From Ye’s antisemitic posts on X, seen by his over 32 million followers, to allegations of Lizzo abusing her backup dancers, it is very common that celebrities with questionable morals continue to receive support. Why do we keep idolizing people who don’t set a good example for us?
An Education Week survey from 2023 reveals that 77% of high school students use social media every day. Given this, it is crucial that teens understand the difference between celebrities who engage in questionable behavior, and those who uphold strong morals. It is imperative that we work to elevate those who use their platform for good.
Celebrities often shape public opinion and influence millions, as many people take their words and actions as truth. This impact was seen in October 2022, when Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, posted many antisemitic tweets such as “death con [sic] 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE” and overall praise of Nazis. Since then, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has identified over 30 acts of antisemitism directly linked to supporters of Ye who were influenced by his posts. He continued to use his influence to spread antisemitism in January 2025, where he made statements such as “I’m a Nazi” and other antisemitic rhetoric through a series of posts on X.
The response to Ye’s statements is not the only example of the impact celebrities can have on teenagers. A National Institute of Health study of almost 1,000 freshmen in urban area U.S. high schools showed that people who listened to celebrities’ music with more cannabis references were almost twice as likely to have used cannabis over the span of a month.
Just because a celebrity produces good music or interesting movies does not mean that they are the best person to be our role models. Being a celebrity is a job. Someone’s skill set that led them to fame does not make them an inherently good person or a role model.
Social media determines fame by entertainment and algorithms, rather than by character. Celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres, who is rumored to have fostered a toxic work environment, dominate the headlines. This is all while John Cena’s work granting over 650 wishes with the Make-a-Wish Foundation is not reported on frequently.
When picking role models, it is important to focus on values over fame. Frequently, people are warned to never meet their idols to be disappointed when they do not live up to their expectations. As a society, we have normalized glorifying individuals with bad morals, setting ourselves up for disappointment.
Instead, we must take an active role in deciding who we give fame to. Celebrities might not change, so by being more intentional about who we follow, and avoiding supporting controversial and problematic figures, we can change this flawed norm. Fame is not an excuse for immorality, so we must foster a culture where integrity is of utmost importance when following celebrities.
