Rational debate - celebritydom

[speedymama]

Considering all the furore over CBB and why JG is a celebrity, would the backlash against her been as vituperative if it had been Tara PT(can't remember her full name)? She is a celebrity of sorts but I personally don't know why other than the fact that she is a trustafarian with high society connections.

Do we resent JG because she has no discernable talents, is inarticulate, is unknowledgeable about most things but despite all those drawbacks, has made a fortune?

When Prince Phillips makes his xenophobic remarks or Prince Harry dresses as a Nazi, there is condemnation and disapproval but they are not villified in the same way that JG has been (and imho, they probably harbour more racist views than the likes of JG). I do wonder if the depth of villification against JG is more to do with her deportment being common and vulgar as oppose to being graceful and coy?

I'm black btw and condemn without qualification racism and bullying from anybody.

Class is the unspoken factor wrt Jade Goody. 'Race' can be spoken but class can't (or isn't).

Maybe people feel they can 'project' onto JG - that 'it could be me', identify with her...so it is like an extra betrayal when she damns herself. Whereas maybe we have always thought 'what an idiot, they don't live in the real world' about Prince Philip and Harry, and have never expected better.

And as Wannabe ppints out on the other thread, Goody is hardly nicke Griffen - there are worse people than her...Prince Philip, for one!!

I would argue Tara PT has no discernable talents, is inarticulate and unknowledgeable about most things...just as much as JG.

JG went on and on and on, in a public forum. It was aime dat one particular person and was not only racism abut bullying too.

FWIW I'd be quite happy to villify Primce Philip...posh or not.

Coudl be argued JAde had 'made good' from her 'unpromising' roots...whereas Tara PT has wasted the opportunities money and status coudl have afforded her? Therefore Tara less respected?

I agree Jessajam. JG has achieved something that most people can only dream of and she has done it with absolutely nothing. One has to admire that. I just wish she would use her good fortune to improve her deportment, understanding of the world as well as acquire a grasp of the English language. OTOH, Tara PT was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, went to the best schools that money can buy and I personally feel that I have achieved far more than she has from my humble beginnings.

Also, agree with Blu, Prince Phillip, imo, is far worse than JG but because he is part of the establishment, he is tolerated and excused.

Molesworth, funny, I wanted to mention class but could not bring myself to do it.

I agree speedymama, I also condemn totally racism and bullying from anyone....but the way this girl is being vilified in the press is absolutely terrifying and you are right, it is on a different level entirely from other people like the royals.

The truth is she should never have had a career in the media in the first place, she should never have been built up in the way she was and she should not be being pretty much systematically and intentionally destroyed now. I get a sinking feeling about society as a whole when people like this girl can earn millions for doing nothing and be on the front of magazines, just as much as I get a sinking feeling when I see the media's cynical manipulation of her 'downfall'.

I hope things like this will eat away at people's wish to watch this kind of utter crap on tv. I think us sitting on sofas watching other people sitting on sofas on tv is just UTTERLY depressing and a misuse of the abilities we are given as human beings and I just think a society that thinks that is OK is ripe for a MASSIVE change!

We're finally seeing the downside to people being scooped up into celebrity like this when they are ill-eqipped to deal with it. Hopefully it's the beginning of the end for Big Brother.

My theory is that Jade Goody is seen as representing the "underclass" and that this is the basis of the public's/media's fascination with her

I think that is a very good point Speedymama. I have always been shocked when Prince Phillip has made awful remarks and nobody brings him to task. I don't know why this is the case but it really burns me.