All publicity is good publicity...

...at least when it comes to celebrities. Gossip, scandals, and rumors can all be considered as forms of public relations to endorse celebrity images. It's no surprise that as soon as celebs are off the map or not getting enough press coverage, some controversial story surrounding them pops up all over the tabloids. Why should the public feel bad for what actors and singers know what they're getting into in the first place? If they choose to lead the lives they lead in exchange for their private lives, they shouldn't complain about it. The celebrities that want to stay out of the limelight do so by staying out of Hollywood and steering clear of famous hotspots. An example of this is Johnny Depp. He lives in Paris and you rarely hear anything about his family. No pictures of his children have ever been revealed by magazines to the public, as opposed to the children of Angelina Jolie and Tom Cruise, who get their pictures published in famous magazines in exchange for millions of dollars. They are entertainers. The entertainment industry is a big one. People are infatuated by the supposedly glamourous lives of celebs, and the tabloids are expected to feed this infatuation of theirs by providing stories. Is it ethical and moral or not? I think the real question is: does it matter? It's how things work. Being a member of the paparazzi has become a full-time profession, and magazines make tons of money by providing the most up-to-date stories abot different celebrities. Whether it is ethical or not is not going to change anything.

As for reality shows, I think they gain a lot rather than lose when people start making fun of the contestants. To make fun of the contestants means having to watch the show in the first place, which in turn leads to discussing the show with other people. This generates hype. Hype equals to popularity and higher ratings. Additionally, participants in reality shows realize that their exeriences will be documented for public viewing; they shouldnt be surprised if people choose to mock or laugh at certain things. It's what people do.

I don't this is a problem in the entertainment industry, I think it is how the industry itself chooses to operate, so there really isn't anything to solve or change.

As for other public figures (like politicians), some publicity is bad. This is evident in the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal. The more scandals surrounding politicans, the less credibility and public acceptance they gain. It all depends on who wants to expose who to gain what. Politics is a dirty game, and politicians should be careful with what gets revealed when it comes to their personal lives as this affects their profession more negatively than positively.