The power of "celebrity"

ibarelycare

This is really cringeworthy to watch.

On the night of July 27th, 2012, a huge prank was pulled in New York City and this is the video of what took place. Brett Cohen came up with a crazy idea to fool thousands of pedestrians walking the streets of Times Square into thinking he was a huge celebrity, and it worked! Not only did it work, it caused quite a sir. This social experiment, of sorts, makes a profound statement about how modern culture is so attracted to pop culture, without any real credibility needed.

He dressed up like a typical celebrity and was accompanied by an entourage of two professional bodyguards, two assistants, and photographers pretending to be paparazzi. While the assistants and photographers waited for Brett to exit the 49th street marquee at NBC Studios, they started a buzz that a "big star" was about to walk out, thus making it worth their while to wait and get a picture. Many asked the crew whom Brett was, and no answer was given. They were forced to either make something up, or just take a picture with him in hopes that their Facebook friends or Twitter followers might have a better idea.

As the crew walked over to Times Square, the crowds around Brett grew on each consecutive block. Very few people even questioned who he was, where he was from, or what he does. Brett took pictures with nearly 300 people before the stunt ended. The video even includes interviews with people who had just taken a picture with Brett, and puts them in an awkward position when they're asked questions such as, "Where do you know Brett from?" and "What's your favorite movie he was in?" Many of them were overwhelmingly excited over Brett's walk through Times Square, and it showed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYU1a0lTTTw

Stompbox

Wow, this is kinda scary!

Tinie

"I liked his new single but i don't know it's title."


What is with americans and their obsessions with celebrities!

Canis Lupus

Tinie wrote: »

"I liked his new single but i don't know it's title."


What is with americans and their obsessions with celebrities!

Americans are hardly unique in this respect.

Digitalism

Canis Lupus wrote: »

Americans are hardly unique in this respect.

To be fair, they are.

They take it to extreme levels.

Duggy747

Proves the point really that talentless nobodies can be a celebrity. It doesn't matter what you do, you just have to be (or appear, in this case) popular.

That prank could be applied in any Western country, not just America. Japan would probably take it to a whole new level since their obsession with celebrities is legendary.

[Jackass]

It's a global thing sadly, don't think it's anything to do with Americans. Half the people in time square were probably tourists anyway.

Man, that is funny though. Just goes to show, with a little bit of money and a few hired stunts, you can make yourself famous. Isn't that right Paris Hilton?

CardBordWindow

Those lucky basturds, getting their pictures taken with Brett Cohen!! :eek:

--Kaiser--

This is really sad. People queuing up to see someone they never heard of, all so they can catch a bit of imagined, reflected glory. Did they go home to their friends/spouses and say:

'Guess who I saw today!'
'Who?'
'Brett Cohen!'
'Who?!?'

Any yet when presented with real genius, no one pays attention

(Joshua Bell, world class violinist, ignored by the majority of people at a DC Metro stop)

W123-80's

On some level is this not what the likes of Paris Hilton or the Kardashians have done?

They surround themselves with people, cameras etc.. make out they are important and "fans" then want a piece of the action...

CardBordWindow

W123-80's wrote: »

On some level is this not what the likes of Paris Hilton or the Kardashians have done?

They surround themselves with people, cameras etc.. make out they are important and "fans" then want a piece of the action...

You forgot the sex tape part. Don't think Brett has released one yet.

summerskin

It's just a matter of priming. People expect to see celebs in Time Sq. they are there all the time, so they will believe it is someone famous. If it looks like a bear, smells like a bear and shiits like a bear...

It's all down to location and what people expect. Me and two friends were at universal studios Orlando about ten years ago and decided to start a queue at the corner of a building just to see what happened. After 20 minutes there were fifty people behind us when we walked away.

They stayed there for over 15 more minutes and he queue grew to 75+ before anyone realised they were lining up for nothing.