Jezebel 
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New York, 1:21 PM
Sat Nov 28
29 posts in the last 24 hours
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08/01/09
It was hard for me as a college student nobody (and then hearing "She's crazy!" behind my back for years afterwards). I can't imagine how difficult it would be as a member of the very public eye.
Events like this personalize the celebrity to me and my own experiences. So I can't celebrate this. I just want to give them a hug or something.
08/01/09
08/02/09
@kissmyarchetype: That's exactly the image I have when I read these zingers in the press.
On a side note: Bravo Hortense for summing that up in a reasonable and concise manner. The madness is not stopping anytime soon, but it is refreshing to read a piece like yours.
08/01/09
At the matter at hand, let's just say that celebrity gossip is not in my top ten favorite subjects (even when it's something innocuous like criticism to how one dresses kinda bothers me), but I really like how Jezebel, and especially Hortense, use it as a starting point to more substantive discussions.
In this case, young pretty female celebrities and their serious problems, I believe it's the old Madonna/Whore complex taking place at the same time in people's imaginarium, they are supposed to be saintly sexy, objects without desire, and when they express any kind of will, besides being roll models, you know being humans, society will eat the alive.
08/01/09
08/01/09
I feel awful for them (in fact, I often have these sad sympathetic dreams about Lindsay Lohan, which is weird), but I also feel a part of me being like, yeah, that's right, not so pretty now, HUH, skinny lady?!?
08/01/09
Both Britney and Lindsey went through a similar cycle. They were child stars - arguably with genuine talent - who grew up in the media eye. Right around the time they went through puberty the "industry" swooped in and over-sexualized them. The internet was abuzz the moment their boobs came in...creepy bastards were counting down the days until they turned 18. I don't know about anyone else, but I hid under a sweatshirt for a full year when I got my boobs. I wasn't ready for the attention. I suspect they weren't either...certainly not on an international scale.
I think they both made attempts at staying "wholesome": Britney by getting married and having babies, Lindsey by getting really skinny and trying to reverse puberty. THEN when they realized that wouldn't work they went ahead and tried to play the hyper-sexualized vixen role the world wanted to see and get some empowerment out of it, but without the chance to mature psychologically in a healthy environment...they just got eaten alive.
I mean, that's just my armchair-psychologist version of things but I suspect it's not far from the truth. Either way, I don't think it's anything to laugh at.
08/01/09
08/01/09
If you end up with a DWI or some other situation where your illness or addiction hurts others though, no sympathy from me. That's dangerous jerk behavior and there's no excuse.
08/01/09
08/01/09
08/01/09
As much as folks sip on haterade when it comes to these starlets, the fact is that they CAN get better and often have the resources, family and friends (not to mention directors or producers) to help them reach recovery. They can afford costly rehabilitative therapy, therapists, nutritionists, personal trainers, the whole shebang. And we all love a good comeback story and expect it.
But this fact tempers my empathy for them. Because there are so many young women who are self-destructing and suffering with addiction, but who's shining the light on that? Where's their trip to Betty Ford? Or restorative exotic vacation from destructive environments? These stories should only be used as a way to shine light on the plight of other women who may be going through the same thing, but with no road to recovery that's paved with glitter and gold.
08/01/09
And maybe the common girl is unhappy because when they fuck up, they don't get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to show up to set and do blow in the trailer. Hence the glee.
I hope I'm never as mean as that person who wrote that article. God, lady.
08/01/09
08/01/09
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08/01/09
08/01/09
It really comes down to empathy, I cannot, for a moment, understand what it's like to be in that monster of an industry, where you may never know who your friends are (if they even exist) and even your family may look at your as a cash cow. Pair that with paranoia, anxiety, feelings of inadequacy, leading to likely drug use....it's certainly a recipe for serious problems.
When you look at young women who seem well adjusted, the constant always seems to be 1) a trusting connection with at least one family member and/or 2) keeping connections with people from their "pre-famous" life. Things that keep one grounded.
I am not a fan of all these women, I dislike Lohan simply because I feel she's been elevated by some and I really think she's mediocre, talent-wise. I never listened to Spears' music, and I Reid.....well, indifference. But, that doesn't mean it doesn't cause a lump in my throat when I see them self-medicating and self-destructing. It's heartbreaking.
08/01/09
08/01/09
08/01/09
08/01/09
MUAHAHAHAHA! I maliciously enjoy you unknowingness!
...
Wait ... damn ...
08/01/09
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/164627
Seriously after this I realized that we really do treat these girls like human sacrifices.