It’s 2025. We have come a long way since the whirlwind that was Y2K media. No more will the celebrities of today tolerate the intrusive, rude — and sometimes downright dangerous —paparazzi.
Famous females now snap back at the men shouting at them to smile amidst the flashing cameras, they correct their manners and pout even harder than they did before. No longer will they answer pointless, sexist questions during promos and interviews.
And we, as fans, are happy about that… aren’t we?
The Double-Edged Sword
We have seen women empowerment come into its own in the last few years when it comes to fame. Artists are now more inclined to speak their truth during their time in the industry and we love them for it. If nothing else, it often gives us a view behind the curtain into the world they inhabit and what they really encounter on a daily basis. It’s a world many of us can only imagine.
Snippets of red carpets and award shows are now often peppered with one or two leading women shouting a biting word or two at the photographers desperately trying to get their shot. One woman that has become known for this is Millie Bobby Brown.
Multiple videos of Millie on the red carpet can be seen across social media platforms. One where she tells the paparazzi to smile when they ask her too, another where she corrects them about her relationship status. The latest video see Millie telling photographers to back up as she is carrying her new baby daughter. Those of us who lived through the Britney Spears 2007 era love this moment. Seeing a celebrity female being able to stand up for herself while she is carrying her child somehow feels like the universe righting a wrong.
But is there a wrong and a right time for this colder attitude? Do we want to see every person on the red carpet come out with a grimace and a middle finger to the world?
And what happens when the frank words and refusal of photographs gets turned onto the very people who were applauding the red carpet moments?
Enter Chappell Roan.
The Chappell Roan Effect
Let’s be clear, I have followed Chappell since her early TikTok days. I have loved her no BS songs and attitude for many years. I was a follower when she was called out for calling the audience at a gay club “gay” because they wouldn’t follow the dance to Hot to Go correctly… until the comments were filled with people explaining Chappell is also part of the community and she wasn’t just using it as a derogatory term.
After her sudden leap into the public consciousness, the conversations turned to people not quite understanding her persona. There has been interviews with Chappell where she describes her performing personality as a drag act, almost like a mask she wears to protect herself from the industry and absurd behaviour of both the media and fans alike. Which I think we can all understand. Fans were applauding her for speaking to candidly about the “Hollywood” side of the world.
They cheered her on when she spoke back to a reporter. When she openly slammed her ex on stage. Chappell was fresh and honest, everything the newest generation of internet users love.
But the tables turned when videos began to surface of Chappell refusing photos with fans. Of boarding her transport seemingly ignoring loyal fans that had been waiting for hours.. who then turned to heckling her instead. The comment section of a viral video — Chappell waving her hand dismissively at a reporter from a social site that was singing her song — is filled with negative reactions from fans. “Fame really ruins some people” and “the hand was so rude” were repeated thoughts.
It seems we want celebrities to stand up for themselves and have boundaries. Until those boundaries are against us.
Women’s Issues
It’s 2025, might have mentioned that at the beginning. The time for us telling people how they should or shouldn’t act should really be long gone. But when the public support an artist with their hard-earned money, it’s easy to feel that they somehow owe us their time, manners and patience. And maybe a selfie or two.
It can be a tricker discussion when it is female celebrities. In a world where we have seen Britney asked about her virginity and Scar-Jo interviewed about her breasts, nobody wants to go back to that type of media circus and this shouldn’t be a debate about when it is appropriate for a woman to speak her mind and be assertive. However, there can be a fine line between setting boundaries and just being rude.
Celebrity culture is one that has been building for a few decades and will probably be around for a long time to come. With the rise of social media influencers, TikTok stars and reality TV personalities, it has now become even easier to break into the “celebrity” world and win thousands of admiring fans. And you can really ride that wave of adoration, but — only if you play it right and don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
