In a world where public image is everything, in tousled times superstars must buckle down and do everything they possibly can to maintain a perfect public persona. For basketball heavyweight Kobe Bryant, portraying a tenacious talent on the court is not his only burden. He must also fulfill the roles of a heartthrob, a sex symbol and ultimately, a good man. Bryant relies on his image; if it were somehow tarnished, he could jeopardize his ability to earn money and hold down a job. For diva Liza Minnelli, like Bryant, she must live up to her legend at all times. Coming from a lineage of exceptional talent, it is excepted that she follow in her parents" footsteps. If she was to fall of the wagon for any reason, to protect her self from scrutiny, she must "pick herself up, dust herself off and start all over again." .
For ordinary people, perfection and (what people think of them) is generally not an uppermost concern. So what if one has committed adultery? So what if one is occasionally erratic? But when suddenly one's entire life can be severely effected by one of those factors, such as that of a celebrity, it more than crucial to main a positive image. Like a child left alone in shopping mall, celebrities face an uphill battle from the beginning.
Kobe Bryant is one of the most valuable basketball players today. Beyond just basketball, his name is an empire, used by many different companies to promote their products. A few months ago, however, his thriving world came to a halting stop. He was accused of sexual assault, a felony. Almost immediately following the announcement was a public backlash: many companies ceased from using his name and many of his loyal fans spoke out against him. This situation for Bryant was not only financially worrying, but could cost him his entire career. Bryant's public image is in peril, if not completely ruined.
Liza Minnelli, the world renown entertainer and daughter of the legendary Judy Garland, has tackled her affairs to always end up on top, such as lion would as the king of the jungle.
