The Naked Celebrity

Long time readers will know that I am not a fan of the concept of celebrity. In fact lately I’ve mentioned it quite a lot so anyone scanning the posts over recent weeks will know what I think about those famous for being famous.

It’s not that I have a problem with celebrity as a concept or believe that there is something intrinsically wrong with famous people. My issue is with the reasons that celebrity status is bestowed.

There was a time when being famous meant you had done something worthy of fame and acclaim. A successful acting career was one route to fame, being a talented musician another. Or perhaps you changed the world for the good of humanity? The transient, instant gratification nature of fame in 2010 means that most celebrities simply haven’t had time to get involved in the tiresome task of building a reputation.

The horrible irony of this is that in these ostensibly more enlightened times responsible, intelligent and strong celebrities could be fantastic role models in our society. Whereas in the last century celebrities could not admit to anything other than being “normal” now celebrities are able (if they wish) to be more truthful about themselves and in so doing show the world that people are a varied and colourful bunch and normal is a word that can’t be applied to human beings.

Specifically of course I think this should be applied to sexuality. It doesn’t matter if that is homosexuality, polyamory, BDSM or anything else. If people and most importantly young people can see their idols expressing their sexuality and desires positively it’s all for the good. Discovering your own place in the sexual spectrum is difficult so having highly visible positive figures with non-heterosexual vanilla lifestyles would be a great help.

Life isn’t that easy and with the fickle nature of the press and a significant proportion of the population many celebs still choose to keep their bedroom preferences to themselves. If that’s a personal choice then I agree with them, I’m all for personal freedoms and one of them is for privacy if you so wish – even if you are a celeb.  But if you keep quite about your true sexual self because of what the papers might say then you are not only denying the world a figure to look up to but you are denying yourself the freedom to express the inner most you.