Gary Coleman Deathbed Photos: Ultimate Disrespect for Beloved Child Star

Deathbed photos of actor Gary Coleman will appear in Globe on Friday. There is speculation that the pint-sized actor's ex-wife, Shannon Price, sold those images to Globe although she denies it and Globe is thus far keeping mum about who sold them those photos.

In today's society, where virtually anything goes, there comes a time when we have to draw the line and show these people that this sort of thing is unacceptable. In this case, Shannon Price who allegedly sold Globe the photos and Globe for printing them, with both means geared toward the same end: The almighty dollar.

An icon the likes of Gary Coleman deserves to be treated with dignity and respect in death as in life. Shannon Price has already made a few appearances on Entertainment Tonight this week and what strikes me is how she just doesn't seem genuine. She's trying a bit too hard and this makes her appear fake. It leaves me wondering if she truly cared about Gary Coleman or if, in some twisted way, she is trying to gain some sort of sick notoriety off his death.

Todd Bridges Reacts After Seeing Photos of Gary Coleman:
Gary Coleman's Diff'rent Strokes co-star Todd Bridges also appeared on Entertainment Tonight and was interviewed by Kevin Frazier. Bridges was shown photographs of Gary Coleman laying in his deathbed with the intubation tube in his mouth. Bridges was obviously disgusted by what he saw and has every right to be angry.

Bridges said, "It's horrible. It's absolutely horrible. And I hope that whoever is responsible for this, and the people that are involved in this, people that are in the pictures, I hope they burn in hell."

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to determine whom he is talking about.

A representative for Price told Entertainment Tonight that Shannon "is very hurt by the pictures getting out there."

When he was asked who he thought leaked the images, Bridges said, "Her face is in the photo but she doesn't know anything about the photos? You know who took the darn pic. How are you going to sit there and lie?"

Coleman's former manager, Dion Mial, told Entertainment Tonight Wednesday, "As we continue to mourn Gary's passing, in the face of the inhuman and miscreant actions of those who, without question, have demonstrated the highest and most crystalline intentions to dishonor him and strip him of his dignity, during his lifetime and in his death, may I assure Gary's loved ones and fans that such actions shall not prevail as Gary's ultimate living legacy."

Mial added, "Rather, these actions simply illuminate and magnify the truth that our gift of free will may, ultimately, relegate us to a long life of bondage and imprisonment that the life of a social and professional outcast, indeed, will bring. May God bless Miss Price and her "free will."'

No one should be able to profit off the death of another like this, whether it's an individual with pictures of a dying or deceased celebrity or a magazine that buys those images. In the end, what has happened in the case of Gary Coleman is tragic all the way around. He deserved to be treated with dignity after he passed away, not this. What is happening now is the ultimate form of disrespect for a man who entered our lives all those years ago and made us laugh. He deserves to have that respect now and be allowed to rest in peace.

Sources:
Entertainment Tonight, Todd Bridges On Gary Coleman's Deathbed Photos: 'It's Absolutely Horrible'
Entertainment Tonight, Executor Of Gary Coleman's Will Bars Shannon Price From Home; Asks Her To Return Items