As the coronavirus outbreak continues to keep people in their homes, many celebrities have opted to stay in the public eye through video conferencing apps, such as Zoom. One Twitter account has taken the opportunity to give the backdrops used in these video chats a rating out of 10.
With the pandemic continuing to make videoconferencing apps a vital source of communication, the virtual background feature has become a way for users to add a level of entertainment to the calls. These backgrounds are being used in amazing ways, including immersing oneself in the world of Harry Potter or turning into a potato. For those with blander backgrounds in their homes, these virtual backgrounds are a way for users to spice up their video calls. For those who have interesting objects or locations in their home, a virtual background may not be as needed.
As detailed in the Independent, the Room Rater Twitter account is sharing screenshots of celebrity backdrops and rating them out of 10. In spite of only launching the Twitter account in early April, it already has almost 150,000 followers and with each rating comes a quip about the backdrop. For example, in one Tweet Room Rater gave Conan O'Brien a two out of ten while asking "is this a Holiday Inn Express?" However, not all of the comments are harsh. In another Tweet, Room Rater awarded Ellen DeGeneres a ten out of ten and noted how the backdrop was "tranquil and serene."
Fascination With Celebrity (Zoom) Homes
Since the launch of MTV's Cribs, many have watched how the other side live in awe. Through thirteen seasons of the show, followed by a short-run Snapchat Discovery show in 2017 and 2018, there's always been a fascination with those who who make millions of dollars and what they spend the money on. This fascination has spawned countless other shows that are similar in nature, such as The World's Most Extraordinary Homes and I Own Britain's Best Home. The trend even resulted in a Cribs parody trailer showcasing Wayne Manor in the lead up to the release of The LEGO Batman Movie. More recently, and since the pandemic took effect, the same fascination has being fulfilled through Instagram Live and Zoom.
What Room Rater is doing is providing a snapshot into how celebrities live, while also helping to create enjoyment for those stuck at home due to the outbreak. People often say a picture is worth a thousand words, and while those words may be different to Room Rater's, the collaborative nature showcased in the Twitter threads provides a way for everyone to share what the various Zoom backdrops mean to them.
Source: Independent