By Hive media
| Published 4 minutes ago
Many of us have, at some point or another, imagined what it would be like to be rich and famous. Though there are obvious perks to being a star, like having a loaded bank account and being able to do what you love, there are also hefty drawbacks. Jennifer Lawrence has been outspoken about how unfair it is to lose all sense of privacy. Yoko Ono and Megan Fox point out the emotional toll fame takes. Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga call being famous, ironically, an isolating experience. Read on to see why all the money in the world can’t cover the costs of being famous.
Selena Gomez Struggled With Fame-Related Mental Issues
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Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber were two peas in a pod throughout their teen years, and for good reason. Both struggled with mental issues related to their fame. Like Justin, Selena experienced depression and feelings of isolation, along with anxiety. She opened up to Vogue about having panic attacks before and after performing onstage.
She said that her “self-esteem was shot” and that she felt lonely. The experience was so overwhelming that she ended her tour early and spent three months in a treatment facility. Selena added, “I just really can’t wait for people to forget about me.”
Brad Pitt Says Fame Is Like Constantly Getting Cat-Calls
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In case you couldn’t tell, Brad Pitt is that tiny speck of blue in the sea of photographers and cameras packing the room. Just imagine if everywhere you went was this jam-packed with people trying to get your attention. That’s why the actor told E!, “Fame makes you feel permanently like a girl walking past construction workers.”
What Brad meant is that celebrities get unsolicited attention all of the time. They don’t just get to walk past a group of fans and then on to a safe haven. Even when they’re home, the internet is full of fans begging for their attention.
Lady Gaga Says There Nothing More Isolating Than Fame
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Even though being famous means being constantly surrounded by screaming fans, many celebrities call it a lonely experience. Lady Gaga told Variety, “I don’t think I could think of a single thing that’s more isolating than being famous.” The singer went on to explain that it’s hard to find meaningful relationships.
She said, “It is very hard to not be able to engage with people in a real and honest way because they either want something from me or they see me as something that I simply am not.” Celebrities have to deal with strangers who think they know them personally.
Miley Cyrus Compares Paparazzi To Stalkers
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In this photo, Miley Cyrus looks like she’s literally tripping over herself as she heads into a building and away from the paparazzi. Like Jennifer Lawrence, the teen idol pointed out that average citizens are protected against such scrutiny.
In a video blog, Miley said “The paparazzi really frustrate me, and it makes me really upset that I’m being followed around by men that I don’t know, and for anyone else, it would be considered stalking.” The singer also said that she wishes she could take walks and enjoy her town, two things that incessant observers prevent her from doing.
Keira Knightley Feels She’s Lost A Bit Of Her Soul
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Though some girls dream of growing up and strutting down the red carpet, Keira Knightley warns that it’s more of a nightmare than it looks. The actress told Allure that she “hates” red carpet events because “You have this feeling that everyone wants a bit of you.”
She went on to put down acting altogether, saying, “It’s a pretty horrific profession really. Every photo takes away a bit of your soul. I wish I was just an insignificant speck.” There are plenty of actors who never become famous, and it seems Keira would rather be one of them.
Madonna Sometimes Questions Her Decision To Become Famous
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Madonna was determined to get famous in her early years as a pop star, but now she’s wondering if she made the right decision. In an interview with Rolling Stone, the singer said, “There are times when I’ve thought if I’d known [fame] was going to be like this, I wouldn’t have tried so hard.”
Though there’s no turning back now, Madonna did go on to say, “If it ever gets to be too much, or I feel like I’m being over scrutinized, then I won’t do it.” Though celebrities can always leave their industry, someone’s bound to recognize them for years to come.
Megan Fox Compares Fame To Bullying
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Megan Fox addressed anyone who thinks celebrities shouldn’t complain about being famous in an interview with Esquire. She said that people don’t understand that big houses and fancy cars don’t mean your life is great.
The actress explained that fame is “where you’re being bullied by millions of people constantly … Not everyone understands that that’s the deal.” If an actress as envied as Megan Fox has a hard time with the pressure of being in the limelight, then we can only imagine being in that position.
Yoko Ono Warns Fame Could “Break Your Heart”
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Yoko Ono knows a thing or two about grief. The multimedia artist and widow of John Lennon tweeted, “All fame is infamy, and all infamy is fame. Good luck to whoever is famous. It is not easy. It could break your heart.”
We’re not sure what compelled her to write such a warning to her followers, but the message resonates. Those who are famous are subject to the most critique on a widespread scale. That much pressure isn’t easy to take, even when you are living the lifestyle of the rich and famous.
Alanis Morissette Wants To Change Assumptions About Fame
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Musician Alanis Morissette set to debunk some assumptions about fame in an interview with The Telegraph. She said, “I want to poke holes in the erroneous beliefs about what fame provides. It won’t raise your self-esteem, it won’t create profound connection, it’s not going to heal your childhood traumas, it’s only going to amplify them.”
She went on to warn that those who are famous also experience a ton of criticism. It would seem like being surrounded by fans would give celebrities more confidence, but for every fan, there’s someone who strongly dislikes a famous person, too.
Ricky Gervais Says Fame Is The Worst Part
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Comedian Ricky Gervais told The Telegraph, “The worst thing about this job for me is the fame.” You can tell in this photo that the celebrity is thoroughly annoyed at being followed. As if boarding a flight wasn’t a hassle enough, imagine doing it with a ton of paparazzi all around.
The actor and producer went on to say, “I’ve never understood why anyone wants people to know who they are. That’s the thing I wish I could turn off.” If only artists could offer the world their talent without having to be smothered because of it.
Harrison Ford Says He’s “Never Enjoyed” Fame
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Harrison Ford experienced adulthood and family life like an average person before Star Wars launched him into international fame. Having lived in both realities, Harrison is sure that being a celebrity is a pain. In an interview with WENN, the actor said, “There’s nothing good about being famous.”
He went on to say, “You never figure the cost of fame will be a total loss of privacy. That’s incalculable. What a burden that is for anybody. It was unanticipated and I’ve never enjoyed it.” Harrison loathes the attention, but admits he’s “in it for the money,” even if it isn’t a fair deal.
Jennifer Lawrence Points Out That She Doesn’t Get Equal Protection
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Jennifer Lawrence talked to Vogue in 2013 about her “meltdown” over fame. She said, “All of a sudden the entire world feels entitled to know everything about me.” At the time, the actress was still a relatively new celebrity, and she admitted that she wasn’t yet used to her “new normal.”
Jennifer pointed out the double standard celebrities experience saying, “If I were just your average 23-year-old girl, and I called the police to say that there were strange men sleeping on my lawn and following me to Starbucks, they would leap into action.” Instead, she has to deal with being followed 24/7.