I work with celebrities. After Liam Payne’s death, can't we treat them as humans and not gods? | Mark Borkowski
As a showbiz publicist, I know about the Faustian pact between famous people and the public. Stars think they understand it, but they really don’t
As the worldwide tributes continue, the tragic death of Liam Payne at the cruel age of just 31 has shaken the foundations of how we perceive celebrity and fame. As a publicist and strategist who has worked with many famous people, I know something about this. They are just like us – but they are different.
Fame is as seductive as it is destructive. It offers an irresistible promise: transcendence from the mundane, and the opportunity to be more than just another face in the crowd. But it also demands a sacrifice: once your head is above the parapet of anonymity, it’s very rare to be able to submerge back into the crowd on your own terms. And most insiders know this, or at least they think they do.
Mark Borkowski is a crisis PR consultant and author
Continue reading...Date: |
Topics
-
Entertainment - Los Angeles Times
The hours leading to Liam Payne's death in Argentina: What we know
5 days ago -
Top stories - The New York Times
Liam Payne’s Cause of Death, the 911 Call and More: What We Know
4 days ago -
World - Yahoo News
What we know so far about Liam Payne's death
4 days ago -
Top stories - BBC News
What we know so far about Liam Payne's death
4 days ago -
World - The Guardian
Of course teenagers want to be pop idols like Liam Payne. Given the perils, should we let them? | Martha Gill
3 days ago -
Top stories - BBC News
Liam Payne's dad greets fans as Cheryl condemns 'abhorrent' media coverage
3 days ago -
Entertainment - Los Angeles Times
Liam Payne's girlfriend Kate Cassidy is 'at a complete loss' after singer's death
3 days ago -
Top stories - CBS News
Father of Liam Payne arrives in Argentina after singer's death
3 days ago
More from The Guardian
-
World - The Guardian
Israel mulls using private security contractors to deliver aid to Gaza
50 minutes ago - Israel -
World - The Guardian
Thom Yorke and Julianne Moore join thousands of creatives in AI warning
1 hour ago -
World - The Guardian
Harris campaign reportedly fears ‘blue wall’ could crumble; AOC says Trump’s McDonald’s stunt was ‘making fun’ of workers – US politics live
22 minutes ago -
World - The Guardian
Former Abercrombie CEO arrested amid sex trafficking investigation
4 hours ago -
World - The Guardian
Two men plead guilty to contract killing of Sikh man in Canada but don’t say who hired them
2 hours ago
Latest in World
-
World - The New York Times
Middle East Crisis: Live Updates: Blinken Urges Netanyahu to Seek Truces in Gaza and Lebanon
10 minutes ago -
World - ABC News
Israeli strike destroys building near Beirut as Blinken presses for Gaza cease-fire
13 minutes ago - Israel -
World - ABC News
The little airline that could — Lebanon's national carrier braves Israeli airstrikes
22 minutes ago - Israel -
World - The Guardian
Harris campaign reportedly fears ‘blue wall’ could crumble; AOC says Trump’s McDonald’s stunt was ‘making fun’ of workers – US politics live
22 minutes ago -
World - The Guardian
Aston Villa v Bologna, Real Madrid v Dortmund: Champions League – live
22 minutes ago - UEFA Champions League