‘Sup losers.
I’ve recently emerged from my latest depressive episode, so that’s fun. But also my brain is at its worst possible level of swiss cheese, so that’s not as fun.
You’d think, if I was smart, I would plan these out in some way. Create an editorial calendar of some kind. Pre-write my little intro rants or whatever I want to call these so that when I do slip below, I’m prepared. But guess what reader, I am not smart. So here we are. I had written like, half of this a little while ago and would you look at that, Kanye is still up to these shenanigans. And as always thank you (yes, you!) beautiful reader for sticking with me.
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My beloved The Read has a concept that I think about a lot – Sick and Shut In List. This concept comes up during the pop culture segment, Hot Tops, to indicate celebs that Crissle & Kid Fury aren’t going to necessarily discuss any news surrounding them because it’s so obvious there’s something going on there that we’re not privy to – or things that we should not be giving attention to. I’m thinking about the Sick and Shut In list lately because of the latest onslaught of Kanye West news and the way we engage with celebrities.
How many times have we watched an A or B list celebrity seemingly have a very public mental breakdown and just observed? Just thought it was a good laugh? Another way in which they exist to entertain us? Britney Spears shaving her head. Amanda Bynes’ Twitter meltdowns. Michael Jackson holding Blanket over the balcony. Stories that, with hindsight, we realize that those at the centre shouldn’t have been gawked at. Speculated about. Mocked, ridiculed or made into the joke. But that’s the problem with celebrity, isn’t it? By being a celebrity, you’re signing over your humanity and your right to privacy and empathy. Wasn’t it You’re Wrong About that described fame as a form of abuse? And just recently, didn’t Julia Fox say that celebrities exist to give people something to talk about?
And onto the Kanye of it all. Look there’s a lot going into any Kanye discussion, but I want to try and talk about him on a bare-bones level. Just focus on the relationship, as much as I can. Kanye’s behaviour following his and Kim’s announced divorce is quite honestly a nightmare. The manipulation attempts, the oversharing on social media, the apparent threats of violence against Pete Davidson, Kim’s new beau. As many online have pointed out, if Kim, a woman of immense privilege and wealth and power, can experience this type of harassment from an ex-partner, imagine what we normies go through. It’s scary that someone SO in the spotlight can be subjected to this type of abuse – because that’s what it is – and have it be turned, frankly, into a joke.
And that’s what’s happening. Due to the level of celebrity between West & Kardashian, Kanye’s previous actions, and societal dislike for Kardashian — which like, fair!! I can’t stand her either but that doesn’t mean that she, or more importantly the kids, deserve this — this story has, for some people, taken an “LOL oh Kanye” approach. People deserve to leave relationships without being harassed. Like I’m sorry, imagine that you, or any of your friends, were going through a divorce and their ex-partner made a video depicting the kidnapping, decapitation, and live burial of you or your friend’s new partner. Just imagine that. What would you do? Would you laugh online? Would you make jokes that they deserve it?
And back to Kanye for a minute. Where are his friends? Where is the person stepping in and saying hey man, what the fuck? And I know, there might be people saying that and trying to address his behaviour and he’s not listening – that happens. But I can’t help but circle back to the concept of celebrity and the amount of Yes Men that surround celebrities and encourage their behaviour, good or bad, and refuse to disagree or disapprove. They stay in the circle so maybe celebrity can rub off on them. But one has to wonder how many of these hanger-ons will stick around should this turn for the worst. Hopefully, it doesn’t, but at this point, no one but Instagram seems to be attempting to stop it.
This was likely a little all over the place, and I apologize. This topic hits a little close to home.
Some further reading:
Kanye West’s Harassment Of Kim Kardashian Is Not A Joke
When Kanye Publicly Abuses Kim Kardashian, Tabloids Profit
Here are some domestic abuse hotlines, always good to have around.
Articles:
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf deserves an apology
Pierre Poilievre—Harper but with fangs bared
The Paradox of a Black Hockey Fan
I was going to write about hockey and Ukraine and Russia but guess what? Gaby already did, and it’s incredible. Please read Hockey, Media, and the Ukraine Crisis
Internet Shit:
Till next time!
xoxo, Liz