February 21, 2007

What is wrong with the paparazzi? Have they been rendered incapable of compassion?

We have two very high-profile celebrity cases being splashed all over the media as if there was nothing else more important going on in our world.

A dead woman’s body is decaying because her family is fighting over where to bury her; and a celebrity is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Both of these are much more important than the war going on overseas, or a President incapable of ruling a democratic nation.

Absolutely. Well, here’s my take on both of these.

Anna Nicole Smith is dead. She wanted to be buried next to her son, Daniel, in the Bahamas.

Her family wants her interred in the family plot in Texas. The family to which she’d been estranged for the past 16+ years. Add to that, her family is also threatening to have Daniel dug up and reburied in the family plot in Texas.

The latest in the hullabaloo is the report that Anna’s body is decomposing quickly. If a respectable ‘public viewing’ funeral is to be had, a ruling is going to have to be made in short order.

Why is it taking so long to reach a decision?

Let me say this again. Anna Nicole Smith is dead. She wanted to be buried next to Daniel in the Bahamas. Why is this such a travesty?

To Anna’s family - by engaging in this drawn-out legal warfare, you’ve stripped Anna of her dignity, reducing her to a decaying corpse sitting refrigerated in a morgue. Give her the respect she deserves. She bought the plot there for a reason.

JUST DO IT. Let her be with her son.

(Note to self: Good time to maybe check will and make sure it’s up to date? Just a thought.)

Same celebrity - second issue: Multiple men are claiming paternity to Anna’s daughter prompting DNA testing.

Surely by now the authorities have gathered the required DNA samples from Anna Nicole’s corpse? Surely by now those claiming paternity have offered up their own DNA, including Stern? Geez. If Montel Williams was able to resolve paternity issues of his guests in an hour, why is it taking over a week?

JUST DO IT. We already know Stern’s not the father. Figure out who is and move ahead with custody battles.

Update (2/23/07): Judge Seidlin issued his ruling that Anna Nicole should be buried in the Bahamas next to her son. Of course, the estranged family has filed an appeal. Note to family: Stop it already. Remember above - dignity? Leave Anna Nicole with some. This is just ridiculous anymore. Possibly you should have put this much effort into trying to help her while she was alive instead?

—————-

Without a doubt, Britney Spears is a very troubled individual.

Chemically addicted, emotionally and pyschologically unstable. Twice voluntarily checked into rehab, and twice hastily checked out. For all apparent purposes, Brit’s way isn’t working to resolve her problems.

I am in no way defending Britney, nor ridiculing her. What I do see is a fallible individual being scrutinized and ridiculed through the eyes of an ever-aggressive paparazzi. But you know what? She’s just like the rest of us, human. And she needs help and support, not more ridicule.

Kudos to Craig Ferguson for being a classy guy. Whereas his late-nite competitors felt the need to stoop to low levels by using Brit’s woes as fodder for laughs, Craig, who talked about his own past addictions, identified with Britney’s situation, stating:

“For me, comedy should have a certain amount of joy in it.” He then added “It should be about attacking the powerful - the politicians, the Trumps, the blowhards - going after them. We shouldn’t be attacking the vulnerable.”

“…she clearly needs help.”

Maybe it’s time for the allegedly caring family and friends to assert their 1) parental authority; and 2) power and true depth of friendship. Put your money where your mouths are and have Britney committed to a place where she cannot discharge herself, and where she’s going to get the help she needs. Not only are the chemical addictions destroying her life, but the apparent pyschological imbalance is clouding her judgment.

If Britney doesn’t get the help she needs, she’s going to end up dead within the year. Where are all those people who say they care about her? Time to come forward and prove it.

JUST DO IT. Those kids need a mother, not a junkie.

Update (2/23/07): Britney’s back in rehab again. Here’s to hoping something in her head is going to click and she’s going to get clean.

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