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 Movie and record producer David Geffen said he is self-isolating
in the Caribbean on his multi-million-dollar yacht, and Madonna
posted a now-deleted video of herself in a bathtub filled with
rose petals calling the virus "the great equalizer."
The coronavirus epidemic is bringing fans up close and personal
with celebrities in an unprecedented way, but not everyone is
liking what they see.
"Celebrities are also going through a difficult time and they
are trying to contribute in whichever way they know how," said
Los Angeles celebrity branding expert Jeetendr Sehdev.
"What doesn't help is when many of them talk about how the virus
is an equalizer."
Appearing on social media from their kitchens, bedrooms and
sofas, A-list stars like Kate Winslet and Gwyneth Paltrow are
showing themselves without make-up and perfect hair. Some are
also giving the public a glimpse of the mansions, swimming pools
and designer kitchens where they are hunkering down under
stay-at-home rules aimed at containing the epidemic.
But complaints of boredom or attempts to empathize have landed
with a thud in a world where millions have filed for
unemployment or are risking their health working in hospitals
and grocery stores.
Geffen was vilified on social media after posting a photo last
week of his yacht with the caption "Sunset last night...
isolated in the Grenadines." Singer-songwriter John Mayer on
Tuesday responded with the satirical song "Drone Shot of My
Yacht."
A televised Concert for America on Sunday, with musicians
filming themselves singing from home, raised nearly $8 million
for coronavirus relief. Lady Gaga sported sweatpants. Country
singer Tim McGraw sat on the diving board of a pool at his
Nashville home.
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"REALLY ROUGHING IT"
A spoof video of celebrities in quarantine made by a now-out-of-work
Louisiana wedding photographer has attracted more than 12 million
views in a week. Dalton Smiley, 20, said the video was inspired by
celebrities posting about how bored they were.
"We are really roughing it out here. The bowling alley broke on
Sunday, the ice-skating rink melted and we can't get anyone to fix
it," Smiley says in the video, posing in a pool and drinking a
cocktail.
"I don't think they are necessarily doing it to have a pity party.
They are trying to be relatable," Smiley told Reuters. "But most of
America is really struggling on how to pay the rent and get food on
the table."
Sehdev said celebrities received the best reception when they stuck
to messages that urged people to follow official and scientific
guidelines, or shared personal stories in an authentic way, like
when actors Tom Hanks and Idris Elba announced they had the virus.
Some are going further. Swift and fellow pop star Ariana Grande have
quietly handed out thousands of dollars to fans in dire straits. R&B
singer Lizzo donated lunches to hospitals to thank medical staff for
their work.
Rihanna and Jay-Z donated $2 million to help undocumented workers,
the children of health workers and first responders, and the
homeless. Rihanna's foundation donated a further $5 million to a
range of relief efforts.
And Americans found perhaps their most unlikely coronavirus
celebrity cheerleader in pop star Britney Spears, who last week
re-posted a message calling for the redistribution of wealth and for
workers to support each other.
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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