There's no questioning that when a family tragedy strikes one of our celebrities, it is news. There's no doubt that because we as a nation tend to worship celebrities, and quite often idolize them, that we find ourselves grieving for our idols when tragedy happens to them. And of course, many of us, having faced similar circumstances in life, know to some degree what those suddenly facing crisis are going through.
The passing of John Travolta and Kelly Preston's 16 year old son, Jett, has saddened most of us who are aware of it. I know one of the first thoughts I had when I heard it on the radio, was that this horrible event has fallen upon one of the nicest celebrity families in America. This should not be.
John Travolta and Kelly Preston have been married many years, have lived a very quiet and private life together, and as such, and lacking a better way to describe them, are none other than American royalty. I have always liked John Tavolta on the screen, and probably have never missed one of his movies. He simply does not make a bad movie. He obviously loves his job.
I've been more than a little incensed over the efforts by some in the press to take this tragedy, in an effort to keep the momentum moving and to keep it in the headlines. Some are treating the story as if there were twists and turns to it. Had this happened to a lesser known family, it would not have breached beyond the local papers in the Bahamas, where the death occurred.
Of course, celebrities know that they give up a certain amount of privacy when they achieve fame, but that doesn't always make it right. If anything, this tragedy illustrates that even those among us that we at times worship and admire, are just as human as the rest of us, and they too suffer the negative aspects of life that we all have to face as humans.
I can't imagine how hard it is to have to endure the indignity of having one's life dissected on television when something like this happens. I've witnessed attacks on everything from the Travolta's religion, to the questioning how long it was from the time he may have had his siezure until he was found. These are baseless, unfounded, unfair, and totally cruel issues to be examined by anyone, much less those who are sensationalizing the tragedy of a family losing a child, in some pathetic attempt to garner an audience.
The story here is simple. A family has lost a dear loved one. Nothing more need be related to the public. The family deserves their privacy. They deserve respect. And what they don't need or deserve, is to be analyzed by anyone.
My heart absolutely goes out to the Travolta's for their loss, which will be deep and a lasting loss that they will have to try and cope with for the rest of their lives. At the same time, I also pray that they will never read or hear about the more invasive reports out there that we have seen.
Most have been respectful and sympathetic. Others have crossed a line that should never be crossed, and shame on them for doing it. I'm just a little bit, more than sick of these Geraldo Rivera wannabe's...
Leave the Travolta's alone.
