What happened to Louis and Eleanor should be a wake-up call for all fans
Iām still reeling over the news thatĀ Louis was arrested for going to the aid of his girlfriend Eleanor at Los Angeles airport. The whole incident was appalling, and is symptomatic of an attitude towards celebrities that is just wrong, and needs changing.
Louis was clearly upset and worried for Eleanor, and who wouldnāt have been?Ā The behaviour of both the paparazzi photographer and the so-called fans (thugs is a more appropriate description) was disgusting. Unfortunately, the way they acted is indicative of the attitude many people have towards celebrities these days.
They think because somebody is famous because of the work they do, we basically own them. They are under the misguided assumption that we are entitled to know every little detail about a celebrityās life, and to be able to see what they do when they are not working. If they dare to venture out in public, then surely we have the right to film or photograph their every move, right? Wrong.
This attitude needs to change. Celebrities are entitled to a private life. They should be able to do mundane, every day things like go shopping, eat out or collect their luggage from an airport baggage carousel without having cameras or phones shoved in their faces by paps or fans.Ā
Most well-known people tolerate paps to a certain degree because they accept it is a part of their industry, and yes, in some cases, some celebrities do collude with paps on occasion for publicity purposes. Ā But this doesnāt mean that they should have to put up with a photographer invading their personal space and being pushy when they have just got off a flight and all they want to do is collect their bags and head home.
Most celebrities also will often acknowledge fans who want selfies because they know that without them, they would not be where they are today. The One Direction boys are particularly good at posing for pictures with fans because they are very appreciative of all the support theyāve had.
But there are times when they need a break from the crazy treadmill they are on, and when they have the right to say no. Like Niall did the other day when a fan asked for photos. He got abused as a result. That is not on.Ā
We donāt own Ā One Direction simply because we buy their music, tickets to their concerts and merchandise, and because we support them by voting for them to win awards or mentioning them on social media. Ā We are not entitled to know everything about their lives, or to see images of them every time they leave their homes. They have a right to privacy and we need to respect that.
People keep overstepping the mark when it comes to the way they treat celebrities, so is it any wonder that they get fed up? Ā And Iām not just talking about the way some people respond when they see their idols in person, Iām also referring to the way they abuse them on social media if the celebrity does something they donāt like. No wonder Harry hardly tweets any more and hasnāt used Instagram in months. No wonder Liam and Cheryl have kept quiet about her pregnancy. Online abuse is also unacceptable.
Itās time some members of the 1D fandom (not all ā there are plenty who are respectful, thankfully) grew up. Let the boys live their lives. Stop abusing them if they do something you donāt like. Accept that they can date who they want or be friends with whoever they want. If you really care about the fact that they keep getting hassled by paps who only see them as a way to make money, stopping reposting or liking paparazzi shots. And stop sharing photos that have been hacked ā this is a gross invasion of privacy, and condoning theft.
Think how you would feel if you were in Louis, Liam, Harry and Niallās position. Theyāve given us so much of themselves, please allow them some peace and privacy. They are real people with real feelings. At this rate, thereās no way they will want to come back after the hiatus. And then weāll all lose out.
