I don't think celebrities should be treated any different than a regular person myself. He paid the time -- let the man try to return to life. I don't really like what he did but I do think that some people could use another shot.
Here's the problem, Jesse - the powers that be have demonized any level of criminal behavior, even if time has been served. In terms of employment, for many employers, it's a matter of "one strike and you're out". Something like 60% of employers run background checks and most will rule out candidates with even a misdemeanor.
Cross the border into Canada? It's even tougher (same with the US CBP coming into this country).
In the name of "deterring crime" and "tough on crime", this country is making sure that people don't get a second chance. Yes, there are exceptions, but 25 years ago most people assumed that once you did your time you had paid your debt to society. These days, different story. (In the vein of "continuing punishment", US CBP will not accept applications for the Global Entry process for anyone with a criminal record, even if the crime was pardoned or expunged. Their view is that pardons/expungements don't clear the history. So an upstanding citizen who is 50 but got a misdemeanor, for oh say grafitti, as a kid will never be eligible for expedited CBP processing.)
The consequences of a youthful indiscretion can literally last a lifetime.
Yes, people who have truly gotten the message and straightened up deserve to have a second chance after paying their debt. Problem is that it is very, very hard for someone (and especially an employer) to take that chance. Part is an abundance of qualified candidates, part is the whole liability system, part is an outright bias. IME it harms people that don't get good counsel (who can get deferred adjudication or some other abatement of the charges). But it is what it is, and no politician is willing to be branded as "soft on crime" - so we won't ever see laws addressing the issue.