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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think people get far too invested in celebrities?

57 replies

Mouldyfoodhelp · 15/09/2023 21:08

I honestly thought that all the gossip stuff was dying out as I don't really see any OK type magazine adverts anymore so I thought it had stopped existing and the gossip was only confined to a few celebrities.

But just tonight there's people saying that Hugh Jackson getting divorced has made them cry, spreading rumours he's gay, that him getting divorced is the cherry to top of a posters worst day ever and then in the post about the biggest story of the year which you'd imagine was important right? More talking about banal celebrity gossip.

I'm not above gossip myself but why are people letting issues in random peoples lives that often the only information they have about the celebrity in question are curated media pieces or what they see on a screen affect them so much or even so interested in it? I don't understand and I've seen a reasonable amount of celebrities say they hate the parasocial relationship fans feel they have with them.

OP posts:
Echobelly · 15/09/2023 21:09

YANBU - I think it's kind of the modern replacement for religion.

mycoffeecup · 15/09/2023 21:10

I know. People are weird.

LindorDoubleChoc · 15/09/2023 21:11

Yanbu.

Celebrity culture and fandom is very strange. I don't understand it at all. There are performers I like and admire but I don't "follow" anyone and never give any of these famous people a passing thought. I can't imagine it occupying my mind.

foulksmills · 15/09/2023 21:12

If they called him "Hugh Jackson" then they can't be too invested in him 😁

WhateverMate · 15/09/2023 21:14

YANBU, someone is actually crying??

Mouldyfoodhelp · 15/09/2023 21:14

foulksmills · 15/09/2023 21:12

If they called him "Hugh Jackson" then they can't be too invested in him 😁

Haha I guess that shows how little interest I actually take 🤦‍♀️

OP posts:
SweetBirdsong · 15/09/2023 21:14

Can't say it bothers me. Makes no difference to my life if people are 'invested' in the lives of celebrities. 😕 Why does it bother you so much? Confused

It's no different to people being 'invested in' or obsessed with a particular sport, or game, or hobby. Or obsessed with and invested in their career etc etc etc.

SweetBirdsong · 15/09/2023 21:15

Also LOL at Hugh Jackson! 😆

Mouldyfoodhelp · 15/09/2023 21:20

SweetBirdsong · 15/09/2023 21:14

Can't say it bothers me. Makes no difference to my life if people are 'invested' in the lives of celebrities. 😕 Why does it bother you so much? Confused

It's no different to people being 'invested in' or obsessed with a particular sport, or game, or hobby. Or obsessed with and invested in their career etc etc etc.

It's not like its something I think about continuously but when I see it and people so interested in the gossip I wouldn't say I get bothered I just don't see why some random actors splitting would make people have such a visceral response. Would they do the same if they hung outside a couples counsellors place of work or divorce courts?

Indo think its different from focusing on someone's career that directly affects them, similarly a hobby.

OP posts:
mynameiscalypso · 15/09/2023 21:22

I think when life is a bit shit - which it is for many people at the moment - it's easy to get sucked into celebrity culture as a bit of escapism.

SweetBirdsong · 15/09/2023 21:32

mynameiscalypso · 15/09/2023 21:22

I think when life is a bit shit - which it is for many people at the moment - it's easy to get sucked into celebrity culture as a bit of escapism.

People don't have to have a 'shit life' to be interested in celebrity life/celebrity culture. Hmm Some people just like it, and are interested in it. There's nothing wrong with having it as an interest, and comments like this are rude - and ludicrous. As is the snobbery aimed at people who enjoy celebrity culture.

There's also some irony here. How people who look down their nose at people who like celebrity culture/reality TV etc, seem so invested in the people who like it, and want to talk about them/put them down/start sneery threads about them LMFAO!

mynameiscalypso · 15/09/2023 21:37

Sorry, my post must have come across wrong. I wasn't being snobby or saying that people have shit lives. I was really saying that when most of the news is so grim (Ukraine, cost of living, climate change etc) is it any wonder that people enjoy the froth of celeb culture? I know that I do.

Mouldyfoodhelp · 15/09/2023 21:39

SweetBirdsong · 15/09/2023 21:32

People don't have to have a 'shit life' to be interested in celebrity life/celebrity culture. Hmm Some people just like it, and are interested in it. There's nothing wrong with having it as an interest, and comments like this are rude - and ludicrous. As is the snobbery aimed at people who enjoy celebrity culture.

There's also some irony here. How people who look down their nose at people who like celebrity culture/reality TV etc, seem so invested in the people who like it, and want to talk about them/put them down/start sneery threads about them LMFAO!

But what is there to like? I don't get it and I guess I'm somewhat hoping someone will explain it.

What makes celebrity gossip ( people you know nothing about) interesting? Would you hang outside of a court waiting with glee to hear the reactions of the unfortunate people that are getting a divorce or fighting for custody of their children? What makes hearing about random celebrities divorces have such a big change in people's mood?

OP posts:
LemoncHello7 · 15/09/2023 22:44

I remember when David Bowie died... someone on the radio weeping and wailing about how devastated they were and had had to take a day off work ... they'd never met the man and were simply a fan.
I can't take these people seriously...

ConsuelaHammock · 15/09/2023 22:46

I agree , I watch films for entertainment and escapism. I don’t care who the actors are , who they’re married to or dating . I don’t care when they die either. They may be lovely but I don’t know them.
All celebrity culture is complete nonsense imo.

Onthisproject · 15/09/2023 22:49

LemoncHello7 · 15/09/2023 22:44

I remember when David Bowie died... someone on the radio weeping and wailing about how devastated they were and had had to take a day off work ... they'd never met the man and were simply a fan.
I can't take these people seriously...

Weirdly I cried my eyes out when David Bowie died and I didn't even own a single bit of music by him! Still have no idea why it affected me so badly.

SweetBirdsong · 15/09/2023 22:57

mynameiscalypso · 15/09/2023 21:37

Sorry, my post must have come across wrong. I wasn't being snobby or saying that people have shit lives. I was really saying that when most of the news is so grim (Ukraine, cost of living, climate change etc) is it any wonder that people enjoy the froth of celeb culture? I know that I do.

That's OK. Flowers Sorry if I was a bit snarky about what you said. Just came across as 'you must have a shit life if you watch reality TV and are interested in celebrities!' Grin

Isittimeformynapyet · 15/09/2023 23:01

"It's no different to people being 'invested in' or obsessed with a particular sport, or game, or hobby. Or obsessed with and invested in their career etc etc etc."

@SweetBirdsong oh it is. It really, really is

TheDaphne · 15/09/2023 23:07

Yes, it’s dopey. See also the regular threads on here ripping some quiz show host or former boy and member to shreds because they once skipped the queue at a Costa in Heathrow in front of your cousin in 2012, or didn’t smile at your toddler in a garden centre.

HRTQueen · 15/09/2023 23:07

SweetBirdsong · 15/09/2023 21:32

People don't have to have a 'shit life' to be interested in celebrity life/celebrity culture. Hmm Some people just like it, and are interested in it. There's nothing wrong with having it as an interest, and comments like this are rude - and ludicrous. As is the snobbery aimed at people who enjoy celebrity culture.

There's also some irony here. How people who look down their nose at people who like celebrity culture/reality TV etc, seem so invested in the people who like it, and want to talk about them/put them down/start sneery threads about them LMFAO!

I love celeb gossip the news breaking tomorrow better be good 🤩

Yes why do so many claim to be so bored, so uninterested yet they start threads or pop onto threads to tell us how tedious it all is

if it were that tedious you wouldn’t even bother making a comment at all

SweetBirdsong · 15/09/2023 23:13

Isittimeformynapyet · 15/09/2023 23:01

"It's no different to people being 'invested in' or obsessed with a particular sport, or game, or hobby. Or obsessed with and invested in their career etc etc etc."

@SweetBirdsong oh it is. It really, really is

Oh @Isittimeformynapyet it isn't. It really really ISN'T.

SweetBirdsong · 15/09/2023 23:14

HRTQueen · 15/09/2023 23:07

I love celeb gossip the news breaking tomorrow better be good 🤩

Yes why do so many claim to be so bored, so uninterested yet they start threads or pop onto threads to tell us how tedious it all is

if it were that tedious you wouldn’t even bother making a comment at all

Pathetic isn't it? Deliciously ironic too.! Grin

UndercoverCop · 15/09/2023 23:26

I didn't cry or feel sad when I saw the story, but I did think that's a shame. Mainly because any 27 year marriage ending is a shame (well at least most), but especially one that's survived Hollywood.

People like to hear about people and the minutiae of their lives, it's why soaps are so popular. Also there are lots of melodramatic people on MN, you know screaming in the Sistine chapel, putting out giant Olaf toys as parking guards in a fit of rage etc. So it's hardly surprising that some reacted in a big way to this.

HRTQueen · 15/09/2023 23:28

Oh it is SweetBirdsong 😁

JaneJeffer · 15/09/2023 23:31

I don't understand people who try to police what others are interested in discussing.

I have no interest in Hugh Jackman so I didn't get involved in the thread but other people do. So what?

Start your own "highbrow" discussion instead of a TAAT to slag people off.

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