Celebrities who deserve forgiveness...or not?

[Reigh Kaufman]

I chanced upon footage of the death of Vic Morrow recently (I was looking for the 'Wanna see something really scary?' scene from 'Twilight Zone: The Movie') and I started to read about the case.

I am not categorically stating that John Landis was responsible for the deaths of the actors, but it depressed me to see how...defiant and unapologetic he was during the trial and I lost a lot of respect for the man.

Then I started think about all the celebrities who had publicly fucked up: Rob Lowe, Hugh Grant, Halle Berry, Michael Richards, Jeffrey Jones, Paul Reubens...

...and, of course, the one I can personally never forgive: Roman Polanski.

It made me wonder: Are there celebrities you can never forgive for their actions? Are there some who have been ostracized unfairly?

Who deserves forgiveness and who does not?

[LordSimen]

Roman Polanski and Victor Salva are two people who I could probably never forgive as people due to the horrible nature of their crimes. I enjoy their films, however, I cannot appreciate them as people.

Other celebrities such as Tom Cruise or Mel Gibson, I can forgive. They said stupid shit. Cruise may have fought to holy hell to defend his stupid shit, but what the hell, I have friends whos made stupider arguments than he has.

[HighTyde]

I'm (not) sorry, but there is no way I can EVER forgive...

Katherine Heigl

seriously, what an ungrateful bitch.

what gives her the right to criticize her writers on Grey's anatomy
and to publicly bash the movie, that in my humble opinion, made her famous, Knocked Up.

I refuse to support anything this woman does or makes.

[Reigh Kaufman]

"AIDS is a state of mind, not a disease" - Jenna Elfman.

I always liked Jenna - apart from the truly awful 'Dharma and Greg' - but I could never find the full context of this statement and therefore can't quite bring myself to forgive her. I would love to know what the interview was about, and whether or not it was misinterpreted, but until then she remains on my list of people I have no respect for. Tom Cruise, despite the fact that my father was a psychiatric nurse, I can forgive for being somewhat naive and misguided. He is not the first to say that depressives just need to give themselves a good shake. (And I should know).

Both are Scientologists (and may explain their private beliefs, even if I do disagree with them), but their comments offended me. Somehow, though, I just cannot bring myself to forgive Jenna.


Strange but true.

[Scarface98.9]

Chris Benoit. His case basically trumps any other celebs

[sbunn10]

What did he do that should offer the chance for you to forgive him or not? He took steroids, like many others in pro wrestling, and they fucked him up to the point of something horrible. He killed his wife and child. Yes, that is completely awful, but, IMO, there is nothing for you to forgive or not to forgive.

And I think Michael Richards deserves forgiveness. He was being heckled to death by that guy and he went nuts.. I think that we have to assume something is a bit off with him? I listened to the incident and it seemed that he thought he was being funny. What he said was terrible and shameful, but I think he has already been punished enough by the media reaction and all that ensued. I don't think he will be viewed the same ever again, but I think it should be put in the past.

[ilovemovies]

Victor Salva, as horrible as his crime is, argueably the most horrific crime you can commit, some say even worse than murder, at least did his time. Roman Polanski choose to fled and therefore doesn't deserve respect (as a person, not as a filmmaker). But forgiveness? That's up to his victim I suppose.

But I think in general anyone who truly feels sorry for what they did, deserves forgiveness.

[JJFlamingo]

Victor Salva-sorry, I don't care if he "did his time", the man should be working at a 7-eleven and not behind a camera, and any so-called "work" he produces should be rightfully censored to protect society...:D

[DaMovieMan]

Well after seeing Roman Polanski: Wanted & Desired, some of you may not have a such a strong feeling of hatred towards him...the judge in the case was an asshole and his life was fucked up due to the media. What he did was disgusting and he should do his time but i totally understand why he fled. Oh and the girl in question (now a woman of 45) publicly forgave him.

Anyways... i dunno who i can't forgive. Any scientologists out there for trying to brainwash people comes to mind.

[outsyder]

Using Wikipedia to get a brief understanding of their varied crimes, social or legal in nature, my limited judgment on them would probably go as follows, even if in some cases, I don't think anyone has the right to pass judgment here.

There's a distinct line between saying something stupid, and comitting a crime that victimizes others. While some of the above celebrities are guilty of a slip of the tongue or in the case of many Scientologists, are potentially the victims of a legitimately murky brainwashing cult, quite a few of those seemed to have pushed things beyond an acceptable limit, regardless of whether they were actually convicted of their crimes. Guys like Mel Gibson, Michael Richards, Halle Berry, Tom Cruise, etc. have all said some fairly stupid and offensive things, and perhaps even believe them, but as human beings, I don't think they're beyond forgiveness, as I don't think they can be condemned for words, hurtful or not. People can be brought up to believe any number of things given the right (or wrong) influences, and it may very well not be their fault. So I can't condemn those people, as shocking as some of the things they have said may be, especially since it is possible for people to change. The people they've all hurt the most through their actions have been themselves.

As for the cases of Jeffrey Jones, Victor Salva, etc. their crimes in my view are unforgiveable. They crossed a line and committed actual crimes. Crimes that had specific victims, and crimes that they knew were such when they committed them.

The Rob Lowe case does seem a little more murky though. I truly hope that he did not knowingly statutory rape someone. The circumstances of the case seem to point to the fact that perhaps he didn't know the age of his victim.

The Paul Reubens thing isn't as cut and dry from what I know of it either. He was acquited, but what his intentions were are still not entirely definitive, from what I understand.


Again, I mostly feel that as long as the worst crimes of a given celeb are restricted to rantings however demented, that from my viewpoint, they aren't condemnable as people, even if what they said is. Furthermore, it is possible that several people who were convicted of some of the crimes mentioned earlier were not truly guilty of it, namely Roman Polanski. I don't think I really have enough information to make a judgment call on this, as sometimes, like in Rob Lowe's case, statutory rape cases aren't often black and white. I would hope that he didn't and leave it at that.

[Buck Turgidson]

I am not categorically stating that John Landis was responsible for the deaths of the actors [...]
Okay. I will. He was categorically responsible for the deaths of three people, including two small children. He's a worthless, unapologetic, unremorseful waste of the chemicals that make up his body.

[john_rambo]

George Lucas does not deserve forgiveness... no, no, no, not for the Star Wars Prequels or Indy 4, I dig all those, but for allowing that new Star Wars "3D" movie to be made.
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w290/influence30000/unforgivable.jpg
"UNFORGIVEABLE!"

[BadCoverVersion]

it is possible that several people who were convicted of some of the crimes mentioned earlier were not truly guilty of it, namely Roman Polanski.

I used to refuse to watch his films purely out of principal...but he's a superb film-maker so I soon caved.

The Tenant is in my top 10, Rosemary's Baby and Chinatown my top 100.

I have no doubt he sexually assaulted and sodomized a 13 year old girl. Whether her Mother was neglectful and money-grubbing is neither here nor there IMO. Polanski is as Polanski does.

Okay. I will. He was categorically responsible for the deaths of three people, including two small children. He's a worthless, unapologetic, unremorseful waste of the chemicals that make up his body.

Pretty much.

Brigitte Bardot is somebody I used to really admire. Her work with Serge Gainsbourg, her film career... she was the perfect, untouchable sex symbol. I find much of what she says these days absolutely abhorrent and nonsensical. I try to just put it down to her being a daft old kook...but she really is a piece of work.

I just like to think she died in the 1970's...as horrible as that sounds it kinda works for me.

I find Woody Allen a repulsive little character. I am inclined to believe Farrow's claims that he molested their 7 year old adopted daughter as well...whatever happened, the Judge considered his relationship with her to be "grossly inappropriate". Christ only knows when he started trying it on with Soon-Yi. What sort of morally inept individual takes nude photographs of their Wives adopted daughter? Fuck NO.

[jaw2929]

There's only 2 celebrities that have done things recently or that I've read about their past/interviews that I used to love, but can't fucking stand now. Those being Hulk Hogan and Angelina Jolie. Hogan for him wanting to make money off of the tragic accident his fucking drunk piece of shit son caused to his friend (after he gets out of prison). As for Jolie, I read she did an interview when she was younger about how she kicked & beat her dog, and as a result ended up dying or something. Plus all of her other bizarre behaviour, just a complete turn-off now.

[Lawgick]

"AIDS is a state of mind, not a disease" - Jenna Elfman.

I always liked Jenna - apart from the truly awful 'Dharma and Greg' - but I could never find the full context of this statement and therefore can't quite bring myself to forgive her. I would love to know what the interview was about, and whether or not it was misinterpreted, but until then she remains on my list of people I have no respect for. Tom Cruise, despite the fact that my father was a psychiatric nurse, I can forgive for being somewhat naive and misguided. He is not the first to say that depressives just need to give themselves a good shake. (And I should know).

Both are Scientologists (and may explain their private beliefs, even if I do disagree with them), but their comments offended me. Somehow, though, I just cannot bring myself to forgive Jenna.


Strange but true.

Perhaps this will shed some light:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1546322203061765598&ei=U07FSMO0GYqCrQLYypy5BQ&q=aids+inc&hl=en



.

[Lawgick]

I don't follow celebrity news and whatnot so I wouldn't know what they need to be forgiven for but when I think about the types of lives famous people have to live(especially here in the west) I must admit I can understand why shit happens.
How many things do we regular folks, the very people in this thread, have done that they are ashamed of? How many things have you done or said that you would not be forgiven for if judged by the same criteria your judging these people that live under a magnifying glass everyday? Pressure makes most people, celebrity or not, act rashly...make mistakes.

I know I've done bad things, some I regret and some I don't. Can you really say it's not the same for you? Never fucked up royally? So then who are we to judge?

We need to stop expecting celebrities to be more then human. Its sick and twisted and they don't deserve it.

[Smiert Spionam]

I understand the point you're trying to make, Lawgick, but you do realize that one of the "celebrities" that we're talking about in this thread sodomized a 12 year-old boy and filmed it, right?

[AshleysDad]

Chris Benoit. His case basically trumps any other celebs

Who? Some stupid roided up wrestler who killed himself and his family? If you ask 100 people, 98 would have not idea who this loser is. He is not a celebrity outside of males under 30. But killing your family is like top 5 worst things you can do. I think there are more people who blame the WWE than Chris for the riods that led to his crazy ass mind that killed his everyone.


I forgive Britney Spears for marrying Kevin and being the worst mommy of her generation. She looks awesome now and I can't wait until the home made porn movie comes out.