When fans are truly dedicated, there is nothing that can stop them from catching a glimpse of the rich and famous. But as a result, the same people that we idolize hardly get any privacy. Recently the pop star Justin Bieber visited Eugene and even practiced for his upcoming tour in Matthew Knight Arena. The reactions to this, of course, was word spreading like wildfire and crowds of fans gathering around town.
As much as I want to say that I myself would never get worked up about a celebrity in town, I cannot deny the sort of excitement that can rile someone up at the prospect. People have been known to go crazy, breaking out their shirts, hats and jewelry adorned with their idols’ faces and names. They swarm around places that the celebrity has been rumored to be at and expect a picture, wave or maybe even an autograph, but the truth is that the person is in town for a particular reason that doesn’t involve any of us.
Personally I have never been a fan of Justin Bieber – ever. I was not one of the many people standing outside the hotel he was allegedly staying at, nor was I trying to catch a glimpse of him going in and out of Matt Knight. But I can understand exactly what was going through people’s minds when they did. My personal problem with the matter is that Justin Bieber’s business is his own business.
Whether or not he chooses to involve the rest of the world in that, is also his choice. That goes for all celebrities. Being star struck when you happen upon a celebrity is different than forcing your way into their lives.
Celebrities are people too. I can imagine they have their good days and their bad days. Which means they also get peeved sometimes when nosy strangers are snooping into what they don’t wish to share. They already have enough paparazzi following them around trying to get a picture of anything that is magazine worthy. True fans shouldn’t want to add to the stress of constantly being in the public eye. If Justin Bieber had wanted to see his fans, specifically, he would have made his visit public knowledge.
There shouldn’t be a reason to get so worked up about a celebrity in town. Unfortunately, you may go a lifetime never actually meeting your idol, but never meeting them is better than being the reason their visit was hellish. Harassment comes in many forms. Constant crowding is definitely one of those forms, even if it’s not the same people every time – it’s the same type of people, and that’s what matters.
Besides, there are other ways to see your idols in person. If it was someone you wanted to see – buy tickets to their concert. There’s no reason to crowd streets, block the way and make a commotion.
Celebrities have their way of giving people hope and inspiration. But they also have their own lives to lead, with idols, jobs and important tasks that need to be done. It isn’t our business to get in the way.
So the next time that you hear a celebrity might be in town and you find yourself a fan, think twice. Ask yourself, “If it were me, would I want to put up with a bunch of screaming fans today?” If the answer is no, then don’t go. Give your idol a break – they’ve certainly earned it.