Paris Hilton is what Gamson would call manufactured fame. She is famous because she is rich enough to make herself famous. I wanted to find someone who could apply to many of the discussions we have been involved in this semester and I believe that Paris fits perfectly.
Paris is not a natural celebrity. She has no talent. We have all seen her try to sing and that failed miserably. What she is famous for is posing, sex scandals, and showing how spoiled she is on television. Paris wanted her to be famous so she took the opportunity to manufacture a persona that was appealing to the media. She made people like her by making them envious of her party lifestyle.
Another way she became famous is through her sex tape. Cashmore argues that celebrity sex scandals are tools for attention and that is exactly what Paris Hilton received; lots of attention. People are so set on becoming famous and gaining attention that it doesn’t matter what type of attention it is. I had rarely seen Paris Hilton in the media until her sex tape surfaced. She put on such a performance about being so upset and embarrassed, but she knew she was going to make money. If she was honestly upset, then why wouldn’t she have followed through with a lawsuit?
Paris also embodies the element of celebrities being invincible. She sets a bad example for the public and sends the wrong messages with her over usage of alcohol and drugs. She claimed her fame and then used the fame to party. Because she was constantly partying she had a habit for being arrested while driving drunk. What amazed me was that she continued to drive drunk and only spent the least possible time in jail, 24 hours! Manufactured fame creates stars with poor work ethic and horrible values.
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