dream hampton, the Beyonce Beyhive, and the Toxic Internet Fishbowl
Veteran writer, filmmaker, activist, pilot, and mother dream hampton has been an active participant in important discourse on Twitter for some time now. But she’s always been vocal about her unease with the medium, citing its occasional distractions from real-life progress and its propensity to foster premature familiarity and inappropriate interaction. In the past, she’s gone as far as deleting her account because of those concerns.
Those who follow her know that, when she’s able to fully engage with the social media site, she’s masterful at using Twitter to facilitate healthy, useful discourse on a multiplicity of topics, from street harassment to domestic violence to international affairs.
Perhaps her most impassioned topic of Twitter conversation is her daughter, whose anonymity she has always fiercely guarded, referring to her only as “the awesome daughter.” Just yesterday, she was informing her followers of the books she’d recommended for her daughter’s summer reading. They included Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye and Audre Lorde’s Sister, Outsider. She proudly informed readers who offered additional selections that the awesome daughter was already conversant in bell hooks, Sonia Sanchez, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Octavia Butler. Mind you, the awesome daughter is only 15. She’s also a science superstar, as hampton has informed the Twitterverse in the past. In addition, she’s cultured and becoming well-traveled, the latter trait hampton recently discussed in a column at Ebony.com.
Needless to say, dream hampton’s daughter is her pride and joy — and rightfully so. And many of her followers, who are themselves parents, greatly enjoyed hearing about the various creative bonding and educating techniques hampton uses to raise an extraordinary young woman. I can personally say, as mom to a toddler daughter, the anecdotes have truly been inspiring for me.
Despite what hampton’s disclosed about her daughter to the online community, it’s clear that she’s fiercely protective of her only child, as any high-profile mom would be. This makes what happened online yesterday, following dream and the awesome daughter’s VIP experience at one of Beyonce’s Revel shows, so unnerving.
Source: Lipstick Alley (www.lipstickalley.com)
Apparently, a Beyonce “stan” posted a picture of the singer with dream’s daughter to a Tumblr page, where commenters promptly began leaving negative comments about the teen, whose identity was initially unknown to them. dream requested that the photograph be removed. When it wasn’t, she removed herself from both Tumblr and Twitter, to the disappointment and chagrin of many of her followers.
We’re daily reminded that ignorance is everywhere. If any of us remember our middle and high school experiences, we know that unapologetic cruelty is part of humanity’s course. Someone will always divulge information that isn’t theirs to give or hone in with laser-like critical focus on a person’s physical appearance without any regard for who they could be hurting. But even armed with that knowledge, it’s still surprising when adults openly ridicule children, when they ignore the civil requests of their parents to refrain, and when they are fully aware of how hurtful they’re being.
Now, the picture is irretrievable and the damage is done. But in an effort to re-appropriate the concert photograph, which was clearly taken in a moment of unabashed joy (both Beyonce and the awesome daughter are grinning beautifully), Beyonce has posted the snapshot on her own highly publicized Tumblr account. Hopefully, her inappropriate “stans” will realize that this remarkable girl is someone of purpose and value — though it’s a shame that she’d need to re-post the girl’s picture herself to assert that.
Some dismiss Beyonce’s more radical “stans” as irrational parodies whose slavish devotion to her preempts all appeals to reason. “These Beyonce stans out here are CRAZY!” people observe with a chuckle. But behavior like this shouldn’t be excused so easily. Even Beyonce hasn’t been exempt from the kind of backlash dream hampton and her daughter experienced yesterday. When the superstar’s daughter was born, Twitter exploded with speculation about the baby’s physical appearance — some of which was truly reprehensible.
Something should be done. In an information age when celebrities are willing to engage their public and allow us access that would have been utterly impossible ten years ago, shouldn’t we all show our appreciation, for whatever openness they can afford, by being respectful of their families and keeping any criticism we may have constructive and above board?
If we don’t, we will lose our ability to interact with some of the most talented, ambitious, and intelligent minds of our generation. Like dream hampton.
i don’t get it. No, really, I don’t get it. She was upset that someone posted of a pic of her daughter, umm, okay, but was all that really necessary on her part or beyonce’s? No one will remember the girl in two days and had they stayed quiet no one would have known who is was. I mean after all dream or beyonce would have to confirm or deny the identity of the child so if they had just shut the hell up no one would have none anyway. As far as not wanting your child’s pic on the internet (I’m guessing that’s why she mad) get the fuck over it! It’s 2012 and you are obviously in the public eye. She should have asked beyonce for some pointers is she was that concerned. Or she could go the Michael Jackson way and get a mask on them. Other than that I don’t give a damn.
I don’t see what the big deal is….
The only reason why this piece was written was because one of the author’s faves is no longer on twitter.
*Thought it was just me who thought that. It seems that people are vicariously living their lives through Twitter and celebreties.
“In an information age when celebrities are willing to engage their public and allow us access that would have been utterly impossible ten years ago, shouldn’t we all show our appreciation, for whatever openness they can afford, by being respectful of their families and keeping any criticism we may have constructive and above board?
If we don’t, we will lose our ability to interact with some of the most talented, ambitious, and intelligent minds of our generation. Like dream hampton.”
@Stacia
Um no. Just no. It’s pretty disingenuous to pretend that celebrities utilize social media mostly or even solely for altruistic reasons or that celebs are somehow deserving of special internet privileges because of their fame. The real reason why so many celebs utilize social media has less to do with them giving access to their lives out of the kindness of their hearts and more to do with courting their fans so they can cheaply promote their projects when necessary. So, don’t be shocked when dream Hampton miraculously reappears on twitter again the next time she has a book to promote or a link to a video that she’s directed, etc.
I agree with what you said and with your reply above but I’d like to add this:
Anyone who thinks that little lock icon is something more than a placebo to make you feel protected on the world wide web is an idiot.
I didn’t say that celebrities are allowing fans increased access for altruistic reasons; of course it’s in their best business/marketing interest to avail themselves of social media. Regardless of motive, increased interaction with fans is a byproduct–and one that it would make sense for “stans” to respect, rathe than abuse.
If celeb harassment/stalking/insulting persists, abusive fans may lose the privilege that embolden them in the first place.
Both of the personalities mentioned in this article have proven their ability to sell product without the use of interactive social media. I’d imagine they’d continue to do so without it.
“If celeb harassment/stalking/insulting persists, abusive fans may lose the privilege that embolden them in the first place.”
@Stacia
Nah, I don’t think this is about abusive stans losing privileges, so much as it is about you not being able to read dream’s twitter, until she reactivates the account. I mean, why would the loss of privileges for abusive stans be cause for concern? And actually, abusive stans lose their fan interaction with their faves all the time. It’s just that many of those celebs don’t usually quit their twitter accounts because of those abusive people. They block those abusive people, sometimes curse them out, or just flat out ignore them and keep it moving. And anyway, the elephant in the room here is that abusive fans do not harass their faves. They harass other people’s faves, and since most celebs utilizing social media are unlikely to quit their twitter accounts based on a handful of abusive people, then those abusive stans are probably going to remain emboldened because they’re not on the receiving end of any negative consequences for their abusive behavior. The Bey-Hive is not pressed over dream hampton quitting twitter. You are. Beyonce is not going to give up her tumblr because of what some of her stans were saying about dream’s daughter. She’s also unlikely to give up her tumblr based on what trolls are saying about her right now. As long as social media continues to benefit the branding and marketing of celebs, they will continue to utilize it, regardless of trolls.
From reading dream’s tweets the main issue was the comments that were being made.Teens use the internet so I believe dream’s concern was that her daughter would see the comments. For me as a parent that is understandable if I post a picture of my child regardless of who they pose with and people make negative comments about my child I’m going to be mad too. But maybe if you don’t have kids you can’t understand.
This is such a multi-faceted issue. There’s bullying *cyber and otherwise*, there’s idol worship and the issue of a lack of privacy and a lack of control of the information that is known about you and your loved ones in the “information” age. The issue I have with social media sites is the over use and misuse of them by, lets be honest, the youth. It’s a free pass to anonymously be very mean and hurtful, not only to people that you know, but even complete strangers. A very short while ago I was on the band wagon with all the other people tweeting and Facebooking every little portion of my life. Then I had my son, and it took me til he was almost six months old to post a picture of him. And I only have friends who can view them that I know. But what about the people that THEY know, and the people that KNOW THEM! When is anything on the internet ever private? Answer: They’re not. Now the issue of idol worship is a deep one and I honestly don’t wanna type an essay so I’ll keep it simple. Those who participate in it are normally young and impressionable, disturbed or both! Stanning for anyone who isn’t immediate family and/or someone you love is a sign of an extremely unbalanced life. So it’s those who stan that I feel most sorry for, not only the people they harass online. Most large entertainers have extreme fans. Most of the time they’re ignored like the crazies they are but for some reason with some urban pop artists we give them cart blanch as if they’re not disturbed in the head. I understand why dream did what she did but honestly girl, block the crazies and keep it moving. Your daughter is beautiful, smile and kiss her and realize that it’s just the internet, and that unless they threaten you or your child, brush the dust off your shoulders.
People do not understand and/or take lightly idol worship which is essentially making gods out of other human beings.
You can enjoy, admire and respect someone’s art/work but that is where it should end.
Worship should be reserved for the one true and living GOD through Christ Jesus.