In the digital age, where social media platforms dominate the landscape of communication, the phenomenon of hate speech has emerged as a pervasive issue, intersecting dramatically with celebrity culture. This intersection has notably amplified the intensity and reach of hate speech, marking a significant concern for both public discourse and individual welfare.
The Year in Taylor Swift (ELLE 2016 )was the particular example, Taylor Swift has experienced significant online hate campaigns. After her public dispute with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian over the lyrics of West’s song “Famous,” Swift faced intense backlash on social media. Many users participated in the #TaylorSwiftIsOverParty#, spreading negative comments and memes about her. However, Swift drew inspiration from the incident for her album “Reputation,” which cope with the scandal and her public image. Our goal is to find out the ways that hate speech spreads and analyse the significant effects that it has on society.
As a result of the convergence of celebrity culture and social media, the definition of celebrity and public participation has changed in the current digital age. The growth of social media has done more than only make being famous easier for everyone; it has also created unprecedented channels of communication between fans and their favorite celebrities. Because internet is rapid and easily accessed, it has led to more interactions between celebrities and their fans and causing more vulnerable to online scrutiny and hate speech.
Now, with the proliferation of social media, the term “celebrity” may refer to anybody whose career has taken off thanks to the size and importance of their online fan bases, not only well-known performers and artists. More individuals are vulnerable to online harassment and abuse because of this shift as they are more likely to become renowned.
JSTOR Daily published an article discussed “With social media, everyone is a Celebrity”. The impact of celebrity status on society has evolved over time, including media exposure and celebrity culture, which have shaped public opinion and the spread of hate speech. (JSTOR Daily July 16 ,2019).
The public’s, celebrities’, and fans’ relationships have become more complex and personal since the platforms that facilitate these connections. While it’s true that social media may help people connect with one another and build welcoming communities, it can also enable and amplify negative speech and hate speech. People who would normally be afraid to speak their minds are frequently encouraged to do so on these platforms because of the anonymity and sheer size of the audience.
The traditional boundaries between one’s private and public identity are being tested in this new dynamic, as every post, tweet or update has the power to ignite a massive public reaction.
Let’s look at a famous case that has been extensively researched and made public; it shines light on the mechanics of hate speech in celebrity culture on social media. The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has been the target of cyberbullying (Global News March 8, 2021).
Since she married Prince Harry and joined British Royal Family, Meghan has been targeted to severe scrutiny and widespread online harassment. This harassment has crossed various forms of hate speech, including racist comments, sexist narratives, and invasive speculation about her personal life, amplified through social media platforms.
There are several critical aspects of the intersection between celebrity culture and social media in the context of hate speech.
The narratives around Meghan were widely circulated and amplified on social media, frequently without thoroughly investigating the facts or considering the harm they brought to her.
Public Opinions were sharply divided by the severe attacks on Meghan Markle. On top of that, it took focus away from other important issues like racial inequality, media ethics, and the monarchy’s role. It shows the power of hate speech to causing controversy rather than unifying public conversation.
In a candid interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan Markle went into great detail about her mental health and how it was impacted during her time with the royal family and a target of negative press.
The 39-year-old spoke to Winfrey on Sunday during a two-hour special titled Oprah With Meghan and Harry. In an emotional moment, Markle admitted that she previously experienced suicidal thoughts.
“I just didn’t want to be alive anymore. And that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought.”
She said she was ashamed to tell her husband, Prince Harry, at the time.
“I know how much loss he suffered… But I knew that if I didn’t say it, that I would do it. And I just didn’t.”
She told the TV legend it was “very clear and very scary.”
Looking at the devastating impact of hate speech, particularly when given a platform like social media to spread its message throughout the world. There must be an investigation into the ways in which hate speech is disseminated, and everyone—platforms, users, and society at large—has to do their part to make the internet a safer place.
(Billboard, 13 Feb 2024) Kanye West, whose stage name is Ye, has been in the middle of a storm over comments he has made and the clothes he has worn. Many see his views as racist. He provoked strong reaction during the Yeezy Paris Fashion Week show by donning a “White Lives Matter” shirt, a term used by white supremacist organizations, and by following up with social media posts including antisemitic language. This caused a chain reaction, as seen in the timeline.
It goes over the first wave of criticism, including comments from famous people like Jamie Lee Curtis, Diddy, and Jaden Smith. Social media sites like Instagram and Twitter deactivated West’s accounts after he made controversial tweets. Ari Emanuel and other prominent personalities openly encouraged firms to cut links, and his radio play took a sharp nosedive. Balenciaga, Adidas, and Gap were among the fashion and music companies who severed ties in reaction, which had an impact on West’s wealth and career prospects. Kim Kardashian and Khloé Kardashian, his sister-in-law and ex-wife, respectively, spoke out against bigotry. Businesses in the legal, sports, and entertainment industries, among others, began to disassociate themselves from Kanye West as events progressed, condemning his remarks and pulling their support.
It highlighted how quickly things can get out of hand when influential people express contentious views, how strongly the public and corporations oppose hate speech, and how this might affect their commercial connections. Everyone is talking about how the social media sites handled the event.
Hate speech on social media, particularly when it involves famous people, is amplified by the algorithms. Although these technologies are intended to increase user engagement and duration on the site, they frequently unintentionally promote and prioritize content that is shocking, divisive, or causes strong emotional reactions, such as hate speech.
The first is that postings with a high number of engagement metrics (such as comments, shares, or likes) will likely be promoted to a wider audience using algorithms. This is true regardless of the substance of the article. As seen with Meghan Markle, when unfavourable stories and remarks swiftly took over feeds and discussions, this function, although designed to improve user experience, may cause the fast dissemination of damaging material.
The other thing that makes things worse is filter bubbles. “Filter bubbles”–customized information environments that reflect a narrowing of perspectives despite the proliferation of online content (Mark Andrejevic. Automated Media 2019).
Much attention has been paid to the role of automated cultural curation in the distribution of news and information, with particular emphasis on the hyper-customization of our cultural and political worlds. The notion of the “filter bubble” (Pariser 2011) and the “Daily Me” (Negroponte 1995; Sunstein 2001b) have been particularly influential in this regard. Although the critique of customized curation emerged early in the new millennium, it has come to the fore in the wake of recent revelations about the pathologies of algorithmic targeting, including the tendency of social media algorithms to prioritize the distribution of polarizing, controversial, false, and extremist content and the use of social media for unaccountable forms of “dark” targeted ads (that are seen only by those to whom they are directed–unlike mass media content) (Mark Andrejevic. Automated Media 2019).
The tendency for social media users to gravitate toward groups or individuals with similar opinions can amplify and legitimize already-present negativity. The effectiveness of counter-narratives or moderation efforts is diminished when hate speech directed at a celebrity circulates within such a bubble, where it is both amplified and reinforced.
Thirdly, people are more likely to say or do things they would normally be embarrassed to do in person because of the anonymity offered by social media. Feeling protected from the immediate effect of their remarks on the target, individuals may feel emboldened to promote hate speech due to this apparent disconnection from real-world repercussions.
Finally, because social media is both fast and accessible worldwide, hate speech is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to remove after it has gone viral. It may quickly transcend national boundaries, cultural norms, and linguistic barriers, reaching people much beyond its initial context and making remediation attempts more difficult.
Understanding these processes is important for coming up with better ways to stop hate speech on social media. For reducing the harm caused by spreading hate speech, it suggests a multifaceted method that includes changing platform policies, educating users, and getting more people involved in society.
Harmful comments about celebrities spread easily on social media, which has big effects on both the people who are attacked and society. While Meghan Markle’s story sheds light on the devastating consequences of cyberbullying, the scandals involving Kanye West (or Ye) provide another prime illustration. He has been involved in several public incidents, such as wearing offensive clothing and making comments that were seen as racist. This shows how complicated fame, hate speech, and public response can be in the digital age.
Wearing a “White Lives Matter” shirt to the Yeezy Paris Fashion Week show and using antisemitic words on social media prompted outrage. Celebrities’ acts may promote contentious language, as these examples demonstrated, and they also prompted significant reactions from the public and media. The conversation and outrage surrounding Ye’s activities highlight the societal consequences of these types of scandals, which in turn feed discussions on free speech, racism, and the role of famous personalities in influencing public opinion.
These instances highlight the human toll on those involved, in addition to the societal ramifications. The mental health consequences of the extreme scrutiny and retaliation can be substantial, even if they may be different for Ye than for victims of internet hate speech. Anxiety, despair, and other severe mental health issues are consequences of hate speech for people like Meghan Markle.
Furthermore, the problems involving famous people like Ye mirror and strengthen biases and unfairness in society. These occurrences shed light on the widespread effects of hate speech and the urgent necessity for a collective reaction by elevating racist and antisemitic concerns to the front.
To deal with the societal and personal effects of hate speech, especially in the context of star culture on social media, platforms, lawmakers, and the public need to work together. The future of democratic discourse and the happiness of individuals depend on our ability to make the internet a more caring and considerate place.
It is so hard to deal with hate speech. To do this, specific tactics are needed in many areas:
Improving algorithm clarity, letting users adjust their interactions to limit exposure to harmful content, and speeding up content moderation to quickly find and block hate speech are all important parts of the fight.
It is very important to update the laws and ensure they clearly describe and punish hate speech online, while still supporting free speech and stopping abuse.
Celebrities can use their fame to encourage good behaviour online and back campaigns that aim to make more people aware of the negative effects of hate speech and the importance of being polite online.
A polite online community is mostly dependent on individual users. Responding to hate speech with action, standing with those who were being attacked, and using constructive contact methods are all part of this.
The effects of hate speech can be lessened in the current digital age if everyone works together.
Reference list:
ELLE, The Year in Taylor Swift The Calvin Harris fallout. Hiddleswift. The nuclear Kimye feud. BY ALYSSA BAILEYPUBLISHED: DEC 13, 2016 5:14 PM EST https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/news/a41384/the-year-in-taylor-swift-2016
JSTOR DAILY, With social media, everyone’s a Celebrity By: Alexandra Samuel July 16, 2019 https://daily.jstor.org/with-social-media-everyones-a-celebrity/
Global News, ‘Almost unsurvivable’: Meghan Markle breaks silence on mental health struggle By Arti Patel & Madison Wong. Posted March 8, 2021 12:24 am Updated March 9, 2021 1:36 pm https://globalnews.ca/news/7682955/meghan-markle-mental-health
Global News,‘Oprah With Meghan and Harry’ interview: 6 stand-out moments of the jaw-dropping tell-all
Billboard, A Timeline of the Consequences Kanye West Has Faced for His ‘WLM’ Shirts & Antisemitic Hate Speech By Starr Bowenbank, Anna Chan, Rania Aniftos, Hannah Dailey 02/13/2024 https://www.billboard.com/lists/kanye-west-hate-speech-consequences-timeline/celebrities-react-to-death-con-tweet
Andrejeve, Mark (2019), ‘Automated Culture’, in Automated Media. London: Routledge pp45
Andrejeve, Mark (2019), ‘Automated Culture’, in Automated Media. London: Routledge pp50
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