Nothing is more fun than a concert. The experience of seeing a favorite group or singer live is unforgettable. As a huge fan of music, watching songs come to life on stage is a magical experience, and as strange as it seems, it’s easy for me to view my favorite musicians as wizards or gods, inhuman in their talent. It’s easy to view them as a form of entertainment not unlike a radio or television, always available on a constant schedule.

The truth is, however, our idols are human and deserve the same sort of respect and space all people require, a truth I recently found myself facing.

For those who don’t hear me talking about it constantly, Walk the Moon is my favorite band, so I was incredibly excited to hear of their Work this Body tour coming to Indianapolis on July 17. I immediately made plans to go, even entering in a sweepstakes for VIP passes. The fantastic possibility of winning the sweepstakes, meeting my idols and listening to some great music seemed within reach. Then, on April 16, Walk the Moon’s official Twitter made an announcement. The Work this Body tour was going to be canceled. All shows planned after May would not take place.

At first, I was disappointed, feeling as though the group I loved had let me down. Even though I hadn’t yet spent money on tickets, I felt cheated. This changed when I found out the band’s reasons for cancelling the tour. The lead singer of the band, Nicholas Petricca, was facing an incredibly difficult situation. His father had been suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and the illness had reached the point where Petricca felt he needed to spend more time with his family and less on tour.
I felt guilty. How could I have been so selfish as to feel entitled to his time? Walk the Moon has brought me so much joy through its music, so now it was my turn to give back by letting Petricca take some time off for his family. I was happy to see many fellow fans doing the same, sending support and well-wishes for Petricca.

But this experience reminded me of how media often treats public figures. Too often I see magazines publishing scathing articles criticizing musicians and actors for their own personal decisions. Look at a recent headline from Star Magazine, revealing personal information on “Little Women” star Briana Renee’s hospital visit for a premature labor scare. While it may be exciting to read about the struggles and misfortunes well-known figures face, in the end, this sort of information shouldn’t be entertainment.
However, the blame isn’t entirely on media. Too often I see fans targeting the social media of friends or partners of famous people, harassing them simply because of their association. It boggles my mind that people who claim to respect these public figures have no qualms against harming their idols’ loved ones. These are the lives of real people, many of whom pour countless hours into creating music, films, TV shows and more for their fans. They deserve so much better treatment than they often receive from those who claim to love the work they do.

All people — even those in the public eye — deserve respect. This is something I feel we, as fans and as people, must remind ourselves periodically. Having a hero to look up to is great, but too often I see people overstepping their boundaries, criticizing celebrities’ personal relationships. With the internet and social media constantly giving fans glimpses into the lives of their idols, it’s easy for them to feel that the personal lives of celebrities and entertainers belong to them. But it’s just as easy to take a step back and allow the people we admire to do what is best for themselves.

The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach Gillian Paxton at [email protected].