory, without the struggle of screen tests to get on telly and demo tapes to be signed up on radio. Even for entertainers, the once glorified airplay is not everything — technology has rigged the system. It is, literally, a free world now.
Unfortunately, this has come at a cost to the legacy celebrities. For those who previously straddled the entertainment scene, this free for all environment has had far reaching implications. Attention now has to be paid to the rules of the game; and the rules within the game.
Not that there were none. No one remembered that they existed. The expectation has always been that with the power handed to radio and television personalities, they would wield it measuredly and with responsibility - but alas. That is how lewd talk, ethnic and gender misrepresentations, hate speech and generally irresponsible talk has infiltrated the airwaves. Codes of conduct and ethics have been thrown through the window.
Not anymore in this new woke world. The democratisation has handed alternatives, and hence power, to audiences. They can choose who to listen to and watch. They can make demands on what their expectations are, and which have to be listened to.
The direct consequence of this is that celebrities are now being held to a higher and bolder standard. There are enough of them to go round, anyway. They can no longer get away with bad manners. A deluge of complaints online, will grind their careers to a halt. So, they have to behave themselves.
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