Celebrity Worship=Self Worship?

Celebrity icons arouse the religious passions of followers in modern society who find spiritual meaning, personal fulfillment, and awe-inspiring motivation in the presence of these idols (Laderman, 64). Even though Laderman uses the words icon and idol interchangeably, there is a slight difference between them. In the Christian world, an icon is the representation of the divine, whether it is a portrait of Jesus, Mary or biblical stories, that provides a way to communicate with God. An idol is an object that replaces God and becomes worshiped itself. Celebrity icons and idols somewhat relate to these like religious terms. A celebrity becomes an icon if we simply want to be as successful or virtuous as them; and an idol if we start revering and glorifying them through different rituals. Nonetheless, celebrities play a the role of “spiritual” leaders, icons and idols, that move people to action and contemplation through their personal life stories that become the sacred canon about how to live one’s life.  

Americans look to the stars for guidance and inspiration, intimacy and ecstasy- powerful motives that bear on the sacred and can transform entertainment into revelation, escapism into liberation, and mortals into gods (Laderman, 72). Celebrities have the power to provide sacred meaning to our lives, instill power and liberation through otherwise profane actions of  amusement values. But how can these human beings have such a big impact on us? Clearly, celebrity worship must fulfill some of our personal needs that can’t be satisfied otherwise. Just like the simplicity of comic novels allow us to project ourselves onto them, celebrity veneration is a displacement of our deep human needs onto stars. People with low self-esteem and self-confidence look at celebrities for answers. For instance, thousands of people solve their body issues by emulating the perfect looks of the stars. This can lead to fanatic, unhealthy behavior, as in the case of Toby Sheldon who spent thousands of dollars to look like Justin Bieber.

By venerating celebrities we essentially venerate ourselves. Toby Sheldon idolizes Justin Bieber, but because of the plastic surgery, doesn’t that imply that he also idolizes himself? There’s something about human beings that makes them want to be worshiped celebrated and loved. To be a celebrity does not necessitate the possession of deep moral values, the attention of the media is enough to put anyone on that level. Celebrity worship thus provides an easier alternative to the established religions because the profane desire for material things, perfect bodies and achievement of fame is stronger than the hard path of acquiring sacred spiritual values.