Today we are responsible for what we say regardless of our intentions. There is a heavy impulse to pick apart the literal interpretation rather than the meaning. In today’s world of millions with video cameras in their pockets, constant online messages, and screenshots galore, there is an upped standard of responsibility for what we say.
It seems like every other day emails leak, screenshots expose, and photos incriminate celebs doing an array of questionable things. I think using specific examples from pop culture will unfairly build the story on regrettable circumstances, so eliminating any bias- I’d like to make the argument that we can address problematic activity from celebrities differently. Maybe a little compassion and education could go a long way to get about the change we desire- hear me out.
To an extent, I find myself and others guilty of at times being too reactionary to the point it isn’t helpful in the situation. The Internet gives some a voice within their social media accounts, but the authority behind it is fabricated. Nonetheless, these accounts represent significant pull.
For example, fewer and fewer celebrities are willing to use their platform to address and discuss social issues and change. In several instances, celebrities have used the “#AllLivesMatter” tag to an immediate frenzy of tweets condemning the use of the tag, calling for others to stop supporting them, and labeling them as problematic. I disagree with #AllLivesMatter, but this decision-making process is made instantaneously. Disagreeing is a way of life, but the way in which we counter can be too rash and too quick.
I argue that we can maybe give some celebrities the benefit of the doubt that they don’t truly understand the meaning. At surface level, “all lives matter” is supposed to mean that lives are equal regardless of race, nationality, gender identity, religion, sexuality, etc. However, the creation of the hashtag #AllLivesMatter is a reaction to #BlackLivesMatter in order to disregard and drown out black voices calling for the end of systematic oppression and police brutality in their community.
If they didn’t know the history of the tag they used and only received a negative response without an explanation, it’s easy to see how they could close off and be unresponsive to using their platform to tweet anything remotely political again. With the traditional approach, they miss the entire point of the criticism. If we can all agree that deleting tweets and giving a half-genuine apology aren’t good enough, let’s put forth the effort to educate others before we jumping to condemnation for “knowing better”. If you’ve ever had a test graded, you’ve realized that seeing that you answered incorrectly didn’t help you understand where you went wrong. If we want more celebrities to use their platform to address social justice issues, we in turn could make an atmosphere more open to discussion rather than subjection. It’s not anyone’s online obligation to educate, but I wish there was a public shift in the collective first response to sticky circumstances.
Messy and exhausting celebrity encounters are a reflection of real life and the best way to engage change for the future is though listening and open exchanges of ideas on social issues currently at hand. In no way do I hope to dictate how others digest and address inexcusable behavior, but maybe in the back of your mind, you might be open to taking advantage to a different approach besides offense. Try giving people the benefit of the doubt. They might surprise you.
