How many times are celebrities lost, and circumstances surrounding their deaths obscured? The morbid curiosity that comes with wanting to know is really a defense mechanism. Real information can empower us to make better choices. Unfortunately, interrupting the media circus is also bad for business.

This past weekend the entertainment world lost another legend. Whitney Houston died at the age of 48, and authorities are still trying to determine the exact cause of death. Despite all of Whitney’s obvious gifts, there will always be those who will point to her obvious demons. This is not a blog entry that chooses sides. In fact, this blog could be about Heath Ledger, Amy Winehouse, or anyone with a self-destructive spirit that left us too soon.

The problem when we lose a celebrity, is that those in charge of the estate immediately go into the business of “cleaning up” their legacy. The public does not get the straight story. Reasonable doubt is floated into the newswires and a great disservice is done. The potential is there for anyone susceptible to that artist’s influence to develop a similar lifestyle.

I have heard it said “Anyway drugs didn’t kill _______. It was a heart attack”.  This misinformation is usually from the entertainment industry. The families are for the most part just trying to cope, and can also be placed under significant pressure.

Amy Winehouse’s Dad Gives Details About Trying to Get His Daughter Off Drugs. (Soon before she passed)

The question is whether these issues will ever be addressed in the media, or will they continue to be swept under the rug? Will more mis-information continue to be floated into the newswires? This is counter-intelligence at its finest; a practice far too common with celebrities unfortunately.

I believe the reasonable doubt produced is harmful enough for anyone looking to justify their addictions. They can easily dismiss the more obvious problems at hand. That moment of clarity (which comes from losing an icon) is robbed from them. Meanwhile when the media is ready to tell the truth (in a most sensationalized fashion) they can benefit from the tell-all books, music sales, product placement, etc.

http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/celine-dion-drugs-and-show-business-killed-whitney-houston-2012132
Celine Dion Says “Drugs Took Over Whitney Houston’s Life”.. Gotta LOVE those damned Canadians..lol They tell it like it is. You can see the annoyance with Dion’s brutally honest opinions everywhere you look, although the media REGULARLY chronicled Whitney’s downfall (and everyone else’s).

For quite some time to come, I am going to feel badly about the downward spiral of one of the brightest stars ever to shine. Whitney Houston is permanently imprinted upon the soundtrack of my childhood. For the most part I will always extol her artistic virtues. She gave SO MUCH to the world; but when I deem it necessary I will highlight her struggles. I don’t care for the sadistic (or tabloid) way some choose to do it, but an academic discussion of real issues just might save the NEXT Whitney Houston.

UPDATE: 2/29/2011
Whitney Houston’s Death To Be Ruled An Accident
http://music.yahoo.com/news/whitney-houston-death-likely-ruled-accidental-174005401.html
http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/entertainment-eonline/20120228/b297473/
http://freddyo.com/whitney-houstons-death-to-be-ruled-an-accident/news/?fbc_channel=1&type=resize&height=250&ackData[id]=1