@Wizzy,
It is human nature to be enraptured by the obscene. Even the term 'Celebrity' has conotations of Andy Warhol's 'fifteen minutes of fame' Idea. These people wanted to place themselves up to the crutiny of the nation, be that from 'reality TV' or from their own hard work.
Also, the masses are a fickle beast, we like to watch someone rise from obscurity, through adversity to being thrust in the public eye, then fall, followed by the inevitable trial-by-fire and public character assasinations by the tabloid media.
This is the nature of the beast we call fame. It is to their shame that they are happy to spend $27,000 on a coat and not have the forsight to use their resourses for the greater good (Like Angelina Jolie does, she REALLY works for the poor in the third world, and DOESN'T always insist on being on TV doing it).