Media Always Has a Purpose
Don't believe everything you see, ask questions, critique, find different sources & make an informed decision based on ALL the information you have.
Changing your mind is ok too, especially when more information becomes available
So I've been alive long enough to see some truly fkd up stuff over the years. Especially when it comes to media and paparazzi behaviour and how anything and everything about famous peoples lives becomes fodder for a magazine headline (these days a social media post).
The media behaves like a toddler on a sugar high, oscillating from mood to mood so rapidly that it makes your head spin if you don't take a break.
These days when media happens so fast, it can be difficult to know which way is up, let alone find some element of the truth in whatever it is they're trying to sell.
So, just to help my own brain work through the nonsense we keep seeing with Lukola, I asked Google a couple of questions and here was its answers:
Are famous people treated unfairly by the media?
The media sometimes makes a small thing into a big fuss which is the worst thing about them. They do not care about a celebrity's privacy they just want breaking news or any sort of news for their respective channel without the concern of the celebrity or about how they'll feel about the news.
Is media of famous people supposed to be positive?
No, media coverage of famous people isn't expected to be consistently positive. While some media outlets may aim for positive portrayals, the media landscape is diverse, and coverage can be critical, negative, or even sensational, depending on the celebrity, the event, and the media outlet's agenda. Celebrities are human and prone to mistakes, and the media often focuses on both the good and the bad, which can include scandals, controversies, and personal struggles.
Here's a more detailed look:
Positive Coverage:
Some media may focus on a celebrity's achievements, charitable work, or inspiring stories, aiming to create a positive image.
Negative Coverage:
This can include criticism of a celebrity's actions, behavior, or personal life, often focusing on scandals, controversies, or perceived flaws.
Neutral Coverage:
Some coverage may be purely informational, focusing on news about the celebrity's work, projects, or public appearances without taking a strong stance.
Sensational Coverage:
This type of coverage often focuses on drama, gossip, and controversy, aiming to generate attention and engagement, regardless of the truth or accuracy.
Impact of Media:
Celebrity media can significantly influence how the public perceives and interacts with celebrities, shaping their image, career, and public perception.
So here are my thoughts:
Its been a mantra in the entertainment industry for a long time, 'any PR is good PR.' However, we know that's not necessarily true. Media can make or break a person's public perception and have detrimental impacts on their career.... sometimes
For actors, celebrities, musicians etc PR is purposeful. Its entirely niaeve to think that PR is only supposed to be for good.
Examples:
Britney spears: when she lost the plot, she was all over the media. While this did, for a time, impact her career, she survived and as time passed we learnt more about what was occurring bts for Britney.
Mylie Cyrus and several other young actors who came of age in the public eye all had similar experiences of perceived public meltdowns, or simply disappeared from the public eye all together.
Mylie continues to thrive in her music career while other left the industry for a ehilenor entirely.
Johnny Depp and the Amber Heard trial...Johnny continues to have a career in acting.
Martin Sheen, Charlie Sheen rumours floating around for years about all their misdeeds. Did nothing to derail their careers, infact made them more common household names.
Robert Downey Jr: was a typical 'bad boy' in the 90's & early 2000's. All the publicity he got did not derail his career.
Then look at what the Media and Paparazzi did to Princess Diana.. need I say more.
Even some of the OG celebrities and actors always had insane media attention good, bad and otherwise.
Ie, Marilyn Munroe, Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean Marlon Brando. Etc.
There is a theme: Media is purposeful.
So while we're frustrated, we KNOW that this is PR for the purpose of misdirection, & confusion. To get the fans to have their little freak outs and spend the next few hours or days analysing the photos while most likely Nic and Luke are travelling to a nice sunny spot for a well earned holiday.
To keep us distracted, analysing PR pics and arguing with each other so of course they're going to throw us more random pics and or clips of the adjacents because they know we're waiting and watching and eat that shit up like candy.
Let's be real, we've been conditioned to thrive on drama.
And Nic is a 'shit stirrer'
They know we're watching and waiting. Whatever is going on bts, we know or deeply believe the adjacent stuff is nonsense. But they are obviously navigating some complicated stuff in the background and only in THEIR timing will we see more of the truth.
At the end of the day:
Be true to your beliefs. Yes research, analyse, ask questions, but do not give up hope.
We know what we know and what we saw... That is what's real. Everything else is distraction.