Topic: Celebs are people too
Yesterday was all about Michael Phelps, today we turn the topic to Chris Brown. When our community heard of the incident between Chris Brown and Rihanna they were shocked! And after seeing the bruised and beaten picture of Rihanna yesterday leaked by TMZ, they are outraged.
Last week, before the picture was released I asked the community the following question: What do you think about what’s going on with Chris Brown? Select all that apply. 440 teens between the ages of 13-18 weighed in. After this picture was released yesterday, I went back out with the question – asking them if their thoughts have changed on the matter (318 of the 440 responded)…here’s how they responded:
|
FEB 13 |
FEB 19 |
| I think I need to hear the whole story before I pass judgement. |
46.2% |
34% |
| I don’t really care |
19.5% |
18% |
| I still like his music, but him as a person – not so much |
16% |
54% |
| I think he should go to jail for a very long time |
13% |
30% |
I used to like him, but now with what’s happened,
I am not a fan any longer |
10% |
22% |
| I still like him, he just made a mistake |
6.6% |
4% |
| Other |
11.2% |
18% |
Other comments (2.13):
There is no excuse to treat a woman like that. He is a little man.
I think we need to wait and see before we pass judgement!”
“He’s human and it’s no worse then what other celebs do – he just got caught.”
“Do we even know if it’s true. Let’s wait and see please.”
“IF he is guilty- he should get what anyone else gets… again the media is out of control.”
“He is a public figure and should behave accordingly. The problem is that celebs do whatever they want and the public still fawns all over them. If this were a neighbor no one in the neighborhood would have anything to do with him but because he is a celeb he will get away with it. He should get in line with the rest of drunks, drug addicts, abusers, and law breakers that call themselves celebs.”
“Another Bobby Brown? Ike Turner? Will Rihanna be like Whitney or Tina?”
“This is not the first time we will hear about this case & it definitely won’t be the last, the media is making a big deal because he is a star & need to keep in mind that they were not present when this happened so everything they repeat is just hearsay.”
Other comments (2.19)
“I am so freakin’ appalled by the picture of Rihanna, I literally tore the picture I had of him off my wall. He’s trash!”
“OMG, I am sick to my stomach. No one deserves this. He needs to pay!”
“Im a dude and in my opinion you have to be a weak man to hit a women. He is going to get his ass beat by JayZ and Kanye. What a jackass!”
“Ok, before I was like ‘let’s wait and see’ – now I am like ‘I saw all I need to know that Chris Brown no longer has me as a fan’
“I still don’t know what happened – but poor Rhi-Rhi doesn’t deserve to look like that.”
“Damn, that’s serious. He should go to jail or do some kind of community service at a women’s shelter…and get anger management help!”
Takeaways:
Teens weren’t quick to pass judgement – until they saw the picture of Rihanna bruised
A picture speaks a thousand words. Before the picture of Rihanna was released, the teens were not ready to deem Chris Brown a bad person. This is because teens have grown tired of the misinformation given time and time again by the press. They are more wise to the ways of spinning a story to create controversy. Nowadays, this generation needs more proof then just a reporters take on the story. In terms of the Chris Brown situation, once the story was backed by the visual of Rihanna – their opinion on the matter changed. Teen don’t immediately believe the hype – unless the hype can be proven by a photograph.
Can celebs come back from the crime they commit? We have seen celebs rise back up after getting caught doing drugs, getting drunk, smacking photographers, making sex-tapes, cheating on their partners, paying for prostitution, etc. - but can a celeb bounce back after beating their celeb girlfriend? We have seen this happen with Ike and Tina and Bobby and Whitney… but either men at the time were as well liked and as famous as Chris Brown. The jury is still out but if the results above say anything about the comeback of Chris Brown – his future looks bleak.
What about Rihanna? Rihanna was the sweetheart of the music world before this incident – and now we will see star rise even more so. This could change though if the rumors that she has been calling Chris Brown, saying ‘she wants him back’ are true. She will lose instant crediability and prove to be a weak rolemodel to her young adoring fans. If she was smart, she would start her own movement towards self-esteem and school young girls on her experience in an abusive relationship – as well as write about her ordeal and put her experience and lessons to music (ala Mary J Blidge). She will then acquire more fans and gain more respect and credibility as an artist.
Topic: Gabe Gomez – 22 year old, millennial film-maker
