Musto tells it straight2508

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Solid, straight words about that Heath Ledger drug video from Village Voice columnist Michael Musto: "So a bunch of celebs came to dead Heath Ledger's rescue at the behest of a publicist and partly as a result of the pressure, Entertainment Tonight dropped the video they had bought of the actor at an '06 drug party. And once again, the PR industry succeeds in keeping the truth from the public.

"Flacks were suddenly outraged over the 'bad taste' involved in running such a video, but THEY'RE the class acts who accept large sums of money to obscure celebrity realities on a daily basis. Talk about bad taste!

"I'm not saying this was going to be a Pulitzer winning tape or even provide any concrete answers about Heath's sad demise, but it certainly promised to be newsworthy and less coy than the OFFICIAL reactions anyone's gotten about what happened. Let's not forget the maid who spoke to an Olsen twin way before calling 911 or the various people stepping forward to downplay any potential self destruction involved, as if a 28-year-old could have suddenly dropped from natural causes. Strangely, they're the same people lionizing Heath for having hated any form of b.s.! This tape couldn't have truly hurt anyone. The truth -- even in sensationalized form -- can only heal."

Vanity Fair's Hollywood issue, out 2.12<< previous | next >>Jay Leno forever!

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on February 4, 2008 at 12:37 PM

comment #1

christian says ...

Yes, Michael Musto really cares.

Posted by christian at February 4, 2008 12:49 PM

comment #2

insidah says ...

No one wants to reveal what goes on behind the curtain - and I imagine those friends of Heath's who were powerful enough to make those calls and have that kind of PR influence over ET are also overpaid, overindulged actors who dabble in whatever money can buy and are terrified of such truth getting out. The middle class, which has to get up every day and go to work and won't be celebrated for the creativity that results from blowing lines all night, has very little pity for actors who work months here and there for millions of dollars. It's kind of bullshit.

Posted by insidah at February 4, 2008 1:23 PM

comment #3

Monument says ...

I think that Hollywood doesn't want to admit that the young actors of today are engaging in 80's style coke storms on a regular basis.

Posted by Monument at February 4, 2008 1:27 PM

comment #4

Craptastic says ...

That is one of the funniest pictures I've seen in a while. Can't stop laughing.

Is there anyone else in here who would pay to see a Rex Reed/Micael Musto boxing match? With Fred Schneider as guest ref of course.

Posted by Craptastic at February 4, 2008 1:28 PM

comment #5

christian says ...

Oh insidah, you are so outside.

Too bad the average American doesn't get a glimpse at the sickness of the ultra-rich in business, the kind who procure underage prostitutes via trips to Belize or who provide troughs of booze and blow to themselves on Wall Street, or the future politicos in frat houses across the land who bang as many little sisters as they can and engage in sado-msochistic hazing to qualify them to be President one day.

Posted by christian at February 4, 2008 1:50 PM

comment #6

Rod32303 says ...

I'm the middle class. I teach High School. Insidah doesn't speak for me, or many others of this class, except for other hatin', jaded bitches who assume to know the truth because their own unhappy lives are full of their own brand of bullshit. Fucking tool.

I'll just choose remember the sight of Kim Ledger and his classy statement about HIS SON WHO IS DEAD.

Motherfuck! Let it be. Who gives a fuck? Let the man rest in peace.

Posted by Rod32303 at February 4, 2008 1:56 PM

comment #7

JHRussell says ...

"Solid, straight words" from Michael Musto?

Straight? He looks like Charles Nelson Reilly on steroids...

Posted by JHRussell at February 4, 2008 2:09 PM

comment #8

MAGGA says ...

Coke is the new middleclass drug in Oslo these days, I hardly think it is some kind of exlusivr superstar indulgence in L.A either. Either way, why on earth should we be allowed to view private video tapes of anyone, especially people who never courted the limelight? Our only concern should be the work, and we will miss a lot of great work without Ledger. Everything else is more about us than anything else. There is a reason why private lives are called private lives, and no spin can hide the fact that the reason anyone would want this on tv is that we are vultures desperate for a new fix of gossip crack.

Posted by MAGGA at February 4, 2008 2:14 PM

comment #9

christian says ...

I went to a party in Texas and people were doing lotsa blow. But then, they can afford to.

Posted by christian at February 4, 2008 2:16 PM

comment #10

vansmith says ...

it would have been wrong to put the video out there without coke being the official cause of death..i mean if he would have been hit by a car would they show us video of him driving recklessly somewhere. wait for the official report and then throw him under the bus..i saw the video and its lame, he's getting high with strangers just desperate for the next line, he knew it to but didnt care

Posted by vansmith at February 4, 2008 2:24 PM

comment #11

tophertilson says ...

My problem wasn't them showing the video, it was them selling it as something it wasn't. It was all so sensationalistic. There were people on the tape doing drugs. Ledger wasn't one of them. The thing he says about smoking weed is actually part of a larger statement he's making about why he's trying to stay sober. They didn't include this in their promos because no one would have watched or cared.

They tried to make the story something it wasn't. And for that, I'm glad they got their hands smacked. Even if the people doing the smacking deserved a little smack themselves.

Posted by tophertilson at February 4, 2008 2:39 PM

comment #12

T. Holly says ...

Circadian rhythm has me naturally up and down with the sun, but fortunately, I'm highly sensitive to minute amounts of sleep medication. The only thing I mix is 1 mg script with 10 mg anti-histimine, no alcohol or anything. I'm very pro drug education.

Posted by T. Holly at February 4, 2008 2:50 PM

comment #13

Edward Havens says ...

Anyone who has to call themselves in insider in any way, shape or form really isn't inside.

Posted by Edward Havens at February 4, 2008 2:56 PM

comment #14

anti-sardine says ...

Oh wow, Heath Ledger was at a party where people were doing drugs. I can't imagine! I'm sure that no one here has every been to a party where other people were doing some kind of drug. What the hell is a "drug party" anyway? Maybe you could have just called it a party. I don't do drugs and I've seen worse than that in the restroom of a Chili's. If they had a video of the guy snorting a line himself then maybe it would be a bigger deal, but such as it is, meh. Thanks for looking out for all of us Michael Musto.
People act so weird when celebrities die.

Posted by anti-sardine at February 4, 2008 3:07 PM

comment #15

christian says ...

Where's that bootleg video from 1980 of Musto in the bathroom at Studio 54 during the CAN'T STOP THE MUSIC premire party? The truth is out there!

Posted by christian at February 4, 2008 3:17 PM

comment #16

corey3rd says ...

Musto is more scared that his true life will be exposed - he's happily married to a woman and they have three kids. It's an all act!

The problem is very simple - the stars realize that the studios that work with also profit from destroying them on TMZ, Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood. They pay for the destructive shows.

Posted by corey3rd at February 4, 2008 3:28 PM

comment #17

rocco says ...

christian, you're like John Lithgow's character Earl Talbot Blake in 'Ricochet,' consumed with hatred (for George Bush). Hate the man, go ahead, no one faults you, just remember to breath for chrissakes.

Posted by rocco at February 4, 2008 4:01 PM

comment #18

christian says ...

Rocco, I could be talking about JFK. Didn't even mention...you know.. But if somebody trots out a tired rightie talking pont about spoiled druggy celebs, it's fair game to bring up Rush Limbaugh and whathisname. Sorry it bothers you. If you're not angry you're not paying attention. I breathe great because I don't repress my consuming hatred. Thanks.

Posted by christian at February 4, 2008 5:19 PM

comment #19