But this week Chris Hemsworth hit the “puh-lease, you can’t be fair dinkum” eye-roll button.It all came about when the “phwoar it’s Thor actor” took to the ‘Gram opposing a tourism and resort development at Seven Mile Beach up near Byron Bay.Yes, the Philip Island hunk turned Hollywood megastar who created a monolithic, mega-million, mega-mansion is suddenly getting holier-than-thou over a future development overlooking the very same beach.Hemsworth, whose own tasteless pile is called Westfield by the locals because it looks like a multi-storey shopping centre the Lowys might have built, is opposed to the planned development on the basis that the land is sacred to Indigenous people.Sure, the Avenger star has shown his social stance in throwing his support behind traditional custodians opposed to the eco-tourism, but what about the hunk of land he owns bordering the state forest.C’mon mate. Can you really have your organic biodynamic cake and eat it too?Stick to arm pumps, burpees and incredibly beautiful parties.But there comes a time when maybe, just maybe, it’s best to keep your perfectly sculptured mouth shut.Speaking about keeping things zipped, a few of our so-called influencers, ex-footballers and WAGS could follow suit.Are we really meant to just gobble up the self-absorbed, poor-me diatribe? Again. And again. PUH-LEASE!If you are a “significant other” not making money on the back of your partner’s credentials by raking in payments from brands while promoting your picture-perfect lifestyle, please look away now.But for the others influencing each and every part of other people’s lives puh-lease take note.You make money, and lots of it, posting to the public about every detail of your carefully-curated life constructs.You might even throw the kids in for good measure when the right opportunity presents itself.Cha-ching!You kiss the camera to plug your latest product. We lap it up, hook, line and stinker. Silly us.But when the hated media dares to question a poorly presented post, a badly timed message, or just general pretty piss-poor behaviour, out come the “vicious trolls” and “poor me” lines.Predictably the path is to then become an ambassador for mental health, whatever that means, to change the narrative and mute the conversation. It’s a bad pong of self-absorbed.Some footballers and their managers are just as quick to play the “mental health card” following bad behaviour.So let’s call it how it is; it is a crafty technique often used as a way to silence the commentary.Or then there are the cases like former Collingwood premiership player Dayne Beams who has spoken candidly and bravely about his mental health and addiction battles. His words left an imprint when he revealed last year he had stepped away from the game to focus on himself, using art as a creative outlet to get him on the right path.They were powerful words and helped make a difference.But this week Beams was claiming his role as a “mental health advocate” played a part in a tit-for-tat with a venue operator over guest numbers.It dilutes the serious and grave issue so many Australians are battling with when bandied about to settle scores. Mental health should not be flung around like a well-used Sherrin.Celebrity double standards are rife on social media, so too are the sanctimonious and self-indulged.But whether you’re Chris Hemsworth or anyone else, just bloody well own it. Now that’s dinky di.Alice Coster in a Herald Sun Columnistalice.coster@news.com.au@AliceHeraldSun
Powered by WPeMatico
