When Miley Cyrus sent Jesse Helt, a homeless youth, on stage to accept her 2014 MTV Music Awards victory, everyone watching was in for a surprise. Even announcer Jimmy Fallon didn’t know what to do with the award trophy. Cyrus and Helt used this as an opportunity to raise awareness for the Happy Hippie Foundation, a campaign by Cyrus that helps homeless youths, especially LGBT youths. Even with Cyrus’s large efforts to begin an organization to help youth stay off the streets, she received criticism from some, questioning whether this was another publicity stunt to counteract her twerking escapade at the 2014 MTV Music Awards.
In regards to individuals who use their power and influence to help minorities and the oppressed, it’s not quite a controversial topic because most people generally support the concept of publicizing issues that the less fortunate face. However, disagreement has also arisen on this topic, as some feel that while it is noble for the wealthier and more fortunate patrons to support a worthy case, others question the genuinity of their actions — wondering if it is all a publicity stunt. I personally feel that regardless of their “legitimacy” to speak out on the topic, they generate attention and limelight towards the issues facing others in this world.
And to everyone who believes one who has not experienced a situation to advocate for it, I ask: so what? Without support of those who have the means to influence change in even the poorest parts of the world, where would we be now? Why must we, as a society, first reprimand people for not speaking for the less fortunate, but then question their motives when they do? Experience does not equal support or genuine compassion, nor are the two terms synonymous.
As a society we should stop criticizing people who put their efforts towards humanitarian efforts. Whether their motives are for fame or because of compassion, the end result still helps those in need. Criticism and bashing others will only limit future efforts in helping and starting other philanthropic campaigns. For example, when the couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt first began adopting children, the public often made jokes and had large concerns about their choice to adopt. When a normal couple adopts, they aren’t confronted with criticism as to why they made that decision. Over the years of raising their children and nurturing their family, it is clear Pitt and Jolie did not adopt for publicity or fame. It is obvious they did so because of they truly wanted to make a difference in the lives of their children and think of them as their own.
Celebrities are people too. They are capable of having compassion and kindness and care. Because of the influence and wealth they have to their name, they are able to turn those characteristics into action and make monumental changes for different campaigns and causes. Cynicism for humanitarian celebrities never help the cause, instead hindering efforts to help others.
