Momsen Gone Mad

Well guys, this week I decided to expand my horizons and search for more degrading content on women in the media by not reverting back to X17, but instead to thesuperficial.com. This site is quite gold mine for finding stories that pertain specifically to my topic, hence the title. Although it is my first time perusing the website, which is strange for a walking issue of People magazine like myself, I was instantly compelled to write a post on none other than the famous bad girl, Taylor Momsen because I feel like it is extremely important to address a person who can never seem to catch a break.

When Taylor first came on the television scene as the innocent Brooklyite, Jenny Humphrey, in Gossip Girl, she lived a rather normal, sheltered life across the bridge from the coveted Upper Eastside. As her character started to climb the social ladder at her preppy private school and she learned what it took to be the queen bee, her image began to do a 180 and she turned from sweet to sour at the drop of a metro card. Even though Momsen’s actions on the show were scripted, her non- Gossip Girl life began to mirror her on-screen one.

When she wasn’t smoking cigarettes at the age of sixteen or wearing skirts so short you could almost see her cootch, Taylor was attempting to make a life for herself not only as an actress on the popular television show, but also as a singer. This rebellious caked on so much eyeliner she looked like a raccoon and belted out what sounded like a horrible mix of punk rock and rock and roll. Once she emerged on the music seen, the teen began to be associated with her bad girl antics and lost a great deal of respect from her Gossip Girl fans who initially could relate to her on and off-screen.

Recently, Momsen attempted to justify her racy behavior by blaming her parents for brining her up in the fast paced world of modeling at the age of two. While that might slightly justify her “mature” behavior, it is still no reason for her to be posing like a stripper on the cover of Revolver Magazine and smoking cancer sticks two years before she was even legal. Mary-Kate and Ashley started on Full House when they were practically born and while they did have their share of issues, none can compare to the severity of Momsen’s.

Even though I do not agree with Taylor’s actions, I do think the media should take a step back and give the girl a chance to breathe. While I know that stocking celebrities is their job, I still can’t help but think about how much added stress Taylor must endure by being chased around by these creepy shutterbugs on a daily basis and having her every action scrutinized by the public. Although she will never be able to catch a break until she cleans up her life, the fact that she is subjected to their scrutiny only adds salt to her already deep wounds. Let her be, media!! Let her get her life back in order without you being there to wait for her to mess it up. She’s already done that, so what more are you waiting to see her do?

By: ANDREA