Elon Musk and Amber Heard
When news broke of Amber Heard’s pregnancy early 2021, the public felt a certain shock, as the father of the child was not immediately revealed. Some speculated that the mysterious father of her child could be notorious billionaire CEO Elon Musk. This speculation combined with Musk’s track record of romances with well-known celebrities, has naturally raised some eyebrows.
However when further information came out, it became apparent that the baby was fathered by a less well-known person – entrepreneur, artist, and musician, Tesse Tesman. It was Tesman who had been in a relationship with Amber since 2018. It’s worth noting that there are some ties between Musk and Amber, most of which have been published— Musk and Amber were known to have spent some time as close friends. But it does appear that the rumours of Musk being heard’s baby’s father were unfounded.
The announcement of the pregnancy came a few months after the end of Amber’s highly publicised divorce from actor Johnny Depp, so some speculated that the timing of the announcement was a clever move by Heard to divert public attention away from her divorce. However, the announcement has sparked new discussions into the dynamics of women and pregnancy, and the expectations we place on celebrities to react to such news in a certain way and particular timeline.
The story has also unearthed the significant gender imbalance that still exists in our society when it comes to parenting. It has been suggested that, in a heterosexual relationship, it’s considered more socially acceptable for the man to hint of a familial relationship with a child, however vague, even if he is not the biological father. This inequality can be damaging for any woman’s personal narrative and mental health.
Sabotage on Social Media
The news of the baby created a wave of information, possible conspiracy theories and spam on social media. Such ‘craziness’ has become the norm on the internet, and has been seen with the recent highs of the GameStop stock prices, Dogecoin’s value and other Elon Musk-related news.
Risky speculation and knee-jerk reactions tend to trigger a continuous cycle of internet disruption, further increasing the number of trolls, bots, and those trying to sabotage social media platforms.
Social media platforms are popular sites for fake news and sensationalism, disinformation and pranks. They can be used as a platform to broadcast controversial topics and fuel conflicts between users and organisations. This can lead to a distorted understanding of the truth, and places celebrities like Amber and Elon in difficult situations, where they are often forced to respond to questions regarding these topics.
Moreover, these new forms of communication have changed the way information and data is distributed, and in situations like the one surrounding Elon and Amber, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction.
The Effects on the Media
The media has been quick to jump on this story, with some outlets covering the story in a respectful and journalistic light, and others sensationalising the topic as a form of entertainment.
The media often plays a part in the humiliation and shaming of celebrities, as they take snippets of stories, interviews, and other public appearances, and exaggerate them to ‘fit their story.’
The implications of such power are vast and powerful, as the messages and allegations spread by the media can have a damaging effect on the celebrity’s public image. For example, tabloids can fabricate stories of how a celebrity “could” be the father of someone else’s child without actually being one, to gain attention and readership.
These types of demonisation of celebrities creates a narrative to be used against them, and hence further polarises public opinion and discourages healthy discussion about issues that are pertinent to the topic.
Rules and Regulations of the Media
In order to create a more regulated and humane media landscape, we must also look inside our own society. Governments have the power to enforce regulations on media outlets and organisations, as well as promote media literacy – the ability to understand information disseminated in the media.
Unfortunately, we are still a long way from seeing the likes of rules and regulations in place that protect the privacy of celebrities and the public. Regulations can be difficult to enforce, especially when the people whose hands they are in are not really committed to following them. The conglomeration of media companies and their regulating bodies makes it difficult to keep up with these regulations.
Ultimately the media will always play a major role in celebrity lifestyle, but in order to ensure that celebrities have the freedom to live their lives without interference from the public, media outlets must be held accountable for their words and actions. This starts with the enforcement of stricter rules and regulations for what the media can and cannot say.
Responsibility of The Audience
We as the audience have the responsibility to think critically when we consume information, and remember to differentiate facts from fiction. And it is up to us to actively use social media platforms to promote awareness, truth, and understanding. We can also use them together to fight fake news and keep the public adequately informed.
We must also remember to respect the people involved in the news, and not jump to conclusions without proper evidence. This story shows how important it is to consider the context of such stories and understand the position of those involved in such personal matters. We must also respect the privacy of celebrities and not believe every rumour and speculation that spreads online.
The Implications of Privacy
The Amber-Elon story highlights the implications of a lack of privacy in the lives of public figures, and the pressures of living in the public eye. It has also revealed the power of mass media to influence public opinion and shape narratives.
The spotlight, which is increasingly closely placed on celebrities, is a difficult burden to bear, and one which can have significant implications on their personal and professional lives. The scrutiny of fame makes it extremely difficult for celebrities to keep their personal lives and relationships private.
It’s also important to consider the fact that celebrities are also people who should be respected and given a right to privacy, as everyone else. The amounts of attention celebrities get, however, can sometimes make this difficult, leading to the emergence of speculative stories and quick conclusions based on very little evidence.
Conclusion
Though the news surrounding Elon Musk and Amber Heard has been debunked, it has highlighted the need for more respect and privacy for celebrities, along with better media regulation and accountability. We must also remember the importance of critical thought and media literacy, as well as understanding the context of stories and the implications for those involved.
