The Unbearable Weight of Fame: Why Celebrity Scrutiny Has Gone Too Far

The level of public excoriation has also led to the rise of 'cancel culture,' which, while sometimes holding powerful figures accountable for genuine harms, often operates as a swift, disproportionate, and final form of punishment for minor offenses or even misunderstandings. For celebrities, this can mean a total, sudden loss of livelihood and reputation based on a social media storm, often without any formal process, evidence, or opportunity for genuine redress or learning. The fear of being ‘cancelled’ is a pervasive anxiety that dictates public behavior.