Wow, what a week for Hollywood! Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson and now, Billy Mays (the infomercial guy Sham Wow, OxyClean etc.). Of course, Michael Jackson is deemed the most shocking death and youd be hard pressed to turn on the television and not find something about the eccentric King of Pop. While I think its tragic that a music icon is dead and one who was only 50, Im afraid I find myself reaching for my earplugs as my husband watches the news these days.
Yes, I remember watching the music video Thriller (remember when MTV actually showed music videos?) when I was a tween and watching the boys in my class attempt the moonwalk at every middle school dance. I think Michael Jackson made huge contributions to the entertainment industry, and I certainly dont want to sound as though Im tuning out the media coverage out of disrespect.
As a matter of fact, its out of respect when I say the media is yet again, out of control in their celebrity coverage.
First of all, its impossible to have much conversation about Michael Jackson without mentioning the questionable events that may or may not have taken place at Neverland Ranch. Its difficult to hear his name and not think about the myriad of strange plastic surgeries that were possibly meant to mask a tortured soul. And of course, you have the many tabloid stories that unfortunately turned out to be relatively truthful (i.e. hyperbaric chamber thing).
Two thoughts continue to cross my mind. Is it right to speak ill of the dead, especially when one is speaking to the entire globe? And even more loudly, Im saddened by the irony. The poor guy cant even escape the vultures through death.
And what about the other celebrities? Ed McMahon, Farah Fawcett and even the ShamWOW dude (Billy Mays) were icons. I suppose since Mr. McMahon was older and we anticipated Ms. Fawcetts death, the stories are just not shocking enough to talk about in the media. And while Billys death was just as unexpected as Michael Jacksons, I guess the King of Infomercials doesnt quite rank the same as the King of Pop. I dont know. Maybe we should be happy that they might be resting more peacefully in the after world than Michael.
The scary thing is while the media is so fervently covering Michael Jacksons death (giving a minute by minute account of what his equally eccentric family is doing) and paying token homage to the other deaths of last week, what are we NOT hearing about? As much as I dont like hearing about demonstrations in Iran and whatever the crazed lunatic in North Korea is up to, those are the events that require us to take the earplugs out and pay close attention.
In name, the King of Pop was compared to his late, great ex-father-in-law (Elvis, King of Rock-n-Roll). Ironic that he should meet a similar end with a questionable death. Somehow, I think with the reach of the media in todays world, his death will be exploited even more than Elvis who is, by the way, the highest earning dead celebrity.
For me, I think Ill keep my earplugs in or listen to an old Jackson song like Billy Jean with my earphones and iPod, and wait until more pertinent, respectful news surfaces again.
May you rest in peace, Michael!
Meghan