When someone thinks of a person with significant fame, many positive connotations come to mind—fortune, attention, power and constant praise are consistently associated with fame.
However, there are many unnoticed disadvantages to having a high level of fame. By being famous, celebrities place themselves on one of the largest stages, allowing the world to see them and their talents. While this increases the amount of recognition they receive, it also leaves them open and defenseless against constant hate and bullying. Especially with social media and their online presence, celebrities sometimes cannot escape the public eye.
As Emma Chamberlain, a famous social media influencer, says on her podcast Anything Goes, “I find that sometimes online bullying towards celebrities can be sort of imbalanced. By that, I mean they might do something cringy or they might do something kind of stupid. Now, this is not to say that every time a celebrity gets criticized, it’s imbalanced … But I think a lot of times it feels imbalanced, you know, celebrities get bullied beyond a point that is necessary” (Chamberlain 8:58). Celebrities have to endure extreme levels of hate on a daily basis.
Another downside is the feeling of disconnection from one’s true identity. With the rise of social media, it is difficult for celebrities to control their own image when the media dictates which sides of them are shown to the public. From a celebrity’s point of view, it can feel as though their identity is no longer in their hands but rather in the eyes of the media. This is especially true for actors, as people often struggle to separate them from the famous roles they’ve played.
On top of that, celebrities have a hard time finding people they can truly trust. Many start their careers with a genuine desire to help people and showcase their talents, but they are often taken advantage of because of their money and resources. It can be difficult not to wonder whether people like them for who they are or simply for what they can offer. This ties back to the feeling of disconnection from their identity—at some point, being famous becomes their identity.
Additionally, many celebrities start to crave a sense of normalcy—to be able to go to the grocery store or ride a commercial plane without being bombarded by paparazzi. The lack of privacy can be exhausting and even frightening. When you are famous, almost anyone can find your address or track your location, increasing the risk of robbery or harm. Recently, several home burglaries have targeted famous NFL players like Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes.
All of these factors combined can make a celebrity’s life completely miserable, to the point where the benefits of fame no longer outweigh the negatives. So, while celebrities may earn substantial amounts of money and recognition, their lives are far from perfect—despite what many might think.