Hollywood Slime

I have an internet friend who I have known now for almost five years. I wish I'd never come to know her, but only because of the circumstances that brought us together. If her sister had never been savagely murdered and my daughter not killed by the cancer within her brain...we would never have made the connection.

We could both just be out in the merry sunshine today sipping lattes unaware of each other's existence.

My friend's story got much media coverage at the time. Her sister's killer was also her husband (the deceased woman's husband). It later came to light that she was not the first person he had killed. Out of respect and privacy, I am intentionally trying to be a little vague here.

Let me just say the killer husband was at one time an esteemed member of society, a practicing doctor.

Because of the national media coverage that ran on this story and a book that was later collaborated on with the deceased woman's family you may be aware of who I'm writing about. That's why I want to remain vague here. My point here is not to draw attention to the case and the family.

It is to talk about an inherent slime factor and Hollywood's need to make a buck and sensationalize, at whatever cost.

Recently and without input, collaboration or the blessing of the family a movie was made about the events. If someone had watched the movie it would be rational to assume the depiction was true.

Knowing what I know as a result of the communication I've had with the late woman's family member, I find it all in very bad taste. Did you know anyone can make a movie about you, say it's "based on actual events" and then run with any way they choose? It's a frightening thought.

It's another violation, at a time when they (without putting words in their mouths) likely felt they were getting their feet more firmly planted on the ground.

I have no doubt this family will continue in their healing and accepting the life they are forced to live now. They have shown through their handling of the whole horrific mess that they are an upstanding example of holding their heads high in the face of unthinkable adversity.

I am only sorry that Hollywood once again has aimed for the slime factor with little to no thought as to who they affect in the process.