The D'Amelio Show: Hyped Up Social Media Stars Left Mentally Drained

by Mya Miller
Lion’s Roar Staff

Keeping Up with the Kardashian’s was a reality show based on a family turned multimillionaires, who came to fame while
showcasing drama within their large family. With the show recently ending, many thought that Hulu’s The D’Amelio Show,
starring the D’Amelio family, would take its place as the new phenomenon family drama show. However, the new show seemed
very different than fans originally thought it would be. The main difference between Keeping up with the Kardashian’s and The
D’Amelio Show is that the Kardashian family was watched constantly as they came to fame, while the D’Amelio family had
already dominated social media, and had established a brand for themselves. The D’Amelio Show stripped away the filters,
revealing the hardships and struggles the family deals with on a daily basis, due to the transition from normalcy to fame.
The D’Amelio Show stars 17-year-old Charli, older sister Dixie, dad Marc, and mom Heidi D’Amelio. Charli and Dixie came
to fame in 2019 on the popular social media app, Tik Tok. Originally from Connecticut, Charli was a competitive dancer, who
rose to fame dancing to trendy sounds and choreography on TikTok. At about 124 million followers, Charli is the most followed
influencer on the app.
Older sister Dixie has about 55 million followers on Tik Tok, alongside a successful music career. She also starred on a
Youtube TV series “Attaway General”. Marc and Heidi act as the girls’ managers while also raising them and running the family
YouTube channel.
Despite the expectation of laughs and wholesome fun, The D’Amelio Show revealed the intense anxiety and stress both girls
undergo as they continue to adjust to their celebrity status.
The show revolved around the D'Amelio's busy schedule of modeling, filming, singing, and sponsoring brands. But the show
is mainly centered around how the two sisters deal with hate, mean comments, cyberbullying, while also exploring how
damaging the internet really could be.
In the first episode of the reality show, Dixie has an uncontrollable breakdown about a video she filmed with Vogue. Internet
users made edits that mock Dixie’s voice. Marc stated that cameras were not in the room at the time of her breakdown, but Dixie
asked them to come in because she thought if the haters saw the outcome of their actions then maybe they would not repeat them.
On another episode it is the night of The Nickelodeon's Kids Choice Awards, where Dixie is getting ready for a performance
and Charli is up for an award. Charli had a panic attack while she got ready for the event, because she did not want to get hated
on for winning the award. Yet, she also thought she would get hated on if she did not win the award. Charli stated that due to
stress, on her worst days she can have up to fifteen panic attacks. Charli opened up about how she does not feel as if she deserved
to be one of the most influential people on social media. She does not understand why the internet decided to give her fame. She
claimed she was just in the right place at the right time. She does not think of herself as famous, but just as someone a lot of
people follow.
In a confessional, Charli admitted, “I think I’m definitely sacrificing having a normal teenage life, but I’m getting to do things
that many other people do not do. Like, I truly love it. I don’t want to stop and then have to, like, start all over. What am I going
to do? Go back to a normal high school? Move back to Connecticut?”
Charli, who is known for her dancing, also revealed that now the internet had made her hate dancing. By moving to L.A. she
left her studio and dance friends behind. The hate had made her doubt herself and struggle with her talent. The internet critiques
her constantly and her dancing, so she no longer loves what once brought light to her life. Her family tried to bring dance back
into her life, but Charli refused.
The show also highlighted Dixie’s struggle with hate. Every move she makes, she questions and thinks that no matter what she
does, people will hate her. Despite being reassured by her family and boyfriend, Noah Beck, her overthinking continues to
persist.
On a different episode Dixie and Charli went shopping when suddenly paparazzi popped out at the front of the store window.
They started to take a ton of photos of them. As soon as Charli saw them she immediately had a panic attack and was taken home
by Dixie.
Even with their attempts to help, Charli’s family decided that a therapist might help the teenager. Despite her opening up, the
therapist told her that her problems were invalid because people loved her, including his daughter. He then proceeded to ask for a
picture.
Fans have begun to notice that Charli has lost her passion as she posts less, looks depressed, and has had more public anxiety
outbursts.
Nevertheless, whether or not the goal of The D’Amelio Show was for the D’Amelio’s fans to feel pity for Charli and Dixie,
they certainly do now. The new insight allowed many fans to gain a new perspective on their life. Now, as the D’Amelio’s
continue to grow in popularity, the internet waits with bated breath to see if they will crack under the pressure or come back
stronger than ever.