Let’s be real.
The minute someone says this, alarm bells go off. The gates of truth are being shaken. Do you dare open it, or do you ensure the locks are properly in place?
Because let’s actually be real, the truth is uncomfortable. People say they want the truth and honest relationships, then glare at you as soon as you open your mouth.
It’s not about you being “real”. It’s more about: how dare you be that “real” with me?
So, of course, we aren’t real, and we are not always genuine unless we are by ourselves. We can only truly be real with ourselves, but that’s because we don’t have a choice.
You can’t be polite with yourself. Most of the time, the voices inside you are screaming: Do better! Work harder! Did you not drink enough water today?
In all of this, do you really expect to come sauntering in formal wear and say to yourself, “Of course, we can see you trying your best, but perhaps a little more effort, hm?” In this scenario, you’re probably holding out your hand like you expect it to be kissed by the masses.
Unfortunately, you’re probably the most crass version of yourself, standing with a whip you will never use, but making sure you are “real” with yourself.
Naturally, we hide our real selves from the world because perfection is demanded, efficiency is expected, and punctuality is the law. For too long, we contain ourselves in boxes, so when we see someone being outspoken, we assume that is what “realness” is.
If they are openly saying what we are only thinking, then that person is being so real.
They are able to stand up for things we think twice about. They snub people they don’t like. In a polite society, that would elicit gasps. People would be fainting at such displays of brazen behavior.
But if a celebrity is doing it, applause first, please.
They are being real. They are breaking the rules that dictate we be polite at all times. If they don’t get along with their castmates, kudos to them for snubbing them in public.
Lack of knowledge on current events? That’s them being real. Not understanding something from pop culture? Real!
Walking past another castmate whose political views do not align with theirs? Real!
If they don’t show support for the show or movie they are working on, but only show interest in having their pictures taken at premieres? How real of them to show distaste towards their work that is buying them a new house.
Rudeness is being masked as “Being Real,” and for some reason, we, the audience, end up encouraging it because when we step out of our homes, we follow rules that ensure we still have a job to get back to tomorrow. Or a relationship that still lasts.
Celebrities have rigid contracts, which means if they are canceled, they still end up with a small fee. They still get to have their social media profiles, where every single view and like earns them money.
Since we are not celebrities and our followers are stuck at 10, we don’t have a backup if our income slows down. So we follow the rules. We need people to count on if we fall, so we are polite. We show we are professional because that is what ascertains our progress in our careers.
So…what is the point of calling rudeness “being real”?
We are celebrating opinions that we cannot afford to show in our own lives. The celebrity isn’t being “Real” all the time. They are being rude, dismissive, haughty, and sometimes snobbish.
Not all of them, of course. There are some celebrities who take being “real” seriously, showing that they, too, are normal people who have jobs that come with the pressure of posing for the paparazzi.
But the others…
If this is what counts as real now, maybe we should all go back to being a little fake. It was kinder.
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