Heath Battled Drugs
Filed under: Australiastic > Heath LedgerWhile it remains uncertain if Heath Ledger's tragic death on Tuesday was the result of an accidental overdose or a suicide….
It has now become apparent that the actor kept a substance abuse issue hidden very well. Ledger may have also been suffering from depression.
Click here to watch a shocking video of Heath being interviewed just two months ago, and appearing to be clearly under the influence of drugs.
Posted: January 22, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Wow, he couldn't be still for a second. Very sad.
honestly, i doubt he's on drugs, i don't take drugs at all but i act the same way when i have some attention focused on me that i don't want, i get all uncomfortable and fidget and can't relax. he's probably just having anxiety or something.
he may not have been on drugs… that could have been his last of fifty interviews for that and was antsy. doesn't mean he had to have been on drugs. why does everyone have to just look at the problems. focus on how he was a great actor etc….. c'mon
od sad.
i wish his family & his little girl the best.
r.i.p. heath
It's extemely sad and shocking to learn of his death and I find it extremely disrespectful to post up things that are in some ways insulting to his memory. If he died because of drugs, that's what happend but I don't think it's right to post videos of him,judging him after his death. I think perez is the best but I think everyone needs to show a little more respect.
how can you be "appearing to be clearly" under the influence of drugs? he CLEARLY just is shy and nervous. you should stop jumping to conclusions and reporting hearsay. have some respect.
seriously, this is not even proving anything. this just goes to show how fucking low you are
I too am very fidgety and don't takes drugs of any kind so until people know for sure they shouldn't be even bringing that up
If this is looking like under the influence of drugs I believe that we're all under the influence of drugs…
GOD you people are stupid! Have you ever seen anyone on meth or crack?
You fucking idiots protecting someone you don't know. All of the signs are in this interview…
You people are fucking stupid.
are you guys kidding? it's totally obvious he's on something. He can't sit still..and can barely put a sentence together. his arms are all over the place!
Perez, Perez… He's not on drugs. He's just nervous and shy and doesn't have a lot of poise for interviews. Not all of Hollywood is perfect. Lighten up
Re: Tragic – OH SHUT UP
i don't think he's clearly on drugs. if you watch most of his interviews, this is how he acts. i guess it's possible he was on drugs each time he did an interview but that's not likely. i heard he hated the press aspect of being an actor…so it would make sense that doing interviews made him highly anxious and uncomfortable. but i don't think it's fair to say that he is clearly on drugs in this.
bottom line, why and how he died isn't really any of our business. it's just sad that such a talented young guy is dead and a child is left fatherless.
Definitely NOT On Drugs. Because He Is Anxious? He Seems Like He Doesn't Wanna Be Doing That Interview, Not That He Just Did Drugs.
ssorry but this video does not prove one bit he was on drugs. maybe some factual evidence to back this up would be more sufficent
It completely looks like he is having an anxiety attack… not being able to sit still, mind racing, lack of concentration…
It makes sense with him taking the sleeping pills too…
I'm shocked and sick
So young with such a future
The poor child
Get your story straight Perez. The person who interviewed Heath said that this was his like 50th interview of the day for brokeback, it was later into the night and he was tired. The interviewer also said he was drinking a bottle of wine during the interview, hell, so would I if I had to sit there all day saying the same shit. He was not on drugs. Stop trying to make this trajedy even more dramatic then it already is!
to me it looks as if he was on the verge of a panic attack during the interview, i have panic attacks and i act the same way he is, i get extremely fidegty just as he was - all a person wants to do on the verge of an attack is run and obviously that is something he could not due since he was being interviewed - just because a person moves around like that does not mean they are on drugs
I can't believe it…rip
Re: LA Girl – Just because you've "done plenty of drugs" doesn't mean you can assess what was going on with him in this quick clip of this vid. Have you also had anxiety issues? Obviously not. (You'd know then that it's not just drugs than can cause that kind of behavior) That being said, perez you've lost me. I'm moving over to any other site that isn't so cavalier about throwing out this kind of crap without an ounce of proof what was going on with him that day.
He was NOT "clearly under the influence of drugs" in this clip - he seemed fine, perhaps a little tight [thus the scheduled massage?]. Seriously, he seems like he just wants to stretch from sitting in that chair doing interviews. His death is simply sad - you don't have to get hysterical over a clip that shows an articulate, charming guy stretching a bit - chill out.
He can't stop moving throughout the entire interview! Truly sad that he is gone because he was so talented. Condolences go out to his family, especially his baby girl.
Well if you know anything about heroin his scratching his arms and moving about is a clear sign of drug abuse. Regular users can have anormal conversation without showing signs of use which are called functioning drug addicts but to a good eye you know. Re: hung solo –
Perez, you are an idiot! Seriously, if we examined every move you made I am sure that we would all think that you were also on drugs. You can determine if someone is on drugs because they are fidgiting. LIke oMG
Heath Ledger as always admitted to being "fidgitty" during interviews and press confrences because he was anxiety. It's slanderous to say that he is "on drugs" without conclusive evidence. It's not fair to his fans, daughter or grieving family.
Where has journalistic integrity gone?
perez-
i think it's SUPER fucked up and irresponsible of you to say that this video shows heath "appearing to be clearly under the influence of drugs." ledger was notoriously private and uncomfortable in the media spotlight– what i see is someone who is nervous and dislikes talking about themselves. and believe me, i've done my fair share of drugs.
-mbv
i dont believe that it is fair to say that he appeared to be "clearly under the influence of drugs". There is no way to prove that. That statement holds no weight.There could be a number of reasons that he was looking the way he did. Being cold,anxious,having to poop? Who knows. I am just saying.. suspecting serious drug issues just because we hear he may have OD'd-is not valid.None of us knew him personally. We all have opinions. But seeing that interview while he was alive-you probably would not have said the same thing….. r.i.p. what a damn shame.
he could be on drugs…or he could be having a panic/anxiety attack…i have panic disorder and the only way anyone would ever know i'm having a panic attack is by my fidgety movements, just like what you see him doing….you know perez you set yourself up w/some really bad karma…quit creating needless drama don't you see this situation is already horrible enough? this is why i much prefer trent from PITNB over your sorry ass.
Re: sarah – i was a fan too after a knights tale RIP Heath we will surely miss you
Great actor, sad sad day. RIP
I don't' think it shows him "clearly under the influence".
Not a fair judgment, especially the day he dies…
its so SAD!!
i think he was a great actor!! but he does not seem like he is under the infuence in this video.
leave it to you to defame a dead mans character with blantent untruths.
reports are saying keith was ill. more than likely it was an unfortunate accident.
heath was clearly on drugs in that clip and i noticed he was on drugs on several other occasions, for those of you who don't know the signs when you see it, you will know it when the coroner releases the results from the blood work. the heroine and coke will show up then and the rest of you will be more informed the next time a junkie (albeit a talented one) overdoses.
This video is not "shocking," nor does it show anyone "clearly" under the influence. He seems very clear headed and well spoken. Check out the Tom Cruise Scientology video again, if you want evidence of pure cuckoo.
Perez, I love you, but PLEASE let's not jump to conclusions. Have a little fucking respect. I don't think that video shows that he was "clearly" on anything. If anything, he looked uncomfortable, not necessarily high. Maybe he did have a drug problem, but lets not start shitting frisbees until there's conclusive evidence. Think about Matilda…have a little respect please.
R.I.P Heath.
Perez, you say how sad you are and how awful this situation is, yet you post videos of Heath's worst moments. Whenever anything bad happens to a celebrity you are so quick to jump on the sympathy wagon. Meanwhile in your daily post you talk trash. I know it’s your career to follow celebrities, but you would think that you would have respect for the people that give you your livelihood.
don't you think it's a little callous and irresponsible of you to allegate that he had a drug problem? it might be so and it might be a case of too many sleeping pills… however… it just seems like you have no cause to slanderously and publicly accuse this man of a substance abuse problem based on a video where he could be tired and exhausted. it puts an extremely unfavorable tinge on an already tragic, sad death.
especially since you posted afterwards about his insomnia and exhaustion.
just saying. if it comes to light that he was a drug addict, by all means exploit the shit out of it. but at this point it's premature and incredibly callous.
Perez himself used to be a meth addict (hell, he probably still uses) so I think he of all people would know the behavior of someone under the influence of drugs! Whatever it is, I feel for Heath's family and friends and may he Rest In Peace.
Yeah its so sad, people are already listing heath stuff on ebay already. I am a shift worker and I look like that after sleep deprivation. But I guess perez wouldnt be perez if he actually had some empathy in his bones. Nice comments perez.
Heath Rock On OZ
respecting the dead is the key to class. what will bashing him do? clearly on drugs or uncomfortable with interviews? bless his family and prayers to his daughter is more like it . . . no?
Why do these freakin' gossip sites have to start off with the "OMG watch this video from whenever…he must have been doing drugs?" If you go back and watch any of his interviews he always fidgeted around, talked with his hands, ect. Maybe he was just one of those people who can't sit still or maybe he was nervous during interviews. I think his death is tragic no matter how it happened and I for one will greatly miss him and his acting. He was a great actor for his age IMO. My heart goes out to his family and most especially his baby girl. May he rest in peace.
he isn't on drugs, perez. he's moving around a lot, but he was obviously undergoing stress.
Re: Ashley – i agree with you
You're an idiot Perez. Anything for a fucking story. He doesn't look under the influence of anything. He is obviously very uncomfortable talking about himself. He was a very private man something Perez wouldn't or couldn't understand. RIP Heath Ledger. At least you no longer have to deal with these idiots.
RIP Heath. He appears to have more of an anxiety issue than to be strung out on drugs Perez!!!
He is tweaking.
Now that VH1 has given you the opportunity to do some shows for them, all you care about is fame. I'm glad you had an awesome time in Sundance hitting the swag tables with Mischa Barton and Paris Hilton… and when someone dies, all you care about is posting a YouTube video and spinning the truth so you can be the first to make speculations towards a celebrity's turbulent, drug-abusing past.
Celebrities are people, and in this case, a person died… not just a celebrity, not just a name. This action is thoroughly despicable.
I always liked your website because, unlike other gossip sites, it was funny and original. Congratulations on your deal with VH1 - now you're just like everyone else. There's no reason for me to read this anymore.
Good luck with your story.
Wow, what was he on during that interview, why didnt someone say something, its like he was ignored, when clearly in that interview you can see he needs some help
I honestly don't think he's on drugs in this clip. Can't make that comment from pure speculation.
they say he had anti anxiety meds..but when i had anxiety attacks id get chest pains and have to stretch and move around to take mymind off it but yeh..its looks odd
Re: hung solo – Are you stupid, or just plain dumb? Not only was he not articulate, he mannerisms were clearly that of a meth or crank user.
he's anxious. he's not fucking under the influence of anything, other than probably caffeine and/or nicotine. he's said playing the joker is stressful, so doesn't it make sense that that's probably what's bothering him? christ!
He doesnt seem to be under the influence of drugs! He seems nervous or preoccupied. Perez, you are retarded. I come to your website for the same reason I watch Dr. Phil. You are The left wing of idiocy. I wish you would read my comments and get a clue.
I think you are sociopathic.You are sensationalism, you have no empathy and you are making the world a worse place because you have the influence to do so.
perez, i can't fucking believe how badly you speculate over his body movement and assume it's drug involved. how fucking dare you man, i had respect for you, but now it's fucking lost. could it be anxiety perhaps and not fucking drugs? looks more like it. but maybe not because you're fucking clueless, and plain fucking stupid. i hope in the future you'll look at yourself in the mirror every morning and see how much of a pathetic little failure you are. i pray you rot in hell you FUCKING SCUMBAG.
I know this might sound stupid, but if everyone looks at the video again, it seems like he is thying to keep his arms still by crossing his arms across his chest. His speach also seems to be strained not slurred, but like he is trying to control what he is saying. There is a sickness with these same symptoms. I dont remember the name but I dealt with a few patients like this in a rest home I worked at. It would also explain the loss of sleep.
Watch what he's doing with his arms. My brother was doing the same thing the last time I saw him alive. He committed suicide not long after.
The arms are the telltale sign of drug addiction.
So sad that another brilliant young actor is lost to drugs. Never saw this one coming. Right now I feel for his wife Michelle and the young daughter who will grow to never know her father. Truly sad and tragic. My heart goes out to his family and close friends.
This is NOT a SHOCKING video proof of drug use. Are you hanging out with Wino these days smoking CRACK??? You nobs. All this shows, at most, is maybe some problem with anxiety with the fidgeting. My eldest daughter who suffered and cured herself of debilitating anxiety (without the use of drugs) watched this as did I and recognized it straight away. Before you start labelling things and dancing on someone's as of yet, not cold body, all to get HITS, try doing some research! Just once!
I don't get why everyone's getting so defensive about Perez's accusation of him being on drugs. Of course the dude did drugs. He was wealthy, famous, and had access to pretty much anything he could have wanted.
It really is suuuch a sad incident, and maybe it is a little unfair to judge him based on the hollywood norm. But to not do so seems very naive.
RIP Heath Ledger: may in death you find the peace that you could not find in life.
If anything he had ADD.
He's not of drugs you idiot!! He's bored shitless by a stupid interviewer's questions and probably been sitting there for hours promoting that film
I never understand why perezhilton.com readers come here, read the gossip and opinions, and then slam the author of this site. It's like eating candy and then saying "how dare you give me that candy, you horrible person!" Perez, keep doing what you're doing. There's obviously a market for it and lucky you that you're making a living by simply authoring a website full of your own opinions; nothing wrong with that! If people hate it so much they shouldn't bookmark this site!
sorry - no drugs there - this is just how aussies act when they are feeling uncomfortable - sort of humble, sort of laddish and with a bit of humour. he is totally normal here…..
I'm incredibly schocked..4 what happened, but instead of being watching some video looking 4 clues of this "drug abuse" lets remember that he had family: mom, dad, daughter…canu imagine how hard is 4 them what is going on?u didnt know him, u dont shared memories with him.. im schocked like everyone else, i loved him since the patriot, he was a great actor! now because of this he'll maybe turn into a hollywood legend or something.. but plz i beg u lets respect his family theres nothing worse 4 a family to get in the middle of a suicide if u have questions the family is worse i know that cos ive seen it! so perez porfa dont respect it today i know is ur job n u do it well.. n people if u dont like it then dont watch the fuckin video!! RIP Heath, God give strenght n understanding to the family
heath ledger was NOT on drugs and did NOT have a drug problem–according to cnn who i think is a bit more reliable… not that i dont love perez, but still.. i believe CNN and that heath wasn't on drugs… RIP HEATH :'( im so sad
Guys, I thought Heath was an amazing actor and amazing guy with a great future and I really liked him and have no reason to trash him. But his behaviour in that clip was fairly typical of a chronic meth user, and I have seen it many times before. I am an MD. My heartfelt condolences to his family. A great loss to the world!
You fucking wanker Perez, Heath was always a very nervous kinda guy, he looks perfectly normal there and to suggest it's a "shocking video" just demonstrates what a low class piece of gutter slime you really are
perez - u asshole. he is not "clearly under the influence." you really have no spine, trying to oversensationalize an already sad situation. you really have no morals and disgust me. karma will be a big fat b*tch when it comes looking for you.
Perez, you are a stupid fat cunt, you should be ashamed of yourself. You're a ridiculous, fat, sick fuck whose only talent is talking pure fucking dogshit. He's more articulate in this one interview than you have ever been in your entire waste of space life.
Perez, you are losing your credibility. there is very little from this video that indicates he is under the influence. you've really been disappointing recently…
you can't say that he was clearly under the influence of drugs. He was articulate and could understand everything he was saying. just because he was moving his arms around a lot does not me he was high. It could be a nervous habit. Heath was notoriously shy. I know that when i have people asking me questions i have nervous things i do. Let the man rest in peace and lets not try to make him into this big druggie when we do not know all the facts. That pisses me off.Lets remember him as an amazing actor
"appearing to be clearly under the influence of drugs"? Which is it you fat whore bastard? He was clearly under the influence of drugs, or he appeared to be under the influence of drugs. It is impossible to be both you fucking bottom dweller. Nice of you to profit off his death though. When you die from chocking to death on some Cheetos, will you be appear to be clearly under the influence of transfat?
He looks nervous, and like a lot of people, you twisted fat fuck, he gets comfort from rubbing his arms. His speech is steady and articulate. More than anyone can say about you.
You are worse than any paparazzi you sick piece of shit. Karma will bite you in the ass Pussy Envy, you stupid low life fuck.
Perez,
Honey…GET BACK TO REALITY ~ FAST! You are reading WAY too much in to things and trying to make a sad horrible story worse. SHAME ON YOU. The man is "clearly" not under the influence of anything. YOU need to make a retraction. I challange you to do just that.
This is just sad for everyone involved. Please do not make it worse.
he has a tourquinet around his arm….
Don't judge this video as not evidence of drug abuse unless you have seen drug abuse! He is clearly on something in this video. No one who is just "shy" turns around and looks at the movie poster for no good reason right in the middle of the interview. Not calling him an "addict" but he was on something when this was made. His body language is what gives it away. And, EVERYONE is benefiting from stories like these today - don't blame Pereze. And if you don't like him or what he has to say, you are the loser for being on his site and taking the time to comment on everything he does. If it "disappoints" you, get a life and ignore it.
HE IS NOT CLEARLY ON DRUGS. HE WAS FINE. HE LATER BECAME STRESSED AND COULD NOT SLEEP. LIKE ANYBODY WITH SLEEPING PROBLEMS WOULD DO IS TAKE SLEEPING PILLS TO SLEEP. THIS WAS ACCIDENTAL!!!!!
:O( i dont know what to say, it`s so tragic.
How much blow & crystal was going on in that interview
NO HE IS NOT CLEARLY UNDER THE INFLUENCE FROM DRUGS. he appears anxious. this is what anxiety does to u. but he is alert and still able to be articulate. there is so evidence here of substance abuse.
I don't think he's under the influence of drugs here… he's just fidgeting.. people fidget. His voice and his expressions on his face don't make it look like he is on drugs
You're an idiot Perez!! How can you say he is clearly under the influence of drugs? Looks more like he is just uncomfortable with the interview and moving around. The poor guy just died..how can you be so insensitive!!
Re: chill – Agreed! You read my mind!
Where is this supposed evidence the he's on drugs? I see is fidgety guy who has ALWAYS been extremely self-conscious and nervous in interviews. Does it give you some kind of sick jolt to "reveal" some bullshit story like this? And you didn't get any exclusive story, you attention whore. You were the 11th "news" website to report it.
Write down the date. You just officially lost your credibility and are on the way downward.
Re: Cait – I think that video is very informative, yes he's a person,however, he's a person that chose to be in the public eye. Before i saw that video his death seemed like it came out of blue. In that video you can see he clearly needs some kind of help( to everyone who says its not clear that he was on something, you must not know what someone on drugs looks like) it's sad that noone could have reached out to him in time, that interview should had been a wake up call to all the people in that studio and anyone that was close to him. Someone really should have talked to him and took some kind of action to get him some help, if that interview wasnt a sign that something was wrong then i dont know what it would be. Maybe everyone was in denial about him having a problem, but what does making excuses like he was tired do, did he die of tiredness, NO, maybe he mixed so sleeping meds wrong, but i really believe he showed real signs of needing some kind of help and noone gave it to him or he didnt listen
I have a degree in Rehabilitation and he's not under the influence of any major drug in this interview. He seems to be uncomfortable due to his anxiety issues.
Looks likes he's on morphine, morphine makes you itch like that.
He just seems exhausted. He'd worked a lot this last year-I'd be tired too! Please don't make him seem like another drugged out celebrity. I don't think he was.
Re: sarah – Bullshit, it wasn't even an interview for Brokeback, it was an interview for the Bob Dylan movie. Get your own fucking story straight first.
This is tasteless, even for you Perez. You're grasping at straws.
What does it matter if he was high or not? The only thing you are accomplishing here is tarnishing his name. Fuck you, you selfish fat pig.
How does he appear to be on drugs?? this is his behavior in many of his interviews, many times we see an actor/actress in charactor and we do not know how he/she really acts.. this man is not on drugs, nervous maybe.. not under the influence.
aww. i didnt realize how handsome he was until this video. wow. he cant even stay still for a second! something is definitely wrong there.
He looks highly caffeinated and ADHD. I think to say he is definitely on drugs is a stretch. It's possible, but to me it looks like he is awkward and nervous. Whatever it was then, he is dead now, and that is a terrible tragedy.
Re: hung solo – Perez shame on you to ASS ume!!
It does not matter now whether he was high or not. The only thing you are doing is tarnishing his name. You should be fucking ashamed that you are capitalizing off of this. You're such a selfish fat cow.
It does not matter now whether he was high or not. The only thing you are doing is tarnishing his name. You should be fucking ashamed that you are capitalizing off of this. You're such a selfish fat cow.
It does not matter now whether he was high or not. The only thing you are doing is tarnishing his name. You should be fucking ashamed that you are capitalizing off of this. You're such a selfish fat cow.
It does not matter now whether he was high or not. The only thing you are doing is tarnishing his name. You should be fucking ashamed that you are capitalizing off of this. You're such a selfish fat cow.