1Manstanding’s Weblog

Jessica Simpson’s visit to U.S. troops stationed outside of Kuwait City finished with a three-hour performance that was broadcast live on MySpace. With all regards to the troops, Simpson said she was “signing autographs, meeting them, and showing all the support I can.”

Concerning this visit, which took place in early March 2008, Simpson’s publicist, Cindy Berger, rebutted reports that the young star was enjoying luxuries such as a private jet and large personal entourage while in Kuwait. “She flew commercially, she is staying in the barracks,” Berger tells PEOPLE. “She’s been with the troops all day. She’s had her meals with them.”

Berger adds that performing for the troops is a genuine desire of the Texas-born celebrity. “This was done purely to support the troops and entertain them.”

This is not Simpson’s first troop visit. She and then-husband Nick Lachey visited Ramstein Airforce Base in Germany as part of a USO-hosted tour in 2005.

Independent of Simpson’s intentions, appearances such as this one, especially when done voluntarily, serve to create positive attitudes of a celebrity in the minds of their fans and the general public.

The public generally enjoys stories of celebrities taken out of their impeccable A-list existence in order to get down and dirty with real people. This type of story is outside of the typically reported celebrity spending spree or “party like a rock star” coverage. As such, the public can see a real individual emerge from a celebrity’s A-list aura, someone with whom they can better identify with. Additionally, this meaningful and novel media coverage, more often than not, will rise above the clutter of a mundane, and I must say less impacting celebrity piece, such as this one entitled “Penelope Cruz Takes Dog to the Vet.”

Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman famously said “war is hell.” Relative to Simpson and similar entertainers though, troop presence in the Middle East is actually an opportunity for publicity, providing an audience to communicate with and plentiful media coverage. Additionally, Simpson captures this opportunity in a fairly benign manner. That is, she shows support for the troops by entertaining them without having risk her image to explicitly state her own feelings concerning the notorious war and its validity.

Simpson’s image conveys compassion through her actions and appreciation of her fans through her words; As Simpson recently posted on a fan site: “I love you all and am so blessed by the support and love you show me everyday!! xoxo Jess.” I predict she will continue to be admired not solely for her talents as a singer-actress, but for her refreshing commitment to others besides herself.

Highlights of her performance in Kuwait can be seen here.

Image may be found in it’s original context here.