Fame and redemption: On the moral dangers of celebrity apologies

I was wrong. foolish. don't get to play by different rules. The same boundaries that apply everyone me. brought this shame on myself. hurt my wife, kids, mother, wife's family, friends, foundation, and kids all around the world who admired … Parents used point me as a role model for their kids. owe of those families special apology. want say them am truly sorry. (Woods, 2010) Like most celebrity apologies, Woods offered his apology publicly. But he did not just apologize directly wronged. He also apologized fans. Why do celebrities sometimes fans? typically publicly apologize? In paper, first consider three possible explanations why include fans among targets then identify moral dangers third which arises specifically fan-targeted each teaches us important lessons about practice apologies. From these individual lessons, draw more general apologies from with elevated social positions. So, while initial focus is learning an undertheorized phenomenon, investigation into aims illuminate phenomenon using case study. Section 2, outline account redemption, drawing primarily Radzik's (2009) work. Sections 3–5, are often both given. Because such set aside standard reasons people might (e.g., desire make amends), though discuss relevance being motivated other reasons. explanation public record straight. second see themselves having obligations. And aim maintain fame—that is, positive status—and its associated powers. 6–8, out danger First, apologizing can narrative misdeed in favor. we have reason trust Second, even when they favor, given still function disempower victim control over own life narrative. present additional harm victims. Third, block from, what will call, redemption. ought be concerned caring fame than anything else. Additionally, risks exacerbating two dangers. According Linda Radzik (2009, p. 113), redemption “proper end state responses wrongdoing.” She holds “When one redeemed, has justifiably regained one's standing” (Radzik, 2009, 113). On her view, standing “the degree esteem conduct oneself appropriately merit community” trusted particular default 82). When act wrongly, demonstrate trustworthy. seen trustworthy thus our within community. draws Karen Jones's according “an attitude optimism goodwill competence another extend cover domain interaction her, together expectation favorably moved thought counting her” (Jones, 1996, 4; cited Radzik, 114). To understand must appreciate wrongdoing. wrongdoing damages relationships through presenting insults threats persist time (see Murphy & Hampton, 1988). For example, solitary thief may no friends or but she damage between herself others, community, past wrongs grounding persistent threat steal others. actions send message, others so at least diminished. redeem herself, therefore remove threat—that stop action sending messages. Once removed, merits reconciliation—that victims community reconcile her. Importantly, removing requires wrongdoer morally transforming. Moral transformation crucial meriting reconciliation. By transforming becomes However, merely transformed enough. Wrongdoers responsible diminished standing, letting know changed. words, communicate now (or again) transformation. Finally, meet any claims incurred acting wrongly. doing so, demonstrates trustworthiness. Thus, reconciliation thereby things: (i) transform, (ii) transformation, (iii) wrongly 85). backward- forward-looking elements, 86) takes tantamount repentance. looks back sees proper light. This involves acknowledging responsibility done, wrongness relevant acts, authority norms violated, should acted did. care effect had. feeling negative emotions, guilt, remorse, regret, shame, right target appropriate extent. person feels regret because been caught does feel target. slightly briefly remorseful significant wrong bad spirals self-hatred minor things too far. short, wrongdoers assess impact had correctly. forward future behavior: resolves repeat wrongs, improve character if improvement required, improvements. expressive harms—in particular, community—wrongdoers transformation—for apologizing, truth telling, undertaking reparative work charity work). hold essential Rather, ways Which forms communication depend details it Apologies common way requirement. An explicitly help counter harmful messages earlier sent demonstrating respect well humility response wrongs. explicit wrong, on. conceptualize everything immediately. reason, endorses view negotiation victim/community Battistella, 2014; Lazare, 2005; MacLachlan, Smith, 2008). Through negotiation, wrongdoer's feelings commitments behavior, become accurate articulate. Public aid They serve end, all, setting straight allow hear message provide evidence reformation. especially cases where done sends disrespect like some respects. instance, making apology, employer sexually discriminated against female employee withdraws insult implied women workplace. 95) subject similar 2014, 2018; If serves requirement merited reconciliation, counts good Such wrongly—such repairing victim's reputation. A rectify benefit communicating renewed While 84) certain beyond pale cannot ever subsequently full believes atone aspects feigned, misleading, otherwise illicit. We fall dodgy believe someone changed again, Even distrust them, come think again. mistakenly redeemed fact This, course, genuine rather apparent mark distinction types call former latter Let turn masturbating front junior colleagues, comedian Louis CK (2017) begins saying “These stories true” reflects clear effort took advantage widely disabled sharing story hardship tried look up didn't it. position allowed (Louis CK, 2017) identifies accusers were believed. admired, lead form testimonial injustice (Archer Matheson, 2019, 2021). Unlike judged less epistemically credible features identity (Fricker, 2007), contradicts excessive epistemic credibility—that believed be. As 5, disable means only credibility, power. seems aware power believed, felt wield would Setting commendable motivation apologizing—for establishes verifiable committed. always. Consider evil wicked done. could insincere simply boldly stating always commendable, remains is. Being necessary one. usual motives amends) commendable. Samantha Geimer (2013, 291), drugged raped Roman Polanski, says Polanski written private Polanski's offer publicly.1 Correcting helps explain giving publicly, acknowledges accused doing. obviously fan-targeted. elsewhere explanation. obligation providing Several authors investigated whether celebrities—with athletes—have obligations Feezell, Spurgin, 2012; Wellman, 2003; Yorke Archer, 2020). idea occupy privileged position, behavior. models incur greater blame performs type-identical famous athlete uses racial slurs blameworthy ordinary slurs. Both slurs, modeling There lot controversy obligation. Some argue prima facie models, 2005). Others violate person's privacy, acquired consent 2012). Whether affect point. Tiger Woods. himself basis. It clear, then, violated violation calls whom supposed feasibly fan individually, makes sense gave reach Indeed, behavior model, one: regardless obligations, thing acknowledge influence take extra steps try badly influencing model. I'm paid wreak havoc basketball court. models. Just dunk doesn't mean raise your kids.2 (cited Norris, 2020) Guys really Zero intention. Deleting soon. Reslen, 2022) issued after complained skincare routine video uploaded TikTok mocked Hailey Bieber recently uploaded. directs fans, Gomez celebrity's belief follows, how (to extent) potential dependence sole clearly motivation. Moreover, motivations maintaining else, overall blameworthy. Most haters—that loved hated despised businessman, president United States, Donald Trump haters. observation feature works. extent able think, believe, know, enable exerting influence. et al., 2020, 29) noted earlier, related credibility. wider concept includes tendency ability disbelieved. many part “pass mic” campaign spread information COVID-19.3 this, Epistemic benignly. discussed exercised disabling exert accusations him. excessive—that undeserved—epistemic power, areas “unrelated career, talent, expertise” 28). him, comedic traits achievements imply harass others—and content lends credibility joked kinds acts later confessed committing (Bradley, 2017). distinguish tends disbelieved disables epistemically. Celebrities usually depending audience tend statements, them. likely bizarre statements treat COVID-19, several hospitalizing (Smith-Schoenwalder, hand, haters disbelieve statements. COVID-19 originating laboratory China. At time, dismissed racist incendiary ramblings. Later transpired (though confirmed writing).4 me, hater his. More generally, over. Fans give fans—that members yet (in haters). establish imagination—that collectively constructed “kind imagination opens eyes hearts enabling constraining” generally (Medina, 2012, 22). Someone appears well-loved like. you currently Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, him positively. open seeing films, actual Haters becoming That engage (though, contrarians alluring feature). haters, continual struggle. struggle various social, political, economic forces determine image position. avoid newspapers gossip websites imagination. suggests importance image. With comes powers, including Celebrities, there One source support admired. sources (such strong relations team promotes them), power—that love admire status. financially socially. Regardless much press exclusively hated, actually said, find anyone recommend credible. Those involve fans.5 betrayed upset wrongdoing.6 notable fandom impression idol's odds character. Their misbehavior reveal losing allay betrayal sadness cause. this. assure are, aspire be, Academy, producers show, attendees watching world. (Smith, 2022; emphasis) Here Smith subset intended mentioning way, targeting What looked before slap expressed let down? Two things. One: disappointing central trauma. hate down, hurts psychologically emotionally live peoples' trying is—I deeply without ashamed human made mistake myself piece shit. So people, confusing. shocking. promise you, devoted committed putting light joy hang on, Whiting, Smith's people's promises “we” These suggest directing whose lived (perhaps others) public—namely, fame. depends apologize, dedicate “friends” fan-appeasing reason. 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