In a critical commentary, Adrian Chiles explores the growing phenomenon of superstar egos, pointing to figures like Cristiano Ronaldo, Serena Williams, and Taylor Swift as prime examples of excessive self-regard despite their immense talent and success.
Taylor Swift's Grand Gestures
Chiles acknowledges Swift's talent and generosity, noting her Disney+ docuseries where she distributes envelopes to crew members. However, he questions the necessity of filming such acts, asking, "Who has themselves filmed doing that?" He also criticizes her choice to marry at Madison Square Garden, bringing New York City to a standstill and flashing the news on billboards, comparing it to "smoke puffing out of the Vatican chimney."
Serena Williams at Wimbledon
Chiles recounts Serena Williams' wildcard entry at Wimbledon, where she lost to Maya Joint and skipped the mandatory post-match press conference, citing a sore knee. He argues that the All England Club's leniency toward celebrities undermines the tournament's elite sport focus. "Wildcards have their place, no doubt, but Wimbledon is about elite sport," he writes.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Self-Adoration
Regarding Ronaldo, Chiles notes his claim that "Before Cristiano, Portugal had never won a big trophy," while acknowledging that the team might have been better off without him in the 2022 World Cup. He criticizes FIFA for bending rules to excuse Ronaldo from a suspension for violent conduct. "If he were ice-cream, he'd buy a Mr Whippy van, rename it Mr Ronaldo and serve himself 99s all day long," Chiles quips.
U2's Misstep and Bono's Reflection
Chiles cites U2's 2014 album Songs of Innocence, which Apple automatically added to half a billion iTunes libraries, as an example of presumption. Bono later acknowledged, "We got carried away with ourselves. Drop of megalomania, touch of generosity, dash of self-promotion."
Conclusion: Knowing When to Bow Out
Chiles concludes that everyone needs to know when to step back, drawing a personal analogy: "I rated myself as a good dad... If I took Ronaldo's attitude, I'd now be reliving past glories waiting at the gates of the school my kids left years ago."
