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
Perez, you need to be careful about what you print. Respect the fact that this man is dead and can not defend himself against people like you disrespecting his name and reputation. And then you actually act/say that you are sad that he is dead. Walk the walk! Have some respect AT LEAST for the deceased and their families. Lately, I have really started reading your blog less and less because of things like this. This is it. . .
he looks a bit nervous, so what?
everyone has their moment of anxiety
too bad he's gone now
PEREZ, OUT OF RESPECT, TAKE THIS POSTING DOWN.
You son of a bitch Perez! How dare you make assumptions of drug abuse - there have never been any rumours regarding Heath Ledger and drug abuse, he made a tragic mistake with sleeping pills - stick to the facts, dickhead. Scum sucking asshole - you'll probably lose a lot of Australian fans over your comments
why do you assume that he's on drugs in this interview? you can appear distracted for any number of reasons — work overload, stress, the monotony of a billion interviews in a row, etc. you should take that clearly editorial comment down. why go there?
I am really bummed over this, everyone liked him this is not fair. He was a good dad, a good person.
PEREZ, you are disgusting, vile and soulless for presuming that Heath was "on drugs" in that video. SHAME ON YOU for sensationalizing his death THE DAY OF HIS PASSING. Karma will get you, you unhealthy bloated dickfuck. That's all I can say. What you did here is SO WRONG. Your conscience will punish you for this.
PEREZ! How dare you post this incriminating footage of me just hours after my death! You should be ashamed of yourself. I shame you from the heavens!
He hates doing press
i was shockhed to hear this…he was such a talented actor but this video shows a shy nervous guy…why are you saying it was "clearly" him on drugs…that is f*&*ed up yo!
Re: Sydneygirl – Also, I'd like to add that unlike the other media WHORES that Perez gives so much time to, Heath Ledger was very shy and uncomfortable with the media, that is why he often came off as rude - really he just wanted to act in movies and be left alone. Can't you just wait for the facts to come out before ripping his cred to shred??. He was a great actor and me and a lot of other Australians were very, very proud of him and his achievements. You'll be missed Heath
I'm not going to jump to conllcusions, he was a great actor, out of respect (yes perez respect) to his family I wish them nothing but the best, RIP Heath, you were amazing in real life, I hope you are in heaven now, watching over Matilda.
Perez, you really make me sick. This poor guy hasnt even been dead for 12 hours and your already calling him a drug addict and spreading terrible rumors about him. You have zero evidence that he was "battling drugs". So what, does every person that gets fidgety when being interviewed abuse drugs? Its assholes like you that take a potentially accidental death and turn it into something much worse at the expense of his reputation and his grieving family, so people will read your stupid fucking website. Have some god damn respect. asshole.
I didn't see anything out of character of Heath, he has been quoted saying that he hates interviews and being in the public so when he is, he is always fidgety and nervous, he is so shy that it must be so hard for him to deal with this shit that goes along with celebrity. I just saw him on Ellen he was exactly the same and did not appear to be on drugs. Good one Perez, why don't you wait till the autopsy comes back and stop making up fairy tales about something you know nothing about.
Let his poor family mourn him in peace!
RIP Heath you will be missed.
so what, he's fidgiting, hes talking, he doesn't slur, theres nothing to see here. this what I call 'REACHING'. Please don't sensationalise nothingness, its sad enough. A child will never kiss her father again tonight or be held in his arms, isn't that more important?
sounds like suicide to me…very,very sad
he seems very anxious…. this is very sad news, he was so young and had a little daughter, poor little girl she's only 2… I just can't believe it…. RIP HEATH
first of all, i was so upset to hear this news today. he was a great actor. what i am hating right now is how quick eveyone is to try and find the "warning signs" and put him in a bad light. This interview is not of someone on drugs but of someone uncomfortable with being interviewed and being asked personal questions, which, as can be seen in past interviews and in his own statements is exactly how he felt. leave him be and let him rest in peace!
yur a bunch of cockheads.. he's an artist! he's bound to be a bit restless.. he's composed, putting toghether sentences that make sense an not slurring his words at all! he's a brillient fella an it is suck a loss.. how about yu just give all the shitty rumours a rest an give a decent person the chance to leave the world with some dignidy.. he wasn't constantly in on the front page of newspapers doing drungs like lindsy, pete, jude, paris, amy, an the rest of the crackwhores.. perez, it's rumours an fauls accusations from the media like this that drive celebs to the edge like britney.. i would have thought you'd be discouraging this rather than encouraging it.. just give it a rest, please
Heath Ledger does not look AT ALL like he is on drugs in this clip. He looks like a real person, slightly nervous and uncomfortable in the spot light. An Australian, a human, a father, a working man.. someone to be remembered.
Did you even watch the clip? you who work for the "media"?? not very intelligent at all. Not very insightful. You should not have this job if you lack the skills required. It is hurtful to Heath's family and loved ones for you to be making baseless assumptions into how he lived his life..
You should be ashamed. Do you not understand loss?
it shows i think he is under the influence of something,
or else was so so so so shy and intimidated by being interviewed.
he did say in another interview,
he hates the limelight, the lights on him, the interigation.
he def. was not a publicity hound like shitney is.
heath was a true talent,
a cool guy , a wonderful dad ………
i am sad .
Fuck you American's like to overdramatise things.
There's never been a horrible word about Heath before this, and now the lot of you have just pounced on him.
Let Australia mourn one of our A listers and leave him the fuck alone.
Our new prime minister has the right idea by separating Australia from you and your stupid fuckwit redneck of a President bush.
Leave your speculation until the coroner's report comes out.
Just back the fuck up.
i really don't see how this interview is considered to be clearly under the influence of drugs…
look at him, he's showing all the insecurities hes spoken about in his past interviews.
hes shy his arms are crossed cause he doesnt like interviews
he puts his hands infront of his eyes, in one interviews annoyed him because of the the bright lights
with all respect to his family, he does look like hes on the influence of something here
goodnight sweet prince.
Re: Rachel –
LOL. Nice work Rachel.
Are you crazy! There is no way that Heath Ledger is on drugs in that video clip. He would have had to sit through a huge amount of interviews that day, probably being asked the same questions over and over. I am an Australian and have seen lots of interviews that Heath has done and he dis tend to fidget his way through them. It is reported that he found it hard to talk about himself and was a shy man. What on earth about that video says to you that he is clearly under the influence of drugs, because it sure does not say that to me.
It is desperately sad what has happened to him. It is such a shame that he has died at such a young age, in what seems at this stage an accidental overdose. At the end of the day, noone is going to know what really happened and what was going through his mind as he was on his own prior to his death. Let not all speculate about whether he was on drugs or not, because until the autopsy noone will really know. Wait for the facts before pointing the finger.
I am so glad to see so many people defending Heaths integrity. You have no real proof to indicate that he ever used or abused drugs besides the reported sleeping pills. I personally know that his behavior indicates a person who may have had some social anxieties and in the many interviews I have viewed of him he shows that behavior almost every time, get this SOME PEOPLE DONT ENJOY AND THRIVE WELL IN THE LIME LIGHT! Your a parasite leeching off of real talent!!!! And should really think before you speak! Your accusations can really hurt people! Use your 15 mins of fame for good!
he is not on drugs and never had a drug problem on the Larry King show they should an interview clip and his publicist said he was painfully shy with interviews.
how does that video show him "appearing to be clearly under the influence of drugs?" Because he's fidgeting? WTF Perez you get thumbs down for adding to the speculation to such a tragic event. ?Maybe he was just fucking bored with the interviewer or from being on a press circuit all day long? maybe he was fucking hungry or needed a cig. get a clue
he could of had some serious anxiety issues, he probably was high on something, but it is also possible he could either be having bad anxiety or some kind of breakdown. who knows. so sad really. either way if it was drugs it was probably some type of anxiety or depression that led him to do drugs. he didn't really seem like the type of party guy to me who just did drugs for fun because everyone was doing them. he probably needed some type of help. rest in peace. you were a great actor. so sad.
……or he could have just been sleep deprived.
Just remember, someday you'll be judged just as harshly as you judge others. May God bless his family. Good on those of you who didn't just blindly believe what was said…
It isn't necessarily apparent that Heath was on drugs during this video. It looks to me like he was fatigued. I get like that when I am uncomfortable with a person or a conversation I am having. We should not jump to conclusions, reports said he had a difficult time sleeping. So to me, it just seems like he is extremely uncomfortable and fatigued in the video. His passing is very unfortunate. Rest Peacefully Heath.
I agree with Steffie-How is he 'appearing to be clearly under the influence of drugs'?
He was a shy person, he hated all the press promo stuff…he was an amazing talent that will be missed by everyone that got to meet him.
Thoughts and prayers to his family in Perth!!!
RIP
he looks like he has some type of anxiety problem. this is so sad. he may be high too but its probably because he has bad anxiety and mania. if he used drugs he probably did because he was trying to self medicate, not because he was a party boy like loser perez just looking to be cool and have fun. the guy was seriously sick and now he's dead. let him rest in peace. perez how do you sleep at night man? you are such a lowlife, spitting on a dead mans grave. you are a loser perez. i hope you change your ways someday.
You obviously have no respect for people. This HUMAN BEING just died, and all of a sudden you are a certified psychiatrist/medical examiner. You should keep your mouth shut and get a real job. Even if he did have a problem, who are you to tarnish the name of anyone, especially someone who was so brilliant and talented.
Wow another druggie bites the dust!
apologize perez for what you have said. seriously.
apologize perez for what you have said. seriously!
apologize perez for what you have said. seriously.
apologize perez for what you have said. seriously.
apologize perez for what you have said. seriously.
apologize perez for what you have said. seriously.
apologize perez for what you have said. seriously.
apologize perez for what you have said. seriously.
apologize perez for what you have said. seriously.
apologize perez for what you have said. seriously.
apologize perez for what you have said. seriously.
apologize perez for what you have said. seriously.
apologize perez for what you have said. seriously.
apologize perez for what you have said. seriously.
apologize perez for what you have said. seriously.
apologize perez for what you have said. seriously.
apologize perez for what you have said. seriously.
apologize perez for what you have said. seriously.
apologize perez for what you have said. seriously.
Does this REALLY prove anything? He may have been under the influence of drugs, he could also have been suffering from serious anxiety or depression, he didn't like to be in the media spotlight and clearly found it difficult giving interviews. For gods sake…let it go.
I highly doubt this is any evidence of Heath being under the influence of drugs. What it looks like to me is that he may be taking some type of medication for a psychological disorder and it is causing some unwanted side effects. Not saying that's definitely what's going on, but as a registered nurse who works in a psych department, that's what it looks like to me. Heath was a great actor….so tragic…
:'(
this is dumb. he DOES NOT appear to be on drugs.
Wow, people are now seeing Perez for what he is? you people made Perez who he is when you come to his blog and nod to through 99.9% of the crap he writes.
junkie
I don't think he looks under the influence in the video at all ……
THIS IS WAY TO SAD, HE WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST ACTORS OF OUR TIMES…. MY LOVE AND RESPECT GOES TO MATILDA AND MICHELLE!!!! WE WILL MISS HIM AND HIS WORK.
Re: Steffie – I agree with Steffie. There is no evidence here that heath is "clearly under the influence of drugs". None! You do nothing for your credibility by making such statements Perez, and in the process you defame someone who has recently passed away. Shame.
Indicating that Heath was clearly on drugs, I think, is a gross, inappropriate and misleading conclusion to come to. Heath was notably private, shy, and was uncomfortable interviewing. I really don’t think we can all jump to the drugs conclusion from this interview alone.
Let the poor man rest in peace. I hope his family don't come across this….
If he was taking Ambien (marketed in Australia as Stillnox) that could explain this interview… there have been loads of reports of people in Australia doing all sorts of weird stuff while they were taking this medication - including having whole conversations with people where they are abusive or a bit all over the shop.
Personally, I reckon we should all just butt out and leave his family to grieve in peace. He might have been a great actor, but he was a person first and the people who actually knew him and truly loved him are the ones who are suffering right now.
So sad. He was an amazing actor. Especially in 10 Things I hate about you. You will be missed Heath. May you rest in peace.
I don't think he "is clearly under the influence of drugs" at all. His speech is clear and coherent, and I think he is probably just nervous….
…so define "clearly under the influence of drugs"…..cause i cannot see it. He is a bit antsy, but maybe he was rather overworked and tired.
Now you can clearly tell that Amy Winehouse is under the influence of drugs always……but this clip seems normal to me.
What are you seeing Perez?????
Wow…based on the "…clearly under the influence of drugs" I was expecting a strung out looking fellow with glazed eyes, rapid and/or slurred speech. He looked a little twitchy and uncomfortable but certainly not out of it. God he was good looking. Poor guy mixed too many sleeping pills-I'm thinking accident based on his mention of sleeping poorly.
Are you drunk perez
STUPID FAT GUY I SAW YOU ON E!
AN YOU ARE SOO UGLY
STUPID FAT
I HATE YOU
FAT
FAT
FAT
NO ONE KNOWS PEREZ HILTON
I JUST KNO PARIS HILTON
STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
isnt it possible that he just might be nervous in this video?
Re: UGH – Re: UGH –
WTF? it could clearly be for video. not being able to hear the interviewer may be because they dont give him a microphone because the final product is just clips of heath talking and clips of his movies. you never hear the interviewer or they will film him seperately. stop trying to sound so smart
Re: Hal R Hosfeld –
Jese numbnut…Really…How stupid are you? REALLY!
R u 'EDJUMACATED' at all?
Try reading a paper sometime, or watch msnbc or cnn….
The drug problem is still in effect for many reasons, [to name a few] it's to keep a certain vulnerable low income populous addicted to & controlled by substance abuse…which also inevitably sends a good mass of their community to prisons. [then they are not only more severly controlled but "out of our hair"] The drug trade also makes rich white men ALOT richer …EVERY DAY of EVERY YEAR!! Please check yourself b4 you end up wreckin' yourself with hate developed out of ignorance & fear! YOU r just as sad as Heath's untimely death for christ's sake!
I can't believe it.. It really is sad. I loved him and his work..
Rest in peace..
I loved Heath. That said, he is seriously tweaking in this video. I have seen a number of interviews with him. He does not normally writhe and pinch his face. He is obviously unaware of his body language. He's tweaking.
heath ledger is NOT very obviously on drugs in that interview. the man was quiet and private obviously hes going to be a little odd in an interview! not only that it has been said that the part he played was disturbing for him.. so why in an interview would he not be uncomfortable talking about a part that was difficult for him?
There is no way you can assume he's on drugs by watching this video.
It's disgusting you've made this statement.
In Heath's home of Australia, you would be easily sued for defamation for this.
Absolute disgrace.
I think he looks likee kind of desperate and with alot of stress, not on drugs… he's eye's are normal !!
But he was moving his arms like if he was very desperate!!!!
He just looks tired and nervous. It's well known that he was shy in interviews and with the papz. He just wanted to act and be left alone. I'll miss seeing his face on screen for the rest of my life. I'm just happy we got the performances we did.
Hi,
I'm french and i want to say you, it's really sad to see that ! I'm very angry to see an actor die 28 years old !!!
R.I.P my friend…see you soon !!!
leave heath leadger alone perez. You'll never be half the man he was.
He's just fidgetty and has probably been answering questions to a queue of journalists. He doesn't seem to be on drugs at all.
he doesn't look like he's on drugs. he just looks fidgety. i'm sure if you had to do 100 of these in a day you'd get tired of sitting around too. now WINO on the other hand….
people who don't DO drugs obviously have no idea of what it feels like when you're ON them. the easy distraction, fascination with the poster behind him, inability to make eye contact and focus, and most of all– SCRATCHING and TOUCHING himself are OBVIOUS indications of OPIATE or NARCOTIC use. i'm going to guess some type of pain killer here–prob. an intense one–when you do these types of drugs, you feel sensations of touch more acutely (hence making out/hugging/having sex on Ecstasy– which is often cut w/ heroin) and you generally have an itchy feeling. (ask anyone who's ever popped some serious vicodin/oxy.)
as to saying he just looks "nervous? come on, he's an ACTOR, i can show you a million other interviews of him before and after this that do NOT depict him behaving in such a way.
might i add… HOW FUCKING HUGELY DEPRESSED he looks recently, and how he has exhibited text book post traumatic behavior following his break up with his child's mother last year?
people are saying he was afflicted w/ insomnia and pneumonia in his last days yet COULD NOT stop smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol, which lower the immune system and leave the body open to ALL TYPES of disease and infection .
REST İN PEACE HEATH LEDGER
what else can i say?its so sad that good people die young:( :'(
this is from 2001 and he just seems so uncomfortable and freaked to be on tv…saaaad
Re: Jen – she's right!
we have to think of michelle en his little daughter right now, they are still alive!
r.i.p heath.
Big lost for Hollywood!
you're the only one saying possible suicide… it's obvious what you are now. ratings ratings ratings…fuck this, fuck you.
god bless heath and his family during this traumatic time xoxo
Re: caren –
You have just become my new personal hero caren !! Hear hear !!!
RIP Heath
What a sad loss of a life. Great actor, great dad, and great looking. You will be missed.
To everyone who is inconsiderate and void of compassion
Wow…….How could you say anything bad about him? You HAVE hit an all time low and I am through with this website as well…..The man just died……How do you know he was "clearly under the influence of drugs". I believe that YOU and the Paparazzi have alot to do with these young actors downward spiral……
Like Britney, seriously, just leave her alone…….If you like feeding into these stars' problems and people eating up these stories, you are just as fucked as all the people you make fun of…..
They are humans, down to the core like you and I……
It looks and sounds like you were tormented when you were a kid. Grow up! Then again, you are probably doing this for money which makes you a very sick individual…..Shame on you!
Re: Kirsty – Hey, you might want to read up on anxiety sweetheart and panic attacks…….Drugs are not the only ones to cause these effects…..Seriously, so many of you are ignorant.
You dick head!!!!!! If you KNEW what he was really like you would see that THIS is HIM. If someone even wanted to interview you…what would you do??? sit there and pull your dick! Cockhead
Dont be ridiculous, he's not on drugs in this video. he looks nervous or he's simply bored with being put through a million boring interviews with the press and is itchy to get out of there…he has been clean for a year. let him die in peace…HE IS NOT ON DRUGS IN THIS VIDEO!!! get over it perez
hes not on drugs, its more like hes having an anxiety attack, perez u r no psychologist
Didn't he represent your peeps well in Brokeback Mountain? Why all the hate and malicious lies? What exactly about that video gave you the impression he was on drugs? The fact he scratched his arm? Hahaha… what a joke.
We remember, we shall not forget
this video does not show that heath was on drugs. what it does show is an actor getting tired of answering the same exact questions over and over again while doing a day long press junket. you try and sit there for several hours and repeat the same answers over again.
What's shocking is that you think he is "clearly" on drugs, and that you would treat him so disrespectfully when he has just died! He does not appear to be on anything. Let his family grieve w/o having to put up with people like you trying to make something "shocking" out of nothing! Have a heart!
how insensitive to write this!!!! have some decency!!!
im i'm boycotting your site.
a dead man cant defend himself so lay off these accusations, his poor family!!
I do the same actions when I'm uncomfortable, and by no means am I on drugs. I love this site, but this is just over-sensationalised.
That's so sad. He looked Good though and really young looking. I wish he was still around physically. He just looked like he wanted to not think so much. Did not look like drugs to me.
I grew up with Heath and can tell you that he was NOT under the influence of drugs during this interview. This is just the way Heath is when he gets nervouse. He is very shy and can't sit still when he is uncomfortable. He clearly hates interviews. Sorry Perez..but you are absolutely wrong on this one. RIP beautiful boy
Heartbreaking news. Heath Ledger as Ennis Del Mar was geniosity, what a horrible loss and terrible tragedy. R.I.P Heath.
Dont be fucking ridiculous. Heath Ledger was not on drugs. He fidgets in every single interveiw and you would know that if you did your research. He is a good guy and just because he was depressed about the spot light and Michelle it does not mean he killed himself. It was all an accident. Stop making up stories to make his death, it is hurting his family.
this is a major red flag. where the fuck were his friends after this came out?? CLEARLY on drugs. so fucking depressing. very. he was my age, and he had it all going for him.
he was NOT on drugs-he was still in character for The Joker-he was right in the middle of filming and was trying to keep his manic,edgy tone for filming-many great,talented actors do this-low-life,gossip-mongering celebrity bottom feeders wouldn't get this-
there was something up with him, but at the end of the day, who fucking knows. maybe he was tired. maybe he hated the guy interviewing him. or maybe he was on drugs. no one here knows. perez doesn't know, and you don't know.
RIP Heath
Why "clearly under the influence of drugs"? I cannot see that. He seems to be just a special kind of guy ( I mean it in positive way), a bit tired, nervous or shy. I noticed him doing same kind of gestures that I'm doing when I'm talking to a stranger. It's disgusting how people and media immediately make their own conclusions and assumptions based on very few details.
Why do you call this a "shocking video?" He's a young guy who's into working out and needs to constantly feel the sensation of flexing and stretching his shoulders and arms. At least he's not hiding behind some fake persona. He's oozing potasium and charm. Quit bashing him.
Perez, get your facts straight. You don't know that he was doing drugs.
Respect the dead, low class…
notice the constant scratching of his arms? yeah opaits make you itchy …… you are scratching yourself and dont notice. i mean could just be a conceidence though. either way my heart goes out to his family, it's such a sad thing.