I have something of a dilemma that I've been chewing on for the past few months. It's not a new one -in fact, it's one I'm sure people have debated since forever- but it's taken a new face for me recently. It's the age old question of whether you can separate the artist from the individual.
The classic examples for the longest time have included Woody Allen, Michael Jackson, R. Kelly (if you're into that kind of thing), and the biggest one in the recent past, Harvey Weinstein. I'm sure one could come up with a host of others, so I'll move on.
I'm not much of a film buff. I wouldn't, except under rate circumstances, be able to identify a movie by it's producers, directors, or what have you, so Allen and Weinstein have little relevance for me. R. Kelly became extremely cringe-worthy to me following his whole series of debacles; I can't listen to him now without simultaneously laughing and shuddering. I admittedly struggled with Michael Jackson, but it became somewhat moot after his death.
The one I'm currently conflicted over is Nas (don't worry if you're not familiar with him as that's not the point). Nas was one of my favorite rappers and in many circles is posited as one of the greatest of all time. In 2010, he and his then wife Kelis (singer) divorced. It happened somewhat quietly in that neither one said much about it publicly, giving at least the appearance of, if not amicability, then mutuality.
Earlier this year however, Kelis came out publicly with accounts of his abusive behavior (excessive drinking, physical abuse, cheating, etc.). His lack of response to the allegations, and his silent complicity with regard to his fans' attacks on her only further solidified his guilt as well as his lack of accountability in my eyes. One of my heroes since childhood had fallen.
Now, unlike with R. Kelly, I haven't stopped LIKING Nas's music. My opinion of the music hasn't changed much. But I HAVE stopped listening to it. Whenever he comes up in my shuffle, I skip him. I refuse to buy anything new from him, but I have not deleted the music that I already owned prior either. I still struggle with this one.
Anyone have a similar conflict when it comes to an artist or public persona that you admire?