Justin Bieber smoking weed, Tiger Woods cheating on his wife, Lindsey Lohan going to court. All are examples of uproar causing headlines.

But why does the public react so passionately when celebrities make “mistakes?” Many individuals are found smoking weed every day. Many cheat on their significant others all the time. A many court cases are held every day. Why is this any different?

The public tends to believe celebrities owe us something. Because they are in the public eye, we own them. Celebrities should be model citizens because they are looked up to.

Celebrities owe us nothing. They owe their fans and supporters recognition for helping them achieve what they have. But that’s where the line is drawn. Most celebrities, whether they are actors, musicians, athletes, etcetera, didn’t aspire to become “celebrities.” They aspired to become recognized for their talents, and prosper in their field.

All icons have to deal with the paparazzi, rumors, harassment, and lack of privacy. This has put pressure on celebrities. This countlessly has led celebrities to be driven over the edge; especially if they were in lime light from a young age.

Britney Spears has been an icon since she was a teenager. The pressure drove her to appear in negative headlines after events such as when she shaved her head. And of course the American people were enthralled with her scandals, probably making it worse for Spears. Celebrities are human beings, not zoo animals.

Picture your favorite celebrity. You probably depict him/her not only as talented, but as an unbelievable personality. The truth is, it is unbelievable. We don’t know what celebrities are like when they are going about their daily lives. Assuming you aren’t hanging out with your favorite icon, you don’t know them. Other than their friends and family, no one truly knows these celebrities.

A major factor of why the public cares when celebrities “slip up,” is the fact we believe we know them. Most are outraged by these “out of character” displays. The masses are disappointed in the choices of people they don’t even know. How do they know what celebrities’ character is in the first place? The answer is: they don’t.

Many were shocked and disappointed when they heard about the Tiger Woods cheating scandal. Before this scandal, the media built him up as a model citizen with a great influence on his fans. But no one knew what his character was in the first place. Woods didn’t shatter his character; he shattered the character the media created.

Imagine a world where the masses only care about the content and performances of individuals in the lime light. No one cared about their personal lives. Celebrity magazines were filled with stories about Beyoncé’s new single, Leonardo Dicaprio’s new movie, Carmelo Anthony’s performance in last night’s game, and of the like.

If everyone cared less about celebrity drama, the public could focus on the real issues. Reading stories on the economy, foreign affairs, the environment, and many more vital topics. Our country could be a far more informed nation if the public focused on what is really important.