Putting undue pressure on celebrities slammed

The Psychological Society of South Africa’s Shazia Ismail Mia says the situation award-winning veteran actress, Linda Sebezo, finds herself in sheds light on the intense social pressure that public figures face daily.

 Mia describes it as a reminder that being in the public eye often means having personal choices scrutinised unfairly.

 Sebezo has been a topic of discussion on digital platforms after a video of her buying groceries at Shoprite was widely shared on TikTok, with some criticising her for shopping at the popular supermarket where they believe only the poor shop.

@unathi.hlongwane Haibo uyena🫨#fypシ゚viral #lindasebezo #celebrity #sunday ♬ original sound – Mzinyathi kid😁❤🙏

 The award-winning veteran actress has hit back at the naysayers, telling them to mind their business, adding that she will continue buying wherever she wants.

The 59-year-old also spoke out against the continued bullying that people in the public eye always face, reminding the critics that people in the public eye are also human and deserve respect too, irrespective of their occupations. 

Mia says at the core of the criticism the actress has been subjected to speaks to a deeper issue about the way people view celebrities, which often puts undue pressure on them.

“Celebrities, especially actors and entertainers, are often perceived through the lens of the characters they play or the glamorous aspects of their careers, which creates a distorted expectation of how they should live their personal lives,” she explains.

 “On platforms like social media, where comments might seem harmless or even playful but can easily cross the line into bullying. The anonymity and distance provided by social media can lower our empathy, making it easier to criticise someone we don’t know personally.”

She has advised people to pause and consider the impact of their words, especially when directed at someone who is already under a public microscope.