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Is American Idol Guilty???
Posted on Fri Nov 14, 2008 11:30 AM PDT
Goodspeed photo courtesy Getty Images
Everyone knows it's the judges' MO on American Idol, to make fun of the contestants in their open audition cattle calls that they start out with each season. It's sometimes funny (mostly boring and unwatchable, in my opinion), but is it too cruel?
Poor Paula Goodspeed believed in herself and believed AI could make her famous but is it fair or ethical to trick sometimes naive souls into making fools of themselves on national television?
William Hung turned his comedic audition into a real career by embracing the comedy of his act (though one still wonders still if he grasps the real reason he's found fame), but Paula Goodspeed, who committed suicide in front of Idol judge Paula Abdul's house on Wednesday, apparently suffered greatly after what she must have felt was public humiliation, broadcast to the entire country.
Simon Cowell, AI judge and the show's creator, mocked Goodspeed's braces during her audition, saying, "I don't think any artist on earth could sing with that much metal in her mouth." Goodspeed later blogged about the cruelty on her MySpace page, saying it was difficult to deal with the "haters" who made fun of her.
So do YOU think American Idol is guilty at all for pushing Goodspeed over the edge? Is the show TOO cruel?
Is AI TOO mean?
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Comments
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
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They should know what they are getting themselves in to. You know they have seen the show.
AI is not responsible. You need to be able to handle rejection and hardship in life.
If she thought her segment on AI was bad, I wonder how she would deal with the lost of a loved one, or losing her house, job, family, etc. etc.
Hmmmm, i think mocking is mocking and a part of bullying, i have chldren in school and as a parent i know what mocking can do. I think the show should have better standards and show more respect for their contestants.
I agree withe the last comment...negative comments are necessary but mocking is not acceptable. have they seen themselves? i wonder what type of suicide they will do if they hear from the people...this should wake up their senses...
What this woman did to herself was tragic, but, if anyone thinks she wasn't a ticking time-bomb they're fooling themselves. Tragic, but, not the show's fault.
No way, why do we keep trying to find someone or something to blame for our mistakes and stupidity!!!!!!
No way, why do we keep trying to find someone or something to blame for our mistakes and stupidity!!!!!! AI never told her to take drugs and overdose infront of Paula's home,If she cannot take the criticism that Simon made or the jugdes made than why being on the show?????? quit balmeing things on to others we will never improve in life.
They should not be to blame! It's not their fault some idiot let their NO TALENT kid/friend try out for this show. She totally sucked. How would they have known she had mental problems? It's fair game on that show if you're that dillusional! They should have had her at a shrink appt. instead of auditioning out for AI. Sad what happened to her, but fawk why is it always the blame game???
I agree with 12:28 pm
Sad story, but you can't really blame AI. People watch the show in the early stages partly to see how badly Simon and co. can mock the contestants. You gotta have thick skin (or exceptional talent) to go in front of them.
The real tragedy is that nobody was able to recognize the self-destructive behavior in Paula Goodspeed and get help for her.
I pray that her soul finds peace...
No & yes. They couldnt have known but I think the Gossip rags treat Celebs like Dirt and pushed B.S. over the edge full knowing what they were doing.
I don't know dog, this whole "blame AI thing" didn't really work for me. She did her thing though....It was just a'ight.
chuckled at 2:43
No, it's not the shows fault. And these aren't children auditioning either!
I think AI is partly to blame.. I think mocking peoples appearances is VERY VERY low. I think contestants should know what they are getting themselves into, but i think there is a line that should be drawn on what the judges comment on.. there was no need to laugh at her appearance.
Show creator is Simon Fuller, not Simon Cowell, FYI.
I think this person had other things going on (mentally) - like the fact that she was obsessed with Paula Abdul and had a history of stalking her. I don't think you can put the blame on one person - it's a multitude of things...I am positive the show did have some effect on the girl - being humiliated is tough and having it done on national TV I'm sure was not fun.
It is sad that this girl committed suicide. And, I do think the show is partly to blame. But also, if her parents knew she was not stable, they are partly to blame for letting her go on the show. Going forward the show should really take a look at people's mental stability. If they see someone that may be a high risk situation they should not include that in the clips for the tryouts for each season.
She got her wish. Everybody knows who she is now.
You guys should read Ben Elton - Chart Throb. Good book, gives you a good insight on this whole phenomenon.
I don't know who she is...