Why We Should Cut Celebrities Some Slack When They Have a Bad Attitude

People love a good success story just as much as they do a fall from grace, and there are a handful of stars in Hollywood that are known as "the ones you love to hate." Part of the allure of celebrities — whether you have a top 10 "hall pass" list of people you would jokingly leave your partner for or a well-planned comment for that star who annoys you — is that one day you might actually get to meet them. And since social media has never been more prevalent or given fans more access to their favorite stars, we now feel like we have the right to know everything about them. Fans buy concert tickets and meet-and-greet passes, strategically show up where they know their "fave" will be, and sometimes get lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. But many people expect that every celebrity should welcome these interactions with open arms and a smile on their face. I, however, don't think that's fair.

Justin Bieber recently made headlines for simply telling a fan "no" when she asked if she could give him a hug. The controversial singer was met with criticism for his seemingly harsh and cold response, but I immediately thought to myself, "Good for him." While I did want to give him a serious reality check when he did things like talk back to a court reporter and throw eggs at his neighbor's house, a bigger part of me thought about what I would do in some of his recent situations. Yes, fans are a huge reason celebrities are able to achieve the level of success they have, and stars also know what to expect when entering the industry, but that shouldn't take away from the fact that they are allowed to have bad days. When someone gets too close, asks too personal of a question, or tries to take a photo with them when all they want to do is walk through the airport without makeup, they should absolutely be able to say no — regardless of whether you're their number one fan or not.

The thing about fame that nobody likes to acknowledge is that celebrities are real people, just like you and I. Sure, it's part of their job to be "on" a lot of the time, smiling for cameras and sharing funny and relatable stories in interviews. But on days when they just want to grab coffee and are being yelled at by strangers (usually about very personal and private matters that would trigger just about anyone), how can we expect them to not be a little rude? And when overzealous fans are grabbing at their clothes and pulling them close for that perfect Instagram selfie instead of actually wanting to have a conversation, how could they not feel more like zoo animals than human beings?

I admit that I have an attitude; I have always had an attitude. When I have bad days, I'm not shy about sometimes taking it out on others — sometimes deserved and sometimes not — and it's a quality that is hard to mask. If I were to venture outside after a breakup and had people mentioning my ex at every turn, I would probably lose it too. And if I was having a conversation with someone that was making me uncomfortable, I would also walk away, or, as is it often described with celebrities, "storm out." Sometimes we, as humans, are just tired. We've had enough of other people's sh*t and we want to breathe. Are some celebrities mean and deserving of their reputation for being "difficult"? For sure. But when usually caring and nice stars have moments that make you ask yourself, "What's their problem?", it's good to remember that they might actually have one.