Why We Gossip About Celebrities
Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher may be starring in Netflix’s new rom-com ‘Your Place or Mine’ – but their latest red carpet appearance has generated more buzz about the stars’ comfort level with each other than it has. the film itself, so much so that they had to publicly address their friendship.
Meanwhile, Sunday at the Grammys, Ben Affleck’s facial reactions during the show sparked more discussion online than Jennifer Lopez’s stunning Gucci gown.
How did we get here?
Put it down to human nature and our inherent curiosity about others, coupled with the fact that celebrities are well-known enough to make conversation easier. And you end up with a deluge of headlines about body language, social media reactions and speculation.
“You and I can talk about something weird your uncle did, but I don’t know who your uncle is, so it doesn’t make sense to me,” says Robert Thompson, founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University’s Newhouse. School of Public Communications. “We could talk about something embarrassing that Reese Witherspoon did, and we all know her one way or another.”
What our response to Ashton Kutcher, Reese Witherspoon’s clumsiness tells us
Think about how much we talk about others in our daily lives. That inappropriate outfit someone wore to work. The wedding toast that lasted a little too long.
“Generally, as humans, we’re designed to be curious and look for clues — non-verbal cues, there’s a whole field of communication studies on that,” Thompson said.
Scrolling through Instagram gives people a curated glimpse into the lives of celebrities. Red carpets and award shows, not to mention paparazzi photos, provide a seemingly unvarnished look into their lives. “It reminds us that these are everyday people too,” says Erica Chito Childs, professor of sociology at Hunter College and Graduate Center, CUNY.
Whether that allows endless speculation about relationship happiness is another story.
But it still happens — and celebrities know it. Kutcher lamented if he got too sensitive with Witherspoon it would have sparked infidelity rumors. (He and Witherspoon are married to fellow actress Mila Kunis and Jim Toth, respectively.)
“If I put my arm around (Witherspoon) and was friendly with her, I would have an affair with her,” Kutcher said on the “Chicks in the Office” podcast. This type of analysis is not new, but social media has made it even stronger.
“Most of the time, as fans, we feel good when the celebrities we love are successful, just like supporting the winning football team,” says Narcissism, Personality, and Change Specialist W. Keith Campbell. cultural. “But sometimes we can boost our self-esteem by putting celebrities down.”
When Silly Gossip Becomes Harmful
Everyone spends part of their day being unproductive — it’s okay if yours involves celebrity gossip.
“Making fun of awkwardness gives us a fun angle we can run with because it goes against the romantic vibe we expect these celebrities to have for us, whether the relationship is fictional or real,” says Kadian Pow, Lecturer in Sociology and Black Studies at Birmingham City University in England.
The harm comes, as Affleck has said before, when rumors have a negative impact on these stars. Affleck previously spoke about how the viral “Sad Affleck” meme impacted his children. The same could be said for the paparazzi, the media and the general public who fuel discussions about young stars at the start of their careers. Consider how the tabloids contributed to Britney Spears’ mental health issues.
“Our desire” for people news
When it comes to celebrity culture, “our desire and hunger never stops,” adds Chito Childs. But people are better off focusing their energy on positive rather than negative messages.
“When you engage more in this hypercritical speculation about the lives of people, that you don’t even know, whether it’s celebrities or your neighbors, it has the same impact,” says Chito Childs. “It’s something negative.”
This type of speculation won’t stop as long as celebrity culture remains intact.
“Being a celebrity means carrying a giant target on your back for people’s psychological projections,” says Campbell. “Sometimes it can be great, but sometimes it can be really negative.”
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