Where's the media coverage for this?

eLracho · #1 (**permalink**) 01-24-2008, 01:55 AM

Maybe it's because Heath Ledger was more recently successful (and didn't knowingly struggle with drugs and alcohol like Renfro did), but actor Brad Renfro died just last week (January 15th) and I don't think I'd heard anything about it until a few minutes ago.

Maybe I just didn't watch the news that day (that's not how I initially heard of Ledger's passing anyway), but, still, I didn't find out about it 'til just now, when flipping through a "Hollywood Stars Dead Before 40" list (in the middle of an article about Ledger, mind you): Police Sort Out Clues Into Ledger's Death - AOL News.

I'm not trying to debase the meaning of Ledger's death. As of late, he was probably more respected (and maybe more well-recognized) than Renfro, but, is that why Renfro's face wasn't plastered all over the news and the Internet when he died (like Ledger's currently is)?

EDIT: Here's Renfro's IMDb page, for anyone who is interested.

**Brother of Yeshua** · 01-24-2008, 09:00 AM

Dude you know the answer to this. He's a pretty boy. Sex sells, and dead sex icons sell even better.

I'm so tired of it. I'm tired of hearing everyone spout off their opinions on the value and/or tragedy of his death without knowing a damn thing about him other than the movies he was in. The media eats this shit up, and if I've learned anything, it's that if the MSM (mainstream media) is pushing something, there's a reason for it other than it's stated intent.

Psy-ops anyone?

**Kelley** · 01-24-2008, 10:34 AM

Oh you just heard about it?

Tis a tradgedy that such young talent fall victim to the whim of early death.

eLracho · 01-24-2008, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brother of Yeshua

Dude you know the answer to this. He's a pretty boy. Sex sells, and dead sex icons sell even better.

Who's a pretty boy? Ledger?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brother of Yeshua

I'm so tired of it. I'm tired of hearing everyone spout off their opinions on the value and/or tragedy of his death without knowing a damn thing about him other than the movies he was in.

OK, I'm assuming you're talking about Ledger, and I feel the same way, to some degree, but it's hard to not want to talk about it all, especially if you're emotionally effected by it.

I know that Ledger was a complete stranger to most of us, but he was a talented guy, so his work touched a lot of people. It's natural to feel something when hearing of his death, especially when you think about the fact that he has a two-year-old daughter.

Besides, my post wasn't really about Ledger. It's not that I would want Renfro's death to be covered by Ledger's, but he was really praised for his role in The Client. I was wondering why his death went (to my knowledge) unmentioned. B/c he was less famous, does his death warrant less attention? Is it less tragic?

I don't know. I can't seem to express myself properly tonight.

I have no idea what "Psy-ops" means...

**Brother of Yeshua** · 01-25-2008, 12:49 AM

By the media's standards yes, because honstly I don't know anything about this guy Mr. Renfro.

I've probably seen him in some movies, but to me his death was meaningless, which is why I merely addressed the issue of you asking why Heath and not Brad.

So I guess I unwittingly proved my own point from the other thread that tragedy is subjective.

eLracho · 01-25-2008, 12:56 AM

Mmmkay. Thanks for your candor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brother of Yeshua

So I guess I unwittingly proved my own point from the other thread that tragedy is subjective.

Yeah, I guess you did.

JumpInTheFire · 01-25-2008, 02:01 AM

sucks, i loved Apt Pupil... great movie

eLracho · 01-25-2008, 02:05 AM

I don't know if I saw that one, but I remember he was good in The Client.

He was on an episode of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" that originally aired two years ago, nearly to the day (Jan. 22), and I thought he did a good job. It was good to see that he was working.

**Brother of Yeshua** · 01-25-2008, 09:12 AM

He was in apt pupil? See I have seen him and didn't even know it.

I'm just gonna go look him up in imdb.com

Also elracho, psy-ops are government military programs that are not violent in nature, but designed to create and disseminate propaganda in favor of their agenda. 90% of these "psy-ops" programs are targetted at US citizens.

I didn't notice you said that earlier.