This story was originally published on Passionfruit.
TikTokers are adding new perspectives to the ordinary person’s relationship with celebrity. This isn’t your mother’s celebrity news and gossip. There is a whole cottage industry of social media creators who are next-gen gossip pundits.
This is deep analysis, not only of celebrities but the institution of celebrity. They’re taking a look at how celebrities and their brands have shifted in the aftermath of the voyeuristic paparazzi era.
A century after the dawn of the modern tabloid, the beat morphed into chaos. Crowds of paparazzi would essentially stalk celebrities, chase their cars, and post up outside of their houses. Publications would pay $5,000 to $15,000 for exclusive photos of celebrities, leading to an early-aughts peak of tabloid and paparazzi wild behavior. One example of this? In 2005, Lindsay Lohan crashed her car while being followed by a pack of paparazzo.
