Rant number 44
I'm sure you have heard by now that Whitney Houston is dead. Its a sad loss of life at only 48, it really is.
I get that.
What's annoying me though, is the endless talk of her, as if she was a bloody saint. Because- to break a bit of news to you all.
She just wasn't.
She was famous for repeated visits to rehab for drug and alcohol addiction. Once again - its sad but true.
Now, todays rant isn't about Whitney. Its just inspired by her - because I am fed up of the sycophantic rubbish that comes along every time a celebrity takes a step too far and dies.
I know it is not traditional, to speak ill of the dead - and I'm not suggesting that anyone spends time speaking about the bad points. What I don't want to hear is endless stories etc about how bloody brilliant they were - with no mention of the darker truth.
If I'm very unfair to Whitney for instance. No-one has spoken her name in any big way in years. She was old news and - following repeated abuse of her body and some resultantly bad concerts, she wasn't going to be making any front pages any time soon. Except for in one situation...
And we know what one that is don't we?
The press at the moment are talking about her as if she was a modern day great, a current shining star. And she just wasn't alas.
Amy Winehouse was unfortunately quite the same. Her career had peaked and was falling and - with her inability to stop snorting, inhaling, injecting and quaffing - it wasn't going anywhere quickly. After though, there was little talk of the truth of her addiction.
What we should all realise, is that just because they are celebrities, it does not mean that they have some armor against the stresses of their chosen profession. The media push them so far that escapism seems to be the only way out for some - with the direst consequences sometimes. They then continue to turn them into saints and martyrs, its just silly.
How about someone talking about the addiction and struggles of Whitney. Why not tell the glazed over masses the truth for a change? How about that?
And worst of all, are the endless notes of condolence, flowers, facebook updates and various other personal messages to someone you don't really know. It just seems to be all about being seen to be caring - as opposed to really having an opinion.
Death is sad, but it happens to us all sooner or later. When a tragedy like this happens, rather than creating a saint, maybe we should take a look at the way we treat our 'stars'
Whitney was the baby of the 80s & 90s, but it didn't last. Imagine being a household name, then being a footnote. It had to hurt.
What a mess.
Rant over.
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