I understand that the death of Michael Jackson is enormous news. There has been nothing else on the cable news networks for the last 2 hours. Every entertainment outlet is searching for a story and angle on this. Including myself to a degree.
But Entertainment Tonight has gone too far. They went to a place that the realm of good taste forbids. Even tabloids tend to not tread this path - at least not hours after the death of a celebrity.
Entertainment Tonight has placed on it's website a photo they claim is the last ever taken of Jackson. Jackson was intibated and on a strecher. Some time shortly after this photo he was dead.
I find photos of dead celebrities to be disgusting. It is an insult and a disrespect. It does not shed new light on the event, it does not inform. And I can imagine the horror it can evoke to the family and friends of the deceased. Especially 2 hours after the news has just broken.
Imagine that if for some reason you were a friend of Jackson and you turn on your TV or computer and that ewas the first thing you saw. Imagine if you are a family member and you get to see that after the wake or funeral. Imagine if you are one of his children some years from now, and you get to see that this was how some exploited your dad after death.
Entertainment Tonight has acted as only scum would in my opinion. I accept that the photo was taken while Jackson was alive, with expectations that he would survive. But ET knew he was dead when they published this photo. So their only decision was to release this photo in an effort to profit off of his death. It's the modern equivalent of grave robbing.
Tabloids and paparazzi act in low manner all the time. They have the least respect, unless a dollar is attached. But this is inexcusable. I mean can't they let the man's memory, family, and friends have even 1 night before they disgustingly hustle for a buck on his grave.
I too am a member of the media. A small part, but still part all the same. And I deplore and am insulted by this desecration of Michael Jackson. The executives that ok'd this decision should get beaten with a stick by the Jackson family.
Maybe I am too sensitive (which may be the first I would be called that) or my morality is too high. But I think the outcry from the public should remind the media that there are limits. That the chase of a buck does not justify everything. That good taste still is more important than a scoop or quickie journalism.
Do you agree?
10 comments:
I agree with you 100%.
There is a word for beings that profit from the tragedy and death of others: ghouls. ET has joined their ranks.
Michael was barely a year younger than I am. He was a part of my childhood (as a child celebrity himself), my teenage years and all adulthood.
No one deserves to be treated this way. His talent and his humanity should earn our respect.
Comment as found at 1800blogger, where I am a contributing author.
sadf Says:
June 25th, 2009 at 11:30 pm e
I agree
Comment as found at 1800blogger, where I am a contributing author.
Lavonda Says:
June 25th, 2009 at 11:34 pm e
I think ET needs to issue the family an apology and the execs that approved it need to be fired, tarred and feathered! Maybe I am a little sensitive myself but how can they be so crass???? You can even go the the website to comment on the photo!
Comment as found at 1800blogger, where I am a contributing author.
D H Says:
June 26th, 2009 at 12:39 am e
I agree with everything you’ve said. The media have once again over-stepped the mark.
Comment as found at 1800blogger, where I am a contributing author.
jenn Says:
June 26th, 2009 at 1:57 am e
i very much agree
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Tammy N Says:
June 26th, 2009 at 9:16 am e
He was not just a icon. He was a father,son, brother, uncle etc. They need to have respect for the family. I totally agree with you.
Comment as found at 1800blogger, where I am a contributing author.
Linda Says:
June 26th, 2009 at 10:31 am e
There was Nicole and Ron, remember those pics? Come one, this picture of Michael Jackson is nowhere near those of Ron and Nicole. The picture is a human interest story, a grim one, but a story.
Comment as found at 1800blogger, where I am a contributing author.
Miranda Says:
June 26th, 2009 at 11:28 am e
I don’t feel the same about ET, I am shocked at them for showing this photo. It is in bad taste.
Comment as found at 1800blogger, where I am a contributing author.
jbk Says:
June 26th, 2009 at 3:30 pm e
no different than showing rhianna’s beat up face on other network shows. its sad, yes, but newsworthy
I really am glad to see that so many agree with me on this.
Linda,
I don’t believe the pictures of Nicole and/or Ron were in good taste, newsworthy, or necessary either. It was blatant money-grubbing then, just as it is now. The families and friends did not need to live with that, nor did the public.
The only real difference was that one is a murder, another is a natural death. Either way though, neither advances the story.
JBK,
Rhianna is not dead. Beyond that, it does advance several things. That abuse of women happens regardless of income, fame, or race. That violence against women is not an old man thing. That hitting a woman is never fun, or macho.
There are a lot of differences between Rhianna and what ET did with Michael Jackson. At least in my mind.
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