Two years ago on June 25, Michael Jackson passed away. At the time, his death signified a renewed interest in and awareness of the adversities of child stardom. In her eulogy to Jackson, actress Brooke Shields detailed their close blond which she attributed to a
childhood lost.
In her book on the child star, O'Connor describes the disgust, pity, and ridicule with which people commonly associate young entertainers. The media is replete with "E! True Hollywood Story" style documentaries of child entertainers whose lives have gone askew. Stories of substance abuse and suicide abound, and the deaths of such actors as River Phoenix, Jonathan Brandis, and Brad Renfro attest to the dangers of young stardom. There are also the ambiguous young deaths of entertainers such as Heath Ledger and Brittany Murphy, which further perpetuate the notion that Hollywood endings are not always of the fairy tale variety. When these tragedies occur, psychologists with no ostensible connections to these entertainers frequently appear on television spouting off psychiatric diagnoses and facts. This all begs one question. Where is the ethical psychologist?
Psychologists have always been looked to as having high ethical obligations to protect individuals. We are consulted in any number of fields, with the aim of our inclusion ensuring safety, and sound mental health. Then why have we so carefully removed ourselves from engaging in dialogue on ethical issues in the entertainment industry? This may mean dealing with "big business" and that our services may be rendered such that corporate puppet masters utilize us to protect themselves from scary words like "liability." The notion of such consultation itself poses a plethora of vulnerabilities. Yet, as we consider ourselves advocates for human rights, it appears hypocritical that we are not more entrenched in mental health studies and treatment of media victims, ranging from the young entertainers themselves to the consumer.
Consider the case of
Twilight tween saga actor, Robert Pattinson. The British actor was hit by a cab during a filming in New York; unsurprisingly, it was as he was navigating through hoards of screaming young fans and paparazzi. The mayhem had become so intrusive that video footage shows the young actor essentially being shipped in a method analogous to produce; from a heavily tinted vehicle swiftly into a locked trailer. While Pattinson is a young adult, we can only imagine (and have often seen) the impact of equally proportionate fame for young entertainers.
Child labor laws have been created with the aim of protecting young children; however, according to the stipulations, child actors are exempt with few provisions. So then who ensures the child's best interests? Their agent, publicist, or manager? I would like to propose the parent. Yet, anyone who has seen even a commercial for Toddlers and Tiaras cannot deny that spray tanning, waxing, and providing fake teeth to your children does not pave the way for parental excellence. If anything, these parents often sexually exploit their own children for their own selfish gain. Do the children wish to be in these pageants, as their parents may protest? Perhaps the better question is, would you provide your child with illicit drugs if they begged hard enough?
For those whose fame goes beyond the realm of reality television, young Hollywood is being given more power than ever before, with minimal guidance. The words "Bieber Fever" speak for themselves. Fan websites post daily updates on these stars, detailing precise whereabouts, who accompanied them, and their exact attire. Naturally, stalking has become disturbingly more accessible than ever before.
So the question remains. Shouldn't we be actively engaged in some sort of efforts? If we find ourselves ethically bound to protecting people, why have we decided that young Hollywood is not worth our time? It is easy for us to judge them, even blaming them for society's ills. Yet, we are also aware that it is the adults behind the scenes who are the true masterminds. Then isn't the fact that the entertainers themselves are only children enough to warrant some concern and compassion?
O'Connor, J. (2008). The Cultural Significance of the Child Star. Routledge, New York.
U.S. Department of Labor. (2011, June). Child Entertainment Laws As of February 23, 2009. Retrieved June 24, 2011 from: http://www.dol.gov/whd/state/childentertain2009.htm
