Why are us "ordinary" people so obsessed with the lives of the rich and celebrities?

[Traghy]

I'm was just watching Lorraine as i'm feeling a bit ill today so put whatever on the telly and she was interviewing someone about Prince Harry.

I have no interest on the royal family but I used to read a lot of celebrity gossip magazines and shows (not so much anymore), but the interview just got me thinking about why us "ordinary" people who face "ordinary" problems such as money, bills, keeping a house over ourselves etc. get so worked up about celebrity problems.

A modern example is the prince Harry and royal family scenario. So many people have strong opinions about who's side they are on to the point they argue with each other, call each other names etc. When really these people are millionaires and extremely priveleged and don't even have a clue who we are.

Is it just human nature? Escapism? I have no idea. But I just wondered why humans get so emerged in the drama of extremely-privleged people when there is much more happening in the world to worry about.

Dunno. I have better things to do, personally.

People are interested in other people. It’s replaced what used to be community gossip but these days people don’t know their neighbours like they once used to. It’s the new community gossip fodder.

Also some interest in celebrities is escapism and some aspirational.

Not everyone is obsessed with the famous/Royal Family. They live in their own bubble. I have no interest in them.

@Ijustknowitstimetogo yeah I get the small side of gossip but sometimes you see even on here people are so passionate about celebs that it gets to the point of name-calling, belittling others who disagree etc. and I genuinely don't get how people can be that invested in people who have no clue who we are

I’ve never been all that bothered. My mum is the type of person who buys all of the gossip magazines like hello and ok, she also follows a few minor celebs on social media and really gets into it all. I’ve never been into it at all, the only magazines I ever bothered buying were NME and kerrang in my teens .

I think it’s escapism, yeah. Same reason people still play the lottery or buy scratch cards, they’re dreaming of another life.

I’m not.
On the rare occasions I leaf through a Hello! mag (always at the hairdresser’s since she has sod all else) I’ve never even heard of 90% of the people.

I'm not and I don't know anyone with more than a passing interest! Certainly not things me & my friends ever talk about. As teens, maybe.

I suppose Instagram and the msm offer more insight into them now. But I can't figure being obsessed with it.

I have no interest in tv celebs. I don’t watch tv or follow anyone on Facebook, tiktok, Instagram or any other social media. In fact I have no idea who most of these so called celebs are.

I do tend to read Harry’s latest bile spillage as it tends to make front page news on just about every online paper I read so hard to escape but I wouldn’t say I am obsessed with it. It is just like watching a car crash in the street and you look to see who is going to walk away alive.

I know what you mean OP.

I always think this around "awards season". Why is there such a hoo-haa about the Oscars, the BAFTAs, the Grammys etc? It's because the people involved have access to tv networks and made them a big thing so now people care about who won Best Picture when really they are just industry awards - people in the same business congratulating each other.

Why don't they televise all industry award ceremonies? Surely a doctor or scientist that made an amazing discovery or invented something life changing is more worthy of praise.

It’s beyond me. One of my colleagues watched the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh just to see if William spoke to Harry! I thought she was a sensible and intelligent woman. Clearly not.