OPINION: Kanye West and Antonio Brown illustrate a troubling trend of mental health struggles spilling onto social media
Photo via: Cosmopolitan UK/Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons
Digital Managing Editor Marc Goldstein, a Junior studying Journalism with a minor in Sports Management, discusses the concerning social media presences of Kanye West and Antonio Brown.
Kanye West is arguably one of the most famous individuals of the 21st century. His music and entrepreneurship have made him a figure that always draws attention. Ever since the turn of the decade, though, he has not been in the limelight for positive reasons. It is known that West has been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and struggles with mental illness. It is also no secret that West has notoriously outlandish political views, especially those pertaining to Jewish people. However, this weekend, his outburst on Twitter brought to light more need for in-depth mental health treatment and not giving the outlet to those who might be mentally unwell.
West’s tweets over the weekend are not new to him. In years past, he has taken to social media to air out his personal grievances with cultural groups and individuals. Fans and critics alike have long expressed concern for his mental stability, and he has publicly discussed his bipolar diagnosis over the years (although he has recently announced that it was actually misdiagnosed autism). Regardless, these diagnoses should be taken seriously and understood by the greater public when analyzing his actions. However, that does not put West above the laws society has placed on public figures. Like it or not, West holds a lot of weight among fans of his music, fashion and lifestyle brands. Putting out the hateful remarks puts a stain on his persona that has taken a dive in recent years.
In addition to West, there are other figures who have been well-known for posting outlandish and NSFW content on their social media channels. Former Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has arguably been the most notable example of this category. During his playing days, Brown had immense talent and production, but that was overshadowed by his off-field antics which included many suspensions, fines and disciplinary actions from the NFL. Since he has been out of the NFL, Brown has made his own brand based on the brain disease he is speculated to have, CTE.
The brand, CTESPN, is mocking both the idea of Brown’s CTE and ESPN, the sports organization. Brown claims that the network provides a similar outlet to that of Barstool Sports where the content goes beyond the bounds of “traditional” reporting. The lewd, inappropriate content posted by Brown is outside the lines of what is normally seen on social media. Brown makes jokes about media personalities and their sexuality and performance, including sexual jokes.
Both West and Brown are perfect examples of media personalities who seem to be clearly mentally unwell, yet still are given an outlet and platform via posting on social media. The pair are not the only ones who have been rampantly posting on social media with some concerning things, but they are the most well-known to the general public.
Between West and Brown, there are countless examples of politically incorrect tweets being put out there, further damaging the personal brands of both individuals, as well as those who are ingesting their content and the people who are harmed by their rhetoric. In addition, the things being spewed perpetuate the hateful discourse on social media about certain groups, making the audiences continue to believe it in some cases after seeing celebrities holding certain views. More than the personal brands, the two are the tip of the iceberg for an issue that stretches further than just social media. The mental health of these men are troubling trends for those who are struggling and using social media to air out things, broadcasting what could be severe mental breakdowns to a global audience.
Please note that these views and opinions do not reflect those of The New Political.
