South Korean film actress Kim Sae-ron’s death has sparked conversations on celebrity ridicule by the media.
The young actress faced major negative media coverage after she was in a drunk driving crash in 2022. The media also scorned her for talking about her financial problems after losing roles, getting a job in a coffee shop, smiling on the set of an indie film and numerous other things.
Kim’s death was ruled a suicide and has opened talk about the pressure that celebrities face in light of an unforgiving media.
In no way will I defend drunk driving and the serious consequences that it has. However, the media has proven time and time again that it puts celebrities on a pedestal and waits for the moment that they stumble to rip apart every aspect of their character.
After the crash, articles and celebrity gossip channels began posting about Kim’s personal life and her “lack of remorse,” even after she posted a handwritten apology on Instagram and allegedly compensated around 60 shops that lost power temporarily because of the crash.
Many celebrities, women in particular, get bashed online and face the scrutiny of the media tenfold after having run-ins with the law. Kwon Young-Chan, a comedian-turned-scholar who leads a group helping celebrities with mental health issues, said celebrities often feel helpless when the coverage turns negative after spending years carefully cultivating their public image. They don’t wish to seek further help regarding their mental state out of fear that the media will only tarnish their image further.
This is a sad truth for celebrities everywhere. Stardom is the dream for many, but it is clear that celebrities are often faced with dehumanizing treatment from the media. No one’s personal life should ever be under attack regardless of their fame and status.
At the end of the day, these are real people, many of which rely on positive media to help them gain popularity to get jobs and make money. It’s true that high status celebrities should expect harsh media treatment, but the normalization of this is beyond disturbing.
Being in the public light does not equal having your private life exploited for a good news story. Unfortunately, I don’t think the media will ever become more forgiving, but I do hope that Kim’s death acts as a reminder to these news outlets that people’s lives are not just a money-grab, hot-off-the-press news story.
oparisi@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of @Tec_Mundo, X
