To start off, I am going to preface this article by saying that I am not a political supporter of Donald Trump, nor will this article be centered around politics or this controversial election. Rather, I will solely address the issue of the defamation and destruction of Donald Trump’s star on the Walk of Fame, and my reaction to the social media outpour following this act.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a landmark that commemorates and honors those who have made an impact on American culture and have, quite literally, achieved national stardom. Members of this elite pop-culture society include modern celebrities such as Usher, Matthew McConaughey, and Gwyneth Paltrow to classic celebrities such as Lucille Ball and Bing Crosby. Somewhere in this realm of the popular culture elite lies Donald Trump, who was awarded a star on the Walk of Fame in 2007.
Long before becoming an international icon due to his controversial political campaign, Donald Trump was famous in the entertainment business for his hit show "The Apprentice" and his involvement with the Miss Universe Pageants. He is also responsible for the construction of several entertainment buildings across the country, including several casinos.
Like Donald Trump or not, his contributions to American modern society are undeniable. His lavish lifestyle has provided us with some of the most iconic buildings in American skylines, and has made the phrase “You’re fired” a universal reference to his very popular television show. Now, since his already-controversial personality has been amplified due to the tumultuous campaign, his celebrity status is no longer being praised; it is explicitly under attack.
The most recent blatant evidence of this is the destruction of his honorary star on the Walk of Fame. Video evidence depicts a man taking a pickaxe to Trump’s star, effectively making Trump’s name on the star unrecognizable. A man has been arrested for this vandalism.
While I am not surprised that someone has decided to vandalize a commemoration to Trump due to his very polarizing nature, I am surprised by the social media reaction. Rather than seeing a condemnation of this outright vandalism (which, in this case, is a felony), most social media posts I have seen are actually applauding this action. Some see this as a direct hit to the massive ego that Donald Trump is known for and are fully willing to support this action.
In my opinion, we should not be supporting outright felonies as a means of personal expression of sentiment. There are so many peaceful ways to make issues with a political candidate known that do not require committing a crime. Since this is a reaction to Trump’s political career, the most obvious and most peaceful way to express issues with Trump is, quite simply, to not vote for him. The man who committed this crime thus gave up this right if he is convicted. Assuming that he is indeed a citizen of California, he will not be able to vote in this election if he is in prison or on parole on Election Day. Thus, he has forfeited the most effective way to counter Trump by making a brash and questionable decision.
If he wanted to make a more public display against Trump, he could do so without committing a crime. There are countless American citizens expressing their dissent with Donald Trump by utilizing social media, publicly protesting, or supporting other political candidates. Therefore, this man had many different avenues to make a statement that did not involve jail time.
Thus, condoning this behavior on a national scale is, in my opinion, somewhat senseless and dangerous. Since we do live in a country that allows freedom of thought and peaceful expression, violent actions like public vandalism and defamation are not viable methods of voicing political dissent. I do recognize and appreciate those who have issues with Trump, but resorting to violence and criminality should not be applauded in this already divisive political year.
