Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Young people who die
I have two questions about celebrities who take lots of drugs and drink lots of alcohol and are depressed.
The first is why does becoming fabulously wealthy and incredibly popular make someone depressed? I accept that it does, given the number of wealthy and famous people who have imploded, but I do not understand why. For Heath Ledger, being a red-carpet star apparently distressed him. Sure, it's foolish, but would he have been ostracized from all further film work if he didn't go? Anyway, according to what one reads, he had a fairly deliberate career plan and often turned down roles that were merely star vehicles, because he liked to get his teeth into more substantial character types of roles. But why wouldn't someone so intelligent and aware of himself not just stop doing films he found distasteful and do theater work or volunteer work or whatever made him feel okay about himself? Some actors do that and don't go all over nuts and suicidal. Why not him?? Does making a ton of money and being on the cover of "People" a bunch of times cause a lobotomy-like chemical change in brains and decision-making abilities? I mean, we all - and I mean all - make lousy decisions and do really stupid things lots and lots of times, so I'm not blaming young celebs for being human and fallible. Not even remotely. I just don't get it that it seems to be precisely the money and fame that irks them and causes them difficulties. Is it all just a matter of wanting the opposite of what you have? If you're rich and famous do you automatically want to be poor and anonymous? Or maybe it's just that a certain percentage of the population will be very unhappy and inevitably make bad choices - and celebrities are simply part of the population.
Anyway, my other question is why don't friends and families intervene if their rich and famous friends and/or offspring so obviously are freaking out? Name one ordinary citizen who could do even one iota of what Britney's done and still have access to their kids. One. You can't. Let me put it this way: if a good friend of mine was clearly depressed (not sad : depressed) and was shooting or smoking major drugs like heroin, not to mention paying less and less attention to his physical appearance and well-being (did you see recent pictures of Heath Ledger?), I'd be calling them every night and going to their house and calling their parents and maybe even dragging them to an emergency room. Wouldn't you?? I mean, with all the helpers and advisers and general factotums that these people employ, why didn't ANYone, not to mention family, think it made sense to refuse to leave him alone until he was helped?
The first is why does becoming fabulously wealthy and incredibly popular make someone depressed? I accept that it does, given the number of wealthy and famous people who have imploded, but I do not understand why. For Heath Ledger, being a red-carpet star apparently distressed him. Sure, it's foolish, but would he have been ostracized from all further film work if he didn't go? Anyway, according to what one reads, he had a fairly deliberate career plan and often turned down roles that were merely star vehicles, because he liked to get his teeth into more substantial character types of roles. But why wouldn't someone so intelligent and aware of himself not just stop doing films he found distasteful and do theater work or volunteer work or whatever made him feel okay about himself? Some actors do that and don't go all over nuts and suicidal. Why not him?? Does making a ton of money and being on the cover of "People" a bunch of times cause a lobotomy-like chemical change in brains and decision-making abilities? I mean, we all - and I mean all - make lousy decisions and do really stupid things lots and lots of times, so I'm not blaming young celebs for being human and fallible. Not even remotely. I just don't get it that it seems to be precisely the money and fame that irks them and causes them difficulties. Is it all just a matter of wanting the opposite of what you have? If you're rich and famous do you automatically want to be poor and anonymous? Or maybe it's just that a certain percentage of the population will be very unhappy and inevitably make bad choices - and celebrities are simply part of the population.
Anyway, my other question is why don't friends and families intervene if their rich and famous friends and/or offspring so obviously are freaking out? Name one ordinary citizen who could do even one iota of what Britney's done and still have access to their kids. One. You can't. Let me put it this way: if a good friend of mine was clearly depressed (not sad : depressed) and was shooting or smoking major drugs like heroin, not to mention paying less and less attention to his physical appearance and well-being (did you see recent pictures of Heath Ledger?), I'd be calling them every night and going to their house and calling their parents and maybe even dragging them to an emergency room. Wouldn't you?? I mean, with all the helpers and advisers and general factotums that these people employ, why didn't ANYone, not to mention family, think it made sense to refuse to leave him alone until he was helped?
Labels: celebrities, headlines, reflections
And I think about having an interesting career, a child, the money to live where I wanted and travel, do things for my family, and I wonder why that isn't enough for some people. Somehow it circles back to their mental problems...what came first, chicken and egg wise, the problems or the career?
Best wishes,
Laura
Best wishes,
Laura
< home >