Pop culture news has been abuzz lately with rumors of Drake's predatory behavior toward young women. Does this behavior stem simply from Drake's own twisted fantasies or could it be something deeper? Perhaps it has something to do with the attitudes ingrained in men in positions of power or immense fame.
From his publicized relationships with Bella Harris (an 18-year-old model he met when she 16) and Hailey Baldwin (another 18-year-old he met when she was only 14) to his strange "friendship" with "Stranger Things" actress Millie Bobbie Brown, it's fair to assume that Drake and men like him see little to no issue with pursuing these young women as soon as it is legally acceptable to do so. Perhaps next time Drake shouldn't ask Kiki if she loves him but instead, ask Kiki if she's legal.
Steven Tyler, Jerry Seinfeld, Elvis Presley, Woody Allen, and Wilmer Valderrama are just some of the famous men who have pursued relationships with young women below the age of 18. The question then becomes, are these simply stories of true love where age plays no factor? Or is it that they have done the same thing we condemn pedophiles for by grooming these young women who are impressionable and most certainly star-struck?
You all remember that crazy guy R.Kelly? You know, the one with the pee tapes and the underage girls? If that didn't jog your memory, go watch some South Park and get back to me.
The reason I bring up R.Kelly is that he himself had a situation similar to popular Hip-Hop artist Drake where he groomed an impressionable young woman and convinced her to marry him when she was only 15. Don't believe me? Just go to iTunes and listen to Aaliyah's "Age Ain't Nothing But a Number." That should quell all of your doubts.
If your 39-year-old uncle came to Thanksgiving with his 17-year-old "friend" only to find by next Thanksgiving she's his 18-year-old bride, would your family express concern? Odds are the answer is yes. So why do we condone the same actions from a celebrity?
Perhaps it's something deeply ingrained in us as young women dating as far back as the cultural phenomenon that was Beatlemania. Young women around the globe were encouraged to pine after their favorite Beatle and the idea of identifying your celebrity crush (regardless of the age difference) became fairly commonplace.
The idealization of celebrities by young people coupled with the idea that fame and wealth mean that you are exempt from the rules have led to an incredibly complex and controversial moral issue. If laws are technically being followed, is it our place to consider how much of the relationship is built on a genuine sense of love?
If we're going to be harshly realistic, based on the actions of Drake and his celebrity counterparts, they probably have an affinity for young women. It is, in turn, our role to ensure that young women are raised with the confidence and self-awareness to not fall prey to the idea that fame or money make someone an exceptional person.
