Monday, June 22, 2009

Celebrity Privacy

I suppose the very nature of being a celebrity negates true privacy. After all, as a celebrity you make the decision to be out in the public domain. You acquire fans which are partially responsible for your career success. You have at your disposal the media, which is partially responsible for your celebrity status. Your life is basically on display twenty four hours a day as the press and your fans press themselves into your world. The more popular you become, the less privacy you have. It's a ying and yang situation. The less successful, the less your life is under a microscope. The more successful, the more you become a target for all kinds of invasive behavior.

This past week, the pictures of Barry's Malibu home that is for sale hit the internet. There are some who feel we, as fans, have no business posting those links and pictures related to his house. After all, it's an invasion of his privacy. And then there are those who feel that the pictures are in the public domain and available for anyone to view. They've even gone so far as to say it helps the sale to get the word out. The question has always been, where do you draw the line?

As far as I'm concerned, the pictures and the links are out there. Will I post them on my blog? No. Will I discuss publicly the actual contents of the home? No. Did I look at the pictures? Absolutely. Did I cross the line by looking? I don't think so. Will I obsess about every little item in those pictures and fantasize about what it would be like to live there with him? Absolutely not. Will I contact the real estate agent for a private viewing? Some might, but, that is definitely crossing the line...jumping off the cliff into the abyss.

That (as the fans say) is JMHO,
Texas Fan

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Good points. I agree with you. The house is being sold just like any other. Anyone in the market to buy would like to see a "virtual tour". Looking at a property online is a time saver. Even if looking to rent as I have done at one time or another, getting an idea of what something looks like compared to another makes the choices a little easier.If a property looks ok online, then it might be worth going to see it. Been there done that.

Anonymous said...

The way I see it is, unless we read, and/or hear it from TPTB, or, the man HIMSELF, I for one, cannot, and will not, believe that this IS Barry's home. Never, in my life, have I seen a celebrity's home THAT publicly displayed for sale. I have seen distant shots of the OUTSIDE ONLY, on celebrity homes, NEVER the inside like THAT. It can be published all it can be, but, unless I READ/HEAR from a higher up, I refuse to believe that IS Barry Manilow's home.

Anonymous said...

you are correct, sure I looked, even if I had the money the house wouldn't interst me. But Barry knew that when he put it up for sale. I looked, saw and forgot it. I am not interested in barging into his life anymore than I have to. I "LOVE" him for the music he creates, the man who is behind that and how beautiful he is.

Anonymous said...

I thought it was fun going through the house. I go on HAR all the time and take virtual tours. That is where I get a lot of decorating ideas. I LOVE the ocean and dream of living on the shore...but I can't really afford to buy on water. Plus, we have the hurricanes to worry about. I am always amazed at how expensive housing is in Cal. I am in Texas and we get so much more for our money here. Sure wish I could take my house and prop it up on that ocean view, though. I would be in paradise. For now, I will just have to gaze at my small pool and palm trees. Hey, life is good in Texas--just a little HOT right now:)

Bonnie said...

I see nothing wrong with looking at the pictures or discussing them. Other celebrities have posted their homes for sale (Susanne Sommers did of her Palm Springs home inside and out) on real estate websites. It's just another tool to help sell them.

The house looks staged for sale with little personal property out on display which is a good thing.

Nice house, but not worth the price if you ask me. And it's really none of our business why he is selling it. People sell houses all the time. I wish him luck and a fast sale if that's what he wants.

Anonymous said...

I agree with the other comments. When I sold my house, I also sold some furniture. The Real Estate people said I had to re-stage the house so it would look user friendly. So, I took lots of things of the walls and sold the house.

Anonymous said...

And to anonymous- why would you NOT believe this is Barry's home?
He hasn't lived there in ages- there is nothing embarrassing about showing the inside of his house. I would think that if the Warhol type picture of GARRY KIEF in the den didn't convince you, what would? Coincidental that the 'seller' happens to have a computerized keyboard set up in a spare room with TWO, not one but TWO Barry bobblheads? If that isn't convincing enough then the Warhol'esque Garry Kief painting should convince you...

texas_fan said...

I think it's obvious that it's Barry's house. And TPTB would have no reason to share it with anyone except the real estate people who are selling it. I appreciate everyone's comments as always and the wonderful exchange of opinions.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for letting us post!

Anonymous said...

Did you see the OTHER interior pictures? Like the one with a Manilow bobble-head sitting on a desk with his computer and keyboard? These aren't on the real estate website. There are 197 interior and exterior shots posted here:

http://www.luxist.com/gallery/malibu-road/2087872/

 
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