The public eye is constantly fixed on those who have most conspicuously realised what we as a majority wish to be in our dreams: for the most part, celebrities of the entertainment world-film, stage and sport. Have you ever wondered why some of the most beloved stars sometimes lead quite tragic lives, and often die well before their time?
[This message was edited Sun Jun 27 5:14:14 2004 by JDINTERACTIVE]

Fame is a false prophet.

Lleena said:

I'm in agreement with you Lleena in the sense that fame can to a large extent drain one's soul force. But what about spiritual leaders? Learning in the presence of greatness surely helps you to improve no matter what the subject-arts, science, sport, anything! Through this kind of exposure, doesn't your soul become more aware of its own greantess?

Well, many times those with "celebrity" status, party to hard, do a lot of drugs (prescription or otherwise), drink in excess... pretty much lead rough lives because they have the money to do so. Many of them also don't get a lot of sleep. Perhaps that has something to do with it.

AzureStarr said:

But what if partying too hard is due to (in some cases) erosion of their spirit? When people's names become much larger than life, their own vital force can become correspodingly weakened and dissipated, so that their very existence becomes hollow and precarious. Maybe I'm being superstious though!

JDINTERACTIVE said:

Well, that could be, too. Or it could be too much money all at once and the whole "I'm a STAR" mentality and hanging out with other celebrities who are partying and doing drugs because they've been around longer and, hell, why not shoot up a bit of heroin... he says it isn't addictive and, if I sneak it a shot here and there, I won't be tired while acting, and... if I pop a few of these pills, it will offset the effects of the other stuff I popped last night. Next thing ya know, they're addicted.

I think a lot of people struggle with life...period. Personally I can't think of anyone without issues. The pressure of fame would only add to that and I'm sure a lot of them would crack under that pressure.

J0eyC0c0 said:

Good point. I think many celebrities lost their soul force through their inability to handle celebrity of such great magnitude. Compare and conrast the untimely deaths of Marilyn Monroe and Jim Morrison for example.

JDINTERACTIVE said:

My bruv, I'm in total agreement with your bold type statement.


How Ironic that the prodigy in your new avvie (coincidently, one of my childhood heroes)
is a classic example
George Best, Gazza, Peter Sellers, Kurt Cobain, the list is almost endless

In regards to your actual question, I'm not sure why their paths so often cross with catastrophe. I guess we must try to understand each unique case on it's own merits and mishaps but at the same time, they all seem to have a common trait....

....the ability to deal with fame and fortune at the rate it's aquired, entwined with PRESSURE.

[This message was edited Sun Jun 27 7:17:48 2004 by PusherMan]

PusherMan said:

In reference to the discussion in hand, maybe a still from Scarface may have been more apt!

JDINTERACTIVE said:

I think you are right. I am the antithesis of famous and I have no issues.

JDINTERACTIVE said:

Many famous people do seek spritiual enlightenment in order to place the hysteria that surrounds them into some kind of context, we have seen it many times. The few that do find a positive way of dealing with their celebrity are the lucky ones, others fall by the wayside. Fame is also fickle, many famous people have stated that once they achieve the goal they have strived a lifetime for, the disillusion sets in. They find that fame alone doesn't fill the void.

The pressures of fame and being under constant public scrutiny can lead to wanting to find an escape.

imo.