THE VANITY OF CELEBRITY (Part 1)

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary (New 8th Edition) defines a celebrity as a famous person. It also defines fame as the state of being known and talked about by many. Clearly, there is no reference to the nature of the cause of fame, whether morally, socially, religiously, economically, spiritually, intellectually and scientifically acceptable or not. Most of our celebrities are musicians, comedians, actors and media personalities, but politicians are also celebrities in their own right, if the above definition is anything to go by. Here is a sample of a quick survey of the crazy things that celebrities have done in pursuit of wealth and fame:

Mariah Carey's expensive legs

It is said that Mariah Carey has an insurance cover for her legs worth Ksh 80 billion! Not 80million, but 80billion. Actually more, because it is US.D 1b.

Jennifer Lopez’s Sh2.1billion ($27m) buttocks.

 The celebrated singer and actor J-Lo hit the media buzz when she paid for an insurance policy cover worth Sh2.1billlion for her famous curvy bulging bum.
“Fearing she’ll hit rock bottom if her peachy buttocks abandon her through injury or the merciless perils of nature, the singer/actress made financial arrangements to guarantee she wouldn’t be too down in the dumps if her worst nightmare came true,” according to The Sun.

Jay-Z and Beyonce's Prenuptial Agreement
Jay-Z and Beyonce settled a prenuptial agreement that could result in a $25 million (about Sh 2 billion) payday for "Mrs. Carter."
According to the National Enquirer, Beyonce (born Beyonce Knowles) inked a deal with her husband Jay-Z (born Shawn Carter) that could pay the R&B diva up to $25 million. Bey, 26, reported to be worth $100 million (Sh 8 billion), will gain more money the longer she stays married to Jay. The deal calls for Jay-Z to pay Beyonce $10 million (Sh 800 million) if the marriage ends after two years, and a million dollars (Sh 80 million) a year for every extra year she remains in the marriage, up to 15-years. Jay-Z promised to pay her an additional $5 million (Sh 400 million) for each child she bears for him-for her loss of income during pregnancy and child-rearing years.

Snoop Dogg and the devil!

In his autobiography "The Doggfather", Snoop Dogg says the devil came to him to make a deal that he would be rich and famous in exchange for his soul. Snoop accepted the devil's offer (he wrote so) and identifies that the point at which Calvin Broadus (his actual name) died, Snoop Dog was born.  This is from his own autobiography, not tabloid magazines!

Kenyan Politicians!
We talk about them a lot. We know them. They convinced us to vote for them. Majority of us did. Now we are talking about them for their explicit greed and selfishness. Like them or hate them, politicians are celebrities. While I recognize the fact that not all politicians are this crazy and greedy, it is appalling to see the kind of unity our political leaders exhibit when it comes to clamor for fatter pay checks. There is nothing as nauseating and irritating as watching the greedy bunch of politicians trying to defend their evident greed! They knew what their proposed salaries were when they were vying for those positions but as soon as they got to parliament, they started agitating for huge salary increments. These "leaders" in a developing country want to earn more than their counterparts in developed countries like the US.
Now a political schemer who did not study beyond secondary school level believes he is important enough to earn over 10 times what a duly qualified doctor earns, and in addition wants fuel guzzlers and state security among other benefits. One even had the guts to say that the Kenyans who elected them are greedy and foolish! What a sorry display of blatant shame, arrogance, greed, selfishness and impunity!

And so I meditated...

 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 1:14).
 I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also was vanity. (Ec 2:1)
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance, with increase: this also is vanity. ( Ec 5:10)
 For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life? (Matthew 16:26)
Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.(Ec 11:10)

May God save us from personality cults, celebrity worship, greed for material possession and wicked politicians!

AMEN!


Kod Fred Ouma 2013

All Bible quotations are from the American Standard Version (ASV).