Cut for Bieber was the top global trend on Twitter on Monday evening. I came home to a broken internet and had to fire up Twitter on my phone, only to be left bewildered when I saw this hashtag. It’s not unusual to see the young Canadian singer’s name in the trending topics, but cut? Cut it out? Cut a record? Cut what exactly?
I delved into the trend to find out what was going on and was met with a deluge of tweets from his fanbase in which they were, apparently, cutting or slashing their wrists in protest at a story claiming Bieber had smoked a joint. I use the word “apparently” as I don’t believe for one second that all of those photos were real, but the sight alone of one young girl’s blood-spattered cross-slashed wrist was enough to turn even the strongest of stomachs. The trend itself was not helped by other Twitter users’ outrage and mocking tweets using the very same hashtag, propelling this to the top of the trend list.
I suppose it all seems very funny. Young girls so obsessed with the starlet that they were willing to physically harm themselves if it would make him stop doing drugs (it was claimed he smoked one joint – he’s not exactly hitting the crack pipe). But to me, it exemplified how much the world of fandom has changed. I am indifferent to Bieber; I even admit to liking a couple of his tunes and having at least one of his songs on my iPod. But his most passionate fans are a terrifying prospect. Consider the reception of screaming fangirls greeting The Beatles’ first trip to the US to this scenario. Fandom is not a new thing. Nor are legions of dedicated fans (or ‘stans’) obsessing over your every move. But en-masse self harm in the hopes of grabbing your idol’s attention is something unheard of.
I don’t sit here from a position of ignorance. I have my own obsessions. If you know me, you’ll know I belong to two major fandoms, those of Meryl Streep and Bruce Springsteen. I have been a ‘Streeper’ (I loathe this term) since 2004 and have followed the Boss since 2008. I know what it is like to belong to a group of hardened, dedicated fans. I have witnessed behaviours in the Streep fandom that have made my toes curl and, occasionally, my hairs stand on end. But never once have I heard anyone suggest we all crack out the razors in protest at another Oscar failure for Meryl or another missed opportunity to meet her.
I don’t find this situation funny. Ludicrous perhaps, but funny? No. Self-harm is not an issue to laugh about. These girls, so ignorant and so impressionable, will literally do anything to get the attention of Bieber and this sets a dangerous precedent for other future fandoms. It is not surprising to hear that the users of the 4chan website were the first to suggest that Beliebers should do this. The less said about that hovel of scum the better.
Fandom can be a wonderful thing; it found me some of my best friends and gave me some of the best memories of my life. But in a 2013 world, where the 24-hour media and plethora of social-networking platforms enable such activites to go global in rapid time, I fear we are on a slippery slope encouraged by a collective, dogmatic mentality. Idolatry can create and provoke unhealthy and deadly behaviours. Cut for Bieber one week, hang yourself for him the next. It’s an extreme statement to make, but this situation shows that there are people out there willing to commit such acts and others on the Internet who will incite it. I dread the day when we hear that one kid has taken her love for a popstar one step further and killed herself just for him.
Bright Lights & The Big City 