In pop culture today, there are always new trends arising. New memes taking the Internet by storm, a challenge circulating on Instagram or Facebook, or new colloquialisms to adopt into your vocabulary. Most recently, especially with the rise in popularity of the “MeToo” movement, the term “problematic fave” has become a phrase integrated into mainstream media.
This phrase has often been used to describe a person, most often a character from a movie or book, who has unethical/controversial views. As we have seen, however, the term has moved out of the realm of fiction and is being used to describe real life people, most often celebrities.
With the integration of this concept in mainstream media, issues have begun to arise in distinguishing who classifies as a “problematic fave.” This can be attributed to the fact that many people have conflicting views on what is and is not problematic. From a liberal point of view, people described as such are often accused of sexual assault, saying racially charged things, and/or cultural appropriation. In contrast to this, the more conservative parts of the Internet don’t believe in the accusations held against the accused, as they often claim they are unfounded.
Regardless of which side of the Internet you align with, there is something to be said about people calling others problematic while continuing to support them. Ethically, it makes sense that when you support someone you mean all parts of that person. This is usually standard practice when choosing friends, significant others, and generally people you surround yourself with in real life. Thus, when you say that, let’s say an actor, has sexually assaulted someone and you don’t think that’s right, but you continue to go see their movies, there is a disconnect between what you believe in and what you do.
It makes sense that people believe that because they don’t directly know a person that they can still like them from afar “despite their flaws.” However, in real life you cannot omit a part of a person from themselves, that would literally be impossible. Therefore it is illogical to do this with celebrities.
Celebrities are real people with a far greater impact on the general public than friends or family because they are in the public eye. Consequently, it is irrational to believe that in supporting someone who has done wrong in your eyes that you are not contributing to what the public sees. As a consumer, we have the power to decide what stays and what goes, in the scope of television and movies, who makes it and who does not. Using your voice, your money, your consumerism to not support someone who does not align with your ethics impacts how much attention they get.
It has become evident since the “MeToo” movement began, that ignoring the ethics of a person and continuing to allow them to thrive an industry can result in a lot of pain for others. Whether it is the people who are made victims of sexual assault or harassment in the industry, or the audience at home with mutual experiences, there are people who are suffering as a result of blind consumerism. Woody Allen, Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, the list goes on and on of those accused who incurred suffering on their victims. It is important that we acknowledge this movement as a sign that consumers have a voice in determining if things like this should happen again. Having a “problematic fave” becomes synonymous with complicit when looked at through the lens of this movement, and for that reason this Internet trend has to end.
In acknowledgment of this, there are so many ways in which you combat succumbing to a “problematic fave” on purpose or on accident. First, just like you should with your politicians, research those you choose to support. In doing so, make sure you consult diverse sources to get a well-rounded version of the story. Second, ask yourself what you value. This is important in general, but it is so important to have a good understanding of who you are ethically from a consumerist perspective as well. Only by understanding this can you make decisions about if you align with another person’s views or not. Third, understand that people will judge you for whatever decisions you make about these kinds of things, but recognize once again, the power in your beliefs and how you choose to act on them. Finally, there a people who think like you! So when you’re researching know that you may some find some valued sources and opinions along the way, such as perspectives from specific journalists or places like Rotten Apples. Now go forth and be an ethical consumer!