Exploiting celebrity deaths for fun and profit
Filed under: Media
It's a little crass to acknowledge, but the death of a celebrity is, among many other things, a money-making opportunity. But perhaps it's best not to seem too eager to treat it as such, lest you offend those people whose dollars you covet.Today brings two examples of parties who crossed the line: OK magazine, which chose a photo of a dying (or already dead) Michael Jackson for the cover of its latest issue, and home-shopping mogul A.J. Khubani, who confirmed plans to air an infomercial next week featuring famed pitchman Billy Mays, who died over the weekend.
OK is already catching flak for publishing the ghoulish photo of Jackson strapped to a stretcher, en route to the hospital -- for which privilege it paid a reported $500,000. Just about every magazine that has anything to do with entertainment, from People to Rolling Stone and all the way on up to Time, is offering some sort of Jackson tribute, and all kinds of premium-priced bookazines and commemorative issues are being rushed to market. But the rule with this sort of thing is to celebrate the celebrity's life, not his death. A gritty corpse shot is an especially head-scratching move for OK, which has been trying to position itself to advertisers as a more upscale read, not just another supermarket tabloid.
Khubani, CEO of Telebrands, doesn't have to worry too much about his image; good taste isn't a requirement in the infomercial business. But to roll out a spot starring the late Mays -- for a device called the Jupiter Jack -- risks the appearance of incredible callousness, especially since OxiClean maker Church & Dwight has said it's shelving all of his ads out of respect for his bereaved family.
I sent a message to Mays's son, Billy Mays III, to find out if Khubani's planned use of the Jupiter Jack spot does, in fact, contravene the family's wishes. I'll let you know if I hear back.
UPDATE/CORRECTION: A.J. Khubani assures DailyFinance that he did, in fact, obtain the blessing of the Mays family for the Jupiter Jack rollout. Also, an earlier version of this story incorrectly described Church & Dwight as Mays's company.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-30-2009 @ 7:07PM
dajt57 said...
funny aol would post a story like this after they moved the entertainment section up over the financial section. fitting.
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7-01-2009 @ 10:40AM
bailoutsos said...
You noticed that too?
7-01-2009 @ 10:40AM
Dean said...
Sadly it is the American way.The almighty dollar comes first.
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7-01-2009 @ 10:40AM
Ms.G said...
Its called "GREED"!
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7-01-2009 @ 10:40AM
bailoutsos said...
The American way.
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7-01-2009 @ 10:40AM
thnkugal said...
America- land of the exploited- if not more fitting- land of the snake-eyed voyeurs. It's been in our DNA since the days of Chris Columbus.
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7-01-2009 @ 10:40AM
thnkugal said...
America- land of the free and the free to be exploited. Even more fitting, land of the snake-eyed voyeur (with a huge helping hand of the 24/7 media). Embarrassing if not downright disturbing.
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7-01-2009 @ 10:40AM
ed said...
theses folks wouldleave mike alone when he was alive what at makes you think they will leave him alone in death, it all about the big bucks amd making folks hate mike jackson he was brought up charges for child molestation you folks broke defending himself he might have molested kids bit he was villified by the white folks in america no i,m hispanic i didnt like all of mjs actions wemadejokes about mj to in the eighties ,that or this led to his demise stress kills
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7-01-2009 @ 10:40AM
Evelyn Marcant said...
UNITED STATES OF GREEDYAMERICA!!!! WHAT HAPPENED TO "RESPECT", "RIP". He has not even laid to rest yet and here are these greedy people already trying to capitalize on his death, character, and would even stoop so LOW to get a photo of Michael dead on a stretcher!!!! Worst, now they are targeting his children.
And you wonder we are hated all around the world!!!!
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7-01-2009 @ 10:41AM
dstreettalker said...
Sadly, the media has shown abject cruelty to MJ's children,as if they have no feelings at all. It is disheartening that reputable journalists from various news outlets prove a lack of decorum and join the crass tabloid frenzy. There is no interest for accountability of the sources. As long as they get on it too, the story is valid, even if unsubstantiated. {t must be so painful for the family to watch those charlatans defame their loved one with such unrelenting viciousness. The media has crossed every line of decency and newscasters should be ashamed of their work.
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7-01-2009 @ 10:41AM
dstreettalker said...
It is shameful the way the media is treating MJ's children, as if they were not human. There is no compassion even from reputable journalists and media outlets. They have joined the tabloid media to broadcast one unsubstantiated story after another, without checking their validity. The lack of respect for the deceased and his family is disheartening. News casters have lost their decorum and professionalism to sink in the sensationalism of the questions surrounding Micheal's death and the future of his estate. They refuse to wait for the concerned parties to come forward. What a zoo! This event clearly shed the ight on the demise of good journalism. No wonder people are increasingly relying upon each other for news on the blog
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7-01-2009 @ 10:41AM
Angelia said...
Money is the root of all evil. ANYONE who buys one of those mags, or watches that infomercial are sick. NO ONE should be exploited that way. I am surprised that nothing is being said about Farrah Fawcet. She had Cancer for God's sake. She was not an overdose. Yet you never hear anything about it. Its all Michael Jackson all the time. I am sick of it.
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7-01-2009 @ 10:41AM
Terri said...
Yesterday I saw Billy Mays commercials on two diff. channels, TLC and ABC. My God, the man isn't even burried yet. Very tacky for them not to pull those commercials for at least or week or two, out of respect for his family. I guess they gotta have those advertising dollars.
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7-01-2009 @ 10:41AM
Linda said...
Well if that's a problem, then I suppose they should stop playing MJ songs on the radio huh. This is Billy Mays way of still supporting his family.
7-01-2009 @ 10:41AM
M.J king of poop ! said...
You can put the reverend Al Sharksum in this story he is a ambulance chaser thats on his resume.Where is his church,Bank of America or Citi bank.? self ordained preacher lol.
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7-01-2009 @ 4:05PM
HAROLD said...
has anyone besides me got a e-mail asking for donations to mj home for the underprovilige kids. sorry about the speeling, it sounded like a scam to me so i deleted it
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7-01-2009 @ 4:05PM
NiNi said...
I'm ashamed of OK magazine if that's the picture they have decided to use. It's disgusting. TIME magazine chose a wonderful picture of Michael....my hat off to them. As for Mike not being the biological father......OMG ..ARE U KIDDING ME ???? I knew from the beginning he wasn't the father. DUH !!! But if he chose to say they were, who gives a shyt ??? Legally they are his. He has raised them. That's that. He's the father. Bottom line.
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