Train Wrecks
Someone Else Will Die

Photo montage of Nicole RichieA 17-year-old boy has already died in an SUV driven by a celebrity. Someone else is going to die, and it will happen sooner rather than later.

Nicole Richie's loved ones could easily have been planning her funeral today -- likewise the loved ones of the people driving the right way on the 134 Freeway early Monday morning.

Lane Garrison must be scratching his head today. Why, he must be asking, did he have such bad luck? The fact is, the differentiating factor that makes Garrison a killer and Richie a DUI'er is luck. That's it.

I'm not trying to preach, and I will readily admit that TMZ has prospered off the antics of a group of young celebrities. When Brandon Davis went on his "firecrotch" rant against Lindsay, it was endlessly entertaining. When Paris got in fender-benders, it was so TMZ. And when Britney spread her legs for all the world to see, well it was Internet gold.

But the line has been crossed. The dark side of Hollywood has been revealed in the last month. And really, it's no surprise. There are a lot of young celebs who got really rich and very famous way too soon. The people who surround them are not used to saying "no." These celebs have gotten away with a lot -- mostly small stuff -- for a long time. And each time you get away with something you shouldn't, you get bolder the next time.

These celebs, for the most part, have no compass to guide them. Look at Lindsay Lohan. Her dad used the revolving door at his local jail while her mom was at war with him when she wasn't out partying. Lohan really didn't stand a chance, and it's sad.

So who will save the day and save these kids from disaster? In this town, saviors are awfully hard to come by.

Tags: Brandon Davis, BrandonDavis, Britney Spears, BritneySpears, Lane Garrison, LaneGarrison, Lindsay Lohan, LindsayLohan, Nicole Richie, NicoleRichie, Paris Hilton, ParisHilton

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(Page 7 of 14) Previous 15 Comments | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

91. Nice post Harvey and I hope you read these comments as feedback.As another poster said, you are part of the problem. But I honestly don't know what the answer is. The juggernaut that is the tabloid press in all media will roll on regardless of whether you stop publishing this stuff or not.

It helps that at least you present a point of view, unlike some rags like People who just post the positive stuff and ignore the negative just so they continue to get access to celebrites for exclusives.

I do have one beef with you though, these are not "kids." Britney for example is 25 and a mother two. Ignorant, undeduated, immature yes. A kid, no.

I think what disturbs me most though is to see the immature and stupid comments posted in these threads sucy as "Leave her alone!!!" and "Give her a break!!!" etc. There's a group of people who enjoy watching the freak show/trainwreck, but the ones I worry about are the ones DEFENDING these celebutards. Those are the ones to be concerned about. There are too many people out there who can't tell the difference between good and bad, tasteful and crass, moral and immoral behavior. And that's just always so disappointing to see.

Maybe if more of the tabloid owners continued to criticize the behavior instead of glorify it, these underclass posters would start getting a clue that this behavior is not proper or normal. It's something they clearly didn't learn from their parents or siblings or peers.

Posted at 2:36PM on Dec 13th 2006 by Nina

92. This is a joke. I could care less about her. I wish she had died that night. What pisses me off the most is that nothing will come of this. She will check her self into some rehab 5 star hotel for a month. After that she will be doing all this sh*t again.

Nothing bad will happen to her. A man in oakland who caused a non fatal crash was sentenced to 15 years in prison. She will no see a day in prison.

I guess all of us are the only people that can complain. We elect the same lawmakers that fail to protect us from these out of control people. We do not stand up for our rights to be protected from these people.

1/2 of these kids are not old enough to be in clubs yet the ABC(alcohol beverage control) will do nothing to stop it.

This incident should be the launching platform for a no tolerance campaign.

Any of us would be in jail for the next several years. If If i were to get stopped at a traffic stop and blow a 0.09 I would lose my license for a while. This chick was using controlled substances and driving on the wrong side of the freeway!!!

Man, this really pisses me off.

-To take something from South-Park Johnny Cockering should use the Richie defense for anyone that gets a DUI...

Posted at 2:31PM on Dec 13th 2006 by ThisIsNotMyHandel

93.

ok noone answered my question so i'll throw it out there again... if you are all tired of hearing about these people, who would you like to hear about? whop should sites like tmz tell you about? just wondering...

Posted at 2:32PM on Dec 13th 2006 by *C*

94. I totally agree....finally a columnist who speaks the whole truth and nothing but it..these kids are out of control and we are just feeding their fury.....stop following them around and follow someone worth while.

Posted at 2:37PM on Dec 13th 2006 by Wendy

95. its true we all make mistakes. but we live and learn these celebs are'nt punished so they don't learn their lessons.they also chose to be celebs knowing their business is put out there for the world to see . thats why they make the big bucks

Posted at 2:37PM on Dec 13th 2006 by vickie

96. How about law enforcement taking the wheel? These ridiculously privileged celebrities get off easy every single time they almost kill themselves or someone else. Look at Paris HIlton's DUI!! I bet Nicole also gets "community service" or some other slap in the face to the rest of us. I'm sick of our own law enforcement agencies catering to these overindulged, irresponsible idiots. I hope they feel good when someone dies next.

Posted at 2:36PM on Dec 13th 2006 by mb

97. #10: Quit shifting the blame and blame the people who need to be blamed and that's everyone!

Blame the paparazzi for what they do, but, for real, they wouldn't be able to do what they do if it weren't for people like you who buy those supermarket trash-loids (that are an incredible waste of paper!). There would be a supply if there weren't a demand for such rags.

Next, blame the American public for its insatiable appetite for celebrity gossip. It's gotten so bad that there's an entire cable network devoted to the subject and their "news" show is on at the same time (11 P.M.) that your local news is on (which is another joke, but I digress).

Blame these celebrities for not taking responsibility in their lives. Yeah, we all know they grew up rich and privileged and are famous just for behing famous (as the saying goes), but they're well beyond the age of reason to know not to drive drunk and on the wrong side of a highway. Hollywood (and especially Washington!) get away with the things that you and I (and everyone else commenting on this website) would be hauled off to prison for for many years.

There's a chain that keeps this insanity going. It's time for people to quit talking about what's going on with these celebrities and start doing something about it (and stick to it!). And the best way to start? STOP patronizing those tabloids and start demanding that the rich and/or famous be held accountable the same way you and I would be.

PS And I love all the talk about the dangers of smoking. How about stressing the much more lethal drug known as alcohol? (And I don't smoke!)

Posted at 3:33PM on Dec 13th 2006 by Donna

98. *
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"A-F***ING-MEN!" GET IT TOGETHER PEOPLE

*
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Posted at 2:38PM on Dec 13th 2006 by Kate

99. According to people magazine, Nicole said she takes Vicodin for Menstural pain. This is a load of garbage. Narcotics such as Vicodin may interfere with the diagnosis and treatment of abdominal conditions and should not be used for abdominal pain. I hope she can provide a dr's script that reads "for menstural cramps".

She is also going to say the police scale is wrong and she weighs 95 pounds.

The first step is admitting you have a problem. Nicole really needs to take that step.

Posted at 5:20PM on Dec 13th 2006 by melanie

100. Nicole Richie released a statement saying she will take responsibility for her actions and continue on with her career...Question! Just what is her career?
Grow-up girls! And I mean GIRLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 2:41PM on Dec 13th 2006 by jennifer copeland

101. It's even more disgusting that you are aware that your site makes money off of exploiting celebrities and embelishing stories. They will continue to drink and drive, and you will continue to post poorly written, jump-the-gun stories. Get over it.

Posted at 2:40PM on Dec 13th 2006 by l.a.

102. Nice to FINALLY hear - but I don't see TMZ refusing to exploit these people for their own personal gain. So, how about it TMZ? Are YOU going to make a difference and stop glorifying them as well???

Posted at 2:42PM on Dec 13th 2006 by Shaz

103. One more thing....if these Girls are such cash cows....then why in the hell aren't their Families taking precautions to protect their investment? Can we say? A sober driver?

Posted at 2:42PM on Dec 13th 2006 by jennifer copeland

104. But you TMZ are still laughing all the way to the bank while a kid is 6 feet under, and all these other hollywood kids are headed for disaster. I help contribute to by visitng your site. I will stop. How do you guys sleep at night. All I have to say you reap what you sew.

Posted at 2:42PM on Dec 13th 2006 by Wade

105. TMZ........

You're part of the problem!!! They wouldn't have such swelled heads if people weren't being paid MONEY to follow them around, taking pictures of them for magazines and websites like TMZ.

Posted at 2:45PM on Dec 13th 2006 by ShoeGal

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