Natasha Richardson was wrongly announced as dead in the media, earlier in the week.
Hmm… seemed that earlier in the week was a good time for misinformation and falsely reporting that various celebrities had died.
I’m not a perfect reporter by any means, but I at least attempt to fact check and verify a story in at least a handful of (unrelated) news sources, before posting things here. Seems some others online, who were keen to keep their readers updated in light of so much breaking news, were a little more trigger happy.
I wanted to explain to you guys that just because reports were not posted up here did not mean that I was unaware of the sad incident Natasha Richardson had whilst skiing. I was aware that she had the accident and reportedly got up and was well enough to joke and make light of her injury. I was also aware that over the last 48 hours there had been more misinformation and false reporting/ hasty retraction and editing than I had seen in the near two years that I’d been writing online full-time.
That is why I am not currently writing much about the sad case of Ms Richardson, sister of Joely and daughter of Vanessa Redgrave, and the reports today (Wednesday a.m.) that she has apparently been pronounced brain dead and taken off her life-support. Her family have said their goodbyes and so she is being (apparently) allowed to slip away peacefully.
From what I saw on Tuesday, the actress had already been pronounced dead prematurely… I did not want to be held responsible for upsetting any of her family who stumbled on here, nor be knowingly careless.
As if that weren’t bad enough, according the UK edition of OK magazine, reality star and cancer sufferer Jade Goody has died. Only… um… she hasn’t (at the time of the mag hitting stands at least). The rag apparently got carried away and produced and released for sale the cover below, which would lead any reasonable person to believe that the star had died.
From the last reports I read, Goody is very weak and very, very ill (some say she may not survive the week), but she IS alive. The publication did not immediately make any comment or apology.
Shocking. Just shocking.
Update (1.30am GMT Thursday 19 March): My trusted reader Kelly informs me that Natasha Richardson has now passed away. She was 45-years-old. You can read some related details over at the LA Times. The official statement from her family can be read over at Holy Moly. My thoughts are with her family at this time. R.I.P.
Jade Goody OK cover, makes it seem as if the star has passed away... she has not.
Image of Natasha Richardson courtesy of CB/ Splash News.
Good for you. This story hits too close to home for me and all the stories are so insensitive!!!!
Thank you so much for the support! I knew that as a writer too, you would understand where I am coming from on this.
I just don’t wanna follow the pack (in general), nor be in the position Perez Hilton found himself in yesterday where he said she died and then had to repost soon after cussing out the source for getting it wrong. His commenters were all pissed. I don’t want to knowingly upset of misinform so many people.
You have so much respect from both Tomas and myself with the choices you make in your reporting, These days, waiting for the facts – i.e., a statement from a doctor or family member seems irrelevant to all of the reporters who want to “be there first”.
It’s bad enough when it is a silly story, but jumping the gun when the subject is a person dying is absolutely heartless.
You have shown the family, and your readers, great respect by holding back and waiting for the facts.
You are probably in bed by now, but, yes, the family just came out and announced to the press that Natasha Richardson has died. She was 45.
Thank you for your honest reporting. We need more like you.
Such a sad day.
Hi Kelly, thanks again for letting me know about the story in the first place. Thank you also to you and Tomas for being so supportive. Sometimes I feel like I have to just be real and let people know that I am not slacking, I am just trying to be the best blogger I can and not spread things that I suspect are unfair or untrue. Mine is an entertainment based site and so it is harder to place stories like this. If I am going to report them, I am going to report the facts right and to the best of my ability. It’s all I can do.
Odd that you mention it, I was just drifting off to sleep and I saw your email come in, out of the corner of my eye. I have added an update and credited you with supplying the information. Love and hugs. AG.