After the recent fiasco following the MTV awards show and Miley Cyrus, it occurred to me the American media is particularly mean to the young stars who have grown up in their midst.
The media completely shredded Britney Spears, yet wondered why she finally "cracked" up. She was the American public's sweetheart for many years, with those innocent eyes and soft baby voice -- until she became a young woman making what would be considered normal mistakes had she not been famous. The criticism began with her Vegas wedding and subsequent whirlwind divorce.
As a young mother being chased by paparazzi, they criticized her for not putting her baby in the car seat. I'm sure she was just trying to get away from all the freaks putting her child in harm's way, pushing and shoving, in their attempt to get pictures. Many of us probably would have forgotten in those flight-or-fight circumstances as well. Personally, this is a slight that would be difficult to swallow. I remember being a first-time mom and how other's criticisms made me feel. The constant belittling of her parenting skills must have been devastating to the very fabric of her soul.
And let's not forget what the media has done to Lindsay Lohan.
Now, the paparazzi is after new blood. Miley Cyrus's. Has she given them plenty to talk about? Most definitely and most of her behaviours aren't appropriate for the younger audiences. Yet, I can't help but wonder: had she begun her career as a twenty-something, if the media would be so mean? I doubt it. There are many pop stars, like Lady Gaga or Christina Aguilera or Madonna, who are rarely criticized for their overly sexual stunts during a show. It's because Miley Cyrus was sweet, little Hanna Montana who always did her damnedest to make the best decisions and correct her mistakes.
Do you remember being a rebellious young adult? I certainly do. The more people talked and criticized, the more I fed that rumor mill, each act a little more outrageous than the one before. Why? It amused me greatly on my quest to full adulthood. I was no longer the child who was required to listen to her elders about proper behaviours and life in general. Unfortunately, the rumor mill will crush you unless you get out at exactly the right moment.
I cannot possibly imagine the public pressure placed on some of these young celebrities. Having been the daughter of a minister, I well remember the pressure people place on you for making normal mistakes -- not sure why a minister's daughter should be exempt from making mistakes. Thankfully, I did not have to live my life in the public eye because that would've been one hundred times worse!
The media is no different than a critical congregation was for me. These young people have been raised in the public eye, and the media creates a public feeding frenzy. Gaga or Madonna would have been lauded for a brilliant, racy performance. Miley is criticized.
What these young people choose to portray once they have grown up is no one's business. Leave them alone.
