There's an old saying that goes, “Any publicity is good publicity.” However, a long list of celebrities with career-ending scandals might disagree. These individuals have learned the hard way that sometimes the court of public opinion imposes a much harsher sentence than any court of law ever could.
A well-known concept termed “natural consequences” occurs in both parenting and society at large. The University of Kansas defines natural consequences as “outcomes that happen as a result of behavior that are not planned or controlled.”
In American society, our judicial system serves in a role similar to that of parents: It provides the rules of society and doles out punishments to those who break those rules. Much like children, sometimes citizens aren’t caught in the act or there isn’t enough action to impose a formal consequence.
What happens instead, especially for those in a position of power or celebrity, is that doubt is cast and the trust of the American people is compromised. The resulting distrust is a proven career-killer.
Bill Cosby is the most recent celebrity sentenced in the court of public opinion.
While it seems there is a long history of rape or assault allegations against Cosby, there also seems to be a lack of evidence to transform those allegations into actual criminal charges. Much like many celebrities who have previously found themselves in similarly questionable situations, the public has taken matters into their own hands.
NBC has reportedly dropped a series that was in development with Cosby, Netflix has cancelled a Cosby stand-up special, TV Land has halted re-runs of the beloved Cosby Show and several public appearances by Mr. Cosby have also been cancelled or postponed.
Public opinion’s gavel has come down and come down hard on Mr. Cosby, hitting him where it hurts — the old moneymaker.
Cosby isn’t the only celebrity to endure the heat from a jury of his peers. For some celebrities, athletes and politicians, the fallout from public opinion is more detrimental to their career than any legal sentencing.
Mel Gibson’s now infamous penchant for hateful tirades and drunk driving has left him noticeably absent from the entertainment industry. O.J. Simpson’s athletic accomplishments are decidedly shadowed by a bloody glove and Anthony Weiner is no longer deciding the fate of our country and is instead opening a nonprofit restaurant in Queens.
Paul Reubens has perhaps suffered the longest sentencing by the court of public opinion for his indecent exposure arrest in 1991, failing to ever recover personally or professionally.
While a legal ruling certainly provides a level of vindication as it eliminates any doubt left behind by public opinion, watching those who have enjoyed a position of power come crashing down is a small consolation prize for their alleged victims.
Public opinion is not an exact science and can often be subject to the scrutiny of “innocent until proven guilty,” but it seems more often than not celebrities are exempt from that grace.
Someone like Cosby might not find himself donning stripes at the county jail, but the remainder of his retirement might not be quite as posh and comfy as he might have hoped … a small price to pay, but decidedly the cost of fame.
Reach the columnist at dprobst1@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @DonnellProbst
Editor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.
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