So this past weekend, Demi Lovato has a concert stop in Brazil, where a fan threw a Barbie doll on stage for whatever reason (I’m going to go ahead and throw the word STAGED around right now, so if that offends you, please tune out for the moment). Demi, when “noticing” what had taken flight and ended up on stage, picked up the Barbie doll, shook it fiercely (I’m making that part up), and proceeded to tell the audience that Barbie dolls are just not cool. Demi said:
“I spent my whole life trying to be this and trying to look like this. And guess what? I’m not this. And it means the world to me that you guys still love me no matter what. I’ve been through so much in my 20 years of life. I know how you guys feel and I want to show you guys that you can get through it because I’m living proof right here.”
So, now, the reason I’m saying STAGED is because come on. Is it a thing now to throw Barbie dolls on stage during a concert? And if so, what’s it all supposed to mean? Is it supposed to be insulting? Because why would you pay upwards of $40 to see someone that you just want to insult? That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Like me, for example … I wouldn’t pay to see Lana Del Rey in concert just so I could throw lozenges or paper bags up on stage, you know? STAGED. Totally, “Let’s throw a Barbie doll up on stage so Demi could make an inspirational announcement about how no one should aspire to be a Barbie doll.” I get the message, I do. And I think it’s a good, positive message. But it’s contrived, and I think it’d be much better received if, say, Demi just came out and said it, rather than paying a member of the crowd to toss a visual aid up on stage. Word, if I’m right on this STAGED thing?
I’ve never thrown anything on stage, because i agree with you, whats the point? But I have seen people bring and throw tons of stuff on stage like toys and gifts. Apparently the idea that the superstar would take and have your gift gets people off in their own weird way. Not saying this wasn’t stage or it was, i don’t know just saying shit thrown on stage does happen!
staged or not, it’s a good message. smart PR person! good on ya, demi, keep on fighting the good fight.
look at what she’s saying, and look what she looks like. She IS trying to look and be a barbie.
i get what you’re saying. i’m thinkin’ it’s more the body issues thing. trying to be a stick, instead of learning to love her curves. that weave or wig is whatever in the grand scheme of things; i just hope the girl really truly learns to love her body.
most people ive ever heard give an opinion on this say that they never once wanted to be barbie when they were a kid. girls dont think this is an actual woman, shes a barbie doll and kids know that.
Yeah, I’ve never understood that whole “kids emulate their toys/movies/etc.” thing. The idea that a girl will grow up wanting to be like a Disney princess or a Barbie doll is not giving people enough credit. Maybe when you’re five you have that thought at some point, but I think everyone can tell the difference between reality and cartoons/plastic (I know that I had some serious flights of imagination when I was young, but I never ACTUALLY thought that they were true). Now, girls wanting to be skinny like the models on the covers of magazines, THAT makes sense to me…
I agree with you guys – I had a LOT of barbie dolls as a kid and I never thought “that’s what women look like”. I just knew that that’s what my dolls looked like.
I did, however, firmly believe that my little bear cuddly toy was indicative of real bears and their size. I wanted nothing more in the world that a pet bear. So… there’s that.
Some people don’t grow up thinking that’s what women look like and some people do. Just bc you didn’t doesn’t mean it’s made up. There are women that get plastic surgery to resemble actual barbie dolls bc that’s what they believe women are supposed to look like.