The glittering world of entertainment often casts a mesmerizing spell on those who aspire to fame. However, beneath the dazzling exterior lies a complex reality that many celebrities grapple with – the loss of privacy and the constraints on personal freedom.
Actor Maxi Lim and content creator Ryan Tan have shared candid insights into the challenges they face as public figures, shedding light on the sacrifices they’ve made for their careers.
Once beat up someone inside MRT
Maxi Lim, better known as Wayang King from the Ah Boys To Men movies, opened up about the dichotomy of fame on a recent episode of the Mandarin podcast/talkhow on YouTube, R U Okay.
He described fame as a “double-edged sword,” acknowledging the perks it brings but also lamenting the loss of privacy.
Lim recalled a time before his breakthrough role in “Ah Boys to Men” when he had the freedom to act without the scrutiny of the public eye.
He shared a poignant example of intervening in a situation where he felt compelled to help an elderly person who was being attacked by a drunk person, he admitted to beating up the latter inside the MRT.
Despite the noble intention, Lim acknowledged that such actions might be perceived differently now that he’s a recognized figure.
“Rather marry Sylvia again”
For Ryan Tan, the journey into fame was less deliberate. Formerly working behind the camera, the 35-year-old found himself thrust into the limelight when his talents and actors left and he had no choice but to appear in videos himself.
This unexpected change robbed him of the privacy he cherished, leaving him exposed to public scrutiny and relentless media attention. Tan regretfully admitted that he now lacks the freedom to act and react as he once did.
He said that he had no choice and was very uncomfortable being in front of the camera.
He stressed that he must carefully navigate his actions and emotions in public spaces to avoid misinterpretation.
The fear of potential misconstrual, coupled with the pressure of maintaining a certain image, places constraints on his behavior.
He shared a recent incident at the cinema when someone was talking very loudly during the movie, but he couldn’t tell the person off because of his status, and his girlfriend was advising him not to escalate the situation.
Most notably, on the question of fame, Tan said that he would rather his estranged ex-wife Sylvia Chan again than “do this” (becoming famous), because as the owner of a company, he has the responsibility to conduct himself properly in public to protect his employees.
Header images source: R U OKAY!? 你OK吗 on YouTube