14 DAY TRIAL // Being constantly in the spotlight must have its downs, that's for sure. Because life is never perfect and there's always a price to pay for all that fame, and money and... fame again. Celebrities and public figures may lead what to us, the unadvised observer, might seem as an idyllic existence, but this seldom is the real case.
Without any intention of flattery or without looking for excuses, stars live under the constant pressure of corresponding exactly to the image that fans have made of themselves. They are supposed to always be beautiful, glamorous, in style, successful and well-behaved.
They must answer questions and justify their actions just as their public expects them to, no matter how indiscreet or personal; they are never to forget their manners or the fact that their entire livelihood depends on the very people whom they might offend by the slightest gesture or innocent word.
Public figures have been under the media lens probably ever since the definition of the word 'star' (in the most modern acceptance of the term, that of 'an artistic performer or athlete whose leading role or superior performance is acknowledged; one who is highly celebrated in a field or profession'). Stress inevitably occurs at one point or another and the reaction to all this pressure greatly varies from one person to another.
The most common method of numbing the senses and escaping the cruel reality among celebs is, what else, but to seek refuge into booze and/or drugs. Sex is another option available, of course, as a long series of lovers creates a certain sense of stability and security.
We are not trying to find reasons or excuses (as we have already mentioned) to stupid and many times ridicule behavior of good girls and boys gone bad. But one must admit, leaving all hypocrisy aside, that it must be pretty challenging to live knowing that permanently someone is watching you and every word you say or move that you make.
Just looking back, we find the most striking example ever: Elvis Presley, the King himself, the man who had it all and threw it away. A brilliant career in singing and acting, a worldwide known face and voice, all the beautiful things (including women) that money can buy couldn't compensate for a total lack of will and peace of mind. It is terribly saddening to see that, although surrounded by so many crazed fans and admirers, one can be so lonely.
The King started off by impressing first America with his wonderful vocals then moved in and swept all the competition worldwide. Later on, his failed marriage worked as a trigger for an over indulgence in drugs and alcohol. No need to mention his excessive weight gain in his later years or the violent behavior he displayed with all his girlfriends or simply one-night-stands. But, just to show how, usually, bad things tend only to get worse with time, we might as well mention the fact that he almost drowned in a common soup bowl and once in the water closet because he was too 'high' to realize what was happening to him.
Another illustrative example is that of bad boy, too famous for his reputation to be overlooked, British Babyshambles frontman, Pete Doherty. If one were to make a bet, just for the sake of argument, on whether he would know the answer to such a simple question as what day it is, our money would go on that he has no clue. Constantly in and out of rehab, Doherty's adventures are almost worthy of a book, a guide on what not to do if you ever have the chance to be granted access to stardom.
He is violent, repulsive, depressed and, most often than not, incoherent. We are yet at a loss to decide if it's his music, his addictions or his relationship to supermodel Kate Moss is the thing that made him an overnight superstar. Because chicks certainly dig him, in spite of the haggard look on his face or the fact that, when he leaves (to read: being escorted out) from a pub or venue, he is no longer capable even of zipping his own trousers.
And now that we're 'doing' the British, we're moving on to former girlfriend, catwalk queen Kate Moss. But we have only fine words for her, if statements from all sides that she cleaned up her act are true. Hats up to Kate!
The scandal that led to her losing major modeling deals, in which she was involved, is quite over and done with. The dust has settled on the (in)famous picture of her snorting cocaine and sharing lines with other party animals such as herself, but it still remains to be settled if it was her the one that encouraged drug use in her relationship with Pete, or the other way around. Maybe it's better that we never know the truth.
Just to set the record straight, we could go on like this forever and we could actually make up a very long list that would include other stars that can't face the hardships of everyday life and resort to drugs and alcohol. And Robert Downey Jr., Nick Nolte, Paris Hilton, Joaquin Pheonix, James Brown and Lindsay Lohan (if rumors are true) would be no strangers to it.
But nobody made us judges and we must always walk a mile in their shoes before pointing the finger. You could take this as a not so subtly hidden anti-drugs campaign and consider it less related to the celebrity glamorous world, but the fact still remains: the grass is almost never greener on the other side, because our 'neighbors' have already used it for joints.
