OPINION:
Celebrated actress Hayden Panettiere’s death just days ago shocked the world, sparking touching tributes, intense lament — and important questions.
The uncomfortable reality is that Hollywood history has been littered with beautiful, talented people whose lives have been tragically cut short by the perils of fame and fortune.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different result. Yet, when it comes to actors and performers — particularly those who start their careers at an early age — little to nothing has been done to halt this toxic, deadly pattern.
Ms. Panettiere is simply the latest example of a woman with promise — a human made in God’s image who struggled deeply. Over the years, she candidly shared the toll fame took on her life, revealing how drugs and alcohol became a fixture.
Her first encounter with drugs unfolded on a red carpet as a teenager when she was given “happy pills” by someone she trusted and believed would protect her. Tragically, she told TV host Tamron Hall that this person put her “in a position of harm.”
For years afterward, Ms. Panettiere battled alcohol and other demons, but her death — just months after she released her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning” and opened up about her struggles — is understandably making waves.
She was a daughter, mother and friend to many. Countless former co-workers in the entertainment industry described her as a “bright light” who brought love and kindness to those with whom she worked.
While details are still pending about what led to her death and speculation is improper, there’s no question that Ms. Panettiere faced a difficult battle. She shared more about her alcohol use during a 2022 interview with “People” and “Good Morning America,” describing the toll.
“People around me were more concerned about my usage of alcohol than they ever were about the postpartum depression,” she said. “I wanna be that strong, stoic woman. But when you see a happy-go-lucky girl for years suddenly on the floor in a puddle of mess and alcohol, you gotta know something is wrong.”
Ms. Panettiere also said in her memoir that a doctor told her she would die “within five years” if she didn’t stop consuming alcohol.
So, why do so many celebrities struggle with the same issues? I cannot speak to Ms. Panettiere as an individual and don’t presume to know her heart or posture, but we can look at the issue from a 30,000-foot level.
To begin, human beings were never meant to be praised or held up on pedestals. The Bible makes it clear that all glory and praise belongs to God, not people. But celebrity culture obsessively idolizes humans, creating unhealthy dynamics for both the subject of that worship and those heaping praise upon them.
Some people in the public eye become addicted to these patterns, clinging to fame and fortune and sometimes finding themselves spinning deeper and deeper into an abyss. Ironically, many become addicted not only to substances but also to human accolades as they battle to cope.
And fans seem interested most in consuming content and being entertained, not worrying about those experiencing these traumas.
The second problem is that fame and money bring only temporary highs. Society prioritizes celebrity, power and money, yet one is left wondering: If these ideals are so superb, why can’t most people handle them without totally crumbling?
The Bible addresses these themes throughout, with Mark 8:36 asking, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (NIV).
Please understand: None of this is being written to condemn Ms. Panettiere, or anyone else for that matter, but the pattern of celebrity struggle and death has become glaring and undeniable.
True joy and purpose come from living out what Jesus calls His followers to do: loving God and others. We’re warned that the endless pursuit of money and fame leads to chaos, but we somehow still remain disinterested in where this can too often lead.
In the Bible, 1 Timothy 6:9-10 most powerfully speaks to these realities. If we’re not careful, we can be led astray.
“Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction,” these Scriptures proclaim. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
There’s a God-shaped hole in every person’s heart, and many of us seek to fill it with worldly sentiments. From our jobs to money, we’re looking for something we can find only by embracing the Lord. Let’s pray for Ms. Panettiere’s loved ones while also considering how we can do better as a society to elevate what matters most over temporary highs that continue to destroy lives.
• Billy Hallowell is a digital TV host and interviewer for Faithwire and CBN News and the co-host of CBN’s “Quick Start Podcast.” Mr. Hallowell also is the author of four books.
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