Inside Source

Recently, I was contacted by a reporter from the New York Post

She claimed that she wanted to interview me for a piece “about the film industry”, and skirted my probing for more specific information. We bounced a few emails back and forth, but because of the time difference and my spotty Skype connection we never chatted via phone. Finally, she sent me an email that said, “Thank you very much, but I’ve already published the article.” OK, no biggie. I checked her twitter feed to see what this write-up was all about.

Turns out, she was trying to glean information about Emma Roberts. Most likely, she noticed I’d been involved with the film WE’RE THE MILLERS, and she was trying to make me an “inside source”.

Let’s get this straight

I have met Emma Roberts, and I’ve had maybe two brief conversations with her, but other than that I don’t know a thing about her. Makes you think, when tabloids mention a “source close to” whatever celebrity they’re reporting on, do they mean people like me? People who have little more than a first impression of the celebrity in question? Can you imagine what that must mean? Think about it, how many people have perceived you as a jerk over the years because of a bad day or an ill-judged comment? Now consider how many people you come into contact with on a daily basis. Certainly not everyone will remark on your presence–unless you’re famous. And plenty of ordinary people want to give their two cents about famous people they have met.

What I’m getting at here

Maybe we should give celebrities a break. They’re under constant pressure to look their best and be on their best behavior lest someone take something they did or said the wrong way and spill their stories to a magazine. It’s interesting to me that fame is a quality so many of us strive towards without considering the significant drawbacks that accompany it. Would I want my every move and every pound lost or gained scrutinized by every single person I came into contact with? Certainly not. And do I believe everything I read in the magazines (even “reputable” ones) about famous people? Hardly. Especially now that I know how “informed” their sources tend to be.