In the June 27, 2011 of People, Debby Scott writes:
So, Justin Bieber, 17, flies off on vacation to Hawaii with Selena Gomez, 18? What fine role models these two stars are to young people. What can their parents possibly be thinking?
Usually, I’ve got issues with the writers of these MailBag letters, but this time, it’s with People. I am a 37 year-old chick who wouldn’t know a Bieber song or a Gomez song. All I know is that there is something wrong with that boy’s hair, and he looks like a wee baby, so if he’s having sex, well, I just can’t even imagine wanting to do that with him. He’s so… young. But that’s not the point. The point is, I am not in these folks’ demographics of fandom, but even I’d read in more than one publication that the two kissing stars were in Maui. With parents–at least one set. I totally forget which set. But one set was mentioned. His. Hers. Whatever.
And if I, a non-celebrity stalkerazzi/non-fan of these two know that their parents were somewhere on that island with them, then surely People knew. There may not be pictures of them, but based on reports, it sounds like there was some chaperoning going on, and there’s at least some reasonable doubt. Are they pushing the envelope in terms of showing their fans (they surely knew the photogs were there) that they aren’t Disney virgins? Sure. But for People to publish Debby Scott’s letter as if there wasn’t some reasonable information that parents weren’t part of this trip, well, that’s just adding smoke to an implied fire.
Sure, you’re a celebrity magazine, and we know you’re corruptible *cough-paying-for-Britney’s-birthday-party-cough* but why publish a letter that emphasizes what you left out of your commentary on the kiss/grope-filled trip, People? It’s one thing to leave the detail out, but to add the Debby Scott criticism as if there was no evidence that parental chaperoning was part of the trip? Well, that doesn’t seem like responsible journalism. And if you want to remain the one celebrity magazine that isn’t completely up for dismissal as hogwash, then don’t let people go up on a pedestal or be taken down from one if there are conflicting facts. And though unrelated, please don’t publish those grainy photos that might be “exclusive,” but are obviously taken without the opportunity for the star to know the photog was there. Those long distance shots just aren’t fair.
