Amy Winehouse, dead at 27. Somebody’s daughter, remember?
A long time ago, back in 2007 in fact, an Irish model - Katie French - died of a drug overdose. I found some of the comments made at the time pretty abhorrent and remember writing a blog post about it.
Yesterday, over 90 people, many of them teenagers, were murdered by a madman in Norway.
This afternoon I watched Twitter in horror as first people near her home tweeted about seeing ambulances and police cars, and then the confirmation came: Amy Winehouse had died. Instantly, people crowed: ‘it’s her own fault’… ‘who gives a damn?’ and much, much worse.
Seriously? Yes, Amy Winehouse obviously had terrible addictions to goodness knows what… she was troubled and - let’s face it - ill. Does that make her death less serious than those killed in Norway? She’s still somebody’s daughter. Somebody’s heart is breaking tonight knowing that she’s gone. Do the circumstances of her death make her parents less worthy of our compassion and our sympathy?
I say no.
This weekend, I’m keeping a whole lot of people in my heart. People whose lives will never be the same again. And holding my children very, very close.
And the last word must go to Katie French’s family, who said at the time: ‘we would earnestly ask all those — both young and old — who may be tempted to dabble in potentially lethal substances to simply say ‘no’. No amount of so-called fun is worth the loss of life that so often befalls young people in Ireland today.’
Over the years, a number of people in show business have faced drug issues. Some have checked into treatment centres for celebrities, while others simply did not seek any kind of help, often with tragic results.
To me both are incredibly sad in different ways, like you say, tragedy is tragedy. An act of mindless violence on the part of a madman, claiming he did it in the name of some twisted idiotic cause, leading to the pointless death of so many innocent children, and the the loss of a young life troubled with so many addictions.
I remember many moons ago working in an area that had quite a bad heroin problem. I was so sick of treading over needles just to get into work, so didn’t have much time for the people responsible for them. Then one morning I saw a young girl, an addict, not much older than my sister, sobbing in a doorway. She didn’t want any help, but it really hit me that this was someone elses sister, someone elses daughter and baby once upon a time. It made me realise that addiction is a terrible illness, something that for many people, once they have trodden that path for whatever reason (and there usually is a reason) there is no going back. A very sad weekend all round. Emma : (
My problem with it is that I saw 2 posts on my Facebook feed about the Norway situation. I woke up this morning to dozens and dozens about Amy. Of course, I find it sad and tragic that such a young and talented girl has died through the stress of living up to pressure she couldn’t deal with. I would never say she deserved it. It’s horrible.
But at the same time, it makes me question people - the people I know - when they can dismiss senseless killings of innocent children as just another news story, and yet be shocked and devastated at the death of a girl who drank herself in oblivion. The impression I’ve been getting is that just because this girl was famous, her death is more upsetting and poignant than near on a hundred innocent lives lost through actions not their own.
Doesn’t it seem a little twisted that people are capable of such a huge outpouring of grief over one death and dismissal of mass killings, just because that one happened to be famous? Amy’s life was not worth any less than the lives of those Norwegian victims, of course. But it wasn’t worth any more, either. It just troubles me that from what I see on Facebook (not being much of a Twitter user), the drug-induced death of a troubled young celebrity resonates more with people than horrifying scenes of the mass murder of innocents.
The fact that the two tragedies occurred on the same weekend just highlighted something troubling about our society, for me. You matter more to the public if you’re famous. And that is horrendous.
Hmmm, I haven’t really seen it, but yes I agree that people are obsessed with celebrity. Maybe it’s because people think they know them? Altogether a horrendous weekend, my friend x
I am shocked and very sad to hear the news of Amy Winehouse dying. I enjoyed her music…she was talented in what she all did.Condolences to her family and those close that knew her
Beautifully well said !
Thank you kind lady x
Good post Becky, pity more people don’t think this way. She had a lot of talent, many of those who died in Norway may have done as well, tragedy is tragedy no matter who is involved, and it’s the families who suffer.
Thanks Steve. Exactly: tragedy is tragedy x
Nobody deserves anything like that. How awful must it be to be heartbroken over someone you love and who loves you and also have to put up with snotty horrible comments from people who don’t know them. I don’t read magazines for that reason. Nor do I watch any entertainment channels. I’d hate to be judged by someone who didn’t know me so I will never do it to someone I don’t know. She was so talented and that should be what people remember her for, not mistakes that we can all make so easily.
My heart goes out to anyone who lost somebody in Norway, that was horrific. I hope they’ll get through this…
Amen to that, Sarah. I’m always saying to my boys that if they wouldn’t say it to someone, they shouldn’t type it (on Facebook, for instance). The same rules should apply all over!
Well said Becky. It is so tragic that someone can be so helpless that they cannot stop the destruction. How anyone can say it is deserved or their own fault or not worthy of compassion or sympathy is beyond me. Are they really so pure and their lives and loved ones so detatched and untouched?
The shocking events in Norway remind us of how cruel the world is - we really don’t need to make it worse by losing compassion as well.
It terrifies me, to be honest… who was it that said ‘there but for the grace of God goes every one of us’? They weren’t far off x
As you said, she is someones Daughter, lover, friend…..
Totally - what a sad weekend eh? x
I second your post. I recently read Kelly Osbourne’s biography, and in it she often mentions Amy with such warmth and keen friendship. So, I am thinking of Kelly, and all of Amy’s friends, who must be in deep shock tonight. So sad, all these deaths are just… you know? Words don’t do it justice. But you’re a good thing for writing your post. Hugs.
Exactly, my friend - it’s all the people left behind. Hugs to you too x
Gosh she looks gorgeous here. I’m so sad, I wasn’t a huge fan but she was so troubled and so young. RIP x
Doesn’t she? I wasn’t really a fan either, but I’m with you - very sad x
Hear hear! The poor girl 🙁
Such a waste, isn’t it? x
Becks I only just heard about Amy as have had a day away from the internet and TV. Miss M phoned to say night night and Mr B told me. So so sad she’s gone. I hate that people feel it’s ok to discuss such a sad death in terms ‘deserving’. She was a girl with her demons just like us all and did the best she could.
As for Oslo, it’s just too awful to contemplate. Need to hug my girl. xx
Too right, lovely Jo. As you said on Twitter, we’re all human eh? x