Being a celebrity comes with many perks and pitfalls. Many people want to be famous and have their names on the lips of fans. They love the paparazzi and everything that comes with being a celebrity, overlooking the downsides of fame. If we take a close look at their lifestyle, celebrities get invited to important places, meet important people, wear nice clothes, and drive expensive cars. Also, being related to a celebrity can have its own advantages. Not only do you have higher chances of meeting important and successful people in your field, but you also have a better chance of making your dreams come through. For example, if you're an aspiring musician and you're related to Davido, he's definitely going to help you achieve your dreams.
But being a celebrity isn't all good, it has so many disadvantages. In my opinion, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages and that is why I wouldn't want to be a celebrity. One of the most significant disadvantages of being a celebrity is dealing with fans, especially obsessed and psychotic ones. In today’s edition of Hive Learners prompt, we are asked to discuss the complexities of being a celebrity. Are fans' behaviors becoming excessive these days? Fans can be hyped when they see their favorite celebrities, some even go as far as becoming aggressive. Sometimes, these celebrities, in an effort to protect themselves, also go aggressive in response.
On January 1st, I came across a video on Instagram of Burna Boy, the famous Afrobeat singer who kicked a fan on stage. I watched the video and checked the comment section to see people's thoughts on the matter. Most of them complained about Burna Boy’s reaction, saying he doesn't care about his fans and is now too aggressive. One of them said, “I’m starting to dislike him.” Only a few people supported him, saying Burna Boy didn't kick him well enough. I watched the video again just to confirm that those who said he was aggressive were in their right senses. In the video, the fan came out of nowhere and ran aggressively towards Burna Boy. Anyone in Burna Boy’s shoes would think he was coming to attack him.
If I were in his shoes, there'd be millions of questions running through my brain in those seconds. “What if he had a knife with him?” Some of these fans are psychotic and can do anything they like. I've read news of fans who attacked celebrities because they didn't “do well.” Last year, Harry Maguire, a footballer who plays for Manchester United got attacked because he'd been playing awful. This shows how psychotic fans are and how aggressive they can be. If you watched the video closely, you'd know that Burna Boy was scared. The expression on his face told the whole story- he was terrified. It is safe to say that his reflexes got the better of him. I support those who say that Burna Boy should have kicked him really hard. Because tell me why you'd run out of nowhere to meet him on the stage. What was his aim? I understand that fans can become excited when they see their favorites, but sometimes they go too extreme.
Some fans even go as far as stalking their favorite celebrities. Omowunmi Akinnifesi, a Nigerian Celebrity, was stalked by an “obsessed fan” for more than 6 years. It started with a phone call, from that one phone call to multiple ones and then he started stalking, following her everything- this continued for six years. Imagine how overwhelming it can be to deal with a stalker for more than 6 years. I read about this about 5 years ago, and I can't remember how Omowunmi got rid of her stalker, but I'm pretty sure if she had used aggressive means like beating him up to a pulp or arresting him and throwing him in a cell for years, I would totally support her.
I don't blame celebrities who go to extremes to defend themselves against aggressive fans. If I were in their shoes, I'd do the same. If fans are gentle and respectful towards them, there would be no reason for them to react aggressively. You can't expect fans to run aggressively towards them and not face consequences. So, if you don't want to get kicked, be civil when you meet your favorite celebrities.
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Thanks for reading.