I love movies. I love media. I love pop culture. I just love all of it.

No one can deny, however, it’s greatly flawed. Especially when it comes to how women and men are treated by the media. And don’t blow me off as a feminazi or some disillusioned soul; just hear me out, ’cause I’m talking truth.

Let’s begin with Lindsay Lohan. Just 14 years ago, she was on our movie theatre screens, brilliantly pulling off the role of twins reuniting their parents. Today, she’s struggling to keep herself out of the courtrooms. I can’t say that her behavior is in any way redeemable.

But the truth of the matter is the troubled actress was constantly in the limelight, made out as a junkie who would never be able to get back into Hollywood again. People despised her, condemned her, and said she would never make a recovery.

Thanks to her own acting abilities (which I truly think she has, regardless of her personal life or insane family), she was able to secure a role as the icon, Elizabeth Taylor. But of course, the main headlines I’ve seen related to the role are how big her boobs are and speculation over drug use when she had an exhaustion spell.

People seem to get some kick out of putting the poor girl down, especially when, if she straightens out, her career is really just beginning.

Now, let’s look at another similar case: the infamous Charlie Sheen.

Like Ms. Lohan, no one really seemed to care about him or his acting until he started publicly humiliating and degrading himself.

But here’s where things between the two well-known actors differentiate. Because, while Ms. Lohan was basically berated by Perez Hilton and media sites, and her trial was watched by people as they “tssked” between their spoonfuls of cereal, Charlie Sheen became a “winner.” He was invited on talk shows. His multiple girlfriends (goddesses, as he called them, although I doubt they were treated that way) were invited on talk shows. He was plastered on t-shirts, his interviews were spoofed and the songs went viral, and people everywhere were suddenly “bi-winning.” I myself even got caught up in the madness for a while.

That’s not all. Not only did everyone seem to take his borderline-psychotic behavior as “all in fun”, but he made money off of it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen the commercial with him on the arm of a gorgeous girl after driving around his house, making light of house arrest.

And lastly, he got a new television show because of his psychotic and popular behavior. Can you see where I’m going with this? The young woman is berated and blacklisted because of her behavior, while Charlie Sheen, the veteran of Hollywood who had it all, is placed upon a d-bag throne by the media and society.

Editor’s note — Check the wkuherald.com tomorrow for Part 2, where columnist Lindsay Kriz takes a look at the cases of Chris Brown and Kristen Stewart.