A Growing Trend

It’s amazing to see how many celebrity scandals are coming out now-a-days. Just off the top of my head I can think of recent incidents involving Lil’ Wayne, John Edwards, Ben Roethlisberger, Michael Irvin, Jesse James, Chris Brown, and of course Tiger Woods. I just find it stunning to see these people with great talent, take advantage of their situation and think they’re above everyone else. Let’s run down the above list:

Lil’ Wayne is in jail for possessing an unlicensed firearm. After one of his concerts two years ago, police boarded his tour bus to find a .40-caliber Springfield Armory semi-automatic hand gun. Apparently Wayne had it out when the cops came on and he quickly tried to hide it, but obviously failed. Lil’ Wayne is not the first rapper to go to jail for unlicensed weapons either. A while back, rapper T.I. went to jail for the same thing. I just don’t understand it. Rappers like Lil’ Wayne have plenty of money to hire security or body guards, which I’m sure he already has. I don’t see the need for them to personally own a gun, especially one that is unlicensed and obviously illegal. There are so many young kids that listen to rappers such as Lil’ Wayne, and right now he’s setting the example that it’s cool to own a gun. I think he should be doing the exact opposite.

Next on the list is John Edwards. What else can be said about this guy? His wife has terminal breast cancer, he has children with her, he cheats on his wife, and now he has a baby coming from his mistress. I don’t think we could even create a worse situation than that of Edwards in our own imaginations. This guy has lost absolutely all respect from not only myself, but many other Americans, and probably people worldwide as well. I’m not quite sure what went through his head that made him think what he was doing was okay, because it sure as hell wasn’t. It’s even crazier to think that this guy ran for president of the United States. A man who cheats on his terminally sick wife, had the potential to be the leader of our country. That scares me.

Ben Roethlisberger and Michael Irvin can be put together. Both of them have been accused by young women that they sexually assaulted them, or touched them inappropriately. In their defense, no evidence has really surfaced yet that would suggest either of them to be guilty. In fact, the charges against Irvin were actually waived by the young woman; however both Roethlisberger and Irvin still appear in negative lighting. Even though they have not been proven guilty, it still leaves some questions in my head and also changes the way I look at them. Just because they weren’t proven guilty doesn’t mean that they didn’t commit the act. I also know that it’s very possible that they in fact are innocent. But I feel that there will always be that “what if” factor or the “maybe he did” questioning going on with some people when they look at these two athletes.

Jesse James is involved with a more recent scandal, cheating on his wife Sandra Bullock. This one really cuts deep because Sandra had just given a glorified speech about him after winning her Oscar for her role in The Blindside. If she made it that clear on national television how much she cared for Jesse and how much he meant to her, I’m sure she took that even further when they were alone. Therefore, I don’t understand what compelled him to cheat on her. Whatever happened to being married and actually doing the things you promise to do when you’re at the altar?

Chris Brown is now known as a woman hitter. I’m sure you all know that there was a big controversy between him and his girlfriend Rihanna, whom he had physically struck. Again, it’s just another example of a celebrity who has so much power and influence over fans, especially younger ones, and then they go and do something like hitting a woman. Two things can happen from there: either he loses fans because of his actions, or he teaches them that it’s okay or “cool” to hit your girlfriend. It’s a lose-lose situation.

Finally we come to Mr. Woods. He may be one of the all time greatest disappointments in the history of celebrities. Not only does he play perhaps the most prestigious and “gentlemen-ly” sport, but he is also arguably the best to have ever played. Tiger is the kind of person who I would have used to set the standard of respectful athletes. He was the face of golf, he had tons of sponsors, a bunch of commercials and advertisements, and now no one looks at him even close to the same. His approval rating dropped from 84% or so at its peak, to a mere 40 something percent. This was a man who inspired people of all ages, and had so much influence over aspiring athletes, but now is only looked at as a disrespectful cheater.

It sure would be nice to look at celebrities, especially ones who we look up to, and find out they actually are who they say they are. Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of them like that our there. However, these scandals seem to be a growing trend and it gets older and older each time a new one comes out.