Negativity About Celebrity Deaths

 As many of you by now know, Ed McMahon died 6/23/09, Farrah Fawcett died this morning around 9:30 am and at 2:26 pm, The King of Pop, Michael Jackson died.  David Carradine also died earlier this month.  As I have traveled the web reading the stories about these various celebrities, I was astounded by the amount of negative comments that followed the news stories.  I can't believe people can write so many hateful things about people who have passed away.  Everyone is entitled to their opinions, however it is wrong to speak ill of the dead.

I saw comments that poked fun of David Carradine and the manner in which he died.  I saw comments that ridiculed people who were sadened by the death of Ed McMahon saying he was old and it was a waste of time to be upset.  There were negative comments posted about Farrah Fawcett from calling her a TV Star has-been to a washed out floozy.  But the most hateful of all are the negative comments written about Michael Jackson.  I have read post after post of people writing things like "one less child molester in the world" and "good he's gone, he finally received the punishment he deserved".  Who are these people?  How can they be so disrespectful of the families left behind to post such horrid and hateful things?

I have also seen many posts complaining over all the reactions to the deaths of celebrities saying their deaths are no less important that when a regular person dies of say cancer, or heart attack.  I have to say I somewhat disagree.  Now in no way do I mean to diminish the death of any person regardless of their social status.  However, society follows the lives of the rich and famous.  Their life stories are splattered in the media constantly.  Everything from who's sleeping with who, to marriages, to child births, to what they wear or eat is news.  So it stands to reason that their deaths would receive a great deal of attention.  I think the utmost respect should be paid to the families and negative and hateful comments shouldn't be posted anywhere.  It's one thing to say you didn't like a certain star because their work didn't impress you, or to critique their work.  It is entirely another to be negative and hateful when commenting on the tragedy of their death.

There are also a lot of comments that are posted complaining that the news surrounding Michael Jackson's death is diminishing the announcements and news about Farrah Fawcett.  I have seen just as many stories and blogs posted about Farrah Fawcett as I have Michael Jackson.  However, Michael Jackson stands out because of who he was.  He was amazing and there will never be another performer like him.  The death of Farrah Fawcett was sad, but also it was something that was an inevitable conclusion as she has been battling with cancer.  Michael Jackson's death came as a complete shock.  People were gearing up for a come back tour, and then out of the blew he is hit with cardiac arrest.  So I can see how he would stand out a little bit more.

I did find some reactions from friends and family members that I wanted to include here:

On Ed McMahon:

"America has lost one of its great icons. Ed McMahon was a terrific entertainer and a wonderful person," Donald Trump

"Ed McMahon defined professionalism in broadcasting. We'll miss him!"  Paul Shaffer

"I just remember him as such a lovely guy," Liev Schreiber "Always had a smile for everyone. He was just the sweetest person, it's a terrible loss."

On David Carradine:

"I was deeply saddened by the news of David Carradine's passing. We met when we made 'Boxcar Bertha' together, almost 40 years ago. I have very fond memories of our time together on that picture and on 'Mean Streets,' where he agreed to do a brief cameo. David was a great collaborator, a uniquely talented actor, and a wonderful spirit. He loved movies, acting in movies, making movies, and he was always extremely generous." _ Martin Scorsese

"R.I.P. David Carradine. You were a true hero to so many of us children of the 70s. We'll miss you, Kwai Chang Caine." _ Rainn Wilson

On Farrah Fawcett:

"After a long and brave battle with cancer, our beloved Farrah has passed away. Although this is an extremely difficult time for her family and friends, we take comfort in the beautiful times that we shared with Farrah over the years and the knowledge that her life brought joy to so many people around the world." — Ryan O'Neal

"She was an angel on Earth and now an angel forever." — Lee Majors, ex-husband

"Farrah had courage, she had strength and she had faith. And now she has peace as she rests with the real angels." — Jacyln Smith

"I will miss Farrah everyday. She was a selfless person who loved her family and friends with all her heart, and what a big heart it was. Farrah showed immense courage and grace throughout her illness and was an inspiration to those around her. When I think of Farrah I will remember her kindness, her cutting dry wit and, of course, her beautiful smile. Today, when you think of Farrah, remember her smiling because that is exactly how she wanted to be remembered: smiling." — Kate Jackson

On Michael Jackson:

"I am so very sad and confused with every emotion possible. I am heartbroken for his children who I know were everything to him and for his family. This is such a massive loss on so many levels, words fail me." Lisa Marie Presley

"I can't stop crying over the sad news. I have always admired Michael Jackson. The world has lost one of the greats, but his music will live on forever. My heart goes out to his three children and other members of his family. God bless."  Madonna

"Michael Jackson showed me that you can actually see the beat. He made the music come to life! He made me believe in magic." Sean "Diddy" Combs

Regardless of whether or not you were a fan of a certain celebrity, or if you agreed with or didn't agree with their lifestyle, they deserve the utmost respect for their talents.  There is no reason to diminish these people after their death.  Think about it this way:  maybe you have a family member that isn't a favorite or they chose to live life a little different.  How would it make you feel to open up a blog that follows their obituary only to see negative comments posted about them?  I doubt you would like it.  These families deserve the time to grieve in peace.