Celebs and feebies?!! Fair or not?

[mommaU4]

Okay this was inspired by the other celeb thread out there now, but it is something that has always bugged me alittle.

It's one thing when a actress or actor works hard in a movie and gets $20 million. That's questionable right there when we have people starving here in the U.S., BUT at least they did something to earn it.

My problem is that the wealthier and more famous a person becomes the more they are literally showered with gifts and freebies everywhere they go. Shoes, purses, clothing, gowns, jewelry, cars, entertainment equipment, trips, you name it. I've read about it being just about anything and everything.

Even Oprah, who I truly like and admire, has on more than one occasion on her show actually asked for items for free. DH and I have seen it. If anyone should be able to buy their own things I'd think it would be her.

So is this fair? Does it ever bug you? Would you accept all these freebies if you were in their shoes? Would you feel guilty about it? Give us your take on the matter.

 

[ReadingBelle]

Freebies are part of the reason that the rich keep getting richer. The more you have, the more people want to give you. It does seem like some crazy backwards logic. If I was rich, I don't think I would mind taking freebies, but I would definitely be passing along most to someone who could really use and appreciate them.

 

[DVCLiz]

I think it's mostly a matter of advertising. If Jennifer Aniston went out and bought a designer purse on her own, we wouldn't see it or hear about it unless she chose to publicize it or wear it in public, hoping a picture would be taken. But if the designer gives it to her, then it's a "story" and the designer gets a huge amount of publicity. Because, of course, once we see that Jennifer has one, why then, we all want one too, don't we? So I think its mostly a matter of how the game is played.

And I'd never turn down free stuff if I were a celebrity. I don't think many of them make decisions based on any moral or ethical code, so I would think I'd take as much as someone would be willing to give me!!!!

 

[DVCLiz]

Freebies are part of the reason that the rich keep getting richer. The more you have, the more people want to give you. It does seem like some crazy backwards logic. If I was rich, I don't think I would mind taking freebies, but I would definitely be passing along most to someone who could really use and appreciate them.

Really, though, the cost of the freebies is such a miniscule percentage of a real star's net worth, that I don't think a few hundred thousand dollars worrth of "stuff" affects their bottom line at all, do you????

And sorry, Belle, as long as you have that attitude of wanting to help others, you're just not going to get to be a celebrity - you'll have to be much more selfish than that!!!!!!!

 

[Beth76]

Yeah, it bothers me too. I remember hearing about the gift basket for presenters at the Oscars one year, was worth several thousands of dollars. And, exactly, there are starving people everywhere. I really don't think I could deal with being that wealthy. I have enough guilt going to Mexico and having those (literally) poor people waiting on me. And I'm only middle class.

 

[disneygals]

Yes, it does bug me when I read that. However, since celebs don't usually keep clothes etc for a long time, I would like to assume that their older stuff goes to charity.

 

[AllyandJack]

I remember seeing some story about how this store shut down when Britney Spears went in to shop and they showed all the stuff they were going to give her - jeans, accessories, etc.

I remember thinking, "Can't she just buy the stuff??" I don't have a problem with it. I just wonder how these businesses survive if they give things away to the people who can afford them. I know I couldn't afford to shop there and DH and I don't do too bad for ourselves. If they give it away to the rich celebrities, where are they making the money?? Regular folk can't shop there, so to give your product away to your target market is silly to me. But, to each their own.

 

[mommaU4]

Really, though, the cost of the freebies is such a miniscule percentage of a real star's net worth, that I don't think a few hundred thousand dollars worrth of "stuff" affects their bottom line at all, do you????

It may not add much to their net worth but it helps them keep their net worth up if they are able to keep all the money they earn because the majority of their stuff is free.

I mean, I recently read about Hillary Duff being invited by an up and coming designer to his private shop to pick out whatever outfits she wanted for free. Obviously his hope was that she would be seen in his clothing and everyone else would want to buy his line of clothes. I get the reasoning behind it, it just sucks for the rest of us!

 

[Hillbeans]

I want to know how many people can afford these purses the celebrities have these days? Some of them are $1,000 and up!

 

[cardaway]

Just think about the less attractive celebs, they still have to pay for most of their things.

As for the rest, just think of it as part of their pay for being in front of the camera all the time.

 

[doxdogy]

The gift baskets have always bothered me. Mainly because they are usually worth such a large amount of money. I just think the money could be better spent donating it to a homeless shelter in L.A. I remember one year reading that there were certificates for spa treatments included and the treatments were never used.

Yeah, it bothers me too. I remember hearing about the gift basket for presenters at the Oscars one year, was worth several thousands of dollars. And, exactly, there are starving people everywhere. I really don't think I could deal with being that wealthy. I have enough guilt going to Mexico and having those (literally) poor people waiting on me. And I'm only middle class.

 

[robertchance]

looks like we all have a lot to look foward to when we become rich and so called famous. if someone is dumb enough to give me something of value for free, then why should i refuse it?

 

[Chicago526]

Okay this was inspired by the other celeb thread out there now, but it is something that has always bugged me alittle.

It's one thing when a actress or actor works hard in a movie and gets $20 million. That's questionable right there when we have people starving here in the U.S., BUT at least they did something to earn it.

I don't think it's questionable. If the movie makes 200 million (after merchandising and DVD sales) why shouldn't a big name star make $20 million, especially if their name being attached the the movie is what makes the movie earn so much? Why should the movie studio keep it all?

Also, very few hollywood stars are in the 20 million per film catagory, most are $10 and under (and a lot are $1 mill and under!). After taxes, agent fees, publisist fees, and God knows what else, their take home is 30% or less than that. That's still a lot of dough, but most celebs aren't nearly as wealthy as we think they are.

As for your question, most companies give products to celebs hoping for an endorsement. No one cares if you or I carry a Coach bag, afterall! So if you consider that it's a product in return for potential advertisement, then I guess it's fair.

 

[AllyandJack]

I don't get the endorsement thing either. Jennifer Aniston might look great in that t-shirt and I might think it's cute, but if it's $250., I'm not buying it. I doubt Catherine Zeta-Jones cares what Jennifer Aniston wears, so they can't be marketing to other celebrities.

I don't know....maybe I'm missing a whole class of society that isn't a celebrity that will go out and buy a $250. t-shirt because Jennifer Aniston had it on.

That's OK, too. As long as I don't have to buy it for them, they can take home the whole store for free.

 

[mommaU4]

I don't think it's questionable. If the movie makes 200 million (after merchandising and DVD sales) why shouldn't a big name star make $20 million, especially if their name being attached the the movie is what makes the movie earn so much? Why should the movie studio keep it all?

Also, very few hollywood stars are in the 20 million per film catagory, most are $10 and under (and a lot are $1 mill and under!). After taxes, agent fees, publisist fees, and God knows what else, their take home is 30% or less than that. That's still a lot of dough, but most celebs aren't nearly as wealthy as we think they are.

Well I agree that they deserve to be paid for their work but it's the amounts that seem off balance to me when people here are starving and our children's teachers are living pay check to paycheck.

I guess it's a good thing I'm not rich because I wouldn't be for long. I'd give too much of it away. And never in a million years would I spend over $1000 on a purse as another poster mentioned. Even if I had the money I couldn't do it. Too many years of penny pinching.

 

[RUDisney]

As for your question, most companies give products to celebs hoping for an endorsement. No one cares if you or I carry a Coach bag, afterall! So if you consider that it's a product in return for potential advertisement, then I guess it's fair.

Does anyone NOT believe that this happens with normal folks, such as ourselves, too? Don't sell yourself and that Coach bag short either. I'm sure that there are some friends (at least aquaintences) who care about what type of bag you carry.

My DH helps drum up a lot of business for people because of word of mouth. While we don't necessarily get everything for free, we get very good deals on things. If the landscaper can plant a tree in our yard and surround it by beautiful flowers and mulch and my DH can talk about what a terrific landscaper the person is and how reliable, excellent with the final layout, etc., he is so he can help that landscaper to get jobs he wouldn't have necessarily known about or gotten, is this wrong? I see it as being the same as a celebrity getting a goody bag that they can speak to and use the products inside it. My DH has helped that landscaper, a plumber, a construction contractor and others to build their businesses. In return, they have helped us.

Haven't you ever put something in your house that your friends have admired and one of them may have purchased the same thing for their house? We had a friend who had to take everything that we did and do it bigger to show us that they had good taste, too. I think it's the same thing with celebs. People feel an association with them because of their work and want to keep up with the celebrity in a way that they can... by purchasing an extremely expensive t-shirt, etc.

It must work. Advertisers try to place their products into movies with certain actors. I wonder how much more Manolo Blahniks were sold after Carrie talked them up so much in Sex and the City.

If it wasn't working, companies wouldn't be giving their things away... whether it's to someone like me and DH or to a celebrity. They're not in business to lose money.

 

[DVCLiz]

I don't get the endorsement thing either. Jennifer Aniston might look great in that t-shirt and I might think it's cute, but if it's $250., I'm not buying it. I doubt Catherine Zeta-Jones cares what Jennifer Aniston wears, so they can't be marketing to other celebrities.

I don't know....maybe I'm missing a whole class of society that isn't a celebrity that will go out and buy a $250. t-shirt because Jennifer Aniston had it on.

That's OK, too. As long as I don't have to buy it for them, they can take home the whole store for free.

That's the point, Ally - there IS a whole class of people out there who are wealthy enough to shop for these items, and clueless enough to be swayed by seeing a celebrity with the item. Beverly Hills is full of them - none of those stores or designers can stay in business with just the celebrity clientele.

And as for the people who are saying it's not right to have this going on when people are starving - well, sadly, welcome to the real world. I expect about 75% or more of the people posting on this board right now could probably cut their grocery bill in half this week and donate the savings to their local food pantry, but how many of us actually do that? It's just not the way the world works, I'm afraid. Not saying it's not sad that people are hungry, of course. And I want to stress that I know everyone does a tremendous amount in their own communities to help alleviate some of these problems (at least I hope you do!!!)

Really, we could pick any "excess" out there and make the same arguments - after all, how can people take vacations to Walt Disney World when children don't have shoes and warm clothes? But we do - and then we come here to talk about it. Just the way the world works....

 

[princesspumpkin]

There are probably a whole lot of homeless people who feel that paying for the internet to talk to other people about celebrities is a waste of money. And BTW, plenty of celebs donate to plenty of charities. It's just not front page news.