Does rehab need rehab? Celebrity exploitation of rehabilitation

Unlike the illustrious celebrities in our society, we have the option to be anonymous; while everyone has to take responsibility for their mistakes, most people can do so discretely rather than out in the open. In the article “Turning Over a New Leaf,” Linda Shrieves argues that “for famous and common folk alike, reinvention often works wonders." She explains that when something goes wrong, both celebrities and everyday people try to re-create their image and get a fresh start. While this desire and ability to reinvent ourselves is something we share with celebrities, Shrieves notes that “for the rich and famous, reinvention often is a matter of hiring the right image consultants." The public manner in which celebrities manage their problems makes it difficult for us to relate to and sympathize with them.

It can be difficult to tell whether their apologies or trips to rehab are genuine, or merely publicity stunts to preserve their precious images. Dan Neil addresses this issue in his article “Little Miss Rehab.” As someone who has legitimately been through drug rehab, he expresses frustration with the trivialization and glamorization of rehabilitation, which he believes is “cynically exploited by celebs and their damage-controlling publicists.” He exemplifies Lindsay Lohan’s fleeting attendance to luxurious rehab facilities and Michael Richards and Isaiah Washington’s checking into rehab to save face after making inappropriate public statements. Such frivolous abuse of rehabilitation belittles the truly beneficial purpose it serves for people who actually have problems and have lost control over their lives. (If you want to learn more about the ridiculously luxurious rehab center pictured in the upper-right corner, check out the Wonderland Center sidebar link).