We all know celebrities get treated differently from the rest of us, but sometimes we manage to stay blissfully unaware of the particulars. And then info drops about the swag bags select nominees snatched up at the Oscars this year and we are reminded just how much companies fall all over themselves to give the rich and famous things for free.
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Not long before the ceremony, articles began circulating revealing the top notch gifts in this year’s bags from marketing company Distinctive Assets — items and experiences worth nearly $140,000 per bag.
The offerings include a $12,000 liposuction procedure, a plot of land in Scotland, a coupon for $25,000 worth of home renovations, and much more.
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And of course, these things don’t go nominees who worked behind the scenes, but are instead reserved for the largely already rich and successful of the bunch. This year, that includes 28 people, all nominees for acting awards and Best Director, as well as the hosts of the show.
It’s predictable, and it’s business. It wouldn’t make sense for companies to give thousands of dollars worth of free stuff to anyone other than those who are able to flaunt it and potentially recommend the services or purchases to their equally rich friends. But in a society where so many are financially insecure, the rich don’t pay enough taxes, and asking for government-funded programs or more money from bloated corporations is considered lazy, it’s still a little painful to see.
They didn’t realize the movie was about them
— pascale (she/her) | graduation era
(@AussieRavenclaw) March 31, 2022
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At the same time, many of the things in these bags seem to amount to coupons offered by businesses, and are ultimately a little underwhelming.
im kind of not impressed like excuse me being a material girl but where’s the actual stuff
like I get the trips and the home renovations but like the life coaching?? https://t.co/7ahkuhzcS1
— rosa (@rowoonbestie) March 31, 2022
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Of course, not all actors are filthy rich, and not everyone accepts the gift bags in the first place. But it’s less about the celebrities themselves and more about the way society bends over backwards to keep the status quo intact — those who are rich, or perceived as rich, are always going to get a leg up on the rest of us.
*First Published: March 31, 2022, 7:29 am
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