Can you force a celebrity to be role model even if they want nothing to do with the burden of that responsibility?
We’ve been down this road before when NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley proclaimed in a 1993 NIKE commercial, “I am not a role model.” The truth is, like it or not, athletes, musicians and entertainers from all facets of culture are role models. It’s an unfair burden put upon them as their fame becomes prominent.
No matter how much a celebrity shouts that they are not role models, we keep forcing them into that box. I don’t think it’s fair.
Which brings us to the trials and tribulations of Grammy Award-winning singer Chris Brown.
Yesterday, Breezy appeared in court for a hearing regarding his community service stemming from a 2009 assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna.
During the hearing it was revealed that Brown had tested positive for marijuana, leading Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg to set another November hearing to decide whether he violated his probation.
Among Schnegg’s other decisions, she also decided to lecture Brown on being a role model.
Schnegg gave Brown a warning in court, reminding him that he was a role model:
“You are not an ordinary person who can sit in your living room and do whatever you want to do…More importantly, a lot of people look up to you, a lot of kids. What you do and what you say impacts a lot of people.”
And therein lies the problem: a judge enforcing her belief on the lifestyle of a 23-year-old man.
All Chris Brown wants to do is make good music, dance, act, entertain and explore other interests, whether it be art, clothing, fashion or what have you, and live his life, no matter the degree of lavishness.
But when the responsibility of being a role model is placed upon you, it only adds an element you didn’t ask for and may be unwilling to accept.
The fact of the matter is, it’s the parents’ responsibility to be role models for their children.
Now, more than ever, kids can inject themselves into the lives of celebrities with the advent of social media sites like Twitter and Faceboook.
The role model stamp is an unfair crutch that comes with being a celebrity and it shouldn’t be used as an excuse every time a celebrity gets in trouble. Fans of Chris Brown have nothing to do with his community service. For the judge to play the role model card was more than a little unfair.
Shaka Griffith is the News/Politics Editor of GlobalGrind.com Follow him on Twitter and send your thoughts, rants and outburst to @Darealshaka
