Awards for categories no one cares about. Her offense? Only a certain breed of artist truly excels at social-media nonsense. Gal Gadot was the first victim of the great celebrity backlash of 2020. At this current time, the two most important personality traits are compassion and understanding.". Like Victoria Beckham, worth an estimated 360 million, reportedly attempting to furlough her own staff before reversing the decision amid heavy criticism. Zoom call in his life? Crash, which won best picture in 2006, is no one's idea of a classic, unless you mean the 1996 David Cronenberg sex-and-auto-wrecks film that wasn't nominated. Nobody cares about pampered celebrities anymore.. Also, just days in, J.Lo and A-Rod posted video of her son serving them soft drinks from his hoverboard. Those who genuinely support causes with passion. Whether through kindness or humour, the celebrities that will come through lockdown in the best shape are those that have been perceived to be authentic. People, I think, will be so relieved when this crisis ends that all of this will be rapidly forgotten. (Which would be a relief to DeGeneres, who is probably hoping that the public suffer from Finding Dory-style memory loss.). Well, were not you look at these celebrities and theyre all clearly in [compound-style houses]. People love to hate celebrity politics; at this point, hating celebrity politics may well be more popular than the Oscars. The whole point of the Oscars, and maybe the whole point of Hollywood, is to try to get people to pay attentionto the movies, to the celebrities, to the filmmakers, to the outfits, and even to . I n a 2019 survey by Hill-HarrisX, 65% of respondents said that political endorsements from Hollywood celebrities have no bearing on their voting decisions. Instead she is selflessly educating the great unwashed by posting a video of her kids cleaning their hands with $39 Aesop soap. Industry research firm Guts + Data, 1,500 active entertainment consumersin theory, folks who are plugged in and interestedand found fewer than half of those surveyed were aware of any of the nominees up for the big prize. The celebs that will fare best out of this are celebrities with heart and soul, those whom possibly Covid-19 has exposed a level of kindness and compassion.. Pull up the first anti-ennui dispatch from the French pop star known as Christine of Christine and the Queens for a few mesmerizing minutes. This story has been shared 122,265 times. As I skipped from live-stream to live-stream on Instagram, examining the multi-splendored way in which lighting can be weird and banter can be pointless, I came across the radio show of a friend from high school. Instead we had plenty of time to follow celebrities and their bad behaviour down internet rabbit holes. Oscar viewership, of course, has been slowly declining for the better part of two decades. Hollywood is dying, and we just dont care to revive it. The show took 3-4 hours away from the regularly scheduled programming, so most are bound to watch if it's a lazy Sunday and they don't want to do anything else. Faring slightly better on the social media front is Ivanka Trump, who has not yet sequestered herself on a superyacht. Awards show ratings, from the Grammys to the Golden Globes, have taken a nosedive this year, for obvious and understandable reasons: It's hard to gin up much enthusiasm for glitz and glamour after a year when everyone has been stuck inside, the offerings have been slim and strange, and the usual glitz and glamour hardly shine through when most of the attendees are attending from their living rooms, via video conference, Oscar viewership, of course, has been slowly declining for the better part of two decades. Im just trying to make sure I get food on my table. (I myself have somehow seen all eight of them.) First came the super-ill-advised and unasked-for "Imagine" video, spearheaded by Gal Gadot (whose much-anticipated "Wonder Woman 1984" did, in a movie star's worst 2020 nightmare, go . The answers ranged from Patrick Stewart delivering daily Shakespeare sonnets (good) and Meryl Streep teaming up on Zoom with Christine Baranski and Audra McDonald for a booze-fuelled Sondheim rendition (excellent), to Madonna calling Covid-19 the great equaliser from a rose-petal-filled bath (not ideal) and Ellen DeGeneres jokingly comparing quarantine in her California mansion to like being in jail while allegations surfaced about the poor treatment of the regular crew on her talkshow during the pandemic (really, very bad). . Few stars, on the other hand, have made a conscious choice to . While the rest of us worried about our next paycheck or the nationwide toilet paper shortage or whether a trip to the grocery store would kill us, we saw what happens when celebrities dont get their daily dopamine attention-hit. Meanwhile, our friends and family can be coughing up their lungs and still not get access to a test or a hospital bed. Too many Oscar nominees and winners are not only obviously not the year's best picture, they are obviously not the year's third-best picture, or even its seventeenth. Caroline Aston slammed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on GB News by suggesting that they've adopted a method to ensure they remain in the public eye, regardless of what they . All rights reserved. Notably, it required other people to accomplish the performancewe see friends of hers moving a camera on a cart. We use cookies to better understand website visitors, for advertising, and to offer you a better experience. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); NEXT: Senate Passes Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Bill That Doesn't Prohibit Discrimination in College Admissions. Rather, Gadot and her clumsy video merely crystallised a moment in time when, grappling with unimaginable circumstances, most of us didn't give two hoots about what a bunch of rich and beautiful people had to say (or sing). So if the population is entrusting influencers with the delivery of WHO updates, what about the role of more traditional celebrities? Furlough should be only used if a business is unlikely to survive lockdown in my eyes, and too many celebs are taking the piss, says Susannah, 30, a fundraising professional from Wales. Among the many disruptions brought by COVID, our relationship to fame, Hollywood and celebrities has also shifted. Jennifer please pic.twitter.com/6QasOWCDJD, Such was the public recoil that even The New York Times weighed in. Its like that old Us Weekly motto StarsTheyre Just Like Us! has been made law. If nothing else, the pandemic has shown us the weaknesses of our cultural and political institutions. The fact that they make it difficult to stream. He can even be seen piloting his personal aircraft, including a Boeing 707-138. And then they have the nerve to parade around with designer outfits and million dollar jewelry so they can pat each other on the back for being so incredible, all while winners get 3 minutes in front of the microphone to berate the general public about social agendas that even they dont follow. It's funny I should mention that movie, since it's about how Hollywood is smug, cynical, self-absorbed, and completely deluded about its own political relevance and purity. Most of the world isn't rich, nor do we get invited, so we feel very detached from the entire dog and pony show made for celebs. Ive heard of that guy. Voting Rules. Replying to @BNeidhardt. Its interesting, if not always reassuring, to see these folks ply their crafts unmediated, without the screenwriters and film editors and cinematographers who typically help shape their images. When celebrities stay at home, the gossip-mill begins to stutter. You can see those problems in the public's relationship to the movies up for best picture, the ceremony's top award. Everyone fumbles with the phone camera. We adulate celebrities so much, it's no wonder they're under the impression that we care about their political opinions. That was a pretense it could keep up when Hollywood was at least trying, on a regular basis, to make movies that had something like universal appeal, and weren't about superheroesfilms, for example, like James Cameron's second-worst movie and the third-best, The third act complicator here is not so much politics, per se, but, . Yet celebrities, rather than take heed from such intense and justified scorn, doubled down. They dont want you to see this Big Tech does its best to limit what news you see. thrown into question the validity of those Instagram influencers who will promote anything for cash. I guess this is celebs producing and airing their own versions of reality TV which raises the game a bit, doesnt it? suggests Firgas. By signing up to the Blaze News newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from Blaze Media that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content. The first such video came, creepily, from a darkened room. "These things are so old-fashioned, if it weren't for who the nominees were, the broadcast could be coming from 1967 . Legend sounded as strong as he always does, but the taste of stir-crazy domestic hijinks was the real highlight. Of all the explanations for why the Oscars has failed to capture the public imagination in recent decades, this is the one that has received the most attention. What is hugely important right now for me as a parent especially is that the perceptions of heroes are changing and children are seeing the value of a career as a carer, rather than idolising someone from Love Island, adds Firgas Esack, a freelance publicist. Who wants another is-this-thing-muted? As I always say, everything you say and do is PR.. I dont think people will turn on those celebrities, he continues. Its certainly true that the fish tank in which we watch famous people swimming around has been under a magnifying glass during quarantine. 14. Top 10 Influencers That NOBODY Cares About Anymore In 2023Subscribe Here http://bit.ly/2xB5CqARecent Uploads: https://bit.ly/3rP7ABvIn 2023, it seems slik. The question is whether or not there will be long-lasting effects. | 4.23.2021 11:28 AM. Michael Bolton is known for singing some of the most romantic ballads of the 90s. Everyone ums. Some of the greatest actors of all time have ended up turning into Hollywood has beens. Which, again, may not be great movies. Director Steven Soderbergh apparently had it written into his contract that there would be no acceptance speeches from home. Susannah typically relies on celebrity endorsements to guide her online purchases, but thinks their messages largely feel out of touch in the current circumstances. The list goes on: Madonna whining that COVID was the great equalizer from her rose-petaled bathtub. This is true, however, i also think people are just sick of the celebrity machine rubbing their opulence in their faces. After all, the primary purpose of celebrities is, of course, to entertain. Peter Suderman isfeatures editoratReason. Simply offering up unfettered access isnt enough anymore. It's not entertainment for me to see a rich person walk by wearing something impractical. Were all in this together, the rich and famous keep telling us. 3.3.2023 5:30 PM, Joe Lancaster I have to act as my own best friend. With poise and humor, in an excellently funky 70s suit, she sings, dances, and pops random athletic squats in a recording studio. There is a real possibility that this year's show will be a historic bomb. Polling data indicate shockingly low levels of awareness about this year's biggest nominees. Throughout the 90s, Michael Bolton sold more than 24 million albums just in the US alone. That rumor had been spread by the conspiracy group QAnon, which generally has been spouting theories that the coronavirus is a hoax cooked up by the global elite to cover up unspeakable crimes. They rely on the lie of meritocracy: work hard and you can achieve whatever you want. They have been upstaged by a virus. Sorry, Room Rater! The stars who have embraced digital methods of communication to keep serving their fans enjoyable and supportive content will fare particularly well, and there has been an explosion of creative output from celebrities under lockdown. I don't mean to say that the awards and nominations never went to quality films, but frequently they went to awful or, worse, forgettable material. Its this insight which saw the brand launch a pro-bono campaign driving awareness of the World Health Organisations protection measures against Covid-19, alongside a campaign to promote positive mental health. Without Googling, does anyone even remember what Lion, nominated for best picture just four years ago, was about? | The real problem with the Oscars, then, is not one the pandemic caused but one it revealed: The Academy pretended to know what was best, period. But what studio or firm bribes and brown noses the academy being the criteria for winning an award is of 0 interest to me. Getty Images. Most of these people are not vocal talents; most of them very much enjoy that we live in a world of possessions. In the perfect epitome of this new moment, the elevation of the everyman at the expense of the famed, here came Mick Fleetwood himself, reenacting Apocadas ride and expressing gratitude. No one cares what they are wearing or who they are snogging any more; the worlds attention has been diverted by a headline-hogging pandemic. Sorry, but it is obvious that we are not. But will the quality of these films matter if no one tunes into this year's ceremony, which airs Sunday night? For news and discussion of the entertainment industry. With celebrities no longer bound to a cycle of meet-and-greets, book signings and orchestrated TV appearances, its those who have offered up real wit, charm and skill that the public have taken to heart: Dolly Parton reading bedtime stories, Richard E Grant reviving Withnail & I quotes or British comedy star Daisy May Coopers rollercoaster of an Instagram love story with a mysterious sea captain. As a result, there wasn't much marketing, either. Jackie Chan. That any noticeable faction of people would so impugn Oprah is yet another sign that we are living through extraordinary and disturbing circumstances, the likes of which have never been seen before. Far from inspiring in a time of crisis, the paper said. Are we happy and delighted? And the billionaires don't want to touch them, nobody wants to touch them." Meanwhile, another royal expert believes that Harry and Meghan only care about publicity. Consumers find creators to be incredibly persuasive and trustworthy,. There is a real possibility that this year's show will be a historic bomb. The Wonder Woman actor Gal Gadot rang up a famous crew including Natalie Portman, Jamie Dornan, Sia, Pedro Pascal, Zo Kravitz, Sarah Silverman, Leslie Odom Jr., Jimmy Fallon, Will Ferrell, Norah Jones, and Cara Delevingne to record clips of themselves singing lyrics about a world without war or possessions. It was fucking dismal, and Im one of those weirdos who likes award shows. Obviously, the pandemic is a factor. But the instant backlash the Wonder Woman star received over the viral video showed just how much our relationship with celebrity culture had already shifted in a world with lots on its mind. The third act complicator here is not so much politics, per se, but relevance. Often we are the first port of call for our listeners to check in to express their emotions and tell their stories, says Daisy Maskell, KISS Breakfast Show host. Absolutely.. We adulate celebrities so much, it's no wonder they're under the impression that we care about their political opinions. A real woman of the people. Vote up the least relevant (but formerly big-deal) celebrities. Its not something thats just happened in the last ten years. The pandemic appears to have shifted who we deem worthy of recognition back towards those people with something real to offer, but perhaps that is only a virtuous blip. The Hollywood hype machine effectively shut down. A new famous person seems to test positive for coronavirus every day while exhibiting mild symptoms at best. Industry research firm Guts + Data surveyed 1,500 active entertainment consumersin theory, folks who are plugged in and interestedand found fewer than half of those surveyed were aware of any of the nominees up for the big prize. Now see ya while I take this private jet home to my 20 million dollar mansion!. Idc about them like that. PR expert Andrea Sexton believes it is human nature for people to always be interested in the lives of celebrities. The truth is, we don't. But there is something else at work here too. My former colleague Matthew Walther has managed to stir up quite a bit of controversy with an essay in The Atlantic titled, "Where I live, no one cares about COVID." Some critics seem convinced he . Plus, you see who wins on Twitter anyway, so no point in wasting hours watching people pose on the red carpet then deal with a long ass show to only get 5 minutes of hosts announcing the winner. I remember watching with my grandma and mom and a couple aunts and cousins. Peter Suderman So for them to reach out and say I understand your pain is a bit fanciful. With so many things in short supply, flaunting ostentatious wealth became a turn-off. Just a few days ago, Lopez was photographed in a vulgar Christian Dior bucket hat and bundled up in fur as she prepped for her New Years Eve performance. That's not the case anymore. The Kitchen Disco of British popstar Sophie Ellis-Bextor was an early lockdown hit for exactly this reason with the sequin-clad singer performing live tunes from her West London home, menagerie of children occasionally dancing into shot and husband dutifully filming. These has been actors once delighted audiences and now revile them. 3.3.2023 4:50 PM, 2022 Reason Foundation | A word of advice: if youre a celeb or influencer flogging an unnecessary product, or just posting selfies right now like nothings changed, it might be the right time to have a little rethink. Assuming the correct empathic tone is struck, influencers in particular are arguably more essential now than ever. The album . Why?. But will the quality of these films matter if no one tunes into this year's ceremony, which airs Sunday night? I want to put on my fucking expensive outfits, and I want to go out. If you cant quite relate, thats okayshes a professional, and thankfully for the anxious and aimless at home, shes still doing her job. The chef and TV star Bobby Flay, for example, who is said to be worth about $30 million, set up a GoFundMe campaign to help him pay his restaurant employees. All your points are very valid in this day and age. Arnold Schwarzenegger posting videos from his hot tub, puffing on a cigar or from his kitchen with his mini-ponies. The whole idea was that it knew what was best for everyone. Madonna, for reasons only she knows, decided to preach to us from a bathtub full of rose petals. Coronavirus disrupted the entire means of interaction between celebrities and the public. I think I just cringed to death. . Real estate awards are about as interesting. I think there will definitely be a growth of interest to celebrities with strong family ties and also to those who do selfless work in the community, she says. Save the environment yall! comparing self-isolating in her mansion to being in jail. Too many Oscar nominees and winners are not only obviously not the year's best picture, they are obviously not the year's third-best picture, or even its seventeenth. Still it was cute when Cyrus joked that she and Lovato connected as kids because they were both, secretly, gay as fuck: an unforced, funny, and humanizing moment. I dont know if you can tell, but Im losing my fucking mind, she growled. Then, if you looked up to Marlon Brando or whoever it was, they were like gods. One thing to hope for in these dark times is that coronavirus #content will one day be forgotten as we resume our regularly scheduled programming. Its just that many celebrities pull of being normal people like YouTube stars. It was low key, home-made and entertaining but also a reminder of her considerable talent and no bad thing for her career a Kitchen Disco spin-off album and live tour are now in the pipeline. I would add that our generation also decided they didnt need mindless content. In the process, the Academy Awards may separate themselves from viewers as well: If ratings for other recent awards ceremonies are any guide, Sunday's broadcast could easily lose half its audience versus last year. 1 song of the summer and topping the charts in 15 countries. The other day she issued a call for any of her fans at the Pentagon to give her a briefing on the pandemic. If you would like to comment on this story or anything else you have seen on BBC Culture, head over to ourFacebookpage or message us onTwitter. True, this was a Covid-shadowed year, which especially hurt the kinds of films that . What to do ? Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Williams later clarified that he had already donated; nevertheless, it feels as if an awful lot of celebrities are more keen on soliciting money from us plebs than reaching into their own purses. Consumers find creators to be incredibly persuasive and trustworthy, says Mary-Keane. The things they produce are entertaining, I'm ever so vaguely interested in which ones are worth my time. No. Last week, Chris Martin of Coldplay kicked off the #TogetherAtHome concert series, in which various artists will hold live-stream concerts to draw attention to coronavirus relief efforts. Also, commercials on network TV suck. Ellen DeGeneres broadcasting from her gorgeous estate, a wall of greenery behind her floor-to-ceiling windows, complaining that quarantine was like being in jail. Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas staged and incessant paparazzi walks during lockdown. Green Book is a forgettable feel-good film. Then someone he knew called in to his broadcast. Big problems. Why do celebrities not use logic? went one typical anti-Aniston tweet. Its been interesting seeing another side of some celebs and influencers, and the virus has exposed those who are pretty dull.. Many people make a similar observation that the commenters sure do have some funny usernames. Of all the explanations for why the Oscars has failed to capture the public imagination in recent decades, this is the one that has received the most attention. Influencer content can serve a much nobler purpose during this difficult period. A massive orchestra playing people off even if their speeches are entertaining. I like the glitz and glamour, I like seeing celebs interacting with each other, I like song and dance numbers, I like seeing clips from the nominated movies and actors. A post shared by Sophie Ellis-Bextor (@sophieellisbextor) on May 3, 2020 at 3:36am PDT. The success stories have been people making small but significant contributions, aware that their purpose is not to solve everyones problems but just provide some respite for 10 minutes or half an hour. The Oscars have always servedor at least aimed to serveas a kind of institutional stamp of approval, a declaration, by united Hollywood decree, that this was the best movie, the best actress, the best elaborate Victorian ball gown (I'm sorry, the best costume), the most and loudest soundand perhaps even the best sound as well.