These celebrities are perennial targets of the tabloids, gossip sites and bloggers with too much time on their hands. They are often lumped in with the despicable likes of Charlie Sheen, Mel Gibson and Kanye West on the most hated lists. Why? These celebrities may occasionally be aggravating, but they don’t beat women, sprout anti-Semitic rants or throw tantrums if the spotlight isn’t on them every second of the day.
IW hopes these celebrities are treated better in 2011. They deserve a break. Who would you add to the list?
1) Kate Gosselin: what can be said that hasn’t been said? The lowlight came when Kate participated in Dancing with the Stars this past 
spring. Criticism of her dancing was fair game. She wasn’t a good dancer – a fact she readily acknowledged. Commentators didn’t stop there, however. They started to count the number of days Kate was away from home on her short-term, but high-paying gig. Such criticism has not been lobbed at a parent participating on DWTS before or since. This is routine for Kate though. She is held to an impossible standard and every little detail down to her shoes is savagely condemned. Despite her flaws, Kate has held her head high and continued to provide a stable and healthy environment for her eight children while also balancing the role of family breadwinner and career woman. And for this she gets lumped in with someone like Charlie Sheen? Whoever said it is a man’s world was right.
2) Britney Spears: another persistent target. Like Kate, a lot of the attention occurs because she generates interest – 
website clicks, magazine sales and TV ratings. It’s time to ease up on Britney now. Let’s focus more on the positive Britney and less on the trashy, falling apart Britney. She’s made great strides in the last couple of years and her press coverage should reflect that.
3) John Mayer: yes, he has a big mouth. Yes, he is a little too aware that he is both smart and funny. That said, IW has 
solid proof that Mayer has many good qualities. Look here and here.
4) Bristol Palin: wow, this is another one where the venom catches us off-guard. Going into it, a certain amount of dislike was expected. Her mother is a polarizing figure. That said, the spiteful comments about her weight and DWTS being “fixed” 
were disheartening and disappointing. Bristol actually did very well for herself on DWTS – showing improvement nearly every week (isn’t that what a competition for novices should be about?) and smartly tapping into her mother’s very dedicated supporters. She didn’t prevent the best dancer from winning the competition as predicted either.
In retrospect, the hatred directed at Bristol doesn’t really seem to be about Bristol. It was more about some of the things she represented. Sad.
5) Angelina Jolie: home-wrecker? You and Chelsea Handler need to get over it.
Don’t approve of the way she raises her kids? Get over it. They aren’t your kids. (This same point applies to the Gosselin children, by the 
way).
She isn’t really that beautiful? Get over it – you are just jealous. Yep, j-e-a-l-o-u-s!
6) Gwyneth Paltrow: annoying and sometimes pretentious, yes, but also very talented. Did you see her on Glee? She was 
awesome. So she wants to tell you what to eat and how to decorate your home. It’s rather a mild character flaw. As always, nobody is forcing you to listen to her advice. If she annoys you, move along and save your gripes for something that is truly important.
7) The casts of Teen Mom, Real Housewives of XYZ and Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew: to borrow an over-used phrase 
from several years back – don’t hate the player, hate the game. These people are just giving you what you want. You want someone to feel superior to. You want someone to feel smarter than. You want to see someone get all high and mighty and then see them fall on their face.
Don’t feel bad. We all do. Or most of us do. We are imperfect humans, after all. As with many things in life, it is about degrees. Go ahead and dislike Camille from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills – she deserves it! Just don’t start a hate blog against her. Trust me: you will be a happier person when you focus on who and what you DO like and not so much on whom and what you dislike.
This list is perfect! I can’t think of anyone I would remove from it or add to it. Great job, as always Anya!
Fabulous commentary, Anya! I hope that a lot of folks take it to heart!
Anya, it’s just so sad that anyone is one this list. No one is perfect, and I sure hope the New Year is better for all in TV land.
Anya, you’ve written some great commentary before, but this is my favorite! By the way, I NEVER listen to Gwynneth off camera- and love to see her on.
I love this post too! I think I might be able to come up with a couple of people I would like to add. I will put some thought into it.
By the way, I love how positive this piece is.
Good choices, but, ironically, I think Jennifer Aniston should be on the list as well. The divorce occurred years ago. Let the woman get on with her life. She seems to have a lot of friends, looks fabulous, and her career seems to be doing well. She doesn’t need to be portrayed as a pathetic loser who can’t get over her ex-husband. It’s insulting and IMHO, sexist to portray a very successful, beautiful woman as a failure if she isn’t married or living with someone. I think, like someone who was once in a similar position, Debbie Reynolds, she’s not a poor little thing but a smart, tough survivor who will, ultimately, refuse to let herself be defined by one unhappy time in her life.
P.S. As for Chelsea Handler, I once heard the saying “Defend me from my friends. My enemies I can handle.” I think that applies here.
PeggyP – I agree about Jennifer Aniston. Actually, I think the press is probably harder on Jennifer than Angie. I do think it is about selling a storyline they believe works and sells magazines, however, and not personal. As for Angie, I think she takes a bigger hit from female bloggers. I expected after Chelsea’s rant that the majority of the responses would be very negative, but there were a ton of comments saying Handler was right. Oh well…
I’m with you! Except LOL for Angelina. Not that it shouldnt be dropped after so many years, I just don’t like her. She is beautiful. But I think there are many much more beautiful that get the same hype. She does a lot of great humanitarian work and kudos to her for that. I don’t really see her getting much flack anymore, except for Handler’s freak out.
I think that during the divorce Brad should’ve gotten more flack than her. Much more. But I definitely think it says something about your character when you see no problem with a relationship with someone else’s husband. I don’t get why Chelsea went off on that rant so many years later? Way to bring it up again. Just let Jennifer live it down already! Great points about her Peggy P.
Great piece. I agree with your choices. I think Gwyneth Paltrow is a good example of the sort of criticism and tearing down we do of celebrities. I find her mildly annoying, but the attention given to her (admitted) pretensions is really outsized. It is disheartening to see how badly someone like Charlie Sheen gets away with behaving while people like Spears and Paltrow are scrutinized and criticized for behavior that is so much more benign.
I liked this piece, too!
That is so true Jennie. The people who need put into place (like Charlie Sheen) are not, yet people like Britney and Gwyneth are scrutinzed.
I think Jennifer Aniston should be on the list. I also think her friend Chelsea Handler should’ve kept her comments to herself. Why get yourself involved in your friends’ lives like that? Maybe she did it because she’s not that good of a friend of Jen’s and was trying to prove her loyalty, who knows and who cares really. Obviously Jen had moved on…and so did Brad. Brad’s a dad now Chelsea. He’s not going back to Jen. I think Chelsea only made herself look like a fool. That was the second time I thought she looked like a fool. I have seen bits and pieces of her show (which I just find crude), but I did see her host the MTV awards and I honestly think she’s not all that they’re hyping her to be (talented). The MTV awards were the first time I thought Chelsea was a fool/not very talented. I was embarrassed for her at the shoddy job she did. Take away the crudeness and she has no schtick. No talent.
It’s funny how you put up the Real Housewives. My guilty pleasure is watching the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I love watching them try to talk without moving their manufactured lips. 🙂
Anya, you’ve written some great commentary before, but this is my favorite!
Ann, ITA. Anya, I love this article.
I had no idea Gwyneth Paltrow was criticized. I like her.
LOL, I can’t stand Jennifer Aniston. It has nothing to do w/her relationships or personality. I just think she can’t act. Didn’t stop me from watching “Friends”, or “Office Space”. I can tune her out and she’s adequate. I have missed a lot on Chelsea. I like her for the most part and ignore the stuff she misses w/me.
Anya, I so agree w/your points in #7. It’s one thing to snark on a celeb in a detached general point of view way. It’s another to become personally involved to try to hurt that person’s career.
Cute article. It’s not easy being famous. I wonder if the paparazzi would be willing to give them 2 weeks off each year. 🙂
What a nice article ! Its nice to see a positive list at the end of the year!
Are people still talking about Lindsey Lohan? Girl’s had a rough year but hope she will have a better 2011.
Teresa, I am glad you brought up Lindsay. I thought about including her on the list. I understand the frustration many felt with her actions, but I have compassion for her and wish she was treated kinder by those who write about her. It is hard to ignore the hand she was dealt with those two parents. She is still young and some of her mistakes can be blamed on immaturity. It appears she is finally making an honest attempt to get clean and make a fresh start and I am rooting for her.
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I can’t help but compare how she is treated in the press to someone like Charlie Sheen (20+ years her senior, by the way). A couple times a year, Charlie goes on a bender, beats up a woman, trashes a hotel room or whatever, and goes on his merry way. The press seems to find his actions funny & entertaining instead of sickening. I can’t even imagine how a female celebrity who acted like Charlie would fare. Career over, I am sure.