The Fraud of Fame

Judy Garland's fabulous talent led to a miserable existence.

Based on the behavior of most celebrities, there are two roads to fame: The first is having innate talent and showing it to the world, and the second is engaging in outrageous behavior that gets tongues wagging. (There's another way, which is how Kamala Harris is now our VP, but I won't go into that here.) What I wonder is why anyone in their right mind would seek fame. And therein lies the answer: in their right mind.

Actor Matthew Perry, whose recent death caused a worldwide outpouring of grief among an entire generation of Friends-devotees, said repeatedly, in print and in interviews, that he wanted to be famous. He even admitted to praying to God, "make me famous." Well, his prayer was answered and famous he was, although it did nothing to alleviate his pain and suffering, ending in his dying alone in a hot tub at his $6 million California mansion at the age of 54.

Yet many young people still worship fame and waste their fleeting youth trying to achieve it, only to find out too late that it's a worthless commodity having very little to do with happiness, security and a fulfilling life.