Find out why the media coverage of the Britney Spears and Anna Nicole Smith sagas has left a bad taste in Kimberley Foster’s mouth.
Is it just me, or has anyone else recently found themselves silently screaming at their newspaper to leave Britney Spears the bloody hell alone! Even though she may normally grate on my nerves and draw my disdain with her often attention-seeking stunts, the fact is she clearly is a troubled young woman. So why are we still hounding her? As the "paps" sit perched outside the infamous Promises Treatment Centre (where Britney is receiving treatment) anxiously waiting for her to perform her next crazy antic, all I can seem to muster for the once bubbly pop-singer is pity. Can I just remind everyone that while she may already have two children and a failed marriage under her belt, Britney Spears is still only 25 years-old. Considering that I’m not too far off that age myself perhaps it’s understandable that I should suddenly feel for this young woman who, following more than one recent traumatic event, is struggling to cope with life. And let’s be honest, who hasn’t?
Few may be aware that not only is Britney currently having to deal with the break-up of her short-lived marriage to Kevin Federline, but also the recent death of her aunt, Sandra Bridges Covington, who passed away of breast cancer earlier this year. Now, coupled with the threat that she may lose her children in a custody battle with Federline, who could really blame Britney for feeling just a little bit shit? Call me an old softie but I just can’t seem to find recent reports of her suicidal attempts funny or even remotely entertaining.
Likewise, the recent death of Anna Nicole Smith and the appalling media handling that preceded actually sent a chill through my body. Once again, while she may not have been the most wholesome or inspirational of people, what justification lies in the total lack of respect and sympathy shown by many facets of the media following her passing? As blogger, Alan Stewart Carl described it, “[hers was] a tabloid death to punctuate a tabloid life.” But was it deserved? No.
From the sickening online footage of the paramedics' attempts to resuscitate her as she was being wheeled out to a waiting ambulance to the media circus surrounding the court case to decide where she was to be buried, the whole saga has left a bad taste in my mouth. Not without her faults, here was another woman trying to overcome a series of traumatic events in her life including the recent death of her son Daniel, 20, just days after giving birth to her daughter. That, furthered by a paternity battle to determine the baby’s real father and I’m sure no one could blame Anna Nicole for also feeling just a little bit shit. A baby without her mother – I just can’t seem to find that funny or even remotely entertaining. What it is, is sad. Britney being admitted to rehab is sad, Anna Nicole Smith dying is sad, so can't we just leave it at that?