Tween Idols-- Destined for Disaster?

Brenda Song

It was recently reported that Disney Channel star Brenda Song is pregnant with the baby of Miley Cyrus's half brother Trace Cyrus.  

After reading about this "scandal" I just got to thinking about how many tween idols wind up in scandal and, in turn, are scrutinized for acting in a manner that does not coincide with the values of the networks they work for.

A few examples that came to mind were:

• When Jamie Lynn Spears became pregnant while working on Nickelodeon, and in turn her show was canceled.
• When Miley Cyrus was exposed on TMZ as a smoker of what she alleged to be salvia.
• Anything that Lindsay Lohan does.

• Demi Lavato punched one of her backup dancers in the face and was sent to an inpatient rehab for cutting, multiple eating disorders, and anger management. 

Now, I am just as guilty as the next guy of feeding in to the gossip of these young ladies and reading article after article of what kind of trouble any one of them has gotten into as of late.  But once I really got to thinking about it I really do wonder what about these unfortunate situations peaks my interest.  Clearly others are both literally and figuratively on the same page as I am--but why?  Does it make us bad people? Why indulge in the irony that is the behavior of these tween idols? Other than those of us who suffer from mild to severe schadenfreude. 

scha·den·freu·de

 [shahd-n-froi-duh]

noun

satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune.

I'm sure the pressure of the lime light is nothing any layperson could understand.  Therefore it's hard to say how we would act if given the opportunity.  I can't speak for the other People Magazine subscribers, but for me it is hard to sympathize with someone who makes the argument that their life is too hard when they make more money in a week than I'll probably see in a lifetime.   On Demi Lavato's Disney show "Sonny with a Chance" she made $12,000 an episode.  Her net worth is about $3 million.  

Meanwhile, there were 5,364 foreclosures in Minnesota in Quarter One of 2011. That's not to say that the people in those situations always make the right decision or something. I just think I'd rather be in the first situation, than the second.  So in that sense, It's easy to look at these tween idols and say "oh poor you." 

That being said, usually these tween stars are just kids themselves and before I sat down to write this blog entry I never actually sat and thought about that part.  Yes, ladies and gentlemen there is some sensitivity somewhere inside me.  The more mature you are the easier it is to gain perspective, which is, I think, a contributing factor to the "downfall" of these stars.  

 Alright, so where's this leave us?  I'd say tabloid stories, yellow journalism and gossip columns will always sell, and people (myself included) will keep reading it, but in the back of my mind and somewhere deep down my little heart (that has been rumored to be two sizes too small) just might grow for them.. perhaps not three sizes though.. 

 

So there you have it! That's what I've been brewing up.  Don't forget to follow me on Twitter! @mkbeer08.