The Heath Ledger Drug Video: Should it Be Broadcast?

With the recent footage surfacing of the late Heath Ledger at a "drug party," the news media is going wild about whether it was right or wrong for entertainment magazine shows such as Entertainment Tonight or The Insider to decide not to air their story on the video. They had already purchased the video for a top dollar amount according to the Chicago Sun Times. They were then pressured to no longer air it for respect for Heath Ledger's family.

Regardless of whether or not he used illegal drugs at this party on the video, or an any other point in his life, it still doesn't change the fact that he is gone now. ET or any other media outlet had no interest in showing this video while he was still alive, so I do not believe they should bother with it now. It's not going to prove anything and it's only going to cause pain and suffering to those already suffering. I'm sure those close to him, especially his friends, knew if and what kind of drugs he was into. Just because he was famous, does not make him perfect. Just as regular every day people have problems and struggles they must face in everyday life, including drug and alcohol dependency, those that are rich and famous suffer from these problems as well.

I think it was a good idea on behalf of the PR firm to pressure the media to not show this video. Just because he did drugs in the past doesn't mean that he meant to kill himself with drugs. Accidental overdoses can happen to anyone who mixes a number of drugs, whether it be legal, illegal, prescription, or over the counter medication. This was the same type of thing that happened to Anne Nicole Smith tragically, as well. I don't believe Heath Ledger intended on killing himself, he just took a bit too much and was self medicating just to make it through his days and took the wrong combination of drugs which ended up being a fatal combination.

Sadly, it took the death of this fine actor for the media to pay more attention to him than they have in quite sometime. I have not heard Heath Ledger's name in the news or media in months, and now they have been harping on him for the past week and a half. All of a sudden there are stories surfacing that his ex-girlfriend had ended their relationship because of drugs and that she even attempted to drop him off at a Malibu rehab center, in 2006. According to his publicist in the United States, this is not a true statement, as stated on the website Stuff. His death over shadowed another sad young Hollywood death that happened just weeks before his, Brad Renfro.

I do not blame the viewers of shows such as these for the lengths the media goes through to get these stories. Viewers watch what is on, and are persuaded to be interested in what the media is showcasing, especially when it's coming at the viewer from multiple outlets. When you have the same news story being streamlined at you on the internet, on TV, in the newspaper, and on the radio, you can't help but be interested. If the media just simply stated that "Heath Ledger passed away in his Manhattan apartment and services would be held..." then people would be curious about how he died, but their enthusiasm about it wouldn't be driven as powerfully. People would be sad that he was gone, but not second guessing everything he has ever said or done in his career based on the facts that he had a possible drug problem. Before his death, everyone thought quite highly of him. So, my question is, what purpose does it serve to ruin someone's character after they are dead? They are no longer with us to correct what is being said or to admit to anything. Why not just let the dead rest in peace and remember for the good things that they have brought to us while they were still alive!