In short, yes.

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We are privy to what celebrities are saying and doing 24/7, whether it is because of press tours, the rumor mill, or their own words/actions on social media. Since there is such thing as a comment section and internet forums, people tend to believe that it is their duty to police what it is these celebrities are saying and doing – even if it does not pertain to themselves. As humans, we have the right to feel however we want to about a subject matter, but does it really need to be announced to the world?

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Let’s talk about the Timothée Chalamet Ballet instance. Matthew McConaughey and Timothée Chalamet sat down for an open conversation for the Variety and CNN town hall. The two actors were speaking on the subject of movie theaters and the challenges in getting audiences to show up for movies outside of streaming platforms. This then prompted him to say, "I don't want to be working in ballet or opera, or you know, things where it's like, 'Hey, keep this thing alive,' even though it's like, no one cares about this anymore." In which the crowd laughed, and the internet spiraled. People were immediately denouncing Chalamet, despite him having a cult following and receiving continual praise for his talents as an actor. People were taking the single sentence as his own belief, rather than taking it within the context of the conversation. If people took the time to research, they’d see he was making the comment in jest and actually drawing attention to one of the oldest art forms being diminished by audiences because they are turning to short form content and streaming platforms instead for entertainment.

 

All that to say, we are seeing situations like this over and over, where everyone seems to have an opinion! I’m sure if someone walked past one of your conversations and took it as fact, they would have their own strong opinion – but that would only be because they didn’t get the context of the situation. Is what a pop culture figure says about something really that important if it isn’t directly controversial? We’re seeing people apologize for things people have never apologized for before. Not to mention, people who still hold power in this world and our countries get away scot-free from saying actual awful comments and committing very serious and concerning crimes. Next time you think to comment on a petty comment or situation, take the time to think whether it really is that serious. I can guarantee it isn’t. And if you really need to get it off your chest, talk to a friend. Either they’ll indulge you by agreeing, or you’ll learn a new perspective by them disagreeing.

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If the worst thing Timothée Chalamet has done is say that people aren’t going to the opera and ballet anymore, I’d say he’s doing alright. If Chappell Roan is awful because she prioritizes her privacy and boundaries, I’d say she’s a sane human being for that. Being a celebrity certainly comes with it’s perks and they are doing far better than a lot of people in the grand scheme of things, but if you’re choosing to put your energy and anger somewhere where it is dismissed...maybe focus on what the real problem is.