It's not often that I say that I agree with a famous Hollywood star. But Brad Pitt is onto something when he recently criticized the media and the public. He said that the masses focus on the wrong things. The media has been all a buzz with news about his failed marriage and possible romantic interest in Angelina Jolie.
Pitt asked, "What is wrong with a world when the headlines focus on his love life and not the plight of hunger, famine and disease going on around the world?" Pitt, who has become a spokesman for the ONE campaign, asks a great question.
While I am fairly immune to much of the gossip and filth on the pages of supermarket tabloids and I can't even remember the last time that I watched Entertainment Tonight, I do admit that there is something about star appeal. The thing that turns them into idols also makes us want to know what is going on in their lives. We like to see underdogs rise, and we also like to see stars fall. Although we won't admit it, most of us would rather hear about the latest Hollywood gossip than real plight, disease and devastation in the world. Why is that?
Pitt is championing support for the humanitarian crisis in Africa. He's trying to do something good with his star power. But the press just won't seem to let off his "love" life. Pitt said to Diane Sawyer of ABC News, "I can't get out of the press. These people (starving in Africa) can't get in the press. So let's redirect the attention a little bit...We have the potential to end poverty (in Africa) in our time. ... Man I mean, what is more exciting than that? The potential's there. We gotta go for it."
The star talked about having a family someday. He said, "Just feels like a natural progression," he tells Sawyer. "And, you know, anything to get the focus off myself." Wow, that's quite a statement. Pitt has reached the height of stardom. He is known around the world. He earns piles of cash and has millions of fans who pay to see his work. Instead of basking in the glory of it all, he wants to fade to the background. I guess he has discovered that being famous has a price. Unfortunately, the ones who pay for it the most may be those who never make it into the headlines because we would rather discuss the private adventures of famous people than deal with real issues around the globe.
