CHARLOTTE LETITIA CROSBY’S rise to (relative) stardom is indicative of its time; an era obsessed with instant fame, reality television and – to borrow a term favoured by the red-tops – the ‘sexploits’ of those who seek the former.
In 2011, at the age of 21, Charlotte began carving out a career for herself in the limelight by drinking herself into a stupour, having sex on television and regularly losing control of her bladder after a night spent on The Toon.
In other words, the Sunderland-native secured herself a place on MTV’s Geordie Shore.
While undoubtedly one of the better-liked cast members – a popularity which potentially influenced her decision to spend a staggering five years on the show – Charlotte’s conduct on the show didn’t escape criticism.
But while pearls were clutched and hands were wrung, Charlotte drank up and tashed on.
Indeed, concerns were raised about her alcohol intake, her on-screen mood swings and her sense of self-worth; all of which Charlotte readily (and regularly) dismissed.
And ultimately, the gusto with which Charlotte took to her role on the controversial show – for good or for ill – cemented her reputation in the public’s eyes.
No amount of fitness DVDs and presenting gigs could detract from the fact that Charlotte’s main selling point was the enthusiasm with which she applied to ‘getting mortal.’
It’s now been less than two years since the 28-year-old said goodbye to a show which glorified a lifestyle deemed problematic at best and repugnant at worst, and yet, the public are seemingly stunned that Charlotte still drinks to excess and uses it to promote herself.
Doing exactly that over the course of five years amassed her almost 10 million social media followers and paved the way for endorsements, book deals and fashion lines; so why would Charlotte feel the need to hide the fact that she still drinks to the point where – as she herself put it on Sunday morning – ‘fell unconscious’?
Multiple images of Charlotte covered in vomit after a night out circulated on social media at the weekend, not lest because Charlotte herself shared them on her own Instagram account.
And if you didn’t catch it there, she made sure to cover all bases by confirming on Twitter that her Geordie Shore days are by no means in the past.
Have you ever got so drunk you were sick all over yourself and had to get carried out of the club by your Mam and dad........
— Charlotte Crosby (@Charlottegshore) September 30, 2018
Yeh I’m a mess.
She might call herself a mess, but it’s gotten her this far, hasn’t it?
And that’s why much of the criticism which has been levelled at the reality TV star in the hours that followed her posts seem utterly redundant.
Yes, that Instagram upload is genuinely jarring, that Twitter post vaguely embarrassing and the night it illustrates far from aspirational, but Charlotte has – over seven years – built a career on this approach to alcohol and socialising, so condemnation seems fruitless.
That ain’t cute and isn’t something to be bragging about, it’s just embarrassing and trashy.
Not something I’d want to advertise I have to say. Or have documented by the press. Stay classy.
Come on Char, grow up now, not a kid anymore getting into this state.
To be clear; I don’t condone (or condemn) Charlotte’s conduct, however this has – to a greater or lesser extent – become her brand.
And while the vast majority of people have gotten themselves into similar states, Charlotte is one of the few who has made millions out of it, so why would snarky remarks have any effect on her decision to document it?
It’s not an approach most of us would take, but the vast majority of us wouldn’t consider participating in a programme where pissing our pants in public becomes our trademark either.
