Can we own it? Collectively, as a society, can we agree to at least OWN IT when celebrities/politicians/public figures that we admire/d turn out to be scum?
I won’t tell you if should - or shouldn’t - continue to support them, but if you do, at least ADMIT they are scum. Stop defending the indefensible, because it is embarrassing and, frankly, makes you look as bad as the scummy person.
And I know of what I speak, by this point, I think we all do. Yes, I fell for Taylor Swift’s bullshit. I admit it. I once believed Corey Booker was really different than other politicians. Now I see, he’s performative at best. Anyone who knows me knows that I once bled Yankee blue pinstripes, but sorry, honoring a sexist, white supremacist is a bridge too far.
We all know what it’s like to be disappointed in people/organizations we once admired… and it sucks.
But please, please, please stop defending indefensible actions. If you want to keep listening, keep supporting… Do your thing. If you live in the world and spend money and enjoy any form of entertainment, it is pretty much impossible to pass any purity tests.
But ADMIT IT. Say, “Yeah, I know they are scum, but I am still going to listen/root for/support them anyway.”
Own your own bullshit - or at least stay silent while you do your thing… but STOP DEFENDING. It is fucking gross, and when you are defending someone who is doing bad things, you’re telling the whole world you’re OK with them doing those bad things, which essentially makes you just as bad. Own it.
Thank you for coming to my TED talk.
