pop

I am extremely influenced by pop culture. Although I am ashamed to say it, I read perez hilton daily. I always buy different tabloid magazines. I really love the bigger than life aspect of celebrities. I could never live in their shoes, but I am completely in awe by the personas some people create. Growing up, I always loved to read my mothers old People magazines, looking at the dresses different celebrities were reading, the fabulous places they were traveling to, and the gorgeous couples that were just spending time together. I do not entirely understand the publics obsession with celebrities.

I used to want to be famous, as I feel almost every child growing up does. I quickly realized I would not want to handle fame. I am an extremely private person, cameras flashing and catching my every move would completely destroy me. I respect the celebrities who take this negative part of their job with the more positive aspects of their job. The public's relationship with celebrities is definitely a love hate relationship. One thing I have always critized celebrities for is their upset and aggravation with having their pictures taken or their lives followed. In my opinion, when you sign up to be an actor or an actress, a popstar or a movie star, you are signing up for that lifestyle. You should prepare yourself for what is to come.

I recently had an extremely heated debate with a few of my friends regarding the criticism surrounding his multiple affairs with women. The guys were saying that he is famous for golf, not for his marital life or moral compas. The fact that this affair is overshadowing his career, they lamented, was ridiculous and unfair. How can someone so talented end up being scrutinized when his private life was not perfect?

The girls, on the other hand, argued that if he was purely famous for playing golf, then why did he have multiple endorsements that earned him over half of his fortune? Why did he repeatedly state in interviews that he aimed at being a role model for younger children everyone? Obviously, he had taken his talent in golf, and created a persona. He was famous for golf, and for the lifestyle (one which no one really knew the truth behind).

Because he had accepted these endorsements and spoken out about his role model status, he should be able to accept any criticsm that he gets for lying to the public and misrepresenting himself. With his affiars he ruins the image he worked so hard to create. Yes, he is still an amazing golfer. I do not believe one person had criticized that aspect of his life. But on the other hand, he has to accept that he is no longer playing for fun at a country club.

Although I respect the privacy he desires, he obviously was not concerned with being recognized when he had his face plastered across billboards and in magazines. His fortune did not come from winning golf tournaments alone, and that is where I find myself disagreeing with a lot of other people about the criticism he has received.