Sympathy for the Beebs (or is it Biebs?)

I recently watched a 6-minute TMZ video of Justin Bieber’s deposition for some crime he is standing trial for.  There’s a lot of talk on Facebook and Twitter about this video.  So far everything I’ve seen has been about what a horrible person Bieber is.  Some of the more printable descriptors I’ve seen: “Smug”, “self-important”, “arrogant”, etc.

And I’d have to agree.  The video does make him seem that way.  But I think it’s cheap and easy to leave it at that.

I saw something else in the video.  I saw a young man who is tired.  Tired and scared.   Actually “young man” may not be accurate.  In a lot of ways Justin is still just a boy.  He just turned 20, so he’s certainly old enough to be considered a man, but when you consider what his life has been like, I would argue that he is just starting to grow up.

Justin was “discovered” in 2008, he was just entering into his teen years.  He had music superstars “fighting” for him.  He had a manager, millions of fans; he was flying all around the world playing for sold out stadiums.  Doing whatever he was told by people who knew how to squeeze out every single dollar’s worth of him.  And my guess is that no one ever told him “No”.

I can only imagine what I would’ve been like in his shoes.  When I think about the kinds of things I was doing at that age, without the money; the fame; the opportunity for trouble he’s had, all I can do is shake my head.  Actually, given who I am, I imagine that if I were in his shoes, I would’ve done exactly what he did.  I would’ve listened to my handlers, I would’ve come of squeaky-clean for as long as I could’ve handled it, and then I would’ve rebelled.  I would’ve started testing my boundaries; see how far I could go until someone told me “No”.

I’m not suggesting that Justin is innocent.  We’re all accountable for the decisions we make.  But I am suggesting that he’s not the only guilty one.  I’m guilty; anyone who watched that deposition video is too.  Everyone who ever clicked on his Youtube videos or bought his album or followed him on Twitter; that fact that you’re reading this right now, we’re all guilty.  We’re guilty of creating a culture that eats up kids childhoods and then spits them out when what their doing isn’t cute anymore. 

And it isn’t just Justin.  Miley Cyrus has been in the news lately for sowing her wild oats.  Amanda Bynes and Lindsey Lohan have well documented run-ins with the law.  I’ve heard that Demi Lovato and Vanessa Hudgens, both once squeaky-clean Disney girls, have been connected to stories of drugs or nudity or both.  Before this crop of stars, there was Britney Spears.  Before Britney, there was Macaulay Culkin from Home Alone, Corey Haim and Corey Feldman.  Even little Stephanie from “Full House”; Jodie Sweetin went off the rails.  River Phoenix, Drew Barrymore, the kids from “Diff’rent Strokes” Dana Plato and Todd Bridges, and the list could go on.  You start to wonder if the kids who make it through without going wild are the exception to the rule.

And again, every time we buy a CD, or more likely now, download a song; every time we watch a TV show or a movie, or buy a magazine, or click on a link to read a story, we become a part of the culture that grinds these kids up.

And it’s easy for us to watch Justin’s 6 minute video and trash him, because we have no idea what it’s like to be him.  It’s easy to look down on him and call him names for spitting on his fans, because we have no idea how it feels to have to always smile and be cordial to a bunch of screaming kids that hound your every step.

And again, I’m not saying that Justin’s innocent.  I think the way he’s been acting has been terrible.  I just think that it is hardly surprising.  And more to the point I think it’s hypocritical of us to care enough about him to chastise his behaviour, but not care enough about what we all have done to help produce the person he’s become.

The worst thing about all of this is that I don’t think much can be done about it.  We could talk about the need to stop putting kids on pedestals just so we can tear them down.  We could say that we should stop buying their CD’s; watching their movies; reading about them in magazines or stop following them on Twitter.  But the sad truth is that as long as there is an entertainment industry, people will be “discovering” child stars.  They’ll be a big deal for a few years and then they’ll stop being cute.  Some will transition well; the rest will be destroyed by the same machine that built them up.  The lucky few will go to rehab and find a way to start over.  Meanwhile the next big thing will be following in their footsteps.

What I’m going to do is pray for Justin.  And I’ll try to pray for the next kid on the conveyor belt too.  I’ll pray that someone tells them “No” before the police have to.  And I’ll also pray for my own kids.  I’ll pray that they won’t help feed the machine that eats up others just like them.  I’ll talk to them about the difference between appreciating someone’s talents and abilities, and putting someone on a pedestal that is impossible to live on for more than a few busy years.

Don’t excuse Justin’s behaviour, but consider what role you’ve played in creating a culture that has helped make him the person he is.  Pray for him and others.  And maybe, have a little sympathy for the Beebs.