How the Internet is Changing the Public's Relationship with Celebrities

Celebrities occupy a strange position within our increasingly digital world: they have a professional reputation and public image to maintain, and yet the internet has enabled them to say almost anything, often without the oversight of a manager or agent. Historically, everything a famous person said to the public was strategically planned, scripted, and calculated to ensure that it wouldn’t conflict with the desired image of the celebrity and/or any corporate brands they may be working for or affiliated with. This is why verbal gaffes, “hot mic” incidents, and other mistakes in public speech used to draw lots of attention from both fans and reporters: it was rare for celebs to say something they regretted or didn’t mean, accidentally divulge information that negatively affected their public perception, or show noticeable signs of ‘not knowing what they're talking about’.

However, now that the internet (especially social networks, such Twitter and Instagram) has provided our current generation of celebrities with an unprecedented scope of opportunities for free and spontaneous public address with little to no oversight or proofreading, they are increasingly capable of (and have been) publicly “messing up” online. Anything from impulsively making crass jokes, to expressing unpopular opinions/political views, to even having their innocent and well-meaning comments misinterpreted or taken out of context and twisted by news outlets, is more possible (and common) than ever before. Unfiltered broadcasting via social media, combined with the ability for the audience to respond and [over]react to such statements in real-time, can create a self-sustaining drama mill. This social phenomenon continuously spawns controversy and generates a vicious cyclone of embarrassment, outrage, -ism schisms, and a generally negative discourse.

As the internet facilitates more and more of our interactions with celebrities, politicians, and other public figures, the way those people address us is changing. I personally appreciate the spontaneous nature of this new communication style, as it allows individuals to express more of their authentic selves without managers, agents, or broadcasting institutions gatekeeping the means of communication. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and celebrities are now much more personally responsible for maintaining (or ruining) their public image. An unregulated public forum can be a great place to exchange information and build communities, but we must be mindful and respectful with our words if we are to maintain a safe and peaceful social environment.