The Beloved Art Of Terrible People

Taken by Kate Haskell from Flickr

In November 2014, comedian Hannibal Buress called Bill Cosby a serial rapist during a stand-up set in Philadelphia. Little to his knowledge, the bit was filmed and then embedded in an article for Philadelphia Magazine, which made a headline out of the troubling accusation. The clip went viral, dropping a bombshell on the collective American cultural consciousness.

Bill Cosby, America’s dad, sweater connoisseur, cultural ground-breaker, philanthropist, seemingly all-around nice guy and role model … a rapist?

While the shattering of an icon’s legacy was significant in and of itself, there were much larger implications at hand here. First, there was the power of Buress’ joke; a simple two-minute clip echoed the claims of (at the time) over a dozen women and brought the issue back to national attention.

Second, the medium for the message was important: the clip and article found its audience through numerous shares on social media. In this way, the story skirted the gatekeepers of traditional media, which had been reluctant to fully report on the story before. Third, there was the willingness of the masses to finally believe in the accusers and decry Cosby for his alleged crimes. Numerous more women stepped out and told their own stories of victimization by Cosby, helping to validate the allegations of the women who initially spoke out.

Perhaps most crucially, the Buress/Cosby incident broke down the doors for more alleged victims to tell their stories, finding listeners and supporters through social media. Now it seems that another celebrity gets accused of past misdeeds about every other day, particularly their sexual exploits.

Heathcliff Berru, a publicist for several prominent musicians, was accused by some of his female artists of assaulting, drugging and raping them. Elton John has been sued by his former security guard for consistent sexual harassment. Ronald Savage, a former music producer and a politician, accused hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa of molesting him as a teenager. Ian Connor, a stylist who has worked with several rappers, has been accused of rape by multiple women. Toby Turner, a famous YouTube star, has also been accused of sexual assault by his ex-girlfriend. Michael Gira, lead singer for experimental band Swans, has been accused of rape by Larkin Grimm, a singer-songwriter he has previously worked with. Ke$ha is currently undergoing many legal hurdles after accusing her producer, Dr. Luke, of sexual assault. This list, already incomplete, is sure to only grow larger.

It is troubling to see these titans’ demons being bared, especially when they all seemed too big to fail. When entertainers are charged with such hideous actions, it presents a moral quandary for their fans. Most of the time, we do not want to believe that our favorite artists are capable of such terrible deeds. Indubitably, we equate “good artist” and “good person” as synonymous. While making such assumptions is dangerous, it seems automatic for us. Which is why the classic dynamic between “art vs. artist” has to considered, time and time again.

It is remarkable to see victims unafraid to speak out against those who abused them, no matter their public renown. At the same time, it is important to balance on the thin line between “allegation” and “fact.” False accusations also occur, as seen in the case with Bright Eyes singer Conor Oberst. There are other examples of betrayals of artists by their former collaborators and friends, who would sue them to extort a good buck or two. However, what Bill Cosby’s case proved is that to ignore serious allegations is to serve a great injustice to the potential victims.

Is it okay to enjoy the work of terrible people? The immediate response to Cosby’s accusations seem to suggest otherwise. Reruns of The Cosby Show, one of the most influential television shows of all time, have been pulled off syndication. Awards and tributes to Cosby have been rescinded. To openly view a Cosby standup act, read a Cosby book, or to watch one of his shows is to invite the wrath of the masses. The same name that made so many laugh now causes so many to scowl.

But, to avoid hypocrisy, are we supposed to do this on a widespread scale? Historically, some of the most influential work of our time has been created by some terrible people. John Lennon imagined a world of peace, but could not even keep peace in his own home. Roman Polanski and Woody Allen are undeniably classic filmmakers, but their personal crimes are well-documented. 2Pac is consistently listed as a top 10 rapper, yet many forget that he also served time for sexual assault. Phil Spector, producer of some of the most influential music of the 20th century, is currently serving 19 years to life for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson. Of course, there are still countless more examples.

It becomes difficult when you consider how deeply ingrained these artists are in the cultural lexicon. Art changes lives, and has influence beyond anyone’s reckoning. Writer Mark Whitaker claimed the favorable image Cosby created of African Americans with The Cosby Show indirectly led to Barack Obama’s own favor, and thus, America’s first black president. Hip-hop has proved itself a viable political outlet throughout its existence, and it’s hard to see it having much of its influence without Bambaataa and 2Pac. John Lennon’s messages of peace and hope still inspire many, and entire movements have mobilized around his image.

So what is a fan supposed to do? Ultimately, it is up to one’s own view on the creation and creator; whether it is possible to view the former favorably while condemning the latter. It is a morally grey issue, and there are many who firmly stand on either side of it. It may be harder yet to decide how to reconcile with our heroes of the past, and it is an issue that may never reach a consensus.

However, in today’s age, there seems to be a firm trend set to sail. In the age of social media, it is not only the walls that have eyes and ears; the screens are here as well. Today’s generation demands their celebrities match their image, that their personal lives echo that of their public ones. Artists are now held to the same high standards of humanity as the regular Joe. Maybe the future of the entertainment world is a safer one for all, and thus a more guilt-free one for the fans.