So This Celebrity Walks Into a Bar…

Earlier this year actor David Tennant launched a podcast titled, appropriately enough, David Tennant Does a Podcast. In each episode he interviewed a celebrity. Frequently David and his guest would talk about how that person’s fame had destroyed their ability to go out in public. If they had small children, they were particularly dismayed about how their fame affected their children’s lives.

So what?

There are a host of problems in the world: climate change, income inequality, racism… the list goes on and on. Why on earth should we care about whether or not privileged celebrities and their families can go out in public without being harassed? And, really, isn’t the inability to go out in public a fair trade-off for the wealth and power that celebrities have?

Here’s the problem with believing that lack of privacy is a trade-off for fame and fortune: This does nothing to solve problems such as income inequality. Furthermore, celebrities are human beings. We should recognize their humanity and treat them as people who have value. Not greater value than the people we see every day (the fact that we often overemphasize celebrities’ value is, after all, why celebrities are hounded in public). But celebrities and their families do have value, and as such, we should respect their human need for privacy and leave them alone.

But I really like [Name’s] work, and I want to tell them so.

It’s fine to enjoy someone’s work and want to let them know that. The key is to seek out forums where expressing that admiration is welcome.

• Many celebrities make themselves available to the public at specific times and places, such as fandom conventions and book tours. Yes, you may have to pay to get your favorite celebrity’s autograph or picture, and you will almost certainly have to stand in line with many other fans. But these are the most appropriate times to shake someone’s hand and let them know you’re a big fan.
• Some celebrities are active on social media. While they may not respond, this is a great place to send them a message letting them know that you loved their most recent performance.
• If all else fails, you can always send a fan letter. I know, I know. It’s not at all the same as talking to a celebrity in person. But if your intent is really to express your admiration, fan mail is a perfectly acceptable way of doing this.

Aren’t the paparazzi the real problem?

The paparazzi are definitely part of the problem. But if we stopped showing an appetite for celebrity gossip, the paparazzi would no longer exist.

Want to learn more about someone famous? Many celebrities promote their careers through interviews. Others may publish a memoir. If we use these channels for more information on our favorite celebrities, we can hear their stories without intruding on their privacy.

I know that in light of all the problems in the world, it seems shallow to say that you can make a difference by leaving celebrities alone. But stepping back and giving them space takes virtually no effort on our part and doesn’t interfere with our efforts to do good in other areas. In fact, if we give less attention to celebrities, we will have more to give to the things that really matter.

What about famous people whose decisions directly affect others? Are you saying we shouldn’t speak up in the name of justice to political or business leaders if we see them in public?

No. I see that as a different topic. There are still strong arguments against approaching those leaders in public, but there are also valid reasons for doing so. (Christians, if you want to see one argument in favor of pestering leaders in the name of justice, read the Parable of the Persistent Widow in Luke 8:1-18. While the parable is about persistent prayer, note that the hero in the story is a woman who repeatedly approaches an unjust judge, seeking justice.)