I've had two experiences where a performer saw something critical I wrote about them on the internet, and they responded to it. The first time was 5 years ago with Adam Pascal. He went nuts. Deleted his discussion boards, posted multiple blogs calling me out by name, incensing his fanbase into such a frenzy that some of them cyberstalked me.
The other time was a year and a half ago. I said something about Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy in a livejournal community. I said something he'd said in an interview was egotistical and dismissive to some of his fans. This is what he said:
I feel like I really offended some people and I’d like for you to tell them I’m sorry. One word stuck with me “Egotistical.” That hurt so bad. I can’t say it’s wholly undeserved; I feel like all artists are egotistical in their own way (I’ve always felt art is predicated on an idea…if only a subconscious one…that one knows how to express something better than someone else does). I’m one of those self-loathing/self-depricating artists. Low self-esteem, while often mistaken for something else, is just a popular form of egotism. It’s something I work hard at avoiding…but my kneejerk is to always tear down myself or my work and that has the collateral effect of belittling anyone for ever believing in either you or said work. The paradox is you don’t necessarily accept deep down that anyone does believe in you. I guess sometimes the humility I ethically believe in and the self-loathing I’m prone to parade around as each other and confuse simple issues. The difference is night and day. Not only did he treat me (and the other people who said negative things) with respect, but it gave me better perspective on the performer's side of things. I felt badly for making him feel badly. However, I wouldn't take back what I said. I haven't stopped posting critical things about performers I like in the fan communities I post in. Because as much as I don't want to make people feel bad, the onus for keeping things classy is still on the performer because they're the ones nosing in on a community and a discussion that wasn't intended for them. Can they view them? Yes. Will they view them? Sometimes, yes. Does that mean fans shouldn't give their honest opinions in fan communities? No, I don't think so.
Updated On: 6/6/13 at 01:14 PM