I am a celebrity!

I am a celebrity! ... (My assumed position before you think I have gone insane!)

I am celebrated by all! ... (The etymological origin of the word “celebrity”.)

I am larger than life! ... (Every celebrity’s notion!)

I am famous! ... (There are many who are 'only' famous but not a celebrity!)

I am who controls the world! ... (The behavior says it all!)

I am who controls people! ... (Ask all those taken-for-granted fans!)

I am who controls the media! ... (That’s what every celebrity likes to think!)

I am, therefore, my world: I, Me, Myself! …

Aahh … Ok, I am back to my senses :)

Let’s try to understand this entire “business” of being a celebrity.

As a celebrity’s “life” gets “celebrated” by “ordinary” people - fans - he/she enjoys every moment of it – of being a “public” figure! A celebrity strategically “positions” oneself in public consciousness by “projecting” a particular “image”, and reaps immense benefits by getting to endorse various “related” products, therefore, cashing every ounce from the celebrity-hood!

In effect, however, gradually a celebrity becomes a “commodity” in the process – a position a bit difficult to sustain, by many. Because, with celebrity-hood comes responsibilities: responsibility to retain the “image” and maintain the “connect” between the endorsed products and consumers. After all, a huge sum of money rides on a celebrity every time!

Being a celebrity is not a bed of roses always; with it comes many thorns as well. A celebrity cannot be seen “flirting” with one’s “public image” by indulging into “conflicting” activities. Otherwise, he/she is set to lose almost everything earned over a period of time: the fame could turn into shame, and endorsements could dry up overnight.

The bigger loss, however, a celebrity suffers under such a “losing” circumstance is in one’s fan-base. When a celebrity falls from the pedestal, fans feel the major jolt: a fan feels emotionally cheated; his/her respect and love (selfless, of course) for his/her “favorite” shattered beyond redemption! The corporate sector fears this situation a lot: as fans find difficulty in “connecting” with that celebrity anymore and also the brands being endorsed by him/her.

As Media gets into a hyper mode, there are “stories” everywhere! The whole world seems to be talking only about the “latest scandal”! And a “larger than life” personality suddenly finds trouble in escaping from the “life” altogether! …

The same thing we saw happening to Tiger Woods. He was always much more than being “only” an amazing golfer with unmatched golfing skills. He enjoyed and earned billions of dollars because of his “projected image” of being a complete man: a hugely successful golfer and a dedicated family person, all rolled into one. People loved and respected him, selflessly, because of that. I seriously feel he could have been careful with his own life. After all, there was a lot at stake. I am sure he should have known about it all: that being a “public figure” means not having rigid “boundaries” drawn around one’s “private” space: people will have an access – though limited – to that space, always.

The raging media debate that to what extent the world should be allowed to get “involved” in a celebrity’s life has no meaning in Tiger Woods case. The fallout of the scandal is not his personal and professional loss alone; his adoring fans loss cannot be overlooked. Moreover, how can one expect the companies to continue to cast him as their “model” when the “role model” in him has got lost? Blaming public, or media, for “transgressions”(!) into his “private” life with “voyeuristic” attitude will not serve the purpose. The Tiger Woods is lost forever: the “renewed” version, if at all it comes back – will never be able to enjoy the same “pedestal position” as the erstwhile invincible and God-like Woods! … I feel sorry for him, and also for myself as his admirer. His loss is my loss, his every fan’s loss, the world’s loss, everybody’s loss. … May God guide him, from now on.

In conclusion: if a celebrity enjoys being “celebrated” by “ordinary” people, then one should be ready for being pulled down from the pedestal to being a pedestrian because of the self-created mess with wayward ways.

(I wanted to express my views on this subject post watching Barkha Dutt debate the topic on We The People.)