Entitled to What? (Supplemental Post #5)

It is hard to ignore the surge of cheating men in Hollywood. Of course there is Tiger Woods, David Letterman and now Jesse James. This increase and public awareness of these men’s cheating ways has created interest not only with the public but also within the media itself. I recently watched the newest South Park episode that discussed Tiger Woods’ infidelity and after watching that episode read an article discussing why successful women are cheated on and how it creates insecurity in many nonpublic relationships. All of these accusations of infidelity have made me wonder why celebrities feel that they are “entitled” to such “pleasures”. However, the recent scandal involving Sandra Bullock’s husband, Jesse James, shifts the question a little bit. I would not call him a celebrity by any means, definitely not of Tiger Woods or David Letterman fame, but yet he has cheated on his uber-famous wife, Bullock. I used to believe that celebrities believed they were invincible and as Woods’ so perfectly articulated, “entitled”. But the fact that men who are married to successful and famous women cheat makes me question the reason behind the cheating. Are they insecure? Rebellious? Bored? And is it only men who commit these lustful sins? Will we suddenly hear of new reports that Kate Winslet or Gwen Stefani have carried on yearlong affairs with male prostitutes, models or strippers?

My belief is that celebrities (male and female alike) have new opportunities thrown at them constantly and instead of using self-control they indulge themselves. They have been conditioned to believe they can do no wrong, which is pretty easy when everyone around you continuously tells you how great you are. I also believe that men who are married to successful women cheat because they are lonely and or feel inferior and use their wives status in order to make themselves celebrity like as well. This sudden surge of cheating men makes me wonder if this has been going on for decades (ever since celebrities were created) and that these celebrities may just have a bad publicist, or is this a product of the post-modern culture and the lackadaisical attitude most young people have about sex and the eagerness to categorize activity as a disease (ie. Sex addiction). I do however, believe that being a celebrity gives these men and women more of a reason to act foolishly and selfishly when given certain opportunities.