Robin Williams’ name has been all over social media since his death on Monday.
He was such a beloved actor: everyone seems to have their favorite Robin Williams movie.
To find out that he committed suicide is tragic and heartbreaking. Many friends are sharing stories of loved ones they’ve lost or about their own struggles, reminding those who are dealing with depression that they aren’t alone.
But earlier today, an article caught my eye about the cause of Robin Williams’ death. I clicked on it because up until this point, the word “apparent” was still being used in conjunction with his death and I’ve seen how twitter/facebook can get things so wrong sometimes: not only the cause of death, but announcing the death of someone who is actually still alive.
Though when I clicked through, suicide was confirmed, as well as a very detailed description of how Robin Williams was found.
I read it, wondering why it is that we think we’re entitled to this information. Why it’s out there for public consumption.
Sure, we can all probably share a memory we have related to one of Robin Williams’ roles, but we’re not his family, not his friends, we haven’t met him in person.
It seems the type of information that should be just for his family; we don’t have a right to know.
Celebrities’ lives are out there, I get it. I even wrote for a celebrity column for a website for several months, though I tried to stick to reality show recaps/predictions as much as I could, really detesting myself any time I had to tread the line and write about a celebrity’s life, knowing I’d never do that about a “regular” person. Quitting that job gave me an enormous sense of relief.
But, I get it: the price of celebrity is losing a vast majority of your privacy. And writers need to keep their jobs, so they need to write articles that are requested of them, vying to be the first or the one sharing the most information to get the maximum amount of traffic.
Yet… I feel like there should be a line somewhere. A family going through heartbreak doesn’t need additional pain from having such intimate details shared with everyone: there are some things we don’t have a right to know.
What do you think? Do you think all the details should be shared in a situation like this or should the family be given some privacy?
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Such a sad story…and sad that the family has to endure the public eye with their grief. You’re right, though. Who are we to think we should have the right to know?
We’re such an information-hungry society. But I do think (oddly enough for a blogger) that not every last detail needs to be out there.
I don’t think we can stop what people write, how much they write, and how much privacy they intrude upon. But we can certainly control our own actions – by not clicking on those links, and not doing searches on such things. I definitely agree that there needs to be a line drawn – but people will cross it.
Very true. There are certain sites I won’t go to and articles I won’t click on because it’s all too gossipy. I had clicked on the one that inspired this post b/c it said cause of death determined and I did want to see(since there’d been so much discussion on it) if it was indeed suicide. But it didn’t just say that, it went into detail about how he was found- info I just don’t see why it was ever released to the general public, celebrity or not.
I’m so very torn – I can only imagine Mr Williams feeling somewhat embarrassed from all the information, the ugly truth of it all being exposed. But then, celebrity is how he made his living, like it or not.
I had a dear friend pass from a somewhat scandalous car accident a few years back – the details of his end, photos and all, all over the local news. I felt raw for him. He didn’t ask for that, being a private citizen, but the news thought differently.
Privacy is a rarity today. Just a fact. I’m feeling for his family, but hoping the details might change at least one suicidal thought tonight.
I do hope it changes someone’s suicidal thoughts, I really do.
What really bothered me and sickened me was the details of how he was found. It’s one thing to say suicide, but those details just seem like they aren’t anything that should go beyond the medical examiner.
I totally agree! I really don’t need to know.
I definitely think it should be kept private. How extremely heartbreaking — and now it’s even more information out there for the public to scrutinize. So, so sad.
I’m just wrecked over his passing. Dead Poet’s Society was such a huge impact on me.
But that doesn’t mean I would ever presume to know him. Or have any “right” to him. The only thing I ever expected from him — was an incredible performance. And he pretty much always delivered.
We have as a society stuck on knowledge and entitlement over extended our claim on celebrities. I don’t believe for one minute that should be the price of fame. They are real people and they deserve to have their rights to privacy respected; the same as we would expect.
Oddly, we are obsessed with celebrity cultures and their seemingly perfect lives. But a tragedy like this shows us: fame and fortune do not buy happiness.
I hate seeing these things splashed in the media. One of the things I like best about my life being so busy now is that I don’t have the time to read the gossip in celebrity lives and perpetuate the way we invade their privacy. Celebrity or not, I think everyone is entitled to dignity.
My aunt told me some of the gory details today, and afterwards I felt like I didn’t really need to know. Losing such a talented person, who made me smile and laugh and cry and think, is hard enough.
Yes I believe there has to be a line drawn somewhere, and whether or not people cross that is an entirely different matter. I love Williams’ work. That’s as far as it goes and I’m avoiding any further information that elaborates more on his death. Some people might call me unfeeling but it’s just too painful to know more and, I believe, unnecessary.
You know, I think it’s pretty obvious what “by asphyxiation” means. I think I read the same article and there were just a lot of things within it that made no sense to me, but most jarring was the absolute description. You’re right. I didn’t need to know that. I’m too busy remembering the laughter and the sheer joy that he brought with him to every movie, every talk show, every person he met. Why does anyone need that other image stuck in their head. I certainly don’t.
I am broken-hearted about his passing. He’s always been such a favorite of mine ever since I first saw him on the Happy Days episode so long ago. I don’t want or need to hear the details of his death. I think I know enough. He’s not here anymore. That’s all I need to know.
Robin’s death is devastating–I grew up with him, looked up to him, and admired him for his incredible genius.
But the cult of celebrity is out of control. With so much many more media outlets competing for attention, people will go to any lengths to grab that next sensational sound (or text) bite, no matter what the consequences. It doesn’t matter to them they might be destroying a life.
I once learned in journalism school how all the reporters in the day knew president FDR’s wife kept a girlfriend in the White House. They never reported it. They knew JFK had women coming thorough the Oval Office revolving door. They kept quiet. They said it was immaterial to his position, disrespectful, and would harm the greater good. And it was none of the public’s business. Reporters and gossip hounds now should learn.
Oh I completely agree! I saw a similar article last night and then clicked off of it cause I felt like it was invasive. Then I noticed it was in every “news” article in my feed. I just feel like some things are private and I don’t want to know.
I agree with you. I don’t think we should know and I don’t want to know. I accidentally clicked on a link that began to reveal details that I didn’t want to know. I’d rather preserve the memory I have of him than that of what must have been his lowest point. My heart aches for him and his family.
There should definitely be a line. That is information that the public isn’t entitled to know just because he is a celebrity, and shouldn’t be released unless the family chooses to make public comments about the details.
Totally agree with you…people just think they can have any info they want. Not sure the point of finding out all those specifics you know?
I agree Shell… some things need to be ONLY for family and friends. THIS detail of the horrific trauma should be honored by the media… especially when it’s someone as HONORABLE as this man.
I agree, I think there are things that just aren’t our business. I don’t think every detail of what he did in his last moments of desperation should be made for public consumption like some kind of freak show. He deserves privacy at least in death, we all do.
I commented on your FB post about this, and I agree with you. I don’t need to know the details.
When Cory Monteith died I thought over and over and over about how he was found. I didn’t need to know that, either. Celebrities just fall under that weird domain, and it’s a rough go.
It’s interesting you mention details, because we only really need/want to know whether or not it was someone else who did the crime or self-inflicted. I think the nitty gritty isn’t necessary. Recently in my neighborhood a woman was found dead due to suicide/asphyxiation (sp?) and the news didn’t describe what was used or how she did it. None of us cared. So why do we need those types of details for celebrities?
I remember when several years after Kurt Cobain died that his wife published his journals. I think that’s so wrong and I hate thinking/feeling like people make money off of those who have died and were once famous.
You are right, there is definitely a thing such as too much information; especially at this time when his family is just trying to process everything, i cannot even imagine having to do that, let alone with all of the media constantly on it too.
I completely agree!
I do believe that, as celebrity, there is some level that the public should be made aware of — “case of death was suicide” would be enough – for such a well-known figure, it’s important to know if it were old-age, or disease, or accident, or suicide, or foul play. But, yeah, the details of how his body was found? I see no way that such knowledge possibly provides the public anything, other than the feeling that they’re being overly voyeuristic.
Yup. I didn’t have a problem with it being known that it was suicide. But all the details about how he was found- that seems like something for just the family.
This story breaks my heart. It really isn’t anyone except his family’s business. I wish they could have some privacy during all of this.