“You can’t be too careful anymore…” These lyrics open the chorus to the first track on Paramore’s latest album, released back in September. I think as of Thursday night, those words feel all to true to the lead singer of the band, Hayley Williams. A topless picture was uploaded to Hayley’s twitter account that evening. I was thankfully not online when the post was made, otherwise I would have unknowingly opened it. The post was deleted pretty quick, but not quick enough for nobody to see it. Hayley posted on twitter saying that her account had gotten hacked, but there is some speculation as to whether or not that’s the case. Regardless, it is pretty disappointing that the picture existed in the first place.
Lets rewind about four years here. It was the summer before my sophomore year of high school, the summer I discovered the band Paramore. Within days of hearing their music, they were on my list of favorite bands. And as Hayley was only a couple of years older than me, I came to really respect her a lot. She seemed to be a pretty standup girl who kept out of trouble and just loved being in a band. I thought she was a really great role model. At the time, I would never have speculated that anything like this would have happened with her.
Over the last couple of years, Paramore has exploded. Their sophomore album Riot! was a hit among the Warped Tour/MTV crowd. Add to that two songs on the Twilight soundtrack and you have yourself a Grammy nominated band of young adults. A lot has changed with Hayley. She somewhat sarcastically addressed this on the band’s latest album, brand new eyes, in the song Playing God. “I can’t make my own decisions/or make any with precision/well, maybe you should tie me up/so I don’t go where you don’t want me/you say that I’ve been changing/that I’m not just simply aging….” Prior to Thursday evening, I might be more inclined to agree that she is simply growing up; however, I cannot imagine myself thinking four years ago that this kind of thing could happen with Hayley. Honestly, though, as time has passed, I am not too surprised at all. She really has changed, and not in a good way if you ask me.
I know this probably sounds a little harsh, and I would like to clarify…I don’t think Hayley is a bad person at all. She is just as bad as I am bad and you are bad. We all make mistakes. This is just hitting me pretty hard because of how much I looked up to her, especially in high school. I know that a lot of people are saying that we shouldn’t give her any extra grief over this simply because she is a celebrity. I understand that she didn’t do anything worse than if somebody at my local high school were to text inappropriate pictures or something. The problem, though, is that Hayley is in a huge position of recognition and authority. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of girls like me who look up to Hayley a lot. This just shows those girls that although its bad to have those types of photos out in public, its not really bad to take them in the first place. I know that to be 100% untrue. Proverbs 11:22 says, “As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.” Hayley obviously lacked discretion in the fact that this picture existed in the first place. She is 21 years old and unmarried. Sure she has a boyfriend, but I personally believe, and I think you’ll agree, that naked pictures are not to be shared with a boyfriend under any circumstances. Its just unacceptable.
My heart in this post is not to pass judgment upon Hayley but rather to think things out for myself about the situation. The biggest reminder in this situation for me personally is that humans aren’t perfect. We all make mistakes whether we are in the spotlight or an average girl. Hayley may have made a mistake, but that doesn’t mean she is any less deserving of our love because God certainly doesn’t love her any less. I hope and pray that this would serve as a wakeup call for her.
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