Demi Moore and her chihuahua at the Louvre, Jason Momoa at the Sistine Chapel, when the privileges of the stars make internet users jump | Knowledge of the Arts

A dog in front of the Mona Lisa, a group photo in front of Michelangelo’s Last Judgment or even a family visit to the Vatican Museums… This summer, Hollywood stars have caused a lot of ink to flow on social networks.

Pierce Brosnan at the Tapestry Museum in Bayeux, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck on their honeymoon in Parisian museums, Russell Crowe at the Sixtine Chapel… This summer, the stars (and their loved ones) criss-crossed museums and cultural sites enjoying certain privileges. If some VIPs were more discreet than others, several publications on social networks revolted Internet users. From deserted rooms to visiting with your pet, to taking pictures despite their ban, money can buy a lot of things but obviously not the opinion of your followers.


Demi Moore and her chihuahua… at the Louvre

Wednesday July 13, the eve of the national holiday, what could be better than a pilgrimage to the Louvre museum to contemplate the revolutionary masterpiece Liberty Leading the People (1830) by Eugène Delacroix? It is not Demi Moore who will say the opposite. That day, the actress of Ghost (1990) went to the largest museum of art and antiquities in the world… with her chihuahua. The canine was thus able to admire the emblematic masterpieces of the collections such as Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, Psyche revived by Cupid’s kiss (1793) by Canova or the Venus of Milo, all immortalized in photos posted on the Instagram account to 3 million subscribers of his mistress. “ Are we allowed to bring a dog to the Louvre? », « Celebrities think the rules don’t apply to them », « Your dog has nothing to do here “comment Internet users. The museum and the Hollywood star have not reacted to the subject since. In addition to the potential damage that this lapdog could cause (no work was safe from an unexpected marking of territory), it is the audacity of the actress, considering herself above the rules, which particularly annoyed her followers.

Aquaman in the Vatican

Last May, it was Jason Momoa who received the wrath of his subscribers. Enjoying a break during the filming of his next film Fast X in Rome, the actor ofAquaman (2018) went to St. Peter’s Basilica before discovering the Sistine Chapel and the sumptuous fresco by Michelangelo. While photography is strictly prohibited, the star of Dunes (2021) took advantage of this privileged visit without an audience to film and then share on his Instagram account to 17.1 million followers incredible pictures. Group photo in front The last judgement of Michelangelo, video of the ceiling zooming in on the detail of The Creation of Adam, another of the actor touching a marble bas-relief… In the comments, fans shared their displeasure: “ I’m extremely disappointed…I guess money can buy anything. Shame on you for disrespecting this sacred place “comments a user. ” Don’t take pictures, don’t touch the works of art and have respect for the Italians! “adds another.

Faced with the tidal wave of messages, the actor posted a video of himself apologizing two days later: “ If you found that I did not respect your culture, it was not my intention (…) I paid to have this private moment and offered a nice donation to the Church. »

A moved gladiator facing Michelangelo

The latest to have unleashed the crowds online is none other than Russell Crowe. At the end of July, the New Zealand actor also had the indelicacy to share the details of his visit to the Vatican in pictures on Twitter with his 2.9 million followers. ” I’m not sure there’s a more special privilege in the world than to hold the key to the Sistine Chapel and experience its glory in silence. “, describes the star of Gladiator (2000) in a tweet. In addition to having access to certain places inaccessible to ordinary tourists and enjoying a crowd-free visit to the Sistine Chapel, the actor had the misfortune to publish the photos of this exceptional moment. ” So the church gives privileges to the rich and famous while the plebs have to line up and swelter in the heat “Replies a user who does not hide his anger at Russell Crowe’s tweet.

Public figures to promote the Vatican Museums

Although not unanimous, these last two VIP visits would actually be communication operations on the part of the Vatican. According to the English news site ” Artnet News », the publications of Jason Momoa and Russell Crowe are part of an exchange of good practice allowing museums to make them shine on the web. ” These public figures have the ability to promote and communicate quickly and efficiently by simply using their social networks.explains a Vatican spokesperson. People imitate what they do. In addition, they are able to reach a younger target who, often in the past, were not familiar with our collections. »

Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel ceiling (1508-1512) © Wikimedia Commons/Web Gallery of Art

Whether they are prohibited due to exclusive photographic and video rights or to facilitate the flow of visitors, these images underline that we are not all equal during a visit. While ordinary mortals get up at dawn to be among the first to gaze at the Vatican collections or have to queue for hours (making Disneyland queues look like gnognotte), others, thanks to their notoriety, can benefit from privileges. In the era of influencers and social networks, this is something that is not about to change. However, VIP or not, everyone is speechless when faced with these masterpieces of art history.

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Demi Moore and her chihuahua at the Louvre, Jason Momoa at the Sistine Chapel, when the privileges of the stars make internet users jump | Knowledge of the Arts