As someone who addresses issues in today's culture that impact our tweens and teens, I cannot ignore the recent misdeeds of Vanessa Hudgens, the famed High School Musical starlet. I guess you could say this blog post was inspired yesterday while over-hearing a conversation among some of the guys in our youth group (including my own 14 year-old son) right before we entered the morning service at church. Here is a snippet of their conversation:
"Did you hear about that Vanessa girl who plays Gabriella on High School Musical?" "Yeah, about the nude pictures she sent Drake Bell when she was 16?" " Yeah! What a skank!"
I walked away feeling uncomfortable....and sad....and conflicted. I so desperately want to bury my head in the sand and believe this Hollywood dysfunction is not affecting our "church kids." Unfortunately, you can't escape the non-stop glamorization of bad behavior. Even the grammar school tykes will probably find out about this one. They may not recognize the name "Vanessa Hudgens," but a good number circled around their TV's and watched innocent "Gabriella" in High School Musical 2, reportedly the most-viewed cable telecast in history.
You know how the rumor-mill works. All it takes is one kiddo who hears the buzz about her nude pics from a big sister or big brother, and voila, our little ones have been exposed to "too much, too soon." And let me just say right now, that if I get one comment on this blog post from a guy defending Vanessa's nude pictures as being "private" or "beautiful" I will not post it. Look, the girl was 16 when she sent the pictures by cell phone (admittedly) to Drake Bell (never heard of him, but my kids tell me he's on Nickelodeon). She was a "child" and the pictures on the net are thus, "child porn." If you purposely search for them and look at them, you are a "pervert," in my book. End of story. Sadly, her name was the most searched-for term on Google the day word of the pics released. I'm not writing this to trash Vanessa, but I do think it's important for girls to take a minute to evaluate what we can learn from her mistake.
Here are 5 lessons girls of all ages can learn from Vanessa's mistake:
1. Nothing sent over the Internet or by cell phone is "private." Once you press "send," it becomes public even if you only sent it to one person and intended it for private purposes (Ahem, this includes married couples!). It may lay dorment for a time, but chances are, it can come back to haunt you.
2. The same double standard that existed in your mom's day, is still ever-present today. The sad reality is that a girl's reputation can be ruined with one simple mistake. Even if we hear that the Vanessa was coerced or pressured to send the pics to this guy, he will not suffer the wrath or judgement that she has. In fact, he will probably get high-fives from his buddies, while the world labels this girl a "skank." Not fair, but true, all the same.
3. Just because everyone else is looking at her picture, doesn't mean we should. The pictures are porn and viewing pornography is wrong. Resist the temptation to look at the picture. "Christians" are to view each other through God's lens. What she did is a sin in God's eyes and looking at the picture is equally, a sin in God's eyes.
4. Vanessa will forever be remembered for this "mistake." The pictures are here to stay and she will have to deal with the fact that her parents, grandparents, future children, etc... could someday stumble upon them. Not to mention, once you have sent out a nude picture via cell phone or the Internet (even though intended as "private"), you have just subjected yourself to the scrutiny of every creepy predator and pervert out there--you know, the ones who treat women as nothing more than objects for the male-viewing pleasure. The message boards on this topic are proof that our porn-addicted, sex-saturated culture has left many men with a warped view of women. Girls out there would be wise to clean up their MySpace and Facebook picture albums, keeping this in mind. While I doubt many have nude pictures, I'm talking about swimsuit and pj shots, or any picture for that matter, that is the slightest bit revealing.
5. Fame comes with a price. For the life of me, I cannot understand why anyone would want to be famous Let's have no part of glamorizing this lifestyle. We know the truth: Money and success don't buy happiness.
Finally, let me end with a timely warning from God on the matter of putting anyone or anything on a pedestal above Him. Remember the Ten Commandments? Well, here's the first one:
"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments." (Exodus 20:2-6)
Let's keep this girl in our prayers. She has a tough road ahead of her and I hope someone close to her will share the love and forgiveness of Christ with her. Sounds like she could use some "good news."
Tell us, what are your thoughts regarding Vanessa Hudgens?
By: Vicki Courtney
Comments (15)
very well said. I had not heard about this and am sad, but glad to be "educated" to pray!!
thank you - Leigh
Posted by Leigh Gray | September 10, 2007 9:26 PM
I don't want to judge her, but I'm not saying what she did was right, either. I just pray that she goes to good paths to be a good role model for girls, even if she had a sad past. She will definately be in my prayers!
For a lot of you, just a reminder (and this is hard for me, too) pray, don't judge.
Posted by Elizabeth | September 11, 2007 11:52 AM
I like the frankness with which you write. It simpley needs to be put to all girls young and old how you put stuff like this. I heartily thank you, and I thought your lessons were good things that all people should pay attention to... God Bless
Posted by Christy | September 11, 2007 12:44 PM
Wow! I always thought Vanessa was just an innocent actress/singer. Except for i think just one of her songs, which i did not like the lyrics to, i thought she was clean/innocent. Plus being a fan of the Drake and Josh show that really makes me want to throw up. I know i shouldn't judge them, but i will keep them in my prayers. Plus what you said about being famous, say i were to be a famous actress (which i want to be) i would probably reach out to alot more people. They could start thinking like, Wow she is a christian AND (hypathetically) my favorite actress.
Posted by Caitlyn | September 11, 2007 2:12 PM
I'm not saying what she did was right because it definately was not. But what I am saying is that she gets what she did was wrong and people need to stop jugding Vanessa. Has the press not already critisized her enough? Also as christians we should be praying for her not critisizing her even more than has already been done.
Posted by Amanda | September 11, 2007 5:26 PM
That is really sad...i really thought she was just like the sweet inocent Gabrella....i had no idea. What i find is really sad is that she isn't some Mtv person doing that, she is on Dinsey Channel! I am shocked and sad for all of the little kids who google their Idol and see things they wish they hadn't.
Posted by Kyla | September 11, 2007 5:55 PM
I knew about it, and i am VERY sad. I was one of her biggest fans. I'm not defeneding her. i still a fan, just not as much. what she did was wrong, and it will come back to haunt her.
Thank you for posting this and pointing it out- Lilly
Posted by lilly | September 11, 2007 6:38 PM
This happens to be one of the first articles and set of responses that I have read on this site and I am impressed and in a sense settled. It seems that our whole generation revolves around actors/actresses and singers, basically every form of celebrity and seeing that there are some girls who know the difference between role model and idol is a comfort.
As for Vanessa Hudgens, I agree with several of the comments, it was in her past no matter how far back or how recent; and everyone has a past. I haven't been a Christian my entire life and I know I would feel extremely downtrodden and unloved if fellow Christians judged me on a life I could very well be using for testimony, proof of a change that God has made in me. (I'm not saying that this girl is doing that but still we shouldn't judge). Ms. Courtney is precisely right, we need to pray for her, learn from her and show the world what we learn by checking our own actions.
In His name,
April
Posted by April | September 12, 2007 5:30 PM
I read about this in a magazine 4 days ago and I was shocked. I LOVE High School Musical 1&2, mostly because they show an innocent side to love. There are no sexual advancements or nude pictures as you might see in adult movies. I was really sad to hear about Vanessa and her one poor choice. This just goes to show that sin really will always find you out. Although I don't at all agree with what she did, I can see what lead her to it. From what I read, she was trying to get Drake's attention. As a Christian girl, it is hard to get a crush's attention acting like a Christian. I just want to remind everyone that God has a mate already picked out for each of us and there are no nude pictures required to get them. I will be praying for Vanessa as while as everyone wlse in Hollywood.
Posted by Olivia | September 13, 2007 9:10 PM
I havent heard this before now.Before now i just thought she was a innocent actress and singer but now i just pray that she can find the right path and be a good role-model to people who look up to her.
Posted by Haley | September 16, 2007 5:01 PM
hey hey hey
i think this is very good!
I really think Vanessa should watch her self. I really hoped that she wouldnt get into this kind of trouble that other teen pop stars get into and who will be next though that is a question...and will ALL pop-stars end out this way? even if they are good people and are Christians
Liv
(P.S. you did great at the Mother and Daughter retreat!)
Posted by Liv | September 16, 2007 7:28 PM
that is verry sad because that was someone that my sister liked to watch on t.v. and that is not a verry good rolemodle to those kids who looked up to her. but yes i will pray for her.
Posted by sabrina | September 16, 2007 8:35 PM
I hadn't heard about that (yet). I am glad that I heard it from you tyhan from other people at school. This way I know I shouldn't judge in the way I would have if I had heard it by people at school. People are usually too quick to jugde.
I can't think of where exactly in the bible it says this verse...
Before you focus on the splinter in your neighbors eye, you should become aware of the log in yours.
don't be so quick to judge Vanessa, or anyone else in that case, before you judge yourself. just notice that what she did was wrong.
Posted by Unkown | September 18, 2007 7:52 PM
Wow! I had heard all about her porn pics at school. But I decided not to fully believe them until I heard the story from a trusted source. When I got the e-mail from virtuous reality, Iwas like "wow, how sad. it really is true!" Thank you for your frankness on this topic. I agree that no one EVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES should do what she did. How sad! sHE'S totally put a mark on her permanent record. Iw ill so totally keep her in my prayers!
Posted by Kelly | September 22, 2007 9:46 PM
It has been awhile since this has happened, but it has not been forgotten. I have prayed for her and other stars like Miley Cyrus. I don't know why people look up to them. They aren't good role models, generally. Yes, there very well can be good Christian people. Why can't the media let us know about those stars? There has to be some... I remember when this whole thing happened with Vanessa, my mom panicking to turn the TV off so that me and my siblings didn't have to be expossed to her pictures. Thanks for writing an article like this. I do enourage everyone to clean up their photos. It's not safe to put photos of yourself out on the internet anyways, in my opinion. Bye, girls! Be praying for yooooooooooooooooou!
-BallerinaGirl
Posted by BallerinaGirl | July 21, 2008 6:10 PM