Supporting Problematic Artists is an Ethical Issue

I’m sure you’ve probably heard the phrase “problematic fave” once or twice. It’s a popular phrase usually used to categorize an actor, musician, etc. who has acted negatively, yet fans choose to support their content anyway. A common argument is that it’s okay to have a problematic fave as long as you’re willing to admit that they are problematic. But this argument has never sat well with me.

I once wrote a story about celebrity worship syndrome, the idea that people will idolize certain celebrities no matter their conduct. I spoke with Greg Webster, a UF associate professor of psychology, and he explained to me that often if a celebrity is producing content that holds some sort of value (good music, quality films, etc.), fans tend to ignore the less favorable behavior. Essentially, the good outweighs the bad. Now, in an age when social media makes artists much more accessible to fans, we can almost start to feel like they’re our friends. And if we forgive our friends for making a mistake, why not forgive our favorite artists as well?

I think it extends beyond just holding an attachment to artists. The way I see it, we also develop attachments to books, film franchises, TV shows, music, etc. If a new song by your favorite artist features another problematic artist, would you still listen to it? What if one of your favorite film franchises hires an actor with a problematic history — would you still continue to watch the new films? I’ve definitely faced these questions before.

I grew up with Harry Potter. I was too young to read the books as they were released, but the moment I could read at that level, those were the books I picked up. I’ve seen every movie more times than I can count, and I loved “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”...that is until I got to the end and realized they made the decision to cast Johnny Depp in a main role. The fact that they cast a man who has a history of domestic violence, and didn’t budge on the decision when faced with pushback is disappointing and, frankly, ruins the franchise for me. I want to be excited about the second film, “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.” I really want to. But every time I think about seeing this film, I get uncomfortable at the thought of supporting Depp, even for a franchise that I love.

Depp isn’t the only artist with a problematic background who continues to work in the industry. Up until his death, rapper XXXTentacion faced allegations of domestic abuse against his ex-girlfriend. Ben Affleck has been accused of sexual misconduct on multiple occasions, as well as turning a blind eye to the behavior of Harvey Weinstein. Lena Dunham, despite her surface-level feminism, is constantly making offensive remarks, including accusing sexual assault victims of lying and saying she wishes she had the opportunity to get an abortion. That doesn’t even scratch the surface of problematic artists in Hollywood, and yet, most of their careers are never hurt by it.

It’s a troubling concept, and many problematic artists are profiting off of it. It may seem like it’s enough to denounce their behavior, but until they truly feel a negative impact based on their actions, they will never change. Trust me, it’s tough to abandon something that you love even when your moral compass is telling you to. Whether you formed the attachment when you were younger or the problematic behavior has just surfaced, it sucks. However, for every artist who doesn’t deserve fame, there are a ton who do. Support those who are talented and good people. They are not as hard to find as you might think.

Katherine Campione is a UF journalism senior. Her column appears on Fridays.