Bill Cosby was convicted of three counts of aggravated sexual assault on April 18, 2018. He is now behind bars in Pennsylvania where, according to his attorney, he likens himself to political prisoners like Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. Despite his imprisonment, one of his most famous sitcoms, The Cosby Show, is still known by families all over the U.S. and is still remembered as a fun adventure for all to see. This difference between the actor himself and the art which he made to produce has caused controversy, and along with it, a question arose: is it right to support a piece of art if the people or person behind it is morally crooked or a downright despicable human being? This question is very real, as even though we celebrate artists for their work and have the right to criticize them for doing something evil, we are still supporting them if we watch, read, listen, or buy their works.

Every time we listen to a song from artists like Kanye West on Spotify, we are contributing to their wealth even if we disagree with their ideas and opinions. Sure, Kanye makes amazing music, but should we be promoting a person who stopped his whole concert waiting for disabled people to stand up? The controversy has divided people, as when asked about his opinions on Kanye West sophomore Anthony Chiang states, “Kanye has some very outgoing opinions; he has good intentions, but the way he expresses them is really immature and not thought out. The messages he delivers need some polishing and careful thought before he speaks exactly what’s on his mind.”

Other people such as sophomore Ava Kian have a slightly different opinion stating, “Kanye to me I see is obnoxious in that he believes he is a legend and compares himself to people like Walt Disney and Tesla, but he just makes average music. I also agree that he might have good intentions but he acts immature about them.” So in light of these thoughts surrounding celebrities and their art, here are some positions, to name a few, within this range of opinions.

They are horrible people with no value to society even with good art. This type of view on celebrities on their controversial views is simple with the outright denial to watch any product of the person due to their stain on the morals of humanity. Now, this opinion is very difficult to maintain if you are a fan of the celebrity in question and easy to maintain if you are not even aware of their existence. This opinion is also held against a celebrity if the charge against them has a long-term effect on them and is massively considered unrighteous in the eyes of the general public. For example, Jared Fogle (The Subway Guy) has been convicted of sexual offenses against minors. Thus, movies that Fogle are in such as Jack and Jill would be avoided by people who truly resent Fogle for everything he stands for.

Sure, they are bad people, but their art is still worth something. When people have this opinion on a certain celebrity, then that means that the person has a quality in their art which is enough to convince people that their art is still supportable despite their crimes or uneasy morality. This is the real point of controversy as people constantly converse and debate on the nature of why people still indirectly support the person if their questionable moral actions. A notable example is the infamous producer Harvey Weinstein, the executive producer of famous films such as Pulp Fiction and Lord of the Rings. These movies are still held in high regard, and though people may not see them as justification for his actions, people are still avid fans of his art and franchise lines.

The person did nothing wrong at all.  This last opinion is a phenomenon created by a sway of public opinion more than anything else. For some artists, their fame, caused by their works of art, can spur volumes of support for the celebrity in question despite overwhelming evidence. Additionally, support behind creators and artists can also be fueled by mob mentality, as usually, the more famous or successful a person is, the more the public will deny the negativity surrounding the person due to their such high regard. The danger which can spur from this mass effect and influence is not the opinion itself, but the pressure it can emit when it comes to prosecuting crimes. Take, for example, Michael Jackson. He was acquitted of having sexual relations with a then 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo. As the movie Leaving Neverland covers an interpretation of events surrounding the pop star’s allegations and possible crimes of pedophilia, he still has a large band of supporters who not only defend his work but Jackson himself even after death. Even though the jury decided not guilty, pressure is a likely role in his trial as anyone would be afraid and fearful of being directly responsible for the demise of a celebrity, even if the person is guilty without a doubt.

Does a person’s art justify his or her actions? Many actors and artists still carry morally questionable views, yet some people still have faith due to the art they produce. If we are to judge a person, then on what grounds should we judge them on? Find what really matters to you and stick with your morals. It is still important to keep in mind that creators benefit from all our actions related to their work. Whether it be that movie rental or that Youtube video, we play a role in shaping these creators and how successful they are.