Tabloids: Are they Legitimate?

Recently, in an interview with country singer Kenny Chesney on "60 Minutes," correspondent Anderson Cooper brought up rumors that had been circulating in the tabloids about Chesney being gay. These rumors started after actress Renee Zelweger divorced him after only four month, citing "fraud" as the reason. The question is: Should Anderson Cooper have brought up something based on a tabloid in an interview? Here is my take:

Tabloids are a type of journalism. Their job is to create controversy and spark topics of discussion, regardless of how “legitimate” the story is. Somehow people feel less awkward “raking up muck” and taking shots at celebrities and questioning their every move. Mainstream news organizations can use the tabloids as they wish, but they have to realize that the credibility of their organization would be taking a hit.

It’s fine that “60 Minutes” did a story on Kenny Chesney. However, what did Anderson Cooper asking about tabloid rumors add to the story? Who cares if he was married for four months to Renee Zelweger and divorced? Why do the personal, intimate relations of celebrities matter? Is it affecting how they work? Do we as humans, have the desire to see those on the “top” take a fall? Are we out to look for a “flaw” in everyone?

I find it amusing how shows bring on news “analysts” to talk about the lives of celebrities, asking probing questions such as, “What do you think she was feeling at the time of the divorce? Are there problems at home? Why did she choose to paint her new ten million dollar house blue?”

If I could figure out what the obsession with finding out all the information on celebrities is, I would write a book. Sure, news organizations can use tabloids to come up with questions, but is that really how they want to be spending their time?

I have never heard of Kenny Chesney, and even if I did, I wouldn’t care if he were gay. I hate rumors. When people say, “Oh, it’s just a rumor,” it’s not just a rumor. A rumor can instantly put questions into a person’s mind, and shape the way he or she perceives someone. People become curious, the question becomes a bigger deal, and then a seemingly legitimate question in an interview becomes, “To dispel all the rumors, is it true?” Why should the guy even have to be on the program if he is going to have to confront junk like that? Sometimes, a person will actually feel pressured to go on a show, so he can put an end to the rumor. Even though Anderson Cooper didn’t directly ask him the question, the fact that the tabloids were even mentioned, means that people are still thinking about the rumor, and want the answer.

I may be crazy, but I feel that people are out to look for the flaws, without even truly knowing the person. If the “flaw” isn’t there, then people will work to create one. Let a person’s actions speak for themselves. As legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden said, “Judge character more than reputation. Character is who you really are, reputation is how people think you are.”