Results tagged “celebrities” from jsstudios.com

I was thinking today, after reading the recent articles about Nicole Richie being sentenced to jail time and it sent the wheels in my braining to spinning. I wonder how much celebrity status has to do with crime and punishment in Hollywood. Of course it goes without saying that celebrities, compared to common, hard-working folks, get off pretty light when they get themselves in trouble. I'm not really going to try and dig up any real reasons of substance why this is true. Could be money . . . could be industry influences . . . could be brain waves from alien spacecraft. It doesn't matter. Let's take a look over the past few years at some notable celebrities . . .

Robert Downey Jr

Now here's a guy that has had his fair share of run-ins with the law for stuff ranging from drugs to weapons possession. He's served time in both jail and prison and has gone to rehab a few times. Given his long list of drug offenses, you'd think that he'd still be in prison. But his career still thrives. His latest film, Tropic Thunder, is being filmed.

Mel Gibson

Mel's not a career criminal. For the most part he's a guy who likes to toss a few back and then go for a leisurely drive on the Pacific Coast Highway. If he happens to get pulled over, however, you might see the side of him that is a bit anti-semitic. During his last drunken drive he got pulled over and went off on the officers. For this he received 3 years probation, one year of AA meetings, and a $1300 bill to pay in fines and restitution. While he may have received some bad publicity, his most recent film, Apocolypto, has earned 27.9 million as of December 2006.

Michael Richards

Michael's another guy who isn't chasing after any lifetime criminal achievement awards. That doesn't change the fact that even though his career is drawing to a close he's playing it low key. He does share one common trait with Mel - he likes to go off on people simply because they're different. During a recent comedy performance he apparently displayed his lack of affection for black people. As with many celebrities, he has an excuse but it isn't drugs or alcohol. He has rage issues. He didn't answer to a judge, however, he answered to the court of public opinion and apologized.

Paris Hilton

I know you all wanted to hear about her. You can't possibly be sick of her yet. We all know that Paris got busted for a DUI and got her license taken away. But that didn't stop her, she drove anyway. What did we all expect from a gazillionaire princess? Apparently the judge wasn't payed off chose to throw her in jail. Even after trying to subvert the process, she couldn't manage to stay out from behind bars for 23 days. Evidently Paris' escapades with the sex videos and drugs and drunken driving have brought shame over the whole family and Grandpa Hilton has revoked her privilege to her big, fat inheritance.

Nicole Richie

Paris' ex-BFF has her own drunken driving problems. But she likes to do it driving the wrong way on the freeway. Hey, if you're gonna do it you may as well have fun doing it. Right? She's getting off pretty light if you think about it. She'll serve 4 days in jail, 3 years probation, pay a fine of $2048 and will attend 21 days of alcohol education courses. Something tells me she already knows how to use alcohol. After all this is her second offense in 4 years.

Lindsey Lohan

I'm sure you're all sick of her too, but she's actively chasing poster child status for problem Hollywood starlets. She's earned her second DUI arrest in a few months. Topping that with the cocaine they found in her possession, she's well on her way to getting a very, very hard slap on her precious, little wrist. Perhaps she believes that if she goes to rehab again it'll be ok or the slap won't be quite as hard? Everyone in California should know by now that if Lindsey's behind the wheel of a car they should find a safe place to ride out the storm. She's had at least three car accidents within one year. Time will tell what Lindsey receives from her most recent DUI. Will it garner the same punishment as Nicole, Paris or Mel?

It seems that a day cannot go by without some story about Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan or even the latest in the never-ending saga of Anna Nicole Smith. Personally, I've never been that interested in any of them. Oh sure it's fun to criticize them and pick them apart. What have we to lose?

What truly surprises me is the great lengths the media will take to condemn their behavior while at the same time give celebrities the one thing they desire so much . . . fame and publicity. There's no shortage of talking heads that will suggest celebrities are role models and need to be held accountable for their actions. But how often does the media show the great things they do? They're more concerned about Paris' most recent, late night on the social scene or Britney's latest hairstyle ( or lack thereof ). Why? Because no one cares what great things they are doing. It doesn't sell. But . . . if Paris Hilton gets arrested for DUI that's news.

How many of us could live our lives in the spotlight the way most celebrities do? I, for one, would prefer not to. Knowing my desire for privacy, the first time some jerk jumped in my face with a camera I'd be up before a judge and my face would be splattered all over the TV screens. If you're old enough you might remember that little escapade with Sean Penn and Madonna and a certain photographer. That's what I imagine might take place.

We all know that life is a delicate balance of ups and downs, highs and lows, and good times and bad times. I can't imagine living a life with every moment on the front pages of tabloids or television. Although it would prove to be the definition of boring compared to Britney not wearing panties under her dress, the low points of my life would prove to be a major embarassment for me and my family.

For example, I remember a time, back in California, I was maybe 19 and had gone to a party with friends. Well, as things tended to happen with increasing frequency, I drank way too much. Stumbling onto the front lawn, my body decided it was time to purge itself of all that free alcohol. I vaguely remember a girl who tried to console me or maybe see to it that I wasn't going to die there on some stranger's lawn from alcohol poisoning in a pudlle of my own vomit. As luck would have it, more important events beckoned her and she left me - as did my friends who thought I had gotten a ride from someone else ( I found out the next day ). I awoke the next morning smelling very, very ripe and started stumbling home where I slept until seven or eight PM. Then I got up to do it all over again.

Like I said, it's not as glamorous as snorting coke off the bathroom counter in some exclusive, Hollywood nightclub with movie stars and pop singers to your right and left. But it's just as private and embarassing. Thank goodness no one was there with a camera.

Don't get me wrong . . . I'm not defending celebrities. Their obnoxious, conspicuous behavior truly is nothing short of offensive sometimes. It truly is entertainment to watch a super-mega star like Mel Gibson or Michael Richardson hit rock bottom. But ask yourself this . . .

If you were famous and rich what would you do differently? If Paris Hilton asked you to go out with her and a few of her famous friends would you go? If Britney happened to invite you to drink and do anything else with her would you? If money was no object would it matter what anyone else thought about what you did? If simply because no matter what you do will get your name in front of the public, movie producers, recording industry executives, etc . . . and you can do nothing wrong, then how might that shape your decisions?

I like to hear your take on this. Feel free to leave your opinions.