Renowned academic and human rights defender, Dr. Jimmy Spire Ssentongo, has urged Ugandans to approach the struggles of musician and icon Joseph Mayanja alias Jose Chameleone with empathy and understanding, rather than harsh criticism.
In a statement, Dr. Spire emphasized the complex pressures that come with celebrity status, especially in a society where everyone feels entitled to an opinion on how public figures should live their lives.
“Chameleone needs our sympathy and understanding, not just harshness. But he also needs to be helped to deal with himself. That is only if he wishes to be helped. Ultimately, it is his life and his family,” he said.
Dr. Spire acknowledged that Chameleone’s rise to fame, particularly during his younger years, may have contributed to his current struggles.
“First, he is a victim of his early fame. Maybe he was not that young, emerging in his 20s. But, even by his own confession, he never anticipated the fame that Mama Mia suddenly brought him,” he said.
He pointed out that the pressures of living under a god-like persona assigned by fans often distort the reality of being a public figure.
“Fans lift and place you up high on a pedestal, and literally adore you. Up there, they all watch you keenly. Out of love and admiration, they assign you a god-like stature, and judge you by it. Your human mistakes are not judged the same way they judge other ordinary people. You are a star,” he said.
According to Dr. Spire, this unrealistic portrayal creates an alienating experience where celebrities are stripped of the normal joys of life.
“You live an illusional, plastic life. You are alienated from the everyday joy of being a normal human being. You cannot walk around freely, you cannot shop freely, you cannot hang out freely, you cannot cry, you cannot show financial need, you cannot this, you cannot that. Your innocent fans overwhelm you,” he said.
Additionally, Dr. Spire addressed the pressure for constant public scrutiny and new artistic output.
“Meanwhile, for a super musician like Chameleone, there is also pressure for new music pressure to keep on top. He is constantly compared with every other person that emerges in talent and wealth. It is the kind of pressure that one can’t humanly stand,” he said.
The scholar noted that many artistes turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms, including substance abuse, to manage the burden of fame.
“The abuse of drugs and alcoholism among musicians is not just a culture. Many are trying to cope with the burden of fame. In public, they will show this facade of being happy, yet they are privately fighting ghosts and looking for distractions from their miseries,”he stated.
Dr. Spire’s call for empathy comes as fans and critics alike continue to scrutinize Chameleone’s personal life, raising concerns about privacy and freedom for public figures.
He emphasized that Chameleone, despite his flaws, is a victim of circumstances he may not fully comprehend.
“There might be many victims to his flaws, many feet he has stepped on, and many he has wounded. But he is a miserable victim too. A victim who may not even understand his victimhood, or have the capacity to free himself,” he said.
