I don’t mean all of them and maybe not even most of them, but enough of them. I see this scenario play out time and time again:
Beloved public figure does some messy shit
people find out about it
people cannot believe said beloved public figure would do such a thing
people feel they must choose whether to continue consuming this public figure’s content or cancel them.
I usually don’t get super invested in any particular public figure, mostly because my interests and goals change with the wind. That does not mean I haven’t been disappointed with someone who is well known and well respected that I have looked up to. I think I’ve gotten to the point where I realize how toxic and unhealthy parasocial investments in famous people can truly be. At the end of the day: I don’t really know these people and these people sure the fuck don’t know me. What we often see of public figures is such a small microcosm of their personality, behavior, and life in its entirety, so it’s no wonder we all get attached to problematic famous people. That being said, I don’t think we shouldn’t trust anyone who makes good content. I would merely hope that more people realize that their faves are not gods, messiahs, or angels. They are fallible and will inevitably do and say things that are wrong. That is normal.
It is also possible that we may be blindsided by people who do not show their true colors until we are already fully invested in them. That is also normal, and I hope people understand the importance of taking care of their mental health by limiting their engagement with content that may be emotional scarring for them. I myself am VERY careful with whose work I consume, because I value my time and emotional energy. I will not waste it on disappointing people who fail to come correct after I and others like me give them room to be human, fallible, and messy.
