YouGov Founder's Blog

In light of the recent revelations about Tiger Woods’ extramarital affairs, we asked people to take a few optional questions about the nature of celebrities, political public figures, and their right to privacy.

Entertainment and Sporting Celebrities

13% think Celebrities should be entitled to absolute privacy in their private lives. 36% say celebrities should be entitled to absolute privacy in their private lives unless they are breaking the law.

34% of respondents to our poll think that celebrities should be entitled to absolute privacy in their private lives unless they are breaking the law, OR doing something that might be considered morally wrong (e.g. having an affair). Tiger Woods falls into this category, so it is interesting to note that only 46% of respondents think that he has no right to privacy in this case.

12%completely disagree, and think that celebrities should not be entitled to any privacy in their private lives.

Political Public Figures

The respondents are even less forgiving for political public figures, as only 5% think they should be entitled to absolute privacy in their private lives. 33% agree that public figures should be entitled to absolute privacy in their private lives unless they are breaking the law. 46% believe they should be entitled to absolute privacy in their private lives unless they are breaking the law, OR doing something that might be considered morally wrong (e.g. having an affair)

13% feel that public figures should not be entitled to any privacy in their private lives

The Role of the Media

The respondents appear to have a balanced view towards how the media coverage impacts upon those in the public eye.  70% of respondents believe that the media are too intrusive into the lives of public figures and celebrities. This support is not without qualification however, as 87% think celebrities have a duty to set a good example in their behaviour. Only 4% feel that they have no responsibility to set a good example.