Women in Hollywood have been scrutinized for their personal choices for ages. However, with the resurgence of social media, there has been a magnifying glass on the lives of celebrities and, more specifically, women in Hollywood. Double standards have always existed in our society, and Hollywood is only a dramatized reflection of our current reality.
The double standards that people hold male and female celebrities to are jarring and have been cause for concern. Speaking personally, my TikTok algorithm has been overflowing with videos regarding criticisms of Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, Ariana Grande and many more. These videos will start with someone expressing their dislike of a specific interaction that includes these women and turn it into a psychoanalysis of their entire character.
In addition to the videos, the comment sections will be filled with people using this as an opportunity to be outright misogynistic.
Simultaneously, there are artists such as Kanye West and Chris Brown, who have been guilty of domestic violence and blatant antisemitism and racism, yet are selling out stadiums and going on tour. In the most recent times, Chappell Roan was banned from performing at the Todo Mundo no Rio Festival in Rio De Janeiro because of allegations of being mean to an 11-year-old child.
Although Roan addressed these allegations and explained her side, she was given no grace and continues to be hated on.
In contrast, Kanye West just performed two sold-out shows at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, where he reportedly earned $33 million. This was around the same time when the mayor of Rio de Janeiro banned Chappell Roan from the festival.
Seeing how a woman was so drastically punished for allegedly being mean was incredibly upsetting. Meanwhile, Kanye West got on stage and publicly humiliated Taylor Swift for winning an award, and has been spewing pro-nazi rhetoric with no hesitation or shame. However, he has been welcomed back into society, and his career has faced no setbacks or consequences.
I am not saying that these female celebrities are perfect people who have never erred during their careers. However, their mistakes do not hold a candle to the crimes that male celebrities have repeatedly committed. If a woman is slightly annoying or too strict with her boundaries, she is put under the public eye and heavily scrutinized.
Since when did having a character flaw become cause for death threats and bullying?
This double standard is also extended to the fandoms of these celebrities. Supporting and keeping up with artists such as Taylor Swift is seen as being annoying and obsessive, and a majority of people in this fandom are often young girls. Yet, when people are spending copious amounts of money on artists such as Travis Scott, no one bats an eye.
From what I have observed, this trend seems to fluctuate depending on the political climate of the country. It is no surprise that the hatred towards women has skyrocketed in recent times, with this current administration.
In times like these, solidarity between women is more important than ever. Supporting each other’s passions and standing up for each other is the best way to stay unbothered and live our lives to the fullest.