Rich, Fabulous, and Drunk: Celebrities and DUI's

Is any publicity good publicity? It seems like when celebrities get DUI's it is such a non-event. Britney shaving her head is a huge deal while a celebrity driving drunk is not, though Britney's stunt is not likely to cause injury or death for someone. I admit to hearing of one of them being charged with drunk driving and thinking "oh, is that all?" Then I stop and realize just how messed up that really is.

There are fewer repercussions for celebrities who get into trouble. Fines are easily paid and their reputations seem to have a Teflon-esque quality. Show up in the right gown at your next event with a toned physique and all is forgotten. Should they wreck a vehicle, it's easily replaced. There is ample money to pay for that, as well as fines and lawyer fees. If they lose their license, they can just have their limo take them around.

When a celebrity gets in trouble it's usually followed by a rehab stay. This gets them more publicity: they get on the news for going in, the news reports on their progress. Then when they get out they get to have a "comeback". Nothing sets you up to stage a comeback like a drunk driving charge and rehab stay. It seems that for celebrities, having some kind of crisis and then going to rehab are like some kind of maintenance thing. Every now and then I'll think of someone I hadn't heard about in awhile, only to read or hear something about that person being charged with drunk driving. Is getting charged with drunk driving the ultimate "rehab" for a sagging career?

With your more everyday drunk driving conviction, the person pays a higher price. The costs cut more deeply into your average person's budget. Also, there is more of a loser stigma attached to it. You think of your stereotypical person getting a DUI and you think of some loser who lives in their parent's basement and has no plans for the future. But celebrities present us with the more glamorous side of drunk driving - like Nicole Ritchie and Paris Hilton.

One difference between Joe Blow's drunk driving and celebrity drunk driving is that if Joe Blow pays a high price for his mistake. He may wreck his car and lose his license. As a result he can't drive anywhere and once he does get his license back he has to buy an old beater because he's broke from paying fines. It might just be awful enough that he makes sure to never make that mistake again. Mr. and Ms. Hollywood come out smelling like a rose, with little disruption to their lives, confident in knowing that nothing can possibly touch them.