One mistake is all it takes

[Thedy B]

Chris Brown is losing his endorsements: his Wrigley endorsement is suspended. The Got Milk folks are pulling his ads. I'm hearing that radio stations are pulling his music off the air. Mike Vick lost everything. T.I. is headed to jail. Man, in one swoop, all the things you worked for could be gone.

Were these mistakes? Were they habits? How do you prevent this type of thing from happening? Is there rehabilitation for our fallen idols? Should we have even put them on a pedestal anyway? Should celebrities be role models? Does it matter the context in which the mistake is made? Should there be leniency?And is jail the answer for the mistake?

[DealMachine Consultation]

To whom much is given, much is expected. You can never rise above public opinion and once they turn you're done. Chris seems to be a little to much for himself and totally contradicted himself if he saw his Mother abused by his step-dad, and wet himself in fear as he stated in interviews. And what real man bites a woman? At least Vick and TIP committed mistakes of a manly nature. Chris is a little snotty nosed, spoiled child, and his actions epitomized that. Thank God for him , that wasnt my daughter.

[Thedy B]

but why do we expect more from people merely because they are in the public's eye? Aren't they the same person with just more fame? I mean an athletic in essence is merely saying he's great at playing sports or an entertainer is saying he's good at being entertaining..not being a role model or being this terrific person...or flawless person... And should the person just stay in obscurity?

I agree the whole beating and biting someone is completely shocking!

But I'd have to disagree that Vick committed mistakes of a manly nature because I think killing dogs is inhumane.

[J. Brian Ballard]

Follywood is Follywood. This stuff dosen't surprise me at all. There are alot of spoiled children these days, not to mention names. You never bite anyone, unless the are trying to kill you, then you do everything you can to disable them. If it were one of my 4 daughters, Chris would be wearing new earings. Yours Musically, J. Brian Ballard the Piano Magic Man

[Promote the world! *Latasha]

yes, I agree.

[J Anthony Crunkleton]

This is soooooo so so true Thedy. And although I believe in rehab and redemption and all, it would be wise to try some --Preventive Maintainence. Im sure there are but, they are far and few between and select. Superstars together in an intimate relationship or twenty year old millionaire's-that stay up on it without drama and trauma!-wow--Mike Tyson said it best for me. 20 is too young to be rich and famous for most people-No matter how talented you are ! both of these guys got started as kidz!-although there has been some exception to the rules.Like Lebron James --and Kobe for awhile. --Im not taking any sides here like most -- My heart in a transitory sense is kind of broken for Both Chris and Rihanna-I hope they both learn from it and move on! I think they are both great kids and this should be one for both of them to grow on.

[FOXY]

Simply put... there are millions and millions and even more millions of people in this world.... and to reach heights as these artist, athletes, and celebrities have.....is impressive.

The key to being successful is staying successful. Don't wait to up-root the garbage out of your lives, or brush the things that seem small off to the side; maintenance daily. We often get so caught up in our "new," lives we forget the tiny slips ups, or we often make embarrassing mistakes, judgments, and choices. I feel that the buzz about the negative aspects in each of these person's lives are merely a symbolism of what or how far many minority races have came and quickly fell short in way they never imagined.

Let’s step outside the box of race. That being said, there are many other big names under fire now as well. While there are different stages of consequences, everyone under the magnifying glass gets burned sometimes. Depending on what you choose to do, with no excuse... your results are one the many consequences.

-Look at the investigation between Bruce Springsteen and Ticket Master and/or his Wal-Mart greatest hits deal. Yet he still played one of the greatest Super Bowl Performances in history (not my opinion)
-Look at Amy Winehouse and her drug addictions/rehab placements. (no comment)
-Look at Brandy and the countless lawsuits. (She is bouncing back, but her money is going to be taken away just as quickly as she is making it.... so she has to keep pushing it)
-Look at Britney Spears and her mountain of scrutiny. (yes I went there......)
-Look at Lebron James (as mentioned) The magazine cover ordeal... (wasn't event that serious but our opinions made it serious)

The solution is not always jail. Endorsements and other money making capabilities are something that can break a person down. Especially if this is something they are passionate about! However, everybody is not at that level of success… so the majority of the nation gets thrown in jail, and why is he any more special? He just is going to lose a lot more or as the old folks say, “Fall harder.”

We are creatures of habit, and until we are called out on our bad habits or mistakes…we don’t do anything about it or it goes into a “that’s just me” category. We get so caught up sometimes, we don’t always think as much as we need to.


My opinion…..

TI- I understand his anger, but to go that far……….. mistake…and he is man enough to face the repercussions and consequences.

Vick- He bred dogs, and he let certain activities go on around him……he should have thought twice …..now he is paying for his irresponsibility.

Chris Brown- Immature and plain stupid. Surprisingly (not really), many guys do this and get away with everyday…. I recently heard a group of guys talking and they actually don’t blame him for doing what he did… based on hearsay… not official facts….but if it were anything else, it would be wrong? Um they were confused, because we all know wrong is wrong period.

Again my participating opinion!

[Jaron]

i can't answer all of these question now, but this is the prime reason that artists should not be put on pedestals. we are only storytellers, that's it! what's good is that we get paid a pretty good amount of cash to let the masses transfer their emotions, the good and the bad ones. what's bad is that with so many individuals from preachers to past presidents not holding themselves accountable for their transgressions we think we can do any damn thing we feel.

the sad part about this story is that he is too young to be acting a fool like this and this is what happens when you tell someone they the sh.....t too soon! what makes me cry for him is that he's telling on his upbringing with his actions and our responsibilites as artists are to channel not attack!

[Thedy B]

y'all gave some really good responses...

[Renard Michael Mayfield]

I agree one thing is all it takes. On the flip side is if you do things right once you make a mistake you can usually get things back together. One example would be Kobie Bryant. He is back and has better endorsement deals than ever. T.I. has been doing things right. I believe Mike Vick will be back in the league and have some career still. Remember there are some NFL players that beat MURDER charges. And if Chris Brown may not have a squeaky clean image as of today, but he can survive if things are done right. I am not saying it is ok to make mistakes but I'm pointing out celebs are often given second, third, and even 4th chances. Look at Michael Jackson and R. Kelly.

[Promote the world! *Latasha]

yes, this is very true. though chris lost alot of endorsements he can still gain his endorsement back and more, Because what really matters is that we learn from our mistakes and use that to teach others not to make the same mistake as we did. T.I is a perfect example of that. T.I's Road to redemption. where he teach others to learn from his mistakes.

[Necole Clout]

All of them made mistakes.

In some cases, mistakes made are developed habits. And either an individual can work on changing or breaking their bad habits or Divine Intervention will do it for them. ("Sometimes He has to turn your life upside down so that you can live it right side up." ~from the movie, Not Easily Broken~)

Everything happens for a REASON is my favorite justification in understanding life. So I believe that there is no prevention in certain things especially when a person doesn’t have control over their emotions. There only lessons to learn.

Of course there is rehabilitation for our fallen superstars (VH1 & MTV have shows for them). I chose to use the word Superstars verses Idols because we should praise no Man. Placing a mere human on a pedestal is like Idolizing someone who has the same abilities as you and I. I put my pants one leg at a time…although it may not be Prada or Gucci…lol. Everyone is given talents but there are some people better than most at their craft. (And sometimes without practice; they just have that natural born ability to be good at it & that does deserve recognition; never hate on somebody who represents!). But they should never be placed above you and I just because opportunity presented itself to them before us.

Celebrities will always be considered role models because of their job. Their mass influence upon so many people is why that title comes with that career. They can say they are not a Role Model or shouldn't be one, but they are. Sorry that’s in the job description and there is a price to pay for fame (money & power).

Jail is the answer for a mistake when you have broken the law: celebrity or not. There should be no leniency but based on the situation, the context of the situation should be judged accordingly.

What people (meaning spectators and all who have an opinion) need to understand is that, we ALL are Human. No one is above being huMAN. We all are going to make mistakes. "People" need to recognize that even if the mistake is really stupid; people are going to do things outside of the norm if they have not matured, or if they have not learned Vital lessons that life presents. "A just man falls 7 times;” that's what inspired the song We Fall Down but We Get Up.

The importance is to understand that even though the world doesn’t forgive you of something that you have done wrong, God will forgive you. And his opinion is the only one that matters (our souls are destined). People critique and have an opinion but they cannot judge you. And so many times we forget, that we don’t not have that right.

A lot of people make mistakes so that it is a lesson to others. I may fall to help my sisters or my friends not make the same mistake. And even though the consequences may seem harsh to others, it is a lesson to the person and anyone experiencing or going through the same trial. We all have a cross to bear. No one is perfect!

Something about the truth is that it always finds it's way to the surface so if Chris Brown did these things, or not, it will come to light. And hopefully he will get the help he needs, learns his lesson, and move on. It's supposed to be as simple as that. Chris Brown will always be able to sing and dance. He just needs to learn that you can not HIT A WOMAN or you suffer the consequences.

Kobe Bryant is a prime example of making a mistake. He cheated on his wife and a groupie wanting money accused him of rape. His endorsements were taken and even though he was and still is one of the best players in the NBA, he was able to get through the situation. He is breaking records and is the youngest player to have reached 23,000 points and is even considered a Legend to some. He continues to prove that Basketball is his passion and no one can take that away from him. Not being able to play basketball would have caused him more grief than anything.

Mistakes were made by Vick but he still has the ability to play football; believe you me a team will pick him up when he gets out of jail and everything he once had he will have again if he comes in and represents.

TI will always have a way with words and still has the ability to write while he is in jail…he even has a show on MTV that will help seven young guys change their wrong habitual ways; this is his way of being a positive role model. Who can judge a man who saw error in his ways and changed them for the good?

Phelps will always be a Legend in the Olympics because of his record but has he learned who his true friends are, because it’s apparent one of his friends set him up; we all know that we have chosen a Judas as a friend. How did that picture all of sudden surface? I know he wasn’t smoking weed out of a bong all in the public!

Jessie Jackson, Bill Clinton, Alex Rodriguez and the list continues to go on and on. But these people still have their talents. Remember all of what is given to you is materialistic and can always be replaced. And in no ways am I justifying wrong actions. But I can’t judge them because I have done things that I shouldn’t have done (some were intentional and selfish) and I too have learned from hard consequences. But I learned the lesson and did not continue to make the same mistake over and over.

Dr. Cherie Carter (author of If Life is a Game, These are the Rules) believes There are no Mistakes, only Lessons. She states that “to ease the process of learning, you must first master the basic lessons of compassion, forgiveness, ethics, and humor. Without these essential lessons, you remain trapped in your limited view and unable to parlay mistakes into valuable learning opportunities.”

[DealMachine Consultation]

That all sounds very good to let these guys off the hook with the being "human beings" thing that they are. The point is once they become popular...or you or me...we don't own ourselves anymore. We are subject to accelerated everything. Just like the abundance of money, the abundance of responsibility cannot be ignored. If you want to be an entertainer of athelete, you want the public eye. It is a part of your motivation to become what you become. The people standing in line for American Idol aren't doing it because they can sing, they do it because they want to be known and recognized for their talents. A bad person with money doesn't become a class act. Role models are simply people that are looked up to, reverred and idolized and natuarally our youth want to be like the people that live these fantastic mostly unobtainable lives. But the people that reach that level have to be responsible and know that somenone is always looking and listening. We create the stars and hang them in the sky.....its up to them in a big way how high and how long they stay afloat. But when they fall at their own doing we can only have so much sympathy..... when a guy shoots himself in the foot!!!