Attention on Celebrities

During the fire, social media was used to promote the damages that had occurred on well-known celebrity’s homes and belongings. The famous actor Gerard Butler posted a selfie of him beside his house that had burnt down. CBC then posted an article dedicated to the celebrities who had suffered losses during the fire. Using well-known celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Orlando Bloom, and Kylie Jenner, CBC’s article brought attention to influencers who were amidst the danger. 

The problem with the social media posts that are dedicated to the awareness of those suffering who society deems “important”, is that the safety of every other individual affected is neglected. By shining light on the safety of celebrities, news coverage receives more attention and views. Examining the social media coverage on Miley Cyrus’ safety during the wildfire can allow for a deeper look into the attention that was guaranteed to well-known celebrities. The newspaper The Washington Post published an article dedicated to the updates of Miley Cyrus and husband Liam Hemsworth’s safety, as well as the status of their home. The article wrote, “Early Monday morning, Cyrus tweeted that her Malibu home — a $2.5 million mansion she purchased with her fiance, Liam Hemsworth, in 2016 — had been destroyed.” This publication exemplifies how when celebrities use a social media platform, such as Twitter, to express their experiences, their suffering will be broadcasted to the world. By mentioning the value of Cyrus’ home, there is a sense of importance put on the fact that it is a million-dollar home. Comparing homes of less value that were affected by the fire, minimal publications were mentioning the destruction they faced. This epitomizes how those of the higher class and status receive more attention than those of the middle or lower. Regardless of the worth of one’s home, its destruction should be publicized to the same amount of coverage that the million-dollar home of a celebrity receives.