Alice Mungyu ‘19, editor-in-chief
Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan announced their split on April 2, sending media outlets into a frenzy with accusations. This sparks the debate: do celebrities have a right to privacy?
After having been married for almost nine years, the couple wrote in a joint statement released on Instagram: “we have lovingly chosen to separate as a couple.” “We fell deeply in love so many years ago and have had a magical journey together. Absolutely nothing has changed about how much we love one another, but love is a beautiful adventure that is taking us on different paths for now.”
They added, “there are no secrets nor salacious events at the root of our decision — just two best-friends realizing it’s time to take some space and help each other live the most joyous, fulfilled lives as possible.”
Although there has been much speculation as to what went wrong, the public doesn’t know the couple personally. Everyone should be entitled to their privacy. People need to respect their wishes and give them space. Rumors and false stories spread like wildfire — and rather than build up the tension, the media should give celebrities time to reflect on their relationships privately.
Jennifer Lawrence has been outspoken for years on her loss of privacy: “You can say, ‘This (invasion of privacy) is part of my job and this is going to be a reality of my life, but what you don’t expect is how your body and how your emotions are going to react to it.’” She noted that people generally don’t have much sympathy for celebrities upset about privacy invasions: “Nobody wants to help us because it seems like, you know, ‘Shut up, millionaires!’”
Yet, some people disagree with this point, justifying that with fame, comes a price. To be watched for our amusement is a small price to pay for such an extravagant lifestyle. The Paparazzi remarks, “…you chose the life of a celebrity, which puts you in the public eye just as much as the life of a politician is.”
Other celebrities such Kristen Bell and Jennifer Garner have also voiced their concerns, especially over the privacy of their kids. They argued that their children should choose whether or not they want to be in the entertainment industry. They shouldn’t have to be faced with this type of craziness simply because their parents are under the spotlight.
