Cruel intentions: how toxic tabloids and celebrity culture changed the way we talk about mental healthCruel intentions: how toxic tabloids and celebrity culture changed the way we talk about mental health
All In The Mind
If you opened up a magazine in the 2000s, you'd likely be met by countless images of celebrities on their worst days. And the conversation accompanying those images? Pretty toxic. We've come a long way in how we talk about mental health since then, but how did we get here? What changed? Today, we reflect on the cruelty of tabloid culture and how the internet shifted the narrative about mental health. If you want to hear more about our relationship with celebrities, check out our episode Moog became a Youtube megastar — and it messed with his mental health. Guests: Jo Piazza Author and host of Under the Influence Sophie Gilbert Staff writer for The Atlantic Author of Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves Dr Jessica Ford Lecturer in Media University of Adelaide Professor Nick Haslam University of Melbourne Clinical Professor Jonathan Shedler Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences University of California Hadley Meares Hollywood historian Matthew Suarez Author of Paparazzi Daze: Celebrity Encounters David Kamp Contributing Editor Vanity Fair Magazine Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Reporter/producer: Jennifer Leake Producer: Rose Kerr Senior producer: James Bullen Sound engineer: Simon Branthwaite
29:38•23 Aug 2025
Tabloids, Celebrities, and Mental Health: A Culture Shift
Episode Overview
- The early 2000s tabloids were notorious for their toxic portrayal of celebrities.
- Social media has changed how celebrities control their narratives.
- Public empathy towards mental health issues has grown over time.
- Reality TV stars influenced the rise of celebrity culture.
- Understanding mental health in society is still evolving.
“"We were conditioned by a media culture in which these things were normalised to sort of just accept them as the status quo"”
In this episode of 'All In The Mind', listeners are taken on a journey through the rollercoaster of celebrity culture and mental health discourse over the past few decades. Remember the early 2000s? It was a time when tabloids were all the rage, and celebrity misfortunes were splashed across magazine covers with gleeful abandon.
Sana Khadar and reporter Jen Leake dive into how the media's portrayal of celebrities like Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan reflected broader societal attitudes towards mental health. With insights from experts like Jo Piazza and Sophie Gilbert, they explore the evolution of public empathy and understanding, alongside the rise of social media's impact on celebrity narratives. The episode touches on how the internet has reshaped the conversation, making vulnerability a sign of authenticity rather than weakness.
It's a fascinating look at how we've moved from shaming to sharing, with social media giving celebrities a platform to reclaim their stories. So, if you've ever wondered how our relationship with mental health discussions has transformed, this episode is your ticket to understanding that shift.
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