Last night’s world-premier of the
long-awaited Lifetime biopic “Liz & Dick” starring Lindsay Lohan and Grant
Bowler, was the most insensitive portrayal of a Hollywood movie star I have
ever seen! My outrage is not about how
Elisabeth Taylor was portrayed however, but rather how producers used Lindsay
Lohan and her life of struggle with addiction to market the film. In short, what we saw last night looked like
the story of Elisabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, but sounded like the story of
a nasal, raspy-voiced teenager pained by lovelessness.
For one, I congratulate Lindsay for
keeping her end of the bargain and finishing the film. If I had a word of advice for the producers,
the lack of interest in getting Lindsay voice trained for this role is quite
pathetic. For the kind of low-budget
film this was, even Elisabeth Taylor who herself was sober and was surely turning over in her grave
last night, would have said that Lindsay was the only draw for people to see
this film and for all the wrong reasons.
Message to the producers and
marketing department of “Liz & Dick:
Using a person’s personal tragedy and affliction to humiliate them and
exploit them to make money is reprehensible!
Lindsay Lohan is struggling to stay sober and the producers of “Liz
& Dick” asked Lindsay to smoke like a chimney, pretend she was an out of
control drunk, knowing she was struggling to get sober and even act out a part
of attempted suicide by prescription drug overdose! There is nothing more psychologically harmful
I can think of, that would cause a person to relapse back into addiction than this. Given all the psychological grief this film
probably caused Lindsay Lohan, it is a miracle she did not relapse and kill
herself.
Lesson: Among other things, addiction is about
triggers. It’s about conflict and inner
trauma. Addiction causes PTSD in people
and it stays with some people even after they achieve long term sobriety. Never assume it is okay to let someone who is
struggling to get sober drink or use.
NEVER.
In case you may think we haven’t been here before, Heath Ledger’s death and the life he lived right before his death will tell a story few bother to research or talk about. The fact of the matter is that Heath was experimenting with drugs to better identify with certain roles he was playing. Check the record. It’s a fact. If Lindsay Lohan relapses badly, the producers of “Liz & Dick” will have to check their conscience!
Message to Lindsay: Well done, kid. Stay sober and stay away from users and abusers like Charlie Sheen.
In case you may think we haven’t been here before, Heath Ledger’s death and the life he lived right before his death will tell a story few bother to research or talk about. The fact of the matter is that Heath was experimenting with drugs to better identify with certain roles he was playing. Check the record. It’s a fact. If Lindsay Lohan relapses badly, the producers of “Liz & Dick” will have to check their conscience!
Message to Lindsay: Well done, kid. Stay sober and stay away from users and abusers like Charlie Sheen.
