I was live tweeting and watching the Grammys on Sunday, like many other music lovers around the world, when I saw them. In between the brilliant commentary and the numerous jokes, I saw the evils, opinions, the ugly side of the internet, the downside of our reality, Social Media. Social Media gives us liberty of speech, but we forget that there are people at the receiving end of our comments, real life human beings. People who live day to day lives, that we think we have the right to scrutinize. Would you like it if you made a mistake and it was broadcasted to the world? What if you gained a couple of extra pounds and someone spread the picture around? Not the ideal choice right? I sat there and watched as the very people who accuse the media of creating an unrealistic idea of what women should be, become their biggest nightmare.
As different female artists took to the stage, to receive their awards and thank the people that supported them in their endeavors, they were met by criticism on social media for a myriad of reasons. It amazes me still to this day that the same public that helps stars reach their goals, are determined to see their way down too. Kelly Clarkson was wearing a beautiful dark dress with sheer sleeves that showed of her curves, and as she accepted her award she gave the most endearing speech to date, and again was America’s sweetheart. Unless you were watching, you would not have known this, because all I was reading about was the pounds she gained. Whether she gained pounds or not I don’t know, but what I know is that Kelly has been a beautifully figured women ever since we met her on American Idol. She’s never been the norm that Hollywood expects her to be and many have always admired her for that. we got to know her talent and that made her who she is today.
Take two. Adele, a wonderful singer who has swept up 9 Grammys among many other accolades, reduced to a discussion about her weight. The woman who beat a lot of the norms , on her way to stardom. Not only did she make a full ballad Album sell, but people bought her Album for all the songs, not just one single. She wasn’t your average looking Hollywood star , she was a beautiful, confident women, who showed the world that her talent meant way more than the fact that she was not a size two. I’d like to point out, she also just had a baby, and still looks wonderful. So Why is Adele’s weight news? Why does she have to be publicly humiliated by a nutritionist on Fox News who knows nothing of her lifestyle? Although , props to the gentleman who interviewed the nutritionist on Fox News and stood up for both Kelly Clarkson and Adele, It was inspiring to watch. Check out the video below!
The public needs to put their judgments in perspective. I know stars and celebrities alike seem foreign to us, like we don’t know them, but we do, the media makes sure of that. Now take your life, naked pictures of your friend just went viral on the web, she can’t handle the pressure, the judgment, the immediate interest in her choices and personal life. She is threatening to harm herself. She doesn’t want to live, if this is the way people are going to remember her, for the rest of her life. You keep telling her that all those people are lying that there is nothing wrong with her, that everybody makes mistakes. Everyone knows you are speaking the truth, but all she can see is the comments and tweets that keep coming in. Celebrities are usually advised to not read about themselves, or Google themselves because a lot of the material out there about them is harmful but what happens when its you and social media is the world you live in? The internet doesn’t stop , but you can stop putting hurtful comments out there. Make a change, be the difference, because one day it may be you standing in the line of fire, because somebody didn’t stop. Make the web a better place one beautiful tweet and comment at a time!
Natalia Martinez, a new media student at Cedar Crest College, is a student who is all too aware of how the media influences her and others. Always passionate about social justice, she has made it a point to explore and bring injustices and misrepresentations to light by using the same media that portrays them, You can follow her personal account @NataliaDeJesusM. During her spare time she enjoys playing video games, and scouring the app store for the latest mobile games! Follow her geeky musings @GeekFemme or find your way to her blog mode2geek.wordpress.com
