Celebs on Pedestals: A DWI Rant
Originally posted on June 19, 2024, from my previous blog. This was a light but pointed rant about celebrity culture, accountability, and how fame doesn’t make you immune to common sense. It was sparked by reading about a pop star’s DWI arrest—and my own confusion over regional acronyms.
A famous pop star was arrested for DWI in New York this week, according to this article from The Hollywood Reporter.
First of all, I’m from California, and I didn’t know what DWI meant at first. I associated it with DUI but still couldn’t figure it out until I dug through comments on TikTok and Instagram. It turns out it stands for “Driving While Intoxicated.” Oh, that makes sense! I guess every state needs to have its own special acronym. Who knew keeping up with celebrity news would also require a geography lesson?
Second of all, let’s talk about managing expectations when it comes to celebrities. I think there’s value in separating the artist from the celebrity. To me, artists are people who use platforms like Hollywood to showcase their God-given talents. The big net worth is definitely a bonus. Celebrities, on the other hand, are celebrated for their accomplishments or social standing. The problem arises when we put them on a pedestal—a really high one at that. We forget they’re human, and they sometimes forget they’re not invincible either. It’s like we expect them to be perfect all the time, and they end up believing the hype, which is a recipe for disaster.
My point is… if there ever is one… if you’re a famous pop star who’s already under fire for your past relationship drama with another pop icon, involvement in a notorious Super Bowl incident, or facing public scrutiny over personal relationships, and you have an upcoming concert in a few days… wouldn’t you be just a tiny bit extra careful? Just a tad, maybe? Like, I don’t know, do what normal people would do if they had too much to drink? Call an Uber, maybe? It’s not like you can’t afford it! Or maybe just stay home and practice your dance moves? The world is watching, and one more slip-up might just become another viral moment for all the wrong reasons.
So here’s to hoping this serves as a reminder to all: fame doesn’t exempt you from making smart choices. Now, back to scrolling through TikTok for more useless, but entertaining, information.