# Young celebrities behaving badly: is it all PR? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 8, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442 "2013-11-08T19:16:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2013, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442/41 "2013-11-10T09:49:57Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Yes, many teenage stars were first child actors toiling away in relative obscurity. Shocking, I know. Yeah, I don’t think anyone said, “you were on the Mickey Mouse Club? You’re gonna be a pop star!” but it is a “symptom” of their drive. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2013, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442/42 "2013-11-10T10:19:44Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Let’s compare… > > Lindsay Lohan - Did enough coke to drop a bull elephant… On a related note, while I don’t have the figures for coke, it apparently takes no more than [297 mg of LSD](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tusko) to drop a bull elephant. (Possibly less) \* The more you know!\* ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442/43 "2013-11-11T06:05:12Z")
Several days ago, I was passing through the girls’ department at Kohl’s, and they had some kids’ pajamas with a picture of J.B. on it and the phrase “The Future Mrs. Bieber.” I predict that those will not be top sellers this year. Last year, maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442/44 "2013-11-11T10:06:34Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > For that to be true - that all the bad behaviour is stage-managed - you’d have to believe that all Bieber’s natural behaviour is impeccable. This rich, spoilt teenager would never drink alcohol, swear, or shove an obnoxious paparazzo of his own accord. Or that his likes and his handlers’ directives happily coincide. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442/45 "2013-11-11T10:15:31Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > For that to be true - that all the bad behaviour is stage-managed - you’d have to believe that all Bieber’s natural behaviour is impeccable. This rich, spoilt teenager would never drink alcohol, swear, or shove an obnoxious paparazzo of his own accord. That’s the way I see it. Plenty of teenagers would act irresponsibly if they had the means and there were no adults in their life to tell them no. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442/46 "2013-11-11T13:14:22Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > After hearing people completely lose their minds over the performance for about two weeks I finally watched the video. My reaction was, “That’s it? Is there more to the video that was cut out? This is what people are absolutely melting down about?” I really can’t believe it got the reaction that it did. I personally suspect that a large amount of the “outrage” is totally phony. It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest to learn that there are people who get paid (by the celebrities’ agents) to get on Twitter or Facebook or wherever and post outraged diatribes about how totally unacceptable Miley Cyrus’ conduct is). The media flunkies who search the Internet looking for leads fall for it, perhaps because they tend to not be the brightest bulbs around, or perhaps just out of willful ignorance (because a story is a story, right?) ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442/47 "2013-11-11T17:03:27Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest to learn that there are people who get paid (by the celebrities’ agents) to get on Twitter or Facebook or wherever and post outraged diatribes… Where do I apply for this job? I would totally sell out and post outraged messages for money. But I don’t think that is the case, rather I just think people like yelling loudly so others listen to them and “I like puppies!” doesn’t get anyone’s attention. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442/48 "2013-11-11T17:18:54Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > I personally suspect that a large amount of the “outrage” is totally phony. It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest to learn that there are people who get paid (by the celebrities’ agents) to get on Twitter or Facebook or wherever and post outraged diatribes about how totally unacceptable Miley Cyrus’ conduct is). The media flunkies who search the Internet looking for leads fall for it, perhaps because they tend to not be the brightest bulbs around, or perhaps just out of willful ignorance (because a story is a story, right?) Why bother paying for it when there are a zillion people more than willing to do it for free? Outrage is the easiest thing to do and the easiest thing to find. Look anywhere. You have to pay people to say nice things about your product. Getting them to dump on it is automatic. Gathering it is like standing in the rain and then claiming surprise when your nice clean bucket is full of water. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442/49 "2013-11-11T17:25:20Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Several days ago, I was passing through the girls’ department at Kohl’s, and they had some kids’ pajamas with a picture of J.B. on it and the phrase “The Future Mrs. Bieber.” I predict that those will not be top sellers this year. Last year, maybe. I remember a Bloom County comic strip years ago mentioning that a million pairs of E.T. underpants were going to be jettisoned by sending them in a rocket into the sun. Maybe they can do the same with these pajamas. (or send them to the poverty stricken third world people who might appreciate clothes, if not Justin Bieber.) ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442/50 "2013-11-11T17:29:15Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Several days ago, I was passing through the girls’ department at Kohl’s, and they had some kids’ pajamas with a picture of J.B. on it and the phrase “The Future Mrs. Bieber.” I predict that those will not be top sellers this year. Last year, maybe. You already posted this once. It was nonsensical the first time. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442/51 "2013-11-11T17:54:43Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > You already posted this once. It was nonsensical the first time. Whoa, you’re right! Hadn’t realized it. :o ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442/52 "2013-11-11T17:56:21Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > On a related note, while I don’t have the figures for coke, it apparently takes no more than [297 mg of LSD](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tusko) to drop a bull elephant. (Possibly less) My nose is reeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaally really long maaan! ☹ Seriously. I never heard of that. What were those “scientists” thinking? What were \*they \*on? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442/53 "2013-11-11T18:02:14Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Seriously. I never heard of that. What were those “scientists” thinking? What were \*they \*on? 296 mg of LSD. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442/54 "2013-11-11T19:00:52Z")
With Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus, I can believe that part or most of it is either fully staged or “encouraged” by the PR team. With Lindsey Lohan, no. Some of it might have been at the beginning, but given the serious real-world consequences of her behavior, I don’t think it’s a PR stunt. Have you seen her rap sheet? She’s been in jail multiple times. She’s lost a ton of work due to her issues, and she went from starring roles in popular mainstream movies to laughable trainwrecks like Liz & Dick. Perhaps most importantly for an actress, she’s gone from being beautiful to…well, you know. Her issues are no publicity stunt. (We know a lot of her problems are addiction-related, but IMHO she also has mental health issues. I feel sorry for her.) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442/55 "2013-11-11T19:45:46Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > I personally suspect that a large amount of the “outrage” is totally phony. It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest to learn that there are people who get paid (by the celebrities’ agents) to get on Twitter or Facebook or wherever and post outraged diatribes about how totally unacceptable Miley Cyrus’ conduct is). The media flunkies who search the Internet looking for leads fall for it, perhaps because they tend to not be the brightest bulbs around, or perhaps just out of willful ignorance (because a story is a story, right?) Sounds great, “we can squeeze all the juices out of this story! We don’t have to write anything original for two weeks!” > [@xizor](#): > > Where do I apply for this job? I would totally sell out and post outraged messages for money. But I don’t think that is the case, rather I just think people like yelling loudly so others listen to them and “I like puppies!” doesn’t get anyone’s attention. This happens. Firms hire shills and sycophants to boost Twitter followers and say positive things. [These](http://fakers.statuspeople.com/) [websites](http://www.socialbakers.com/twitter/fakefollowercheck/) is supposed to determine how many followers are fake. The second one looks more promising to look up a celebrity. I don’t have twitter and they want me to sign in to check :(. But I recall a **huge** percentage of e.g. @justinbieber are fake. [This from July](http://popdust.com/2013/07/18/justin-bieber-twitter-most-followed-42-million-how-many-fake/) suggests 65% are fake or inactive! ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442/56 "2013-11-11T20:15:12Z")
I remember reading about Paris Hilton’s sex tape being “leaked” (per Wiki: Hilton stated publicly that she was “out of it,” didn’t know what she was doing during the taping of the video and did not approve its public release) to the internet in 2004. My immediate thought was, her career is over. I felt that this was very bad PR, i,e nice, rich, blond girl doing porn. I couldn’t have been more wrong. She became really famous. Whether she intended it or not, it definitely worked for her. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442/57 "2013-11-11T20:51:56Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > With Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus, I can believe that part or most of it is either fully staged or “encouraged” by the PR team. > > With Lindsey Lohan, no. Well doesn’t she fire staff/have staff quit all the time? Maybe they don’t get the chance to do anything. I know she’s been fired from movie roles due to being a junkie flake. > [@harmonicamoon](#): > > I remember reading about Paris Hilton’s sex tape being “leaked” (per Wiki: Hilton stated publicly that she was “out of it,” didn’t know what she was doing during the taping of the video and did not approve its public release) to the internet in 2004. Wow that sounds like she is accusing her then-boyfriend (or whatever) of taking advantage, not that he’s a stellar example of a human being. There was some minor celebrity or another who had a sex tape “leak.” Except they guy involved was a well known porn star and production values were higher. Hmm… maybe Paris truthful about not intentionally releasing it, as I’ve seen parts of her video and it is nothing that I would watch for fun. Grainy, nightvision green, bad camera work. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442/58 "2013-11-11T23:24:46Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > I remember reading about Paris Hilton’s sex tape being “leaked” (per Wiki: Hilton stated publicly that she was “out of it,” didn’t know what she was doing during the taping of the video and did not approve its public release) to the internet in 2004. My immediate thought was, her career is over. I felt that this was very bad PR, i,e nice, rich, blond girl doing porn. I couldn’t have been more wrong. She became really famous. Whether she intended it or not, it definitely worked for her. Paris Hilton’s tape was probably the last celebrity sex tape that was “leaked” by a third party. Her boyfriend at the time made it and distributed it after she got her TV deal for The Simple Life. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442/59 "2013-11-12T03:22:59Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I remember a Bloom County comic strip years ago mentioning that a million pairs of E.T. underpants were going to be jettisoned by sending them in a rocket into the sun. Maybe they can do the same with these pajamas. (or send them to the poverty stricken third world people who might appreciate clothes, if not Justin Bieber.) That sounds like a reference to the supposed burial of millions of unsold copies of the Atari _E.T._ video game. > **[Atari video game burial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_video_game_burial)** > > The Atari video game burial was a mass burial of unsold video game cartridges, consoles, and computers in a New Mexico landfill site undertaken by the American video game and home computer company Atari, Inc. in 1983. Before 2014, the goods buried were rumored to be unsold copies of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), one of the largest commercial video game failures and often cited as one of the worst video games ever released, and the 1982 Atari 2600 port of Pac-Man, which was commercially su... ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442/60 "2013-11-12T05:13:37Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > That sounds like a reference to the supposed burial of millions of unsold copies of the Atari _E.T._ video game. > [Atari video game burial - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_video_game_burial) Alamogordo? They should have taken them to Roswell. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-celebrities-behaving-badly-is-it-all-pr/673442.md?page=4)