If Jeffrey Wells’s consistent misplaced head-slapping over Heath Ledger’s death wasn’t enough, along comes this moron Jerry Portwood stirring more disrespect with the following:
We don’t usually pay much attention to Mad Magazine, but when we saw their cover for their “20 Dumbest People, Events and Things” featured a version of Heath Ledger’s Joker, we had to laugh. Although Ledger himself doesn’t make the list (the complete 20 can be seen after the jump), accidentally killing yourself when you are about to star in one of the biggest movies in history should certainly get you ranked as one of the dumbest people. But in a year with so many other dumb dumb details, I guess he didn’t make the cut.
I’ve seriously had it with this mean-spirited, willful segment of the journalistic community that thinks it’s okay to be so dreadfully judgemental of this scenario, now nearly a year old if you can believe it. It’s easy to be up on the white tower with your laptop slinging subjectivity and another thing altogether to be in the trenches as a driven, hard-working actor who dedicates himself and might just need a little help getting to sleep at night.
It was a tragedy, plain and simple. Nothing “stupid” about it. Walk in his shoes, then you have the right to say something so vile. Until then, you’re just another douche bag with an opinion no one wants to hear.
We’ve all been there.
Comments
10 responses to “I’ve had it with this stuff”
And just to throw it out there, Mad Magazine shouldn’t be under the gun for anything. The cover was just a simple play on one of the more popular cult figures in The Joker. The magazine doesn’t take shots at Ledger at all, and Greenwood should’ve figured that out when he realized that he “didn’t make the cut.”
Wow that Greenwood comment is the most vile, distasteful and awful thing I’ve read all year.
This rant seemed way too fan-boyish. I’ve personally never enjoyed the Mad brand of humour, but they have the freedom to say and make fun of anything they want. The best form of protest is just to ignore it.
Matt, I think Kris was responding to the comment from a guy from the New York Press, not to Mad Magazine’s cover photo. They did not include Ledger on their list.
And yeah, Greenwood is an asshat.
Matt: Clearly you don’t understand that Mad is making no commentary on Heath’s death. The magazine is simply taking the opportunity to use an iconic image from the year and offer up the “Why So Stupid?” comment.
The Greenwood comment, and my beef entirely, comes from the New York Press (as D mentions).
Fanboy-ish? That’s callous and frankly ignorant. I would be doing this if Heath had starred in an indie film no one saw this year. But I understand some folks will do anything to take the trusty “fanboy” swipe at someone.
that guy probably just had an image of heath ledger as just another pill-popping, coke snorting, smug, spoiled yuppie who got what was coming to him.
did Matt even read what Kris wrote? Sounds like he just toke a look at the title, the picture, and came to an irrational conclusion.
Well said. Just because they make good money doesn’t mean actors don’t have a hard time making it as well.
Also, Kris, in the interests of accuracy, the guy’s name was Portwood. It read so when I clicked on the link in your article. Have a good day.
Seriously, Ledger is not a God. He’s not above criticism or even a little dark humor. I loved his Joker (although the film itself could use some work) and unlike the fanboys out there even liked much of his previous work. But he was only human, he doesn’t deserve anything special.
It’s only human to expect decency instead of hairbrained gossip that turns into “The druggie who overdosed.” Shame on you if you think it’s okay to distort reality for comedy’s sake on something like this.
And again, it has nothing to do with “fanboys,” so stop stooping.