Being on national TV is a dream of many young aspiring children. But do they know what it is really like to be “famous”? To have their name and face plastered all over the nation? To be the topic of every news outlet and social media critic? Often, this reality of living in the spotlight, is not understood until it is experienced. That is the story of Andrew Napolitano.
As a young man in his late thirties, Napolitano was a Superior Court Judge of New Jersey. During his eight years as Superior Judge, he oversaw the most newsworthy cases. Back in the late 1980’s early 1990’s the news outlets were noteworthy but not so widespread as social media is today. Back then, people received their news from newspapers and major news channels.
After eight years of Superior Court, Judge Napolitano decided to move back to private practice and shift into a television career. A few years later, he became an analyst for Fox News. This brought him back to the spotlight once again. Being in the public eye is a huge responsibility and one that should not be taken lightly. After all, a few hundred thousand people are watching from their homes all across the nation.
It is fair to say, that people in these “well recognized positions” do not always live up to the hype of who they are on TV. The average viewer perceives them as a role model, someone to admire and idolize. It is a responsibility that one should consider before pursuing life in the spotlight. In today’s social media craze it is almost impossible to live in the spotlight and not be the subject of some faceless critic. With the internet at everyone’s fingertips, and with “Cancel Culture” so popular, one little thing could destroy someone’s career. Thus, those living in the spotlight have to be even more on guard than ever before. The old saying is true, “To whom much is given, much is required.” Those choosing to live in the spotlight get up every morning, knowing what they are going to face, and they choose to do it.
This is a new challenge that Napolitano has not faced before. In the past one could get out ahead of a news cycle, but today, if someone takes a picture, writes a blog, or speculates anything, it could go viral in a matter of minutes. This happens more often than the average person is led to believe.
Living in the spotlight is a dream that many children have, but until they have lived it, they cannot understand it. Those who choose everyday to live in the spotlight, have been given such a great opportunity to be known. As well as the ability to impact the masses.
