Does Attacking Celebrity Kids Make Us Feel Relevant?

Copyright 2014          All Rights Reserved
                by Aleasa M. Word 

I don’t know about you,  but I was very agitated about the petition that was going around about Beyonce’ and Jay-z’s daughter Blue Ivy a week or so ago. Then I saw more news about Willow Smith and something about R. Kelly’s daughter becoming transgender.  The comments on facebook and twitter were downright vile. It’s amazing to me that these adults could be so ugly about someone’s children when if faced with someone talking about their own children they’d be ready to set the world on fire.

Starting with Blue Ivy, who by the way, is adorable as she can be…..why is natural hair a problem?  I’ve been natural for 5 years.  I’m sure this baby’s hair has been washed and conditioned but because she doesn’t conform to having ponytails pulled tight enough to ruin her edges, a Brazilian blow out, flat iron or chemicals that could damage her hair for good there’s a problem?  Surely if there were a real problem someone other than a nosy non-fan would have noticed long before the silly petition went up.  I couldn’t imagine anyone telling me how to do my daughter’s hair.  How I do my daughter’s hair is my business and I’m sure not everyone agrees because she is often kinky curly natural, but she’s clean, her hair is clean and she’s not neglected just like this baby isn’t.

As for Willow Smith, I can’t say I would do everything Will and Jada allow with their kids, but who am I to be the Smith police on parenting?  Who are any of us to do so?  Recently, it was reported after a picture of her with a 20 year old actor in what appeared to be a bed which was some kind of photo stunt that child services  ended up involved with.  I am not a fan of this scenario BUT the attacks I saw on the child directly were terrible.  If any questions need to be asked, they need to be asked of her parents. She is 13 years old people.  As for child services, no one knows the entire story except the people there but they found nothing wrong.  How many of us know of people having family members abusing their kids, neglecting them in some way or even hiding money to avoid child support an turn your heads? How is it that a celebrity’s child rearing is our responsibility but that of our own families and neighbors isn’t?

Finally, as for R. Kelly’s daughter, I can only imagine that child has a hard enough time dealing with people in her immediate circle  so why are people who don’t even know her commenting? Some say it’s karma because of what R. Kelly himself was accused of with young girls, but honestly whatever the situation just remember that his child has feelings and so does her mother. 

It amazes me how so many somehow believe once a person reaches celebrity status they are no longer entitled to the human right of having feelings and a life.  They have trials and tribulations just like us.  Because they’ve reached the public eye being under the microscope comes with the territory but who says you or I have to be the scientist watching? Are we so disengaged in our own lives that all we can do is live through the live of others, taking joy in their pain? How did society become the authority on what to do with kids when most of us are sometimes barely making the right choice when it comes to our own?  There’s always this comment “well if it was me…” Well guess what, IT’S NOT YOU!  Yes, if there is abuse all parents need to be held accountable, but what we see in the media is usually a portrayal of half of a story and people buy in making go viral while it turns out be a bunch of fluff in the end.

To all the people who are taking care of their own kids, minding their own business, I take my hat off to you.  To the celebrities doing the best they can with their kids, keep ignoring them like you usually do. And for everyone worrying about someone else’s business, I challenge you to look in your own mess and find out what issues you can tend to on your own farm like getting a job, taking care of your kids, finding a stable healthy relationship, paying your bills, running your business, etc.  Because while you’re worrying about them, your own weeds are continuing to grow.   

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