When your favorite singer, actor, or writer does or says something that can be considered offensive or amoral, is it OK to still support them?
Many artists that I have supported in the past (or currently support) have been caught up in scandals due to an off-the-wall comment or “problematic” statement that they made. Though I definitely think an artist’s moral integrity is just as important as their artistic contributions, completely cutting off all interaction with the work of a person that you admire just because of a statement the person made in the past, isn't a good strategy.
There is definitely no excuse for an individual to ignore the impact of their words on the people that look up to them the most. However, I also think that people should be able to grow and learn from their mistakes. Celebrities are no different from us. They are human and should be given the space to mess up and learn from it. Think about it. We have all made comments and presumptions that are not the most politically correct or morally sound.
Whether it be a racially-charged joke or a comment based on someone’s gender or sexuality, it's not uncommon to hear a problematic remark come from those surrounding us. With social media making it easier than ever to interact with public figures, so much information about one's personal life is brought into the public eye.
Like I said, I am not making excuses for people with immoral viewpoints and oppressive stances. However, I think public figures who have shown that they have the desire to grow and learn from their faults should be allowed to acknowledge their mistakes, apologize, and use their experiences to develop as people.
