In my view you’ve got to be one lucky servicemember if you can not only get the attention of your celebrity of choice but also convince that person to attend a military ball with you.
Then again I’m an Army spouse. Sure our events have traditions that go along with them, but as far as I can tell there’s nothing involved that I’m supposed to get overly excited about.
Then there is the Marine Corps. Their birthday ball is a Big Deal, I mean a really Big Deal. First, it is steeped in very solemn tradition aimed at honoring fallen Marines. But there’s a little bit more to it than that in my view. Like I’ve written in the past, they have cake. And amazing uniforms. And they get celebrities to come to their ball – lots of celebrities.
But now that the birthday ball season is slowly winding down with another set of celebrity appearances at Birthday Balls behind us (most recently Kim Kardashian), it seems that not everyone thinks celebrities at balls is a good idea.
Now, in my non-Marine-spouse view, celebrities at balls just make them that much more interesting and fun. Plus you’ve got to be a pretty supportive celebrity to go to a ball with a desperate young Marine you’ve never met.
But I ran across a post late last week on this blog’s Facebook page that pointed out that celebrities at balls take away from the solemnity of the event. Here is what the blog’s owner, Kristine, told us:
When a celebrity is invited to the event, it turns into a spectacle about the person in attendance, not focusing on remembering those who gave their lives and honoring the sacrifices made of those before us. The ball ceremony is never about spouses, girlfriends or anything else. It’s about honoring the Corps.
She has a point there.
It turns out that this isn’t the first time this issue has been brought up (just the first time I’ve noticed it) – a recent Marine Corps Times story talked about the disapproving emails the Marine who took Mila Kunis to the ball received from other Marines, including some who out ranked him. They thought, he said, that having a celebrity made the ball a red carpet event.
Kristine said she doesn’t think the Corps should outright ban celebrity invites to balls. Like she says, the military already tells us what to do with so much of our lives, do we really need another rule? But several commenters on the Facebook page said it should be banned – they said a celebrity appearance takes away from the seriousness of the ball.
So what do you think? Does the presence of a Kardashian take away from importance and traditions of ball? Or are we all over thinking this?
About Amy Bushatz
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Ban them. Unless they are truly a military spouse, or engaged to a military member, they should stay home. Let the focus of the ball be on the military and its traditions, not some flash in the pan celebrity.
As long as Jane Fonda and others of her ilk are banned, I don's see a problem
I agree..
And what about all of those celebraties that are so active with their support of our active and veteran military? Are you going to exclude them just because they are a celeb? They go into combat zones sometimes and risk their life just like the rest of us. If you look to history, you will find that both men and women died trying to brng a little cheer into our lives in combat zones.
All this has nothing to do with the USMC Ball!
Who in their right mind would invite Kardashian? My son is a Marine and I go to their Marine Ball as often as I can. The ceremony is just wonderful, especially to me as a retired Australian Navy sailor. This year I attended not only with my son who is a MGSGT, but his son and my grand son.
I think it’s not important to worry about who attends. Stop hating and finding something wrong with petty things! Take the stick out your behind and You focus on what the meaning of the ball is about and not worry about the celebrity attending! Let them show their support!
i being a military wife personally think it may not be the best idea but a service member has the right to bring any date he/she sees fit.
It should be no one else’s business who a Soldier, Marine, Airman, or Sailor brings as a date to a ball, or any other function. If the date is a celebrity, or the girl/boy next door, no one should be excluded as long as they are respectful of the other guests, follow the proper, established protocols and honor the men and women that these affairs are meant to celebrate. Some people have fame and fortune, but that does not mean they are not people and therefore undeserving. Lighten up and enjoy the party. I applaud the ones who have the cajones to ask a celebrity out on a date. Good for you!
dont nessarily ban them if they want to come , but do ban there publist from releasing the info and ask them not to pubisize there attendance until after the ball. That way they can come and show there respect following the tradition and not turn it into a dog and pony show about them.
I don't know. I think its fun and it shows support. Its not the celebs fault if they make the event about him or her. These SM's wanted to go with them and if the celeb allows it I think it should totally be allowed. How does them being there take away from the traditions?
It wouldn't be Monday morning if the milspouse arena didn't have their collective panties in a bunch over something to do with military balls.
After last year's balls that included 2 celebrities I did not see photos that were from the papparazzi, so I am assuming that reporters and photographers were not given access to the inside of the balls to be a distrubance to the ceremonies. Since the Marine Corps appeared to not allow the presence of celebrities to become a media circus, I do not see an issue with celebrity attendance. It's currently a fad that will die down, in fact, I'm suprised that it occurred this year. If a celebrity wants to attend and is willing to observe proper respect for the traditions of the event, then who cares if they are there. To me they are people just like anyone else and I'm sure most people attending the ball treated them like any other guest.
I agree with Mel. Who cares? What will happen next if they ban celebrities is a big debate over what defines a celebrity and then we really lose the focus of what the Balls are all about. Get over it, stop being jealous and work hard to include the Celebrity in on the details of why the Ball is so important. Let those Service Members enjoy a dream come true.
Agreed, nobody ever talked about banning Bob Hope or Marilyn Monroe from anything. I think the support of these stars are important. Just make sure they know how important the Marine Corp Ball is to us and why. As long as they are respectful everone have a great time. Hell that's what we fight for is the freedom to enjoy our lives and our freedom
Balls are managed at the local unit level, even tho there are very strict guidelines on procedure (ex being the diagram for the KIA/POW/MIA table). It is up to the local command whether spouses, girlfriends, boyfriends, friends – or celebrities – are invited or not. You may recall that one MCAS banned a pornographic actress from accompnying a Marine to his unit Ball in recent years.
With that said, my feelings are that every civilian should get a chance to observe or participate in some military tradition. We hold observances for various military events at a local pub, and the non-veteran patrons are always excited about attending. However, if the spectacle outweighs the observance, then it is up to that unit to police their own event.
I say "who cares" but its the duty of everyone there to make sure it keeps up with the reason for the event and not whose attending. A ball I recently attended had a celebrity guest speaker…. so whats the difference? They still get attention, just in a different light. I think it's nice to let people outside the military community experience something they probably know nothing about. Just recently at those man awards they had a bunch of military personnel in the audience. Should they be banned from a non-military function wearing dress uniforms? I think not…. Maybe just ban the Kardashians….lol. ~An Army Wife, Daughter and Supporter
I do agree…
We don’t need anymore rules to deal with as military or military wives. but i agree that the Marine Corps ball is very important. If someone wants to make it about them even if that person isn’t a celeb, then they shouldn’t be allowed to be there. The ball means so much and it is a place for the Marines to be remembered and honored, not for someone else to be on display
While the USMC Birthday Ball is to honor those who served in the past and present, the right type of celebrity could bring energy to this important tradition. However, having someone who has made a name as a celebrity in part by failing to obtain a divorce before going into another 'romantic' relationship speaks to the problem of ethics that is now such a big issue in the military.
Yes, I have enjoyed every Birthday Ball or celebration that I have attended as a member of the Corps but I always made sure that any guest of mine (boyfriend or spouse) was firmly aware of the reason our attendance and that he was also aware of the conduct expectations, both mine and the Corps.
The Marine Corps Birthday Ball should be celebrated by the Corps for the Corps and only those who have earned the right to wear the uniform and their spouses or dates and should be instructed on the scope and purpose of the celebration and all the traditions that are embodied in it.
So Hospital Corpsman and the Chaplains are not welcome? That is what happens when you set it in stone. Retired HMC
MARINE Corps Ball IS A Red Carpet Event For every one attending. To be Any part of Our Ball is aThrill. A celebrity that is asked to attend should be Thrillednot just any on asked. Now with that said The celebrity need to understand what they are being asked to take part of. I have been to several MARINE Balls And Many MARINE Reunions, We are a Breed of our own, We ARE The Best… Signed GREASYNICK USMC 1969-1973 , VMFA 451 1971-1972
LOL! I knew that someone(a military spouse) was going to have a issue with Kim K attending. usually when a celeb or someone popular attends anything, it brings awareness to the event. If they change the entire event to accommodate celebs, then there’s a problem. Them being in attendance shows how important the balls are from a civilian perspective. After all the Marines do for this country, we’re going to tell them they can’t have celebs at the ball? At the end of the day celebs are US citizens supporting our soldiers, being present when they’re requested is the least they can do.
They should be BANED! absolutely. THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS AT THE BALL. Military spouses are not attending their Oscar event since we are not actresses.
No your not, but that doesn't mean you cannot come if your invited.
I'm not sure why you said, "Milspouses don't attend the Oscars." This is not about whether Milspouses attend or do anything. This is about the ball that's for soldiers, not every soldier is married. If you're confusing your desire as a Milspouse to control the type of people that attend the ball for soldiers(not for spouses), then you don't know the reason for the ball in the first place. It's not about you or the celebs. Do you think it's fair to deny the single soldiers a chance to escort their favorite celeb because you're uncomfortable? If you would've said soldiers don't attend the Oscars i could understand your point, but they're not prohibited from doing so either. Why would you exclude celebs from the ball since you can go to the Oscars if you can afford it?
The Marine Corps Birthday Ball is one of the most important dates in the Corps history, Tuns Tavern 1775, the birth place of the Marine Corps, 237 years and counting. I have yet to see any military base without a movie theater, even in combat zones if at all possible there is some sort of jerry rigged reel to reel flick to pick up the troops moral. Celebs contribute to our military through USO Shows and special appearances for many different occasions. I say, keep putting those smiles on our True American Heroes faces by backing our service members any way and every way you can, HURRAY TO THE CELEBS!!!! Every Marine knows the importance of the Marine Corps Birthday Ball, and to all those Fallen, Past, Present, and Future Comrades In Arms. Welcome Celebs, being invited to the USMC Ball is an honor, and it is an honor to have you there. Thank you for your support to our men and women in uniform.
I think it depends on the understanding by the Celebrity of the meaning of a celebration. So long as he/she is mindful of the tribute celebration, it's fine. When the celeb is the focus of the event, it might be better if they did not attend. In this case, Semper Fi is important. Sent with the utmost respect from this gratefull swabbie.
DEFINITELY over-thinking it, although it should be quietly discouraged, so that we don’t become pawns of attention-seeking celebrities.
Honestly I agree with the blog post but then again as long as the celeb doesn’t try and make the event about them why does it matter? Your completely over thinking it.
If your worried about honoring veterans, what about schools that do not take veterans day off, instead they say they will give the kids another day off at a later time? How does that honor veterans? Or they have an hour or two presentation, but what does that show them about veterans?
This continual eroding of values in America is leading to the end of America as we know it. The issue of celebrities is minor if their is no veterans day left to celebrate. Maybe it is time to establish a few national holidays and make it illegal for any person to work, except for businesses concerned with the well being of the people, such as hospitals, police, fire, and other necessary services.
How about letting the ones that actually support the military to their annual service balls? Gary Sinise, Drew Carey, Toby Kieth, and others could go no problem. But the Karcrapians, NO, the stupid whore needs to stay home.
Would anyone have banned Bob Hope? Now there was a celebrity who cared about the military. Banning celebrities is a bad idea. I think the military as a community needs to embrace them. Celebrities get the attention of the nation for doing just about anything, good or bad. When they know more about the military they can bring that knowledge to the public.
We need to keep celebs away from our balls
Only invite someone who has acheived something besides getting married and divorced all the time and is rich and talked about in gossip newspapers all the time.
Okay….*sigh*….this is pretty simple. The concept of banning "celebrities" from Military Balls is absolutely ridiculous. It's a mark on the society of America that there are more of you sitting here making comments like Ben "We need to keep celebs away from our balls", than USMC Retired above him who quite perfectly put the Marine Corps Birthday Ball in perspective.
Yes, there is observance of those who have gone before, yes there is observance of our dead, wounded, and missing, and yes we certainly do have pageantry celebrating our history. At some of the bigger Birthday Balls that can include a "fashion show" of sorts (call it what you will) with Marines displaying every primary uniform (generally the combat uniforms) we've worn since 1775.
But it is ANYTHING but a solemn event. The drinking, story telling, back slapping, handshaking, and revelry start well before the Ball is called to order. We keep it reserved, Marines rarely get schnockered beforehand, we go through our ceremony with all the pomp and circumstance required and add a bit more to make sure, and once dinner is done and the smoking lamp is lit, it's game on. Many Marine Corps Balls last until the wee hours.
Drew Carey….he is NOT in the same class as Toby Kieth (dirtbag) since Drew Carey IS A MARINE.
Celebrities are invited, much as some young Devil Dog invites his or her girlfriend/boyfriend. They are guests. There isn't a Red Carpet, there aren't going to be fifty million flashing cameras (the photo at the top of this page isn't at a Ball, is it?) and the simple fact that, say, Katy Perry (as an example) accepts an invitation indicates active support. It also gives her stories to tell, our legend spreads.
"Celebrity" does not equal "evil". WE ARE THE ONES THAT MAKE THEM CELEBRITIES. Not the other way around. Anyone who focuses on that kind of missed the point in the first place. We Marines have a Birthday Ball to celebrate our existence, our history, our Brothers and Sisters who can't be with us, and basically party our asses off. It's our reward for 364 days of hard work, mindbending boredom, drudgery, sweat, blood, and tears. It's our night to unwind.
The DoD, the General Public, and anyone NOT a Marine or Marine Spouse….take a back seat. We invite who we want to. It's our party.
I agree completely with you, have you noticed that this wasn't a problem until female celebs start attending the balls? It bothers me when i see Milspouses so quick to exclude celebs when female celebs start attending balls. What does this say about Milspouses? These celebs don't invite themselves, they are invited by soldiers who obviously want them to be their. I'm not a Kim K fan but i appreciate her and Mila Kunis for making a soldier's dream come true.
I agree 100%. It seem to me that some of these milspouses are upset because no one is looking at them. Lets be real, milspouses believe the ball is just as much about them as it is about the soldiers/history. Everyone should just relax and let whoever wants to come come if they have been invited. End of story
Why are people so obsessed with celebs anyway? They are people, they attended the function with ONE person, that is who deserves their attention. Get over the celebs, people.
Seriously? You want to ban Americans from attending a function they are invited to? So, if you're spouse is a celebrity, they can't come? (Don't say that's different) Are you trying to get popular by saying outrageous things? That's what it sounds like. I wouldn't invite Kim K. to do my laundry, but, I respect the decision of other people to live their lives without putting my judgment before theirs. Shame for even asking the question. Try serving your country before you try running it. Narrow minded bigotry is all this article represents. Embarassing that it was published.
If this is all you have to argue about with the nation in the state it is ,someonbe is not dping there job!!
some of the people you are refering to are X military,and as long as the idiots trying to take pic's for moneyh can't get to the event really who cares.. I think someone got shot down by one of the celiberties so they are mad and throwing a fit…..Go cry some where else
Celebrities shouldn't be allowed to come to these balls. A lot of them do it for publicity anyways. More importantly it's a privilege to be in the Military. The same way that we aren't invited to the celebrity parties and shingdings of Hollywood because we aren't privileged celebrities they shouldn't be coming to ours.
Some Celebs have done so much for our Military that they should be invited to attend. Who would deny Gary Sinise or Fath Hill the opportunity to attend? They have devoted untold hours to supporting our Military, just to name two.
If they conduct themselved in the respectful manner the occasion warrents then what's the harm?
Amy Bushatz, are you kidding?? Do you mean to tell me just because a celebrity draws attention to themselves at a military function that celebrities should be banned? Get over yourself! Celebrities bring A LOT of notoriety to the Corps and having a celebrity supporting troops validates to the public at large, that supporting them is a GOOD thing. What a stupid question but I guess military spouses have nothing better to do than talk sh*t all day about non-essential BS! Gives em somethin to do besides eating Bon Bon’s and watching Soaps!
As a Milspouse this is really sad. I already knew that Milspouses would be upset by Kim K at the ball. You know all eyes were on Kim K in that beautiful red dress she wore. I don't know about the writer of this article, but i assure you that most of this is motivated by jealously. I didn't see anyone yelling "ban the celebs" until female celebs start attending the balls. The whole "celebs take away from the ball, it's not about them," basically means, all eyes were on them and not on me. Milspouses need to back off and let single soldiers escort who they want. You have to ask yourself, would this an issue if Channing Tatum or some other attractive male celeb attended instead of Kim k?
ANYTHING which promotes POSITIVE media attention to our military is A-OK by me, especially now that our young people are being socially-engineered to disapprove of ANYTHING military, period.
The Marines who disapproved of Mila Kunis being at the ball were probably jealous as hell.
I'M A 22 YEAR AIR FORCE COMBAT VETERAN. ALTHOUGH I SERVED IN THE YOUNGEST OF ALL THE BRACHES OF MILITARY, I FEEL ANYTHING THAT DISTRACTS FROM OUR TIME HONORED TRADITIONS ERODES OUR INTEGRITY, SERVICE AND STANDARDS OF EXELLENCE. CIVILIANS HAVE THEIR PLACES IN SOCIETY AS WE DO OURS. IF A CELEBRITY HAS A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH A MILITARY SERVICE MEMBER (MARRIAGE) THEN BY ALL MEANS THEY SHOULD ATTEND. MOST CIVILIANS KNOW US AS SERVICE MEMBERS BUT DON'T TRUELY UNDERSTAND THE SACRIFICES MADE BY THOSE WHO SERVE, TO INCLUDE THEIR FAMILIES.
Leave it to the Marines to turn a simple military birthday ball into a MAJOR source of drama. Its like all the battles they fought were they ONLY ones that were the hardest, most difficult and seemingly insurmountable. You dont see Soldiers running around trying to get the limelight on them via celebrity dates. Its always the Marines…
Yeah, thats right, I said it!
Jamie Walden/ Tim Tebow, another branch aside from the Corps. Yeah, Marines can’t help it if Soldiers don’t ask celebs. on ball dates. Don’t hate because Marines have the highest ask & accept rate for celeb. ball dates than other branches! I guess you’ll just add this to another battle that Marines fought that was the “hardest, most difficult and seemingly insurmountable”. Master Jack I think you might have wanted to join the Corps but something prohibited you. It’s ok. We can’t all earn the title. Marines will still support & defend you.
Let celebs. come. This isn’t the only article written about this.
Yes please ban them. Its ridiculous and if a Marine from my unit invited a celebrity then I would not attend the ball. Go on google images right now and search for Marine Corps Ball. 90 percent of the pictures will be of celebrities not of Marines in their dress blues enjoying the ball. I think it’s a disgrace, it does take away from the entire event. Half off the attendees at the balls I go to are civilian contractors and civilian contributors. Even though most of their contributions pay for the Marine Corps Ball I really dont like sharing it with them being that they are not Marines. But I understand it is a necessary 2 keep the price of tickets for the ball low enough that we can afford them. If Marines want to be gungho for all this media attention then we’re really no better than the Army.
So what about all the Celebs that contribute to the military? What about the former service members who are celebs(Drew Carey, Gene Hackman, Montel Williams, David Eigenberg, Orville Burrell( aka Shaggy) Bill Cosby, Chuck Norris, just to name a few), they're not welcomed either? You wanna exclude everyone that's not in the military? Whether you believe it or not our soldiers are strong, but the military also draws their strength from their support system. Which are civilians and political parties that favor the military.
I know Ann Margeret has been to Marine Birthday Balls and all over Vietnam entertauining the troops.
She will stop at anytime to sign autograph or take a photo with a service member. She still calls a Vietnam Vet "One of my Boys" She is respectfull and reverent at the Balls and I do not think there is any photo's out there that shows her at any of the events.
Guest are invited and they can be Un-envited if need be if proper respect is not shown.
'BALLS,' said the Queen…if I had TWO, I'd be KING!
This is probably THE single-most ridiculous subject/discussion I've yet read on any of these military 'blogs.' For anyone even remotely 'attached' to the proud USMC (I was Navy during 'nam but my Father, RIP, was a 27 year, four-war Master Gunny) to even THINK of banning ANYONE from the event in question is pathetic. I'm assuming that all you Jarheads fought your wars, or will fight your future wars, for FREEDOM…yet some of you would choose to take some of the freedoms you fought for away from even some of your own. Dad would have NEVER voted to ban ANYONE.
What ever happened re: the young Marine who invited his Commander in Chief's wife Michelle Obama to his MC Ball? Did that ever happen?
Jealousy, simple explanation. Spouses are jealous that they get to primp up once every year and attention goes to a celebrity invited by somebody lower ranked than their spouses'. It shouldn't be about spouses either, it should be about why they're holding a ball.
I agree with you.it shouldn’t be banned coz marine balls are not for wives either.they need to focus on themselves and stop looking or comparing to other people or make things complicated.
You hit the nail on the head!!!
AS A COMBAT MARINE FROM THE VIET NAM ERA , I THINK THE MILITARY IS A SANCTUARY WHERE THE WARRIORS OF THE U.S.A. SHOULD NOT BE INFRINGED ON IN ANYWAY. YOU HAVE MILITARY AND YOU HAVE CIVILIAN PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY , LETS KEEP IT THAT WAY ! IF YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF US , THERE IS A RECRUTER NEAR YOU.
Would any one ban Ronald Reagan. One of our greatest Presidents and a celebrity in his own right who starred in many films in his day and even made informational war bond advertisements during WWII. Celebrities that are allowed to attend a military ball should be briefed before they attend so they know the rules of conduct and it won't be a issue. All this time I hear my fellow service members complain that civilians don't understand or care what we go through or they don't know our traditions…well maybe some high profile celebrity type who get a chance to attend a military ball can have a better understanding of "our thing" and the traditions we hold dear. Would you ban Clint Eastwood? Think about it…. LOL I wouldn't ban Gunny Highway
If they are wearing nice clothes and want to give them to me later, then I say let celebrities attend.
So we’ve stopped taking responsibility for our actions? When did that happen? As long as the celebrity in question is W-E-L-L aware of what they are walking into (the inviter’s job) the event shouldn’t be able to turn away from the focus(everyone’s job, don’t stare, get pictures later). In the biz it’s called “Talent Wrangling” and “Directing”, in the Corps it’s called “Discipline”.
Celebrities have a LOT of balls !!!!!!???!!!!
Celebrities are American citizens with rights; they have relatives or loved ones that served.
Who are we to pick and choose who can attend a function paid for by the American taxpayer?
I don't know what branch of service you are affiliated with, but in the Marine Corps the majority of the costs of the ball is provided by fundraisers done by the unit and the price of the tickets. Balls are not free. In fact, for our ball, E1-E5 paid $50 per ticket, E6-E9 paid $60 per ticket and Officers paid $75 per ticket. I know for a fact that ticket prices are determined by what costs remain after the measly sum provided by MCCS and after the fundraising funds are deducted. So, it's apparent that the majority of the cost is not paid by the American taxpayer.
This sounds like a lot of women feeling all sad or upset because no one cares that they are at the ball. I'm a service member and can careless if a soldier decides he/she wants to bring an celebrity. I think this question is sad and all thats in favor of a celebrity not attending should be ashame. I even see where someone said on a spouse should be allowed to come. Well how about not requiring single soldiers to go to the ball. Relax and get a life. Your spouse is going home with you at the end of the night and if not they are I can bet 10 out of 10 times they wont be going home with a celebrity that showed up with someone else. Just funny and I cant believe you guys lol
Yes, bann the celebrity appearances. They have no commonality to the honor nor to the event by any means.
It sounds so American to ban an American (or anyone else) from the birthday ball.
The Marine Corps Ball should not have celebrities attending them. Unless your a Marine, a Marine spouse or significant other then you shouldn't attend. The Marine Corps is for a few and the Proud and if you would like to share that title or attend a Marine Corps Birthday Ball then you should join the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps Birthday Ball is for those who attended the weeks long boot camp in either MCRD San Diego or MCRD Parris Island and those who chose to have one of those Devil Dogs (Male or Females) as their spouse. Think about it, how many celebrities invite Marines or other service members to their events which occur more than once a year. They have their events and we have ours, lets enjoy ours by ourselves and let them read about it on social networks as we have to do to know about theirs. Semper Fi, LCPL W.D. Adams 86-92
So a single Marine shouldn't be allowed to bring a date to the Ball?
There's a give and take with this. First, you have the fact that being a celebrity is an occupation– they earn their money by being that popular, and it's an unjust discrimination to ban a guest based on that alone. On the other hand, the nature of that very occupation is that any celebrity can– and often enough, will– make every appearance outside their house a publicity event. Even if they do not, their agent might do it for them. THAT is a disrespect– a military ball is an event guests are privileged to attend, not just another place to do their job as a celebrity. It's the equivalent of a salesman walking in on the arm of his/her spouse and pitching a deal to everyone in the room. Second, though… just as a celebrity may use a ball to their advantage, the military may use the celebrity to its advantage, drawing in publicity to a controlled, otherwise-closed event that could be good for military and public morale, etc. What else is Public Affairs for? But it's tricky to handle the press, VERY tricky to handle celebrities, and that's a risk assessment for someone better trained than me. …It probably also depends a great deal on the celebrity, I mean, would we have a problem if this were Harrison Ford..?