YOU!! ARE!! SO!! ENTERTAINING!!! your writing makes me LOCK IN every single time, even more than my favorite book authors lmaooo I always stop EVERYTHING to read you and to give you the PRESTIGE you deserrrveeeee
this place would NOT be the same without you, I love you so much princess!!!!
when i jokingly say “bring back shame” this is really what i mean. i don’t wanna see the duolingo social media manager being freaky in the comments on a tiktok fan cam of pedro pascal. ENOUGH. leave the man alone.
i swear when they forced him to do that snl skit about him being daddy, i wanted someone to hand me a gun and a portal so i could personally confront every writer who thought it was a good idea to subject him to that. do NOT break the fourth wall. bring back shame!!
Love ayo edibiri -- and this essay! The death of decorum online is really crazy. These types of comments used to be whispered between friends at a sleepover (if even that!), but never directed at the people themselves for the simple reason that it does feel like harassment. As those who grew up with People magazine know, "celebrities, they're just like us," and I'm sure, just like us, they don't want sexual comments about their appearance plastered on the internet! Thank you for writing this!
the sleepovers thing is such a good point. i remember when celebrity crushes were a personal thing and now we're asking these actors to put is through the mattress online for thousands to see lol. thank you for reading ❤️✨️
Reminds me of the scandal that arose when Chappell Roan argued with the paparazzi for overstepping boundaries. People were PISSEDD at her and told her to suck it up and accept it as part of her fame, "what did she expect" etc., etc... And then the pararazzi has been so respectful of her since then, saying "please" and "thank you" when photographing her!! Establishing those boundaries works, we've just normalized this insanity. Loved this article
this is such a good point that i'm now mad i didn't include it lol. she's a godsend, sincerely. she talked about how she felt sorry for the other women on the carpet who'd been told to just take that kind of abuse and stand quiet as a bunch of men yell directions at them. boundaries; what a glorious word. i don't see much changing about how we interact with these people but i'll never stop ranting about it. thank you for reading xx
omg! what an incredible read! would so so love to read your exploration of the fan-edit angle you mentioned, its something that is SO interesting and I have yet to see a sensible take by someone that truly understand the 'culture' around it, anyways amazing job!!!
thank you so much love! i really do want to write that piece (i've pitched it a few times but alas these editors just don't get it sometimes) so when i do, i'll absolutely post it on here x
Love love love. Agreed with every point ! And it’s interesting to think that meanwhile Gen Z are the least sexually active gen. Has relegating our sexual appetite to the internet, where irony, catch phrases, and judgement prevail made us incapable of engaging in sincere physical intimacy that demands us to be faced with our own conceptions (and fears) around sex? Is the digital public sphere a space where we can indulge without being scrutinised for our desire(s)?
“there is a lack of empathy, a sort of macabre callousness about how we treat people who are famous.” This is so real!! We’ve dehumanized these people and we think they owe us some sort of reaction just because they’re more popular than our neighbor - but at the end of the day, they also have the right to reject, be uncomfortable and just simply exist in the world. This was an incredible piece! Thank you so much for sharing.
well written; i have no idea how we as a society are perfectly okay with the whole 'celebrity reading thirst tweets' videos. objectifying and dehumanizing on so many levels.
I really appreciate you clarifying that objectification is dehumanizing, even when it's coming from "fans". The entire phenomenon of celebrity is predominately a visual one, so it makes sense that a celebrity's looks are often the most profitable within a capitalist society, but like you said, there's nuance, and even celebrities who heavily invest in their looks still aren't deserving of being objectified. No one opts into objectification; objectification is thrust (pun not intended) upon them.
Ypu are so right on all this. It's really disheartening to see that no matter how many attempts at a movement to push humanity forward and protect vulnerable people, especially from sex-based predation, we still fail by allowing "exceptions" like with celebrities. As if because we made the choice to buy the product, view the art, listen, follow, etc. That we're then owed their flesh and privacy and to have no boundaries between them and the fan. It's the exact kind of predation many swear they fight against at the workplace, school, and elsewhere but of course not for those they consider "asked for the attention" i.e. fame.
hitting the nail on the coffin EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
🫶🏿🫶🏿🫶🏿
YOU!! ARE!! SO!! ENTERTAINING!!! your writing makes me LOCK IN every single time, even more than my favorite book authors lmaooo I always stop EVERYTHING to read you and to give you the PRESTIGE you deserrrveeeee
this place would NOT be the same without you, I love you so much princess!!!!
MY HEART I LOVE YOU seeing ur name in my comments literally makes me feel like i could shit rainbows 🥹❤️💗💗✨️✨️
when i jokingly say “bring back shame” this is really what i mean. i don’t wanna see the duolingo social media manager being freaky in the comments on a tiktok fan cam of pedro pascal. ENOUGH. leave the man alone.
i swear when they forced him to do that snl skit about him being daddy, i wanted someone to hand me a gun and a portal so i could personally confront every writer who thought it was a good idea to subject him to that. do NOT break the fourth wall. bring back shame!!
deadass i need them to leave these people ALONE. learn boundaries. learn some couth. SOMETHING.
Love ayo edibiri -- and this essay! The death of decorum online is really crazy. These types of comments used to be whispered between friends at a sleepover (if even that!), but never directed at the people themselves for the simple reason that it does feel like harassment. As those who grew up with People magazine know, "celebrities, they're just like us," and I'm sure, just like us, they don't want sexual comments about their appearance plastered on the internet! Thank you for writing this!
the sleepovers thing is such a good point. i remember when celebrity crushes were a personal thing and now we're asking these actors to put is through the mattress online for thousands to see lol. thank you for reading ❤️✨️
Exactlyyy! And of course, I always look forward to your essays! You are such a talented writer — and observer!
Reminds me of the scandal that arose when Chappell Roan argued with the paparazzi for overstepping boundaries. People were PISSEDD at her and told her to suck it up and accept it as part of her fame, "what did she expect" etc., etc... And then the pararazzi has been so respectful of her since then, saying "please" and "thank you" when photographing her!! Establishing those boundaries works, we've just normalized this insanity. Loved this article
this is such a good point that i'm now mad i didn't include it lol. she's a godsend, sincerely. she talked about how she felt sorry for the other women on the carpet who'd been told to just take that kind of abuse and stand quiet as a bunch of men yell directions at them. boundaries; what a glorious word. i don't see much changing about how we interact with these people but i'll never stop ranting about it. thank you for reading xx
omg! what an incredible read! would so so love to read your exploration of the fan-edit angle you mentioned, its something that is SO interesting and I have yet to see a sensible take by someone that truly understand the 'culture' around it, anyways amazing job!!!
thank you so much love! i really do want to write that piece (i've pitched it a few times but alas these editors just don't get it sometimes) so when i do, i'll absolutely post it on here x
Love love love. Agreed with every point ! And it’s interesting to think that meanwhile Gen Z are the least sexually active gen. Has relegating our sexual appetite to the internet, where irony, catch phrases, and judgement prevail made us incapable of engaging in sincere physical intimacy that demands us to be faced with our own conceptions (and fears) around sex? Is the digital public sphere a space where we can indulge without being scrutinised for our desire(s)?
“there is a lack of empathy, a sort of macabre callousness about how we treat people who are famous.” This is so real!! We’ve dehumanized these people and we think they owe us some sort of reaction just because they’re more popular than our neighbor - but at the end of the day, they also have the right to reject, be uncomfortable and just simply exist in the world. This was an incredible piece! Thank you so much for sharing.
ayo edibiri doing god’s work and so is ayan
giggling, kicking my feet etc. thank you for reading as always darling xx
well written; i have no idea how we as a society are perfectly okay with the whole 'celebrity reading thirst tweets' videos. objectifying and dehumanizing on so many levels.
I really appreciate you clarifying that objectification is dehumanizing, even when it's coming from "fans". The entire phenomenon of celebrity is predominately a visual one, so it makes sense that a celebrity's looks are often the most profitable within a capitalist society, but like you said, there's nuance, and even celebrities who heavily invest in their looks still aren't deserving of being objectified. No one opts into objectification; objectification is thrust (pun not intended) upon them.
Ypu are so right on all this. It's really disheartening to see that no matter how many attempts at a movement to push humanity forward and protect vulnerable people, especially from sex-based predation, we still fail by allowing "exceptions" like with celebrities. As if because we made the choice to buy the product, view the art, listen, follow, etc. That we're then owed their flesh and privacy and to have no boundaries between them and the fan. It's the exact kind of predation many swear they fight against at the workplace, school, and elsewhere but of course not for those they consider "asked for the attention" i.e. fame.
this was such a great read <3 as someone who's an editor themselves I appreciate this haha
YOU. DON'T. MISS!
thank you. i try x
The last line I’ve felt for a long time! Thank you for putting it into words like this.
This was so true. Every single line