Do celebrities get away with crime?

In a world where money and influence are said to be for the rich who wield it as a double-edged sword against the masses, is it possible that the law and justice system has also been compromised in their favour? This week on WhatsApp Conversations, respondents try to inform us if celebrities get away with crime:

 

Tolu Dara

If a celebrity commits a high-ranking crime like manslaughter, arson, and the likes, there is an eighty-seven percent chance he/she will face jail time, regardless of his or her social status. The same is open to the average, regular Harry, Joe, and David who commit these same crimes. However, petty crimes like pilfering/shoplifting committed by a celebrity are very much likely to gather steam and criticisms by people but surreptitiously die down after a matter of weeks/months.

If I decide to do that, hoping that that kind of action will be meted out to me, then I have a long thing coming because my body will probably be lynched or something. But then again, I am not generalising.

 

Tosin Awoniyi

To me, It is a Yes and No question. Yes, because when a celebrity does a wrong thing that is unheard of, society might want to pardon them because they are in the limelight. No, because if they (celebrities) were involved in a crime that is insurmountable, society might not want the government to pardon them.

Society would want the government to punish them for the crime they committed because they are humans too, and they should be punished for any crime they committed. After all, those who were being punished for the crime they committed are humans too, so we can’t, because they are celebrities, pardon them for their crimes.

Akintoba Olamide

The long term yearn for equality before the law has been a waste. The ones that know people often get away with crime. Where lies the equality then? Equality is a mirage used to keep the masses under control. The owners of the justice system know themselves.

 

Chosen Femi

There’s a reason celebrities are called idols. Idols are worshipped, and you can get angry at idols, but eventually, you’d forgive them and move on. Because the law wants to look like it’s fair, they have to look like they’re being punished for fear of public outrage. The reason  most of them get away with crime is that it is waived  for them except it is something really outrageous

 

Opeyemi Akinremi

Getting easily bailed out or buying everything;  including justice is not the case with the genre of celebrities only. All rich people in the world get away easily as celebrities do by paying whopping amounts to lawyers and administrating heads. In fact, records can attest to the fact that political figures and their kin get  away with crimes. Corruption has two sides involved always. Along with these powerful people, let us not forget that the administration is also equally involved.

 

Cynthia Ekwere

The answer as to why celebrities seem to get away with crimes more cannot be explained merely by public  opinion. Instead, there are several contributing factors. While the typical person can serve years on probation or in jail for an offense, celebrities tend to get out of the exact same legal situations with very little consequence, and their livelihood is barely impacted by the event. Money, corruption in the legal system bias, and easy sentencing are some of the many factors that allow celebrities to get away with crimes while the common man has to take responsibility for his actions and endure the consequences deemed necessary by the law.

 

Stephen Ajani

Whether the offender is a movie star or a professional athlete, there is no doubt money talks in the legal world. Many times we hear of settlements being reached out of court between the defendant and the accuser. The ability to pay your way out of legal action and punishment is a luxury the average person does not have. How many professional athletes do we know of that have served eight years in prison after being charged with sexual assault? None comes to mind. This is proof that celebrities rarely receive the appropriate sentence, thus contributing to their ability to get away with crime more easily.

 

Chibuzor Ojiamadu

Without any doubt, as long as you have money, fame, and power, you can swindle even the toughest legal system. Even though it happens, that does not make it right. What does the constant press coverage of celebrities committing crimes and being released early with very little consequence say to our youth? This is not the sort of message we should be sending to them. Justice should be equal in all aspects of the law, regardless of celebrity status or the amount of money in your pocket. There is a dire need for the “just” to be put back in the phrase “justice system.” There is no doubt in my mind that there are many factors that contribute to a celebrity’s ability to get away with crime (such as money, lighter sentences, and lasting impact) and not just because the public expects drugs to be commonplace in the world of celebrities.

 

Next week, the conversation will be on the topic “should public prayers in secondary school be abolished?” To be part of the next edition, send your response to 08136601345 via WhatsApp or SMS.

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