Deification of celebrities

[andy-hughes]

The recent sad death of Steve Irwin gives rise to the deification of celebrities after their death. Specifically Caron Keating, with whom the Daily Mail enjoys a ghoulish obsession. As far as most people are concerned, she was an average TV presenter, no more talented or pretty than most others, but her tragic death has raised he to Godlike status, mainly through the public grief of her mother - who fits the same catagory. Today, the Mail prints a picture of 'Caron's husband' getting married. Caron who? What do you mean you don;t know who! Russ Lindsay is not an individual, he is the widower of Caron No-Surname-Required. The Mail gushes that Gloria Hunniford chose not to attend the wedding. i should blooming well hope not! It would be the height of bad manners, not to say bad taste, to roll up to the wedding of a man who was married to your deceased child. So, does anyone agree that the endless 'grieving' for people that none of us knew, based it seems largely on physical attraction, is bogus and unpleasant? Thought - Patrick Moore who has ben on TV longer than anyone alive will not receive such attention on the day of his passing - anything to do with his gender, his subject, and his not being sprayed with evolution's aftershave?

[Dizzieblonde]

Charlie Williams of the Golden Shot fame also died, yet he's barely had a look in!

[A Chill Wind]

He's also barely cold - give him a chance!

[cretinz]

As they lower the coffin for Charlie of the golden shot fame, left a bit right a ��

[libertie]

While I often jump on the bandwagon here and express my sorrow at the death of some *celebrity* or other I never feel any more sorrow for them than I would if they had been any young person or parent, and hardly ever go on to give them a second thought again! I always feel that it's difficult enough to get over the death of a loved one without having total strangers weeping and wailing about their death! I remember being totally gobsmacked at the outpouring of grief over Diana's death...one lady even said on natiuonal tv, that although she had never met her she would miss her dreadfully and her life would never be the same again!! While we are on the subject I have also told my family that if I die in a car accident or similar NOT to place flowers at the scene....that really is mawkish!

[jedimistress]

Charlies death wasn't so untimely.

[Lorcan]

I wasn't disagreeing with you Andy. I was suggesting that, had DB lost a girlfriend to cancer or other, then he would, like Russ, become the recipient of (probably unwanted) media attention.

[andy-hughes]

I take your point Lorcan - crossed wires, as sometimes happend when discussions are in written form rather than verbal.

It's been an interesting debate - thanks for your contribution.

A.

[enigma]

I agree with you to an extent Andy , that the media do tend to sensationalise the death of certain celebrities - especially when they tick all the right boxes , young(ish) , female , attractive , blonde etc. However , I feel that I must point out that it was also reported that Gloria Hunniford actually invited her fomer son-in-law and his prospective wife to dinner to reassure them that she was accepting of their relationship and had no ill feeling towards them. She may not have been overjoyed at the prospect of her son remarrying (after all , a parent is not supposed to outlive their child and she would most probably wish more than anything that her daughter was still here or that she could have taken her place) but she gave them her blessing - stating that although they didn't need her seal of approval she felt it right to do so - and I personally feel that a lot of the time , she has maintained a dignified silence regarding her daughter's death and has only really kept her 'in the limelight' to highlight the need for more research to be done into Cancer and let's face it , cancer is an issue which has affected most of us at some point , either directly or indirectly. I agree with you that the way in which the media whip up a frenzy over often minor celebrities is rather nauseating and irritating but I do not believe that Gloria Hunniford can be accused of being anything other than a loving mother , consumed with grief who is struggling to come to terms with her sad loss.

At this stage , I wish to point out that I am not affected personally by her death as I did not know her - nor did I know DIana and am still bewildered by the outpouring of grief from strangers even nine years after her death. The time to let go is long overdue. What baffles me most about Diana's death is that the media often did not have a kind word to say about her in the latter part of her life and yet in death she has been almost sainted. Why do we glorify people in death ?