The source article:
Celebrities aren’t gods; they’re humans. After Liam Payne’s tragic death, can we accept them as flesh and blood? | Mark Borkowski
As a showbiz publicist, I know about the Faustian pact between stars and the public. The benefits are clear, but the costs are truly steepAs the worldwide tributes continue, the tragic death of Liam Payne at the cruel age of just 31 has shaken the foundations of how we perceive celebrity and fame. As a publicist and strategist who has worked with many famous people, I know something about this. They are just like us – but they are different.Fame is as seductive as it is destructive. It offers an irresistible promise: transcendence from the mundane, and the opportunity to be more than just another face in the crowd. But it also demands a sacrifice: once your head is above the parapet of anonymity, it’s very rare to be able to submerge back into the crowd on your own terms. And most insiders know this, or at least they think they do.Mark Borkowski is a crisis PR consultant and author Continue reading...
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/oct/22/liam-payne-death-celebrity-fame
The article explores the darker side of fame, using the tragic death of Liam Payne as a case study. It highlights the pressures and expectations that come with fame, and the difficulties of maintaining a sense of self and privacy in the public eye. The author, a crisis PR consultant, shares his insights and experiences working with celebrities, and argues that the media and public need to take a more nuanced approach to their treatment of celebrities.