Let's face it. We live in Kanye's world. Whatever he says, does, or in recent days tweets, his millions of fans will always love and follow him, as is the case for most 21st century icons.
In 2018, being crazy is accepted, and almost even desired. Celebrities can't simply be talented or make a difference because if they weren't extra, they wouldn't be celebrities at all. The young American's mind doesn't care if you are a tone virtuoso or tear-jerking actor, they want to hear how you think the world is flat or how you think we should abolish the amendment that ended slavery.
2018's celebrities aren't idiots, Kanye's metaphorical use of social justice within his lyrics accurately portrays his musical genius, but they intelligently choose to be idiotic seeking the holy grail of American culture, clout.
Clout is what every artist, YouTuber, or Instagrammer is after. Clout defines who a celebrity is and how much they're worth, and it doesn't come easy. It can take a person years to build up their fan base, and it's a lot simpler if they aren't simple.
While Kanye's rants produce bad press, in the words of any wise man: "bad press is still press." His recent Twitter rants, vocal support of Trump, and decision to change his name to "Ye" do create controversy within his fan base, but controversy isn't disloyalty. Kanye has built an identity which refuses to fade and won't, no matter what controversial comment he decides to make.
Celebrities withstanding the criticism of their fans isn't anything new, but the scale in which it occurs in 2018 is. Similar to Kanye, Serena Williams underwent recent fan disapproval due to her poor sportsmanship in the US Open. While fans continue to criticize Williams and attack her standing as a respected professional tennis player, she will never truly lose support. To say that she took a moment of immense joy away from a fellow competitor is valid, but the post-match story presented by the media would never have represented her opponent anyway. If Williams had lost without backlash and remained cordial throughout the match, the story still would have represented her. History and the media still would have considered the match to be a loss for Serena Williams, not the first major win for a young rising star in Naomi Osaka.
History remembers icons, not the people who build them up or outshine them for a fleeting moment.
Kanye West and Serena Williams are both icons in their respective fields. They are successful, determined, omnipresent, and polarizing. 2018 had created the idyllic situation for someone not of the cookie-cutter mold, idols who are not only engaging but marketable.
The children of 2018 no longer want to be actors, singers, and rappers, they want to be YouTubers and Instagrammers whose social media reach extends far beyond talent. To be internet famous is perhaps the greatest achievement a member of Generation Z can have, and children recognize that. They look up to us and see new, more creative fields across social media platforms and they recognize what idols such as our President and Kanye West say and realize that while for those on a traditional route media comments last forever, for the lucky few who become icons, words can never tear down their fame.
