Jacqueline Levine's Blog - Posts Tagged "gossip"
In Memory of Paul Walker
Today, I am saddened by the news of Paul Walker's tragic death. I'll be the first to say I never knew him, he wasn't in my top five favorite actors, and I begrudgingly went to see the Fast and Furious movies with my obsessed friends. But the news was difficult to read nonetheless because already I see how inundated all of the channels and websites have become with the story. I keep thinking, "His poor family must be suffering."
Paul Walker's death hits a little close to home, too. I had written a very similar scene in the sequel for Spiral involving Jack and his friend. I feel terrible and torn now, and I do not know if I should include the scene. My husband said, "Art imitates life," but I don't necessarily agree in this instance. I will have to think long and hard about using that scene because no one wants to repeat such an awful tragedy for the sake of art.
When I wrote Spiral, and now as I write Twist, the other side of a celebrity's story is my goal. They're people, you know, just like us. They have families and friends and, in his case, children. I want my readers to find empathy for the famous and their families because what we call "news" are stories about their lives. How painful and difficult it must be to have to live through tragedy in the public eye.
Imagine you're Paul Walker's 15 year old daughter, and you have to not only face the fact that your father has died in a terrible way, but you won't be able to escape the images or the talk of it for days, maybe even weeks. Online, at the grocery store, in class, there will be whispers, pictures, gossip - constant reminders when all she will want to do is make it go away. Then there will be the careless, insensitive people who dare to say, "That's what you get for living your life like your films." For shame, people.
My heart goes out to Paul Walker's family and friends at this time. My prayers are with them as they try to navigate through this tragedy and move on without him. I hope the media can give them the space and time to grieve they deserve.
XOXO
Paul Walker's death hits a little close to home, too. I had written a very similar scene in the sequel for Spiral involving Jack and his friend. I feel terrible and torn now, and I do not know if I should include the scene. My husband said, "Art imitates life," but I don't necessarily agree in this instance. I will have to think long and hard about using that scene because no one wants to repeat such an awful tragedy for the sake of art.
When I wrote Spiral, and now as I write Twist, the other side of a celebrity's story is my goal. They're people, you know, just like us. They have families and friends and, in his case, children. I want my readers to find empathy for the famous and their families because what we call "news" are stories about their lives. How painful and difficult it must be to have to live through tragedy in the public eye.
Imagine you're Paul Walker's 15 year old daughter, and you have to not only face the fact that your father has died in a terrible way, but you won't be able to escape the images or the talk of it for days, maybe even weeks. Online, at the grocery store, in class, there will be whispers, pictures, gossip - constant reminders when all she will want to do is make it go away. Then there will be the careless, insensitive people who dare to say, "That's what you get for living your life like your films." For shame, people.
My heart goes out to Paul Walker's family and friends at this time. My prayers are with them as they try to navigate through this tragedy and move on without him. I hope the media can give them the space and time to grieve they deserve.
XOXO
Never thought I'd say it but....
Justin Bieber is totally right. He is being bullied by the media.
Okay, hear me out on this one, especially all you naysayers who hate young Hollywood...
I’m a teacher, and I regularly look out for the welfare of children, advising them when I think they are making mistakes, sabotaging their learning and friendships, or destroying their reputations. I am very worried for the young people in Hollywood who lack the benefit of a strong, positive adult presence in their lives. Instead, they receive criticism and scorn at every turn.
Many people write these celebutantes off as spoiled, arrogant brats who deserve what they get, but I disagree. I think they suffer from a fundamental lack of ethical and strict adult supervision. What happens to a 19 year old who gets caught drinking and driving and smoking weed in the real world? He has to face consequences set by his parents. And enough with the “if she’s over 18, she’s legally an adult!” nonsense. If they could be an undergrad in college, they qualify as a kid who still needs guidance.
In addition, I do feel the media is bullying them. Even Average Joes are to blame. Every person who creates an “I Hate ______” Facebook page or blogs about the weight of some starlet is doing damage to that child’s self esteem. You know what a high school or college would do to a kid who tweeted hateful things and cyber-scorned another student? True, kids like the Biebs and Miley opted not to go to school and be afforded this protection and, yes, you need a thick skin for Hollywood, but just how thick of a skin are kids 18 – 20 expected to have? Do we honestly think that, when 14 year old Justin Bieber was a twinkle in Usher’s eye, he was mentally prepared to be a huge international star that would not be allowed to follow the same path to growing up that the rest of America’s kids follow? Is this fair?
This weekend, we lost another Hollywood great to drug overdose. Poor Phillip Seymour Hoffman, God rest his soul. Drug addiction is a disease, and instead of vilifying Justin Bieber for his *supposed* abuse of drugs, shouldn't we be demanding the adult handlers in his life step up and make a difference for him before it is too late?
Okay, I'm getting off my soapbox now, but I just needed to vent. What are your thoughts? Are the media personalities - and us, actually - bullying celebs? Leave a comment, and let's get this conversation going!
XOXO
Okay, hear me out on this one, especially all you naysayers who hate young Hollywood...
I’m a teacher, and I regularly look out for the welfare of children, advising them when I think they are making mistakes, sabotaging their learning and friendships, or destroying their reputations. I am very worried for the young people in Hollywood who lack the benefit of a strong, positive adult presence in their lives. Instead, they receive criticism and scorn at every turn.
Many people write these celebutantes off as spoiled, arrogant brats who deserve what they get, but I disagree. I think they suffer from a fundamental lack of ethical and strict adult supervision. What happens to a 19 year old who gets caught drinking and driving and smoking weed in the real world? He has to face consequences set by his parents. And enough with the “if she’s over 18, she’s legally an adult!” nonsense. If they could be an undergrad in college, they qualify as a kid who still needs guidance.
In addition, I do feel the media is bullying them. Even Average Joes are to blame. Every person who creates an “I Hate ______” Facebook page or blogs about the weight of some starlet is doing damage to that child’s self esteem. You know what a high school or college would do to a kid who tweeted hateful things and cyber-scorned another student? True, kids like the Biebs and Miley opted not to go to school and be afforded this protection and, yes, you need a thick skin for Hollywood, but just how thick of a skin are kids 18 – 20 expected to have? Do we honestly think that, when 14 year old Justin Bieber was a twinkle in Usher’s eye, he was mentally prepared to be a huge international star that would not be allowed to follow the same path to growing up that the rest of America’s kids follow? Is this fair?
This weekend, we lost another Hollywood great to drug overdose. Poor Phillip Seymour Hoffman, God rest his soul. Drug addiction is a disease, and instead of vilifying Justin Bieber for his *supposed* abuse of drugs, shouldn't we be demanding the adult handlers in his life step up and make a difference for him before it is too late?
Okay, I'm getting off my soapbox now, but I just needed to vent. What are your thoughts? Are the media personalities - and us, actually - bullying celebs? Leave a comment, and let's get this conversation going!
XOXO
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