We have all had that gut wrenching feeling of witnessing a celebrity that we like do something that opposes our personal morals. Whether that be committing a crime, spewing something negative and inappropriate, or supporting something that we equate with negativity, a celebrity has let us down in one form or another. The question becomes, however, can we separate celebrities’ talents from their personal lives, even if we do not agree with their actions or values?

Famous artists, politicians, and athletes have had different incidents or have amplified something that clashes with their fans morals. For example, Chris Brown beating up Rihanna and harassing Karrueche, XXXTENTACION charged with assaulting women and continuing to joke about it, Kodak Black charged with rape, and Lil Uzi basically being a devil worshiper. Another group often revered are professional athletes. Floyd Mayweather beating up his wife and supporting Donald Trump and Ray Rice, an NFL star, shown in the infamous elevator video of knocking his wife unconscious then dragging her body are two recent examples from a long list. All of these actions would be considered problematic by most people, yet the celebrities are still millionaires, so someone still supports them. The question becomes if they are a package deal with their lives on and off their stage, or can their personal lives be separated from their crafts.

There are many different ways to think about this ranging from they can be separated to they cannot. Sarah Williams ‘18 thinks we cannot separate people’s actions and values from their talent and says, “their person and demeanor is a part of their brand, and that is why we like them and follow them. They are selling themselves as a package.” Davia Murray, a Whitney Young ‘17 legend and Spelman ‘21 adds, “what you produce and give to the universe ultimately becomes a representation of you.” Ashanti Lumpkin, WY ‘17 and Virginia State University ‘21, agrees, “if we are listening to these people’s music, buying their products, or doing anything to make them richer, then we are supporting them and saying their actions are okay. People make mistakes, and celebrities are just people, but if they are not remorseful in their actions or do not show that they have grown, then we should not support them.” In the case of their remorse and change, then their action and art should be separated, as Kiyah Travis ‘18 relays; “if they are not showing change then their actions and art should not be separated because a person’s actions say a lot about them. I cannot respect you if you are doing things that I do not agree with.”

Other people think that recognising the person’s talent is okay, but not continuing to glorify the person is the right action when they are engaged in unfavorable behaviour, as Sierra Orr ‘18 states, “having them continue to be famous and have their music or whatever product be spread is a problem, but you can acknowledge that the person or artists has the talent.” But, some believe that you can still like their music or buy their product, being whatever that might be but that does not mean you support them as a person. Nyla David ‘19 states, “you can still listen to their music and like their music [talking about music artists] but supporting them as a person is just not a smart idea, if they have done all those awful things.” Mikol Tsopnang ‘18 further expresses, “I don’t believe that listening to their music is in any way showing my own values or a promotion of them as people.” She further mentions, “their music is not a crime. I believe you can separate the artist and their art.” Jake Kosakowski ‘18 adds, “I don’t agree with what they do, but I still support the music because it’s too good to ignore,” so he does not equate supporting the music with supporting the person.

Do we turn off the radio whenever a Kodak song comes on? Do we not watch Mayweather fight again? Whether you believe that a celebrity’s’ personality can be separated from their talent, we all have the option, as Kyla Marshall WY ‘17 Northwestern ‘21 says, to “not engage or listen to their work, if their actions bother you enough.”