06.11.08
Begging for a Bitch Slap
This is barely film related, but it is Shia related.
I have no idea how long this vid has been around for, but I just saw it right now thanks to this post over at SpoutBlog. Film news this is not, but Shia LaBeouf is one of the top young actors out there, one of Fataculture’s favourites too, but in that vid, which may be yanked soon – I already downloaded it anyway, he epitomises everything I despise about young people, let alone Hollywood stars. I get it, he was probably drunk, but that does not really cut it. It isn’t funny when any young Hollywood personality gets trashed by the media, for those of us with heart anyway, and just because Shia happens to be a man doesn’t make it cool. But that’s Hollywood baby, and I doubt this little mishap will result in any permanent damage, unless it is a sneak peak at more drama to come.
Shia’s rep told Marc Malkin, of E! Online, that Shia was really embarrassed by the leakage of the vid onto YouTube, and that “The videotape that is currently being circulated is several years old and captures Shia playing a game among friends in which he uses a derogatory word toward a friend.” Okay, so it is an old clip, and that makes how much of a difference? Not sure. Marc continues, “He [Shia] regrets having used the word in any capacity and is very embarrassed that this footage is being seen by anyone.”
J.D. said,
June 11, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Hm.
*worried face*
Nick Plowman said,
June 11, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Yeah….but I still love the guy, even if I am mad at him right now.
Who the hell is SHIA, I want to know who he really is, not all this tabloid, gossip, trash stuff, you know?
I am so confused right now.
Miranda Wilding said,
June 12, 2008 at 3:15 am
Boys will be boys, eh?
Nick Plowman said,
June 12, 2008 at 10:05 am
True, and I guess it was unfair of me to assume Shia to be any different. I know me and my friends did something similar to that, on more than one occasion, but that was 3 years ago, and we have grown up since then.
I hope Shia has.
Miranda Wilding said,
June 12, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Well, I didn’t say it was a good thing, Nicky…
Apparently Shia just turned 22 the other day.
Shia’s been in the business for a while. So he SHOULD know that if you’re ever going to be in the public eye (or even if you’re not) you don’t make yourself available for stuff like that. DVDs/tapes have a nasty way of turning up when you least expect it.
For the same reason, you don’t ever allow former lovers to take provocative shots of you or videotape you when you’re burning down the house.
Shia’s old enough to know better. You have to use your brain. That’s what it’s there for.
Maybe he’ll learn before it’s too late…
Nick Plowman said,
June 12, 2008 at 4:11 pm
I hope so too. I just always thought Shia was too smart to allow stupid things like that detract from his career, or so I read in an interview in EW’s summer edition ‘07:
He said, “Someone like Lindsay Lohan’s personality is [more] famous than her performance. You’ve got to maintain some mystery.” Then he goes on to say, “Part of me wants to go out and see my peers. But if I go to a club and get my picture in the press, then I am that young Hollywood a*hole. That would shatter my world.”
Big words for a guy who is obviously only now realising that ALL that is easier said than done.
Daniel said,
June 12, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Hmm, that takes a little air out of the balloon. He’s one of my favorite up-and-comers. Just goes to show…something…
Nick Plowman said,
June 12, 2008 at 6:02 pm
I agree, he is my FAVOURITE, and I would rather slit my wrists than see his career fail. I think.
J.D. said,
June 12, 2008 at 7:12 pm
DON’T SLIT YOUR WRISTS!!!!!!!!
Too Tracy-like, dude. I thought you were past those days?
Nick Plowman said,
June 12, 2008 at 7:17 pm
I am, I am. Promise.
I love myself too much for that crap.
Craig Kennedy said,
June 12, 2008 at 10:01 pm
I didn’t watch the video. I try to steer clear of the stuff that happens off screen and keep the person separate from the movie star. I’m sure whatever he did was horrible, but you know, god forbid I’m ever held accountable for the stupid things I did once upon a time.
I’m not perfect and I doubt I’d last long if I was in the public eye all the time.
Nick Plowman said,
June 12, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Why are you always so level-headed about these things????!!!!
I always cave and watch these stupid things that make me feel so confused. I have a respect and passion for my favourite stars, in film and otherwise, and I should keep them separate, but I never, ever, can.
I would not last a second myself, so I do feel for them, and I understand that they are not perfect, but what I saw in that vid was not the Shia I thought I knew, and that makes me feel betrayed almost. I don’t know, I am sure I’ll forget about all this next week.
Craig Kennedy said,
June 13, 2008 at 12:55 am
I’m annoying, am I not? Don’t answer that :)
I’m not trying to forgive what ever he said or did, but I also think if we knew half the crap some of these celebrities DON’T get caught for, we wouldn’t like them as much as we do.
Movies are magic, so why do what Dorothy did in Wizard of Oz and look behind the green curtain? We’ll just be disappointed.
The other lesson I suppose we could take is that we shouldn’t worship celebrities in the first place, but what’s the fun in that?
Also, the day I find out that Clooney is a child molestor or a wife beater or something, I will be upset.
Miranda Wilding said,
June 13, 2008 at 6:21 am
Nicky, most of our idols have feet of clay. We love some of these people for what we perceive them to be. We’re sold IMAGES. Quite often they don’t exist in reality.
Sweetheart, they’re just people. Like you and me. Some are glamourous. Some are sexy. Some are drop dead gorgeous. Some have a lot of charisma. Some possess great talent. Some of them have all that and more. They’re ALL WAY overpaid for what they do.
But they are just people. That’s all. People that were lucky enough to make it in the entertainment industry and have careers. Some of them may abuse drugs and alcohol. Some may be wildly promiscuous. Some may be the biggest bitches and bastards that you would ever come across in your natural life. They may cheat on their spouses and their taxes. Be mean to their kids.
We can’t tell realistically, can we?
So don’t expect too much of your heroes and idols. Some of them may be lovely people and be bright shining examples of decency and integrity. But we don’t know them.
Reserve putting them up on pedestals until you actually meet them in person and get to know some of them FOR REAL – and you will. You know this.
But don’t expect too much of them. They’re not the living bloody ends collectively.
They’re only human beings – and human beings ARE FLAWED.
Nick Plowman said,
June 13, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I totally get what both of you are saying, I really understand.
Reality is such a downer.