In the latest issue of British Vogue, singer Rihanna lets her blunt honesty take control as she talks about her life and the expectations that people have for her. She told the magazine that she is in no way trying to be a role model and people shouldn’t expect her to be.
“See, people – especially white people – they want me to be a role model just because of the life I lead. The things I say in my songs, they expect it of me and being a role model became more of my job than I wanted it to be. But no, I just want to make music. That’s it. Look, God doesn’t give any more than you can handle. I had to get through a lot of ups and downs – big downs – and a lot of trial and error to get where I am now.”
This age old argument about how much responsibility celebrities should take over how their behavior affects their fans, especially young fans, is one that can go on and on. Rihanna doesn’t want to be a role model, but the sad truth is that as soon as you are in the spotlight impressionable minds will begin to admire and look up to you. It is something that comes with the territory of being a celebrity. Claiming that you don’t want the job isn’t going to stop your fans from making you their role model.
In the end it all comes down to if she will take those fans who do look at her as a role model into consideration or just continue living her life the way she wants to live it.
We can obviously see which route she has decided to take.
