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Love:
Ledger's family slams 'false' biography
Mex Cooper, Daile Pepper
November 21, 2008 - 4:31PM
Heath Ledger's family has slammed a book written about the dead Australian actor that suggests he was mentally ill.
Ledger's family released a statement this afternoon slating the unauthorised biography, titled Heath: A Family's Tale.
The statement said author and News Limited journalist Janet Fife-Yeomans had falsely insinuated close family members had spoken to her.
Fife-Yeomans interviewed Ledger's uncle Hadyn, who is estranged from the family.
He tells the author about his own bipolar diagnosis and friends tell of their suspicions about the actor's mental health before he died of an accidental drug overdose.
The book suggests a family history of mental illness and has sparked worldwide media reports that Ledger could have suffered from bipolar disorder.
Ledger's immediate family, close friends and associates moved today to distance themselves from the book, they said contained false allegations about the actor's father, Kim.
"The book contains gross inaccuracies, false allegations (against Kim Ledger) and many incorrect and unsubstantiated comments about Heath in his youth, provided by estranged family members and some people who had little to do with Heath's life,'' the statement said.
"Further, Fife-Yeomans has no right to infer that we (as Heath's family) in any way authorised this book.
"We have never contributed to or authorised any publications about our son.''
Ledger, 28, was found dead in his New York apartment in January.
The book has been touted by publisher Murdoch Books as a "definitive look at the real life of Heath Ledger from childhood to fully fledged stardom, with exclusive personal insights from his family and friends''.
The Age was seeking comment from Murdoch Books at the time of publication.
This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/11/21/1226770725826.html
Brown Eyes:
--- Quote from: Love on November 22, 2008, 04:25:03 pm ---Ledger's family slams 'false' biography
Mex Cooper, Daile Pepper
November 21, 2008 - 4:31PM
Heath Ledger's family has slammed a book written about the dead Australian actor that suggests he was mentally ill.
Ledger's family released a statement this afternoon slating the unauthorised biography, titled Heath: A Family's Tale.
The statement said author and News Limited journalist Janet Fife-Yeomans had falsely insinuated close family members had spoken to her.
Fife-Yeomans interviewed Ledger's uncle Hadyn, who is estranged from the family.
He tells the author about his own bipolar diagnosis and friends tell of their suspicions about the actor's mental health before he died of an accidental drug overdose.
The book suggests a family history of mental illness and has sparked worldwide media reports that Ledger could have suffered from bipolar disorder.
Ledger's immediate family, close friends and associates moved today to distance themselves from the book, they said contained false allegations about the actor's father, Kim.
"The book contains gross inaccuracies, false allegations (against Kim Ledger) and many incorrect and unsubstantiated comments about Heath in his youth, provided by estranged family members and some people who had little to do with Heath's life,'' the statement said.
"Further, Fife-Yeomans has no right to infer that we (as Heath's family) in any way authorised this book.
"We have never contributed to or authorised any publications about our son.''
Ledger, 28, was found dead in his New York apartment in January.
The book has been touted by publisher Murdoch Books as a "definitive look at the real life of Heath Ledger from childhood to fully fledged stardom, with exclusive personal insights from his family and friends''.
The Age was seeking comment from Murdoch Books at the time of publication.
This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/11/21/1226770725826.html
--- End quote ---
All this sensationalism and misinformation really is too bad. One thing I find kind of disheartening about this report and the family's reaction is the sense that they feel that a diagnosis of bi-polar disorder would be somehow shameful or a stigma. I mean, if Heath really wasn't bi-polar, then it's a good idea to stop the spread of false information. But, the idea that someone might be bi-polar isn't really a put down. It's an illness like any other illness and shouldn't involve judgment.
southendmd:
--- Quote from: atz75 on November 24, 2008, 05:23:46 pm ---All this sensationalism and misinformation really is too bad. One thing I find kind of disheartening about this report and the family's reaction is the sense that they feel that a diagnosis of bi-polar disorder would be somehow shameful or a stigma. I mean, if Heath really wasn't bi-polar, then it's a good idea to stop the spread of false information. But, the idea that someone might be bi-polar isn't really a put down. It's an illness like any other illness and shouldn't involve judgment.
--- End quote ---
Well said, Amanda!
optom3:
--- Quote from: southendmd on November 24, 2008, 05:40:55 pm ---Well said, Amanda!
--- End quote ---
Well my bipolar self and son are going to agree with that.It is nothing to be ashamed of. If it is untrue then that should be rectified certainly.
opinionista:
--- Quote from: atz75 on November 24, 2008, 05:23:46 pm ---All this sensationalism and misinformation really is too bad. One thing I find kind of disheartening about this report and the family's reaction is the sense that they feel that a diagnosis of bi-polar disorder would be somehow shameful or a stigma. I mean, if Heath really wasn't bi-polar, then it's a good idea to stop the spread of false information. But, the idea that someone might be bi-polar isn't really a put down. It's an illness like any other illness and shouldn't involve judgment.
--- End quote ---
I agree. However, the practice of some magazines or journalists to ask "experts" to give an opinion over a celebrity's behavior and make a diagnosis without actually treating them, bothers me a lot. It puts a lot of stigma over certain diseases that the person in question may not even have.
People get depressed or behave funny for a wide range of reasons, not necessarily because of an illness. Life isn't easy for anybody, including celebrities. In Heath's case he was probably depressed at the time of his death because of his break up with Michelle. Breakups hurt. Everybody gets depressed over a breakup. But that doesn't mean Heath was bipolar or committed suicide. I think whoever wrote that did it to get people buy the book.
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