Celebrity Narcissism: Swank, Kardashian, and Blair as Symptoms of a Rising Culture of Self
Source: https://www.facebook.com/americanspectator/. "The Narcissistic Lunacy of Selma Blair, Khloé Kardashian, and Hilary Swank | The American Spectator | USA News and Politics." October 20, 2026. spectator.org
The Gist
The author argues that Americans are becoming more self-obsessed, and that three celebrities show it. Swank had a baby at 52 through IVF, which the author says kills embryos. Kardashian says she 'owns' her embryos. Blair attacked people on a flight and blamed others. The author concludes that celebrity culture makes people narcissistic.
Conclusion
Hilary Swank, Khloé Kardashian, and Selma Blair exemplify a growing narcissism in American culture, and celebrity itself breeds this narcissism, which is why such people end up as our celebrities.
Premises
- Narcissism is statistically on the rise in America, as shown by studies of narcissistic and neurotic traits (Twenge's 2008 study; a Financial Times-reported study from 2014 to 2025).
- Swank's pregnancy at 52 must have used IVF, which typically creates more embryos than are implanted, so embryos (which the author counts as human beings) are destroyed or frozen indefinitely; she therefore likely put her own desire for a child above the lives and well-being of her children.
- Pregnancy at 52 is unnatural and medically dangerous for both child and mother, yet Swank pursued it and framed criticism as sexist backlash, showing selfishness rather than real empowerment.
- Kardashian says she 'owns' her remaining frozen embryos, treating them as property, even while calling one her daughter 'Tyla' and a 'sister'. This shows she regards the embryo as a human being yet treats it as an object to use or discard.
- Selma Blair's violent in-flight and post-flight behavior, and her representatives' response, which shifted blame to medical conditions and to the authorities, shows a refusal to accept responsibility consistent with narcissism.
- Celebrity culture fosters narcissism, so it is unsurprising that narcissistic people are our celebrities.
Assumptions
- Human embryos are fully human beings with the same moral status as born children, so discarding them is killing.
- Swank used IVF with embryos or eggs created earlier, and some embryos were discarded, even though she has not said so.
- Having a child at an advanced age is selfish and unnatural rather than a legitimate personal choice.
- Public statements and behavior by celebrities are enough to diagnose narcissism, and the three unrelated cases (reproductive choices and a medical-emergency incident) share the same psychological cause.
- Aggregate rises in narcissism measures reflect real cultural change and relate to the individual cases discussed.
- Blair's conduct was not primarily caused by her medical conditions, or those conditions do not excuse the behavior.