Should celebrities be held to a higher standard of behavior?

2017-01-05T10:38:18-05:00

"The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins remorse from power"

Many celebrities these days are engaging in hate speech. They are exercising their First Amendment rights of free speech to such an extent that it may incite violence among their admirers. We've seen it during the recent presidential campaign when Hillary supporters attacked Trump supporters while cheered on by celebrities. Since the election it's become worse. The level of hyperbole and invective has risen and violent acts are on the rise. Charlie Sheen tweets for Trump to be dead. He is compared to Hitler and his wife to Eva Braun while innocent men are assaulted, one even imprisoned and tortured. Yes, the perpetrators are prosecuted, but how about those inciting the activity?

Once upon a time, in days of yore, people of privilege were expected to be responsible leaders. It was referred to as "Noblesse Obige"

Noblesse oblige is a French phrase literally meaning "nobility obligates". It denotes the concept that nobility extends beyond mere entitlements and requires the person who holds such status to fulfill social responsibilities, particularly in leadership roles.

I can't imagine anyone today being more privileged than celebrities. They are given great wealth and their adoring fans hang on their every word (which are broadcast in movies, television, radio, and more). People emulate their dress, their style, their thoughts, and their actions.

I would liken their responsibility to a fiduciary relationship. This is a legal principle in which people holding the money and property of others (such as in the relationship of a trustee and a beneficiary or a banker and a depositor) are held to a higher standard of behavior.

When we point cameras and microphones in the direction of celebrities, shouldn't they be held to a higher standard. Of course, one may argue that if they betray that trust, we should simply turn away. Sadly, however, many of them are like train wrecks and you can't look away. And our children are exposed to their words and behavior when we aren't supervising them (the children - sadly we can't supervise the celebrities)

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Jan 5 at 2017 10:44 AM

2017-01-05T10:44:40-05:00

Yes and no. As people who are in the public eye and as "role models" (using that word loosely) for younger generations, they need to be held to a higher standard. But we also live in a celebrity worshipping culture where you can actually make a career following a celebrity around to record what they are doing.

So if they bring it upon themselves to get up on that soapbox, then yes they need to be held accountable. But if these are things said or done with an expectation of privacy, then no.

Response by SGT David T. made Jan 5 at 2017 10:46 AM

2017-01-05T10:46:40-05:00

Short answer is no. Long answer is they should be held accountable the same way a non public person would be.

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Jan 5 at 2017 10:53 AM

2017-01-05T10:53:14-05:00

CPT Jack Durish great topic. Although celebrities...actors, singers, performers etc like to call themselves "professionals", they do not meet several of the characteristics of a profession: 1. Renders a specialized service based upon advanced specialized knowledge and skill, and dealing with its problems primarily on an intellectual plane rather then on a physical or a manual labor plane. 2. Involves a confidential relationship between a practitioner and a client or a employer. 3. Is charged with a substantial degree of public obligation by virtue of its profession of specialized knowledge. 4. Enjoys a common heritage of knowledge, skill, and status to the cumulative store of which professional men are bound to contribute through their individual and collective efforts. 5. Performs its services to a substantial degree in the general public interest , receiving its compensation through limited fees rather than through direct profit from the improvement in goods, services, or knowledge, which it accomplishes.
6. Is bound by a distinctive ethical code in its relationships with clients, colleagues, and the public. Although it's easy to see medical professionals and the profession of arms in these characteristics, celebrities have long ago given up any pretense at #s 2, 3, 5 and 6.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2017 11:04 AM

2017-01-05T11:04:56-05:00

Celebrities should be held to a standard commensurate with their celebrity, and little more. No one should expect Charlie Sheen to be or do anything different than what he is or does (it’s tragic, certainly, but was anyone surprised when he got diagnosed with HIV? Of course not.)

As a society, we are doomed to seek heroic measures in people unworthy of the admiration only because they are easy to track.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2017 11:24 AM

2017-01-05T11:24:48-05:00

Celebrities are court jesters, entertainers. Their opinions may have credence with regard to their area of expertise, but outside of that their opinion is no different than any other citizen on a street corner. The fact that the media gives them airtime is wrong.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jan 5 at 2017 11:51 AM

2017-01-05T11:51:11-05:00

"With great power comes great responsibility."

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Jan 5 at 2017 12:34 PM

2017-01-05T12:34:16-05:00

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.

Response by LTC Nancy Bodyk (Retired) made Jan 13 at 2017 7:48 PM

2017-01-13T19:48:55-05:00

I wouldn't say it's just some celebrities that are inciting violence there were numerous other individuals inciting the crowd, why single out celebrities. Then there is the fact that I served for 22 years in the Army to PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION. The Bill or Rights is part of that Constitution. Freedom of Speech is one of those rights and I wish people would spend the same energy defending that right as they do the right to bear arms. Celebrities have the same rights as everyone else in this Country. You don't have to like it, but it is their right to speak. And this past election certainly hasn't been the first time a celebrity came out and spoke in support of a candidate. The 1960's - 1970's were a very turbulent time in this Country.