Celebrity Succumb

It's the big celebrity story of the week. The passing of Heath Ledger. We all know he died. We all know he was found naked. We all know which pills he had in his apartment. We all know about the Mary Kate phone call. Yes it seems we are learning every trivial detail about the circumstances of Heath's passing, but why do we care?

Before I go any further I must disclose the fact that I work in the news biz, and have for a decade. Whenever a star makes headlines we have the "Big J" debate. Is covering this story respectable journalism, and why does the Average Joe care? Well I won't answer the respectable journalism part, because I honestly believe that question is extremely subjective, but I really want to tackle why the Average Joe cares.

Soldiers, Firefighters, and starving children are dying everyday. It may not always make the news, but we know it's happening. Are these deaths any more or less important than Heath's? I hate this type of question, and feel it shouldn't matter. Obviously the widow of 'Frank Firefighter", and the community where 'Frank' served will feel more of an impact from his loss than Heath Ledger's, but that's no reason to assume the Average Joe doesn't care about the latest fallen star. If you care, don't feel guilty, you aren't alone, and shouldn't be embarrassed.

We turn to movies, music, sports, and all sorts of entertainment, because it allows us to escape from our everyday lives. While taking breaks from the real world we form bonds with people we don't "really" know. Regardless of our interests, we all take part in these one sided relationships. We have our favorite actors, bands, and authors. We crave information about them, study them, and often seek to emulate them. The more we learn, the more we connect. For me it's all about these connections, and how our celebrity affinities make us feel about our own lives, and our world. If you think about it from this perspective, it becomes very clear why so many people are moved by the passing of stars.

Heath Ledger was popular. His appeal was universal. His work was admirable. I respected him as an actor. He started off as a teen heartthrob, but slowly started picking deeper movies, films where he could make statements, and be part of a bigger picture. Those choices made me notice him. I was touched by several of his performances, most recently his work in "I'm Not There". I loved this movie, and my fondness for the film made me feel more connected to Mr. Ledger. Whether you became a fan from his days in "10 things I hate About You" ,"Brokeback Mountain" , or any of his other films... it really doesn't matter. If you're a fan, you've established a connection. Now Heath's gone, and that connection feels fractured. It's ok to be upset about Heath Ledger's death. I am too, and I'm proud to admit it.