Of course. Annoying but of course. The snake eats its tail. Celebrities and these public figures are public because they are used as the “face” of someone who wants attention. They get attention because they are used and promoted. So generally to star in the “big picture” and have any marketability you need to to be a household name, and by starting in the big picture you get the name recognition. You have to build the name and it has to be kept on peoples minds or else Robert Downey Jr’s name means nothing more than any random person.
Then an entire industry and other names are only kept relevant or marketable at all by talking about those other names. The names everyone knows but don’t know the person, the names only known by those “in the know,” and the names that are barely known and then the names no one outside their circle knows.
We almost all know or have known someone better looking or more charismatic or funny or creative etc. than <insert celebrity name>, someone who could be in an industry like that but is just a “normal” private person, maybe a popular one or a successful one- but one who outside their circle their name and any concept of them is unknown. We all have seen stories far more compelling or that make better drama than whatever feud or scandal or gossip makes the news- no one beyond their reach cares much about some relatively mundane but noteworthy character flaw or guffaw or such concerning “Alex Everyperson” because they don’t know them and they aren’t in their circle. Maybe it could get some views or likes on some site and make good bathroom reading or be in a buzzfeed compilation or go “viral” and that’s that- but when Ed Sheeran dyes his hair or a Kardashian wears an ugly shoe- people are going to talk.
Was Joe in accounting greedy to ask for that raise? Did Jane do Bill dirty by “stealing his promotion?” No one outside that reach cares likely. But Tom Hanks didn’t send a thank you card to Uzi Vert for the premiere party?! Oh no. Angela Basset got paid how much to star in a marvel film?!
People will talk. Judge. Part is maybe because they aren’t “real people.” They live lives so foreign to most people and aren’t people most will meet- so they stand in for those things and people we like or hate around us but maybe we aren’t safe to or don’t feel right about judging. But these people are rich! They are privileged! They are free game to worm around in their personal lives and their trash and dirty laundry. You may not say what you think on Aunt Edna’s divorce- maybe you don’t want to hurt her feelings or be caught in a family feud- but Jennifer Lopez? Sure. Who does that hurt to trash talk her? You probably won’t be disowned or get a phone call from Jenny from the block….
“I heard what you said about me…” and if you do get a mention or retweet or whatever? Look at you! You get to touch some celebrity! Acknowledgment! Wow. But even beyond all that- because they are so public and we “own” a piece of their success- they are human product and we are the consumer after all- celebrities make great touchstones. If you have an issue with age gaps in dating- talking to someone else and using uncle Ernie as an example probably isn’t relatable unless they know Ernie. It’s a boring green text parable. But they know “Leo,” probably. Likely are familiar with his penchant for age gaps. So he creates a talking point and a touchstone to discuss social issues or such. Memes rely on a common understanding. They don’t work when no one is “in” on it. They are relatable to some audience. A shared concept or experience.
Then an entire industry and other names are only kept relevant or marketable at all by talking about those other names. The names everyone knows but don’t know the person, the names only known by those “in the know,” and the names that are barely known and then the names no one outside their circle knows.
People will talk. Judge. Part is maybe because they aren’t “real people.” They live lives so foreign to most people and aren’t people most will meet- so they stand in for those things and people we like or hate around us but maybe we aren’t safe to or don’t feel right about judging. But these people are rich! They are privileged! They are free game to worm around in their personal lives and their trash and dirty laundry. You may not say what you think on Aunt Edna’s divorce- maybe you don’t want to hurt her feelings or be caught in a family feud- but Jennifer Lopez? Sure. Who does that hurt to trash talk her? You probably won’t be disowned or get a phone call from Jenny from the block….