Attention Hungry?
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October 28, 2009
Filed under Opinion, Top Stories
Publicity stunts are as old as humans who battled on mammoths to show off, and they are as young as a starlet seeking coverage in “People” magazine, but lately it seems as though everyone in America is hungry for some attention and will risk anything to get it.
From 32-year-old Kanye West ruining one of the biggest moments of 18-year-old Taylor Swift’s life to the Heene family faking their child’s (Balloon Boy) disappearance to get their own reality show, the acts that these celebrities have been putting on and the publicity stunts that have been pulled have me questioning whether or not we should hold them so high and mighty.
So apparently it would not be the MTV VMA Awards without an outburst from Kanye West. So what did Kanye West do this year? The latest Kanye MTV Awards tirade came at the expense of the country starlet Taylor Swift. As Taylor Swift was accepting the Best Female Video award for her hit “You Belong With Me,” West stormed the stage, took the microphone from Swift and insisted that Beyonce Knowles’ video “Single Ladies” was one of the best videos of all time, implying that Swift did not deserve her award.
What he did was way beyond disrespectful and immature. Seriously, at what point do you realize that it is time to grow up? That was her moment and he had no right to take that from her. I think he only did it to get people’s attention and obviously it is working. It is what he does it for. He does it for press. Do not feed into it. He is just going to get what he wants by getting to be in tabloids and any apology he has offered is because of all the negative attention. His apologies are just because he is getting flak for what he did.
Now, the entire Jon and Kate Gosselin situation is just another act. Yes, I am sure they probably do have some genuine hostility towards each other, but it is not as bad as they are making it out to be. Since their marriage fell apart on TV, which coincidentally and sadly happened at a time when the rest of the celebrity world was in hibernation, the couple has generated more online clicks and sold more magazines than anyone. Do you really feel that bad for them now?
Yes, saying that the Gosselins timed their divorce is a harsh accusation on my part, but it is one that is tough to argue with. I have been following the Jon and Kate saga since rumors began flying that the two were having affairs, and the big breaks in their story do seem to be so perfectly timed that it is hard not to think they might be publicity stunts. I remember a time when “Jon & Kate Plus 8″ was a show that revolved around the kids, which my 3-year-old sister called her friends, and the love within the family. What is it now? It is nothing but a big hoax and scheme for more money that they do not deserve. I am not sure that it’s something I would encourage anyone to watch.
Alarm bells obviously went off in viewers head when Jon Gosselin, on “Good Morning America,” said he and Kate have separate film crews because Jon cannot sit on a couch with someone he despises. He said it so you would watch and realize they really do sit on separate couches. Give the Gosselins what they want and they will keep pulling these little tricks, which a majority of viewers continue to fall for.
On Oct. 15, a six-year-old was mistakenly believed to have floated away in a home-made balloon, attracting world-wide attention. This 6-year-old, Falcon Heene, is the child of Richard and Mayumi Heene. This family which consists of two more boys, has appeared on the show “Wife Swap” not only once, but twice.
Falcon Heene was believed to be traveling at altitudes reaching 7,000 feet in the helium balloon colored and shaped to resemble a silver flying saucer-type of UFO. Falcon, referred to as the “Balloon Boy” by some media outlets, had reportedly climbed into the balloon, after which it became untethered and launched. After the balloon landed, and the boy was found not to be inside, and authorities began a manhunt of the entire area, raising fears that he had fallen from the balloon. The saga was reported by news networks across the world and later that afternoon he was eventually reported to have been hiding at his house the whole time.
In an interview with Wolf Blitzer on “Larry King Live” that evening, in response to a question about why he was hiding, Falcon said to his father, “You guys said that, um, we did this for the show.” This added to speculation that the incident was a hoax and publicity stunt engineered by the boy’s father, Richard Heene. Richard later admits, that the entire act was an effort to get their own reality show.
Though it is unfortunate for them, it is quite hilarious to me that the parents are now facing felony charges. It is on every level possible, one of the most pathetic things I have ever heard. If you are putting your family at risk to get a show and some attention, then you should not be shocked to hear that most of the world hates you right now.
So, there are far more publicity stunts out there, these are just three recent ones. I do not want anyone to think that publicity stunts are a part of being famous or being a celebrity. I personally believe that publicity stunts are for people who cannot rely on their talent alone, and they need to do whatever it takes to make sure that their career does not go up in flames.
Now, is Lady Gaga’s entire career a publicity stunt or is Lady Gaga really just gaga? That’s one we’re all going to have to think about.
Whats the craziest thing you have done for attention?
“I put dead animals on and around other people’s property and mine.”
-Abby Guenther, senior
“I tried to go emo in eighth grade.”
-Avery Lagalle, sophomore
“When I was a little kid and my brothers were getting all the attention, I put on a cape and jumped off the patio. It was on the second story, and I wanted to show everyone I could fly; but I only got medical attention.”
-Senorita Poppe, Spanish teacher
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Danon Taylor
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