Being a superstar in today’s society is tough. Look at any tabloid and you’ll see some pathetic-looking star with dark circles under her eyes and her belly hanging out of pants a couple sizes too small.
Singer Mariah Carey knows that scenario all too well these days.
Life can be stressful, and Carey is certainly feeling the heat recently after working on two different movie sets for “Glitter” and “Wise Girls,” as well as completing a soundtrack for “Glitter.”
The effects of these projects caused her to recently check into a hospital \'because of mental and physical exhaustion.
The consequence caused Carey’s release dates for the soundtrack and movie of “Glitter” to be set back to September 11 and 21, respectively, so she could re-energize.
What’s more entertaining than seeing stars at their worst? If that’s not bad enough, computers usually touch-up their photographs to give them more of a dumpy flare.
The expectation of a super woman has exploded in Carey’s face as trash publications run photos where she looks stoned, six rolls along her stomach serve as a focal point, and the accompanying headline reads, “Mariah trying to commit suicide.” The saying does go, “You kick them when they’re down.”
Carey might be a superstar, but she can’t be expected to be a super woman.
I know it’s hard sometimes to see things from the other side of the fence, but humans are not perfect. And telling lies when people are not perfect is just wrong. Carey was not trying to kill herself.
Everyone is bound to have low times in life. Backstreet Boy A. J. McLean recently underwent treatment for depression and alcohol abuse, which he is still battling to overcome.
It’s typical for a star to stress and complain about their seemingly perfect life, right? Even though Carey is one of pop’s most successful women in history, she’s allowed to stress too.
I’m no expert, but everyone I know stresses and complains at least once a day. It’s a syndrome everyone suffers from and usually worsens with lack of sleep.
It’s a Catch-22, and it will get you every time no matter if you’re a star or a slug on the street. You want what you don’t or can’t have. Sometimes, like Carey, you can’t make up your mind about what you want. Certainly that feeling of despair is felt on different levels. Nonetheless, it’s something the entire human race has in common.
My diagnosis on the situation is that Carey is having one of those “moments” where you just have to stop, rest and think clearly about what is important in life.
Despite her recovering, Carey still found the time to visit Camp Mariah in Long Island, N.Y. She signed autographs, gave out portable CD players and passed out her latest single “Loverboy” to campers. Carey is also scheduled to appear on “20/20” with Barbara Walters airing Sept. 12. I think it is very courageous of Carey to share her experience with the world.
I’m certainly thankful I can rest and think in peace without being plastered all over The National Inquirer with my belly hanging out and sporting a make-up job from hell.
Alison Barker, State News intern, can be reached at Barkera6@msu.edu.
